JOLLT Journal of Languages and Language Teaching 
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.33394/jollt.v%vi%i.3228 

January 2021. Vol. 9, No, 1 

p-ISSN: 2338-0810 

e-ISSN: 2621-1378 

pp. 111-116 

 

JOLLT Journal of Languages and Language Teaching, January 2021. Vol. 9, No. 1   | 111 

THE VALUE AND CHARACTER BUILDING EDUCATION IN 

FOLKLORE FROM BATAKNESE "SIGALE-GALE" 

 
1,2Ria Anita Sipahutar, 1Remlinawati Siantury, & 1Yenita Sembiring, 

1English Student, English Language Education, University of Prima Indonesia 
2Corresponding Author Email: sipahutarrya@gmail.com 

Article Info Abstract  

Article History  

Received: November 2020 

Revised: January 2020 

Published: January 2020 

Education is the learning of knowledge, the skills of every person that are passed 

down from generation to generation for one generation. But in education, it is 

also essential to learn the formation of good character. In this relevant research, 

especially those that raise Folklore as the object of study, only a few people know 

about it. Folklore is a medium that can use as a means of forming positive 

characters in children through moral values and character education contained 

in the story. This type of research is qualitative descriptive obtained, analyzed, 

and analyzed in writing to describe the moral values and character building 

contained in the Toba Batak folklore "Sigale-gale." Data collection was carried 

out by reading the Sigale-gale folklore text repeatedly and identifying the data in 

the form of keywords related to the values forming the characters in the story. 

Furthermore, the collected data were analyzed using content analysis techniques. 

The results showed that there were four character-forming values in the Sigale-

gale Folklore; namely hard work, curious, friendly, and wise.  

Keywords 

Moral values; 

Character building;  

Sigale-gale Folklore; 

 

How to cite: Sipahutar, A. S., Siantury, R., & Sembiring, Y.   (2021) The Value and Character Building 

Education in Folklore from Bataknesse “Sigale-gale”. .JOLLT Journal of Languages and Language Teaching, 
9(1), 111-116. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33394/jollt.v%vi%i.3228 

INTRODUCTION  

Education is the learning of knowledge, skills of each person passed down from 

generation to generation. In shaping quality human resources, education must have good 

character and moral values. Education should be useful for the academic field and have good 

moral and character values. Muslich (2013) states that character education should take 

precedence because it is in a better park, elementary school, junior high school, middle 

school, and university. Therefore, internalization of the values of character education must 

begin at the necessary level of formal education and have to do to various environments such 

as at school, family, and community life. The purpose of the realization and implementation 

of character education is to make students have good skills, good knowledge, and morality.  

Students must not only be useful in academics but also have to be right. That is because 

higher education must have good morals. Thus, education produces extraordinary output with 

great characters (Youpika, 2016). According to Aynur (2011), Character Education is a 

national movement creating a school that fosters ethical, responsible, and caring young people 

by modeling and teaching good character through an emphasis on universal values that all 

share. However, the phenomenon in our lives is not in line with expectations, for examples of 

many facts that show the use of electronic and social media deviations such as Facebook, 

Instagram, and games. The use of the internet is so out of control that children can access it 

freely.  

Furthermore, based on several researchers' observations, there are still many students 

who need character education programs such as discipline, responsibility, doing homework on 

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JOLLT Journal of Languages and Language Teaching, January 2021. Vol. 9, No. 1   | 112  
 

time, respecting friends and teachers, and being honest. It must be corrected by yourself. 

According to (Barone, 2011), Folklore is part of traditional literature. 

The researchers take some previous study about the moral Value and character-building 

education in Folklore. The previous study's object is Moral Value Assessment and Character 

Education in Folklore in Karo District, The Value of Characteristic Education in Andai-Andai 

Folklore, the need for character education. Based on facts, Folklore has many benefits in the 

world of education, including cultivating moral values to build student character. one of the 

famous Folklore is the "Si Gale-Gale" folklore originating from Bataknesse, North Sumatra. 

This Folklore can be one of several alternative learning materials for students in junior high 

school. Awang (1985) states that Folklore has an entertaining function, teaching material, 

encouraging people to articulate polite words, and encouraging literature as the basis for 

doing literary works. 

Based on the phenomenon, the researcher did this research to increase the knowledge 

taken by readers, and the research can be used as teaching material in junior high school 

because it contains moral Value and character building for children. Considering that Folklore 

has a pearl of local wisdom that contains educational values, it is necessary to develop and 

disseminate Folklore to future generations. In addition, many positive values can shape the 

character of children from an early age. This research hopes that inputs about life and Moral 

Value in Folklore can be obtained. 

Researchers use descriptive qualitative, where researchers try to describe and interpret 

the elements in the story, situation and condition, symptoms, and development to see the 

contribution of the Value of the story on character education. In data collection, researchers 

conducted literature studies and observations. 

 

RESEARCH  

Research Design  

This type of research is a Qualitative Descriptive Study. Meleong (In Hidayati, 2016: 

38), Qualitative Descriptive means that the data generated and collected are in the form of 

words, pictures, through descriptions but not by numbers. Next, the data obtained will be 

processed and analyzed in written form. According to Moleong (in Hidayati,2016:38), 

Qualitative Research is an effort to present the social world, concepts, behaviours, 

perceptions, and human under study issues. This qualitative descriptive study is used to obtain 

an overview of displaying educational values in the “Sigale-gale” Batak folklore. 

Instruments  

As qualitative research should be, this research too a human instrument, to be precise, 

the researchers themselves. Humans are using it as a tool for collecting data based on criteria 

understood. The standard in question is knowledge of morals. The device in this research is a 

data card. They have used data cards to record and transcribe all data obtained. 

Data Analysis  

In KBBI (2001), analysis means an investigation of events (essays, deeds, and others.) 

to find out the situation the truth (causation, sit down the case, and so on). According to 

Sugiyono (2012), data analysis involves finding and compiling data obtained from interviews, 

notes fields, and documentation, with data organized into categories and break down into 

units. In addition, this study did synthesis, arrange in the pattern, choose what is essential and 

what will learn, and conclude it can quickly understand by oneself or others. This study used 

descriptive qualitative analysis techniques. Furthermore, the data obtained were processed and 

analyzed in written form. This descriptive analysis uses a pragmatic approach. According to 

Siswanto and Roekhan (in Siswanto, 2013), the pragmatic approach is a literary study 

approach that emphasizes his study of the reader's role in accepting, understanding, and living 



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JOLLT Journal of Languages and Language Teaching, January 2021. Vol. 9, No. 1   | 113  
 

literary works. This pragmatic approach uses to analyze the educational values inSigale-gale 

Folklore, including the Value of moral education and the Value of social education.  

The steps of data analysis performed are 1) classifying data, data obtained from the 

analysis of educational values contained in the Sigale-gale Folklore, namely in the form of 

Educational ValuesMoral and Value of Social Education; 2) data in the form of educational 

values such as; the Value of moral education and the Value of social education also are 

analyzed in terms of what behaviors or patterns. Those are containing in it. 3) Linking the 

educational values contained in folklore Sigale-gale with its application in learning moral 

values for the formation of character in students. 4) Summing up the results of the overall data 

analysis. Meanwhile, in a qualitative study, the author(s) should mention the model to analyze 

the data. This brief explanation is further followed by the application of each stage within the 

selected model. 

 

RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION  

Research Findings  

Research finding the data will be analyzed and interpreted based on the theory and 

research interpretation. The research finding in this research can be presented as follows. 

 
Moral Value in Sigale-gale Folklore 

Datu Panggana Hard word and Curiosity 

Bao Partigatiga Friendly  

Aji Bahirbahir Wise 

 

Discussion 

This study was designed to analyze moral values and character formation in the Toba 

Batak folklore entitled Sigale-gale as learning for children in the formation of good moral 

values and character. The main focus of this research is to analyze the character of each 

character in the Folklore. From our findings, there are four moral values in character building, 

namely hard work, Curiosity, friendship, and wise, with the four characters in the Folklore as 

learning for students so that it is carried out in real life. The following is an explanation of the 

moral Value in the Sigale-gale Folklore. 
 

Hard work 

Hard work is a behavior that shows a genuine effort being to make to overcome various 

and learning and assignment obstacles. The Value of hard work can see in the narrative and 

quote below. 

“There was a man. His name was Datu Panggana. He’s an expert statue. He always 

sought materials for the statue himself. If a king wants to make a tomb, and for that, a 

stone statue is needed, so he went up and downhills. And valleys to find a suitable stone 

for that purpose. When a wooden statue is ordered, he goes out into the forest looking 

for suitable wood. That is how good he is with his job so that he is well known in his 

Huta ( village). “(Sigale-gale, 1978: 5) 

Based on the quotation above, Datu Panggana is a hard worker. He is willing to go up 

and down hills and go out into the forest to find the materials and needed for his work. 

According to Gunawan (2012) hard work is a behavior that shows serious effort to overcome 

various obstacles in order to complete tasks ( study work) as well as possible. 

The hard work attitude shown in the character Datu Panggana is very important to be 

taught to students, so that students can instill hard work from an early age so that later they 

can become useful children. 



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Curiosity  

Curiosity is an attitude and action that always try to know more deeply and broadly 

something that is learning seen and heard. We can see the Value of Curiosity from the quote 

from the conversation between Datu Panggana and Bao Partigatiga below. 

"What trade are you Par?" asked Datu Panggana, glancing at him serious obstacles 

hung on Bao Partigatga's shoulders." Trading pearls, gold jewelry, clothes. Uh, Datu, 

suddenly I got sense. This statue will be more beautiful if we give clothes and more 

jewelry. Can I try it Datu? "Suggested Bao Partigatiga suddenly. (Sigale-gale, 1978: 

12) 

In the quote above, it is clear to Datu Panggana's Curiosity, how the statue looks like 

when used for clothes and jewelry and because of that Datu Panggana asked Bao Partigatiga's 

permission to try it.  According to Mustari (2011), curiosity is an attitude and action that 

always seeks to know more deeply and broadly from what one has learned, seen and heard, 

this is to obligations towards oneself  and the environment.  

Thanks to the curiosity of Datu Panggana, who always tries to decorate the statue, the 

statue is very beautiful and almost looks human. Datu Pangga's sense of curiosity attitude is 

an attitude that we need to teach children because curiosity can lead us to continue learning 

something. 

 

Friendly 

Friendships are actions that show a sense of pleasure in talking, socializing, and 

cooperating with others. We can see the Value of friendship from the following narrative 

quote. 

"Because he wanted to find clothes that were equivalent to the image of a statue, Bao 

Partigatiga became so diligent that he tried all the clothes he was carrying, in turn, 

trying on the body of the statue. Finally, a pair of crimson clothes slung across the 

graceful girl's body, enhancing her dazzling face. As it is with clothes, so it is with 

jewelry. He tried all the jewelry on the body of the statue. Earring, necklaces, rings, 

various models, when he found the right jewelry, Bao Partigatiga jumped for joy like a 

child ". (Sigale-gale, 1978: 14) 

From the friendship shown by Bao Partigatiga, he is willing to help in choosing clothes 

and jewelry for the statue made by Datu Panggana, and it is also clear that Bao Partigatiga is 

happy to be able to choose clothes and jewelry for the statue. From the friendship attitude of 

the figure of Boa Partiga-Tiga who wants to help Datu Panggana to decorate the statue is an 

attitude that we must also teach to children. From a sense of friendship, we can get an attitude 

of tolerance and kinship between our neighbors to help each other in any situation. 

 

Wise 

Wise is an action or decision made by someone without burdening or causing loss to 

someone with another. Can see The Value of wisdom in the following narrative. 

"Because Datu Partoar is the oldest among them, so like in front of the King, now he is 

the one who first spoke to Aji Bahirbahir. After hearing the description, the Aji 

Bahirbahir replied: "All problems will be solved if faced calmly. What is your real 

problem now? To the three of you,  must consider all of you as having a family 

relationship with Nai Manggale. So the problem is, about family ties. So the only way 

is: you three, must consider all of you to have a family relationship with Nai Manggale. 

Judging by the services of each of you to Nai, I think it is best like this: Datu Partoar 

became his father, Bao Partigatiga became his brother, and Datu Panggana became his 

uncle. Hope you accept this decision because I am sure, Nai himself will surely feel sad 



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JOLLT Journal of Languages and Language Teaching, January 2021. Vol. 9, No. 1   | 115  
 

if he finds out that he is the source of your constant bickering, "said the Aji Bahirbahir." 

(SGG, 1978: 42-43) 

According to Kitchener & Brenner (in Sternberg & Jordan, 2005:17) argues wise as the 

intellect ability to realize limitation knowledge and how it impacts in solving problems that 

are not clear and make judgments. It is clear from the quote above with the wise of Aji 

Bahirbahir that s can resolve their problems. We have to instill this kind of attitude from an 

early age in children, so that later they can make it. 

 

CONCLUSION  

Based on the analysis of the character-forming values contained in the Sigale-gale 

Folklore, can conclude that in the Folklore, four character-forming values are founding, 

namely; hard-working, curious, friendly, thoughtful. One of the values that shapes character is 

the Folklore form. As a cultural heritage, Folklore needs to be preserved, processed and used 

as an essential medium in character education for the nation. The character-forming values 

contained in Folklore are not just to be understood but to be practised in everyday life. 

However, it is not only understanding that is important, but appreciation and practice in 

everyday life are equally important. 

From the description of the character-forming⁷ values in Sigale-gale, it shows that the 

Folklore contains quite a lot of character-forming values that every human being especially 

needs to have in shaping students' character. By having these character-forming values, it will 

form better attitudes and morals. The character-forming values contained in the Sigale-gale 

are the message the author sends to the reader to imitate the good characters contained in the 

character of the story. Character-forming values must be instilled in students and 

implemented in real life to form positive attitudes and behaviors.  

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT  

Based on the results of the above research, the authors suggest that in this life it is 

appropriate to understand moral values and character building as a form of lessons that can 

learn so that life is living safer and more peacefully. For the next researcher, it is necessary to 

examine the contents in the Folklore of North Sumatra more deeply, especially the Batak 

Toba area with the title of the Sigale-gale story. 

 

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