Most of the fairy tales that we find in the Afanas’ev collection are both strange and familiar at the same time. They are familiar, because many of the Russian fairy tales are in fact renderings of stories we already know e.g. from the Brothers Grimm. Here too, the famous Cinderella theme and stories similar to The Magic Table, The Gold-Donkey, And Cudgel in the Sack1 or The Golden Bird are very popular. There are indeed, very few plots that are not reminiscent of Western fairy tales. Why exactly this is the case is unknown. It may be that the stories travelled or that they were taken up into the Russian folklore after the Grimms’ had published their stories in Germany.
Yet, the Russian fairy stories are by no means just copies. Russian folklore has a long history and through being narrated within a different culture every story is shaped differently and is adapted to its new surroundings.
Therefore the best way to find out what the distinctive qualities of Russian fairytales are, is to read as many Russian tales as possible and to compare them to the versions we know in order to find out, what it is that is typical and unique to the Russian tales. When we have found this quintessential difference, we shall have found what makes them ‘strange’.
To find out, we need to look at what are perhaps the four most important aspects of any story: its ‘Themes and Content’, how these are illustrated with ‘Motifs’ and how ‘Narrative Structure’ and ‘Language’ are used.
Themes and Afanasiev’s recordings include a large variety of folk narrative. Apart from fairy tales there are fables, poems, songs, moral teachings, anecdotes and jokes, but here I will only look at those stories, which can be easily defined as true fairy tales. By this, I mean those tales, which are relatively long (they fulfil more than just one or two proppian functions) and tell of animals as well as humans.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Themes and Content
- Motifs
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay analyzes the distinctive qualities of Russian fairy tales as represented in the Afanas'ev collection. It aims to identify what makes these tales both familiar (due to shared plots with Western tales) and unique. The analysis focuses on themes, motifs, narrative structure, and language.
- Comparison of Russian and Western fairy tale plots
- Analysis of recurring themes and motifs in Russian folklore
- Examination of the narrative structure and language used in Afanas'ev's tales
- Exploration of the realistic and sometimes cynical perspective in Russian fairy tales
- Identification of unique motifs and characters in Russian fairy tales
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Themes and Content: This section compares the themes of Afanas'ev's Russian fairy tales with those of Western tales, particularly those by the Brothers Grimm. While many plots are similar, exhibiting familiar archetypes like Cinderella or the simpleton, the Russian versions often take a more down-to-earth, realist, and sometimes cynical approach. Unlike the symbolic interpretations often found in Western tales, Russian tales frequently focus on the everyday problems of peasants, including themes of drunkenness, debt, and marital infidelity. The consequences are often presented with brutal realism, lacking the magical resolution common in Western counterparts. Examples include the frequent depiction of wives being beaten for their failings and the inclusion of macabre and pointless stories like "The Dead Body" and "Baldak Borisievich," which lack the uplifting or moralizing conclusions characteristic of many Western fairy tales. This realistic portrayal contrasts sharply with the more fantastical elements, creating a jarring juxtaposition and contributing to the perceived cynicism of the collection. The discussion emphasizes how themes of love, evil, and moral goodness are grounded in the specific societal concerns of the peasant culture, unlike the more universal portrayal in Western traditions.
Motifs: This section examines the recurring images and symbols, or motifs, used in Afanas'ev's tales. Many motifs are shared with Western fairy tales, such as the lost slipper in Cinderella stories, or the three brothers trope. However, the Russian collection showcases unique motifs, notably Baba Yaga, the ambivalent witch residing in a hut on chicken legs, and Chudo Yudo, the serpent monster. The frequent appearance of characters with physical impairments (handless, footless, etc.), often cured by the "water of life," adds to the sense of a harsher reality. The essay also points out the unique capacity of Russian fairy tale heroes to transform themselves into animals and objects, a magical ability absent in many Western traditions which is often associated with the devil. The contrast between shared motifs and distinctly Russian ones underscores the unique blend of familiarity and strangeness characterizing these tales. The prevalence of these unique motifs further establishes the distinctive cultural context shaping Afanas'ev's collection.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Russian fairy tales, Afanas'ev collection, folklore, themes, motifs, narrative structure, language, realism, cynicism, Baba Yaga, Chudo Yudo, Western fairy tales, Brothers Grimm, comparison, cultural context.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Russian Fairy Tales in the Afanas'ev Collection
What is the main focus of this analysis?
This analysis focuses on the distinctive qualities of Russian fairy tales as presented in the Afanas'ev collection. It aims to identify what makes these tales both familiar (due to shared plots with Western tales) and unique, examining themes, motifs, narrative structure, and language.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
The analysis explores several key themes, including a comparison of Russian and Western fairy tale plots, an analysis of recurring themes and motifs in Russian folklore, an examination of the narrative structure and language used in Afanas'ev's tales, an exploration of the realistic and sometimes cynical perspective in Russian fairy tales, and the identification of unique motifs and characters in Russian fairy tales.
How do Russian fairy tales compare to Western fairy tales?
While many plots are similar to Western tales (e.g., Cinderella), Russian versions often take a more realistic, and sometimes cynical approach. Unlike the symbolic interpretations in Western tales, Russian tales frequently focus on everyday peasant problems (drunkenness, debt, infidelity), with brutal, realistic consequences lacking the magical resolutions common in Western counterparts. This realistic portrayal creates a jarring juxtaposition with fantastical elements, contributing to the perceived cynicism.
What are some key motifs discussed in the analysis?
The analysis examines recurring motifs such as the lost slipper or the three brothers (shared with Western tales), but also unique Russian motifs like Baba Yaga and Chudo Yudo. The frequent appearance of characters with physical impairments and the heroes' ability to transform into animals and objects (often associated with the devil) are also highlighted as distinctly Russian elements.
What is the significance of the realistic and cynical perspective in Russian fairy tales?
The realistic and sometimes cynical perspective in Russian fairy tales, often grounded in the societal concerns of peasant culture, sharply contrasts with the more fantastical and moralizing elements found in many Western fairy tales. Themes of love, evil, and moral goodness are presented within the specific context of peasant life, unlike the more universal portrayal in Western traditions.
What are the key takeaways from the chapter summaries?
The "Themes and Content" chapter compares Russian and Western fairy tale themes, highlighting the realism and cynicism in the Russian tales. The "Motifs" chapter examines recurring and unique motifs, emphasizing the distinctive blend of familiarity and strangeness in the Afanas'ev collection and the unique cultural context shaping these tales.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include: Russian fairy tales, Afanas'ev collection, folklore, themes, motifs, narrative structure, language, realism, cynicism, Baba Yaga, Chudo Yudo, Western fairy tales, Brothers Grimm, comparison, cultural context.
- Quote paper
- MPhil Rebecca Steltner (Author), 2001, The distinctive qualities of Russian fairytales (as reflected in the Afanas’ev collection), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/16176
