Russian 13, Spring 2008
Slavic Folklore: Vampires, Witches, and Firebirds
MWF 10:00 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
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., Friday, April 4, 2008.
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., Friday, April 4, 2008) to discuss appropriate accommodations.
Schedule
Readings marked with an asterick (*) are recommended, but not required:
- Wednesday, March 26
Introduction and Overview: Folklore Matters!
- Friday, March 28
The Features of Folklore. Who are the Slavs?
Read: Dundes, “Who are the Folk?” and "Alan Dundes' List of Folklore Genres" (Online Readings)
- Monday, March 31
The Riddle and the Proverb
Read: Abrahams and Dundes, “Riddles”
Anikin, “On the Origin of Riddles”
- Wednesday, April 2
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)
- Friday, April 4
Discussion: Riddle Night
Assignments on Blackboard (Discussion Sections)
- Monday, April 7
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)
- Wednesday, April 9
The Living, the Dead, and the Undead: Rusalki
Read: Ivanits, from Russian Folk Belief (“Nature Spirits”)
View: “Mermaid” by A. Petrov
- Friday, April 11
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)
- Monday, April 14
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
- Wednesday, April 16
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
- Friday, April 18
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)
- Monday, April 21
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
- Wednesday, April 23
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.
- Friday, April 25
Midterm!
- Monday, April 28
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
- Wednesday, April 30
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
- Friday, May 2
Discussion: Interpreting the Fairy Tale
Assignments on Blackboard (Discussion Sections)
- Monday, May 5
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”
- Wednesday, May 7
Russian Bylinas: Genesis and Poetics
Read: “Ilya Muromets and Kalin Tsar”
Skaftymov, “The Structure of the Byliny”
- Friday, May 9
Discussion: Folk Epics
Assignments on Blackboard (Discussion Sections)
- Monday, May 12
Folk Ballad: An Introduction
Read: Dundes, "The Building of Skadar: The Measure of Meaning of a Ballad of the Balkans"
- Wednesday, May 14
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”
- Friday, May 16
Discussion: The Folk Ballad
Assignments on Blackboard (Discussion Sections)
- Monday, May 19
Children’s Folklore: Past and Present
Weiss, “Draznilkas – Russian Children’s Taunts”
- Wednesday, May 21
Folklore and Literature
Read: Gogol, “Viy” (I)
- Friday, May 23
Student presentations of Folklore Collections
- Monday, May 26
Memorial Day — no class
- Wednesday, May 28
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, 3:00 p.m.
Final exam!!
