Russian 13, Spring 2008
Slavic Folklore: Vampires, Witches, and
Firebirds
MWF
In this course, we
will discuss a variety of genres from Russian folklore. As we move from the
familiar genre of the riddle to the often mystifying beliefs and rituals of the
ancient Slavs and then to the fairy tale, comfortingly familiar from childhood,
we will learn to not only recognize the richness and density of texts that may
initially seem uncomplicated but also to discern the patterns and meanings
behind the apparently exotic narratives and behaviors. Through this process, we
will gain knowledge of the theoretical highlights of folkloristics, an academic
discipline that strives to understand the remarkable similarity of stories told
by people around the world yet, at the same time, to account for the no less
fascinating ethnic, cultural, and historical particulars of the tales, songs,
jokes, and customs of different people. By thoroughly studying one of the
world’s richest oral traditions, Slavic folk life and folk lore, we will
acquire the tools and techniques necessary for collecting, documenting, and
interpreting folklore -- which is perhaps the most truly international of all
arts.
Required books:
Note these will be at Wheelock Books and
on reserve at Baker-Berry
Alexander
Afanas’ev, Russian Fairy Tales
Vladimir
Propp, Morphology of the Folktale
Russian
13 Course Reader (at Wheelock Books only)
Course Grading and
Requirements:
Class
participation: 10%
Writing
project # 1 (fairy tale essay, due November 5): 10%
Writing
project # 2 (folklore collection, due December 3): 15%
Midterm
exam: 25%
Final
exam: 40%
During
the semester you will be responsible for a variety of projects, both in-class
and outside, which will count towards your class participation grade. Make sure
to complete the assigned readings before the lecture class. Please also bring
5x8 index cards to each lecture class. Assignments for discussion sections
are posted on Blackboard. They will include additional readings, video
clips, discussion questions, and projects. These assignments need to be
completed before your discussion section on Friday. It is crucial for
the success of this course that you come to each discussion section fully
prepared with your notes, questions, and responses so that we can share our
insights and bewilderments efficiently and eloquently.
Requests for Accommodation:
Students
with learning, physical, or psychiatric disabilities who will be taking this
course and may need disability-related classroom accommodations are encouraged
to make an appointment to see the instructor before the end of the
second week of class – i.e.,
Some students may
wish to take part in religious observances that occur during this academic
term. If you have a religious observance that conflicts with your
participation in the course, please meet with me before the end of the
second week of the term (i.e.,
Schedule
March 26, Wed
Introduction and Overview: Folklore Matters!
March 28, Fri
The Features of Folklore. Who are the Slavs?
Read: Dundes, “Who are the Folk?” and
"Alan Dundes' List of Folklore Genres" (Online Readings)
March 31, Mon
The Riddle and the Proverb
Read: Abrahams and Dundes, “Riddles”
Anikin, “On the Origin of Riddles”
April 2, Wed
Magic Acts and Magic Words: Divinations, Spells, and Curses
Read: Frazer, “The Principles of
Sympathetic Magic”
Malinowski, “The Rite and the Spell”
Murgoci, “The Evil Eye in Romania”
Texts of Russian charms and curses (Online Readings)
April 4, Fri
Discussion: Riddle Night
Assignments on Blackboard (Discussion Sections)
April 7, Mon
The Living, the Dead, and the Undead: The Eastern European Vampire
Read:
Gennep, from The Rites of Passage (“Funeral Rites”)
Oinas, “East European Vampires”
Fine, “In Defense of Vampires”
Folk narratives about vampires (Online Readings on Blackboard)
View: F.W. Murnau, "Nosferatu" (eReserve)
April 9, Wed
The Living, the Dead, and the Undead: Rusalki
Read: Ivanits, from Russian Folk Belief
(“Nature Spirits”)
View: “Mermaid” by A. Petrov
April 11, Fri
Discussion: Collection Project
Read: Dundes, “Texture, Text and
Context”;
“Proverbs and the
Ethnography of Speaking Folklore” ; “The Crowing Hen and the Easter Bunny”
Wilson, "Collecting Folklore" (Chapter 10 in Oring, Folk
Groups and Folklore Genres)
Assignments on Blackboard (Discussion Sections)
April 14, Mon
Introduction to Folk Narrative
Read: Olrik, “Epic Laws”
Bascom, “The Forms of Folklore:
Prose Narrative”
Afanas’ev, Russian Fairy Tales, pp. 49-53, 262-268, 580-588, 612-624
April 16, Wed
Fairy Tale: Patterns and Formulas
Read: Propp, Morphology of the
Folktale, pp. 19-50
Afanas’ev, pp. 375-386, 349-350, 406-410, 494-497
April 18, Fri
Discussion: Morphology of the Fairy Tale
Read: Propp, Morphology, pp.
50-65, 71-78, 92-99 (ch. IX, A and B)
Afanas’ev, pp. 363-365, 393-398, 463-475, 229-234
Assignments on Blackboard (Discussion Sections)
April 21, Mon
Fairy Tale: Donors and Villains
Read: Propp, Morphology, pp.
79-91
*Johns, “Baba Iaga and the
Russian Mother”
Afanas’ev, pp. 31-37, 439-447, 363-365, 485-494, 553-562
April 23, Wed
Discussion: Review for Midterm.
Prepare questions or requests to review specific material in advance of this
class. Write out two short-answer questions based on the material for the test
and bring them to class. Please be prepared to support the correct answer with
a citation, etc. These questions will be collected and used for the in-class
review. Excellent questions will earn participation credit!
Use Key Terms and Concepts on Blackboard as your checklist when reading
and reviewing class materials.
April 25, Friday
MIDTERM!
April 28, Mon
The Origin of the Fairy Tale
Read: Propp, “Wondertale as a Whole”
Afanas’ev, pp. 146-150, 427-438, 119-123, 314-320, 360-363
April 30, Wed
Fairy Tale: Meanings and Interpretations
Read: *Lüthi, “Isolation and Universal
Interconnectedness”
Bettleheim, “Three Feathers: The Youngest as Simpleton”
Afanas’ev, pp. 44-46, 46-48, 194-195, 366-369, 278-279, 294-299, 504-520
May 2, Fri
Discussion: Interpreting the Fairy Tale
Assignments on Blackboard (Discussion Sections)
May 5, Mon
Assignment #1 - A variant of the fairy tale is due!
Introduction to the Folk Epic
Read: Bailey and Ivanova, “The Russian
Oral Epic Tradition: An Introduction” and “Svyatogor”
May 7, Wed
Russian Bylinas: Genesis and Poetics
Read:
“Ilya Muromets and Kalin Tsar”
Skaftymov, “The Structure of the Byliny”
May 9, Fri
Discussion: Folk Epics
Assignments
on Blackboard (Discussion Sections)
May 12, Mon
Folk Ballad: An Introduction
Read:
Dundes, "The
May 14, Wed
Serbian and Russian Folk Ballads
Read: ballad “The Mother of Prince
Mikhailo Kills His Wife”
Balashov, “The Ballad about the Slaying of the Slandered Wife”
May 16, Fri
Discussion: The Folk Ballad
Assignments on Blackboard (Discussion Sections)
May 19, Mon
Children’s Folklore: Past and Present
Weiss, “Draznilkas – Russian Children’s Taunts”
May 21, Wed
Folklore and Literature
Read: Gogol, “Viy” (Online
May 23, Fri
Student presentations of Folklore Collections
May 26, Mon
Memorial Day -- no class
May 28, Wed
Assignment #2 – Your folklore collection is due!
Discussion: Review for Final Exam
Prepare questions or requests to review specific material in advance of this
class. Write out two short-answer questions and one essay question based on the
material for the test. Please be prepared to support the correct answer with a
citation, etc. These questions will be collected and used for the in-class
review. Excellent questions will earn participation credit! Bring your sample
questions to class for possible inclusion on the actual FINAL and the chance to
earn additional participation credit!
Use Key Terms and Concepts on Blackboard as your checklist when reading
and reviewing class materials.
May 31,
FINAL EXAM!!