An introduction to the folk literature and rituals of the East Slavic peoples. Emphasis on Slavic mythology, byliny (epic poetry), skazki (folktales) and "calendar" songs; traditions of the Russian Orthodox Church; puppetry, witchcraft rituals and masking traditions.
Course texts available in Campus Store and on reserve in Burke Library:
Afanas'ev, Aleksandr Russian Fairy Tales (Pantheon)
Ivanits, Linda Russian Folk Belief (M. E. Sharpe)
Reeder, Roberta Russian Folk Lyrics (Indiana)
Tian-Shanskaia, Olga Village Life in Late Tsarist Russia (Indiana)
This is a writing-intensive course. You should anticipate writing intensively throughout the semester. On some occasions there will be opportunity for peer review, conferences with me, and/or group work.
The success of this course depends on your willingness to read critically and to commit yourselves to the process of collaborative learning. We will work to create a supportive and friendly classroom atmosphere, in which all will feel comfortable to participate eagerly and actively.
For each class please read assignment instructions carefully and follow them! BRING TO CLASS TEXTS UNDER DISCUSSION, AS WELL AS A COPY OF YOUR REACTION ESSAY/DISCUSSION QUESTION.
As possible we will celebrate the spring festival cycles (agrarian and religious) during the semester.
Attendance at ALL classes is mandatory. Absences will prove detrimental. Eager and eloquent contributions in class discussion are expected.
There will be an in-class final exam during the exam period.
Categories of Writing Assignments:
Category 1 is an on-going semester-long commentary on the course readings. For each reading assignment annotated by an asterisk you will post a "reaction paper" to me (ordinarily the equivalent of two pages in length) by e-mail. I must receive it by 9 AM the day the reading is to be discussed in class. (For example, your first reading is for Wednesday, January 22, which means your reaction paper is due by 9 AM of that day. This will give me time in the morning to look through them before class.) (For obvious reasons these papers will not be accepted late.) What do I mean by a reaction paper? They can vary in format and direction, depending on how you respond to a given reading assignment. In general, these papers could be a considered response to/reflection on the issues raised by the reading. They can take the form of explication de texte...a formal or structural analysis of the texts, particularly of primary sources. For such primary texts, always try to list the poetic properties of the genre (with examples), and highlight passages you found particularly interesting or thought-provoking. What about the reading struck you? Are you able to link this reading with earlier ones thematically or structurally? What do you want to know more about? Perhaps something will inspire you to do a bit of research. Your findings could be summarized in your paper. On occasion you might feel inspired to make comparisons to contemporary America, to your own life. On other occasions I will ask a specific question or provide a mini-project. Anything is acceptable, as long as the essay demonstrates that you have read the text carefully and have thought about it. Each reaction paper must end with a discussion question that you are willing to propose in class the next day. Your essay could in fact be an outline of your response to that question...or the question could be a request for clarification of something you didn't understand in the text. I hope that over the semester the kinds of essays you write, and questions you pose, will vary in type and manner of inquiry. By the end of the course you will have compiled an extensive and hopefully thought-provoking personal commentary. You should make a copy of the paper and bring it to class.
These essays will not be formally graded (I will comment on most of them and give check-plus, check, check-minus), but they will play a role in determining your final grade.
Category 2: During the course of the semester you will receive instructions for a variety of additional essays and projects.
Category 3: A ten-page research paper on a subject of your selection.
Final grade will be determined by the following formula:
Category 1 20%
Category 2 20%
Category 3 20%
Final exam 20%
Class participation 20%
Note: * indicates that a reaction paper is due by 9 AM!
*January 22- Geomancy: Sacred Space
Read: The "Course Requirements" above carefully. (Do you comprehend all that is expected of you? Are you willing to engage in our discourse actively?)
Malinowski, Magic, Science and Religion 18-53 (xerox)
*January 27-
Read: Malinowski, Magic, Science and Religion 54-90 (xerox)
*January 29-
Read: Eliade, The Sacred and the Profane excerpt (xerox)
*February 3- What is Folklore?
Readings: Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary of Folklore definitions of folklore (xerox)
In your reaction essay: Think about: specific forms folklore (in your understanding of the term) might take--taking pains to distinguish folklore from popular culture and the mass media. Use contemporary America/Hamilton as the specific culture under study. For example, would you include: certain stories told about certain Hamilton fraternities? Harlequin romances? The graffiti in Burke Library bathrooms? Television commercials? Rumors about Bill Clinton or Boris Yeltsin? CNN live coverage of the OJ Simpson trial? Stories about throwing oranges (et al.!) at hockey games at HC?
As part of your reaction essay, compile a list of ten or more examples of Hamilton or contemporary American "folklore."
Wednesday, February 5- Paganism I- Cult of Mother Earth and the Spirit World:
Great Goddess (matriarchal) religion among the ancient Slavs
Reading: Ivanits, pp. 3-18, 51-82, 169-189
In-class viewing of reconstruction of Stravinsky/Roerich/Nijinsky, "The Rites of Spring" (the 1913 avant-garde ballet-reconstruction of ancient Slavic earth worship)
*Monday, February 10- Paganism II- The Kiev Pantheon and Slavic Mythology
Read: "The Lay of Igor's Campaign" (xerox); Primary Chronicle accounts of pre-Christian worship in Rus' (xerox).
*Form of today's reaction essay: Compile a list of the poetic devices [with examples] encountered in the "Lay." Comment on its poetic structure and the role of magic in the text.
Wednesday, February 12- The Conversion to Christianity: External Forms of Orthodox Worship
Read: Ivanits, pp. 19-37, 127-153; "Povest vremennykh let accounts of conversion of Rus'" (xerox)
*Monday, February 17- "Double Faith" and Legends of the Saints
Readings: xerox packet, including the Lives (vitae/zhitiia) of Saints Boris and Gleb, Isaak of the Cave Monastery, and Stefan of Perm; "The Cross and its Symbolism" (xerox)
*Reaction essay: Study the form of the saint's life (vita) carefully. Make note of the highly rhetorical style, of the typical literary devices employed, of the details that recur in the texts. After compiling a list of the poetic devices that typify the vita, provide a commentary on the structure of a saint's life. Be specific, make precise references to passages. (For next Monday you will imitate the genre by writing a Life with yourself as the subject.)
Wednesday, February 19- Peasant Life
Reading: Tian-Shanskaia, pp. 1-49, 95-138
In class: village settlements, the peasant house and food, dress,
and "quality of life"
* Monday, February 24
Writing assignment: (do not e-mail to me; hand in in class): Compose a Saint's Life with yourself as subject (you need not be "historically accurate"-- the point is more to create an edifying and exemplary story-- that is "spiritual truth." Need some inspiration? Read the opening sections of Genesis, or the narratives on the birth of Jesus. Is this accurate history? Does it matter? What is the primary point of these stories-- to impart a theological world view!) Be sure to employ the poetic devices and rhetorical style that will make it identifiable as a Vita (4-5 pages: develop your image well!!) NOTE: You are required to meet with at least one other member of class in order to work on editing your texts. Be critical and ruthless in evaluating and improving your partner's Life. (Indicate on your work who your editor was.)
Wednesday, February 26- Calendar Songs and Rituals.
Readings: Reeder, 1-7, 57-66, 85-104; Ralston, "Mythic and Ritual Songs" (186-211)(xerox); Cicerov, "Some Types of Russian New year Songs" (xerox); Alexander, "Ceremonial Poetry Connected with the Calendar" (xerox)
*Monday, March 3- Songs and Rituals of the Agrarian Cycle.
In class- Documentary film (St. Petersburg University), "Russian Agrarian Holidays"
*Reaction paper: Based on the information provided in Ralston and Reeder, compile a calendar of the festivals of the "agrarian-magic" cycle, as well as a parallel calendar of the major holidays of the Orthodox Church (consult the xerox handout, "Feasts..."). Indicate where the two calendars "intersect."
Wednesday, March 5- Sorcery: Charms and Divination
Readings: Ralston, "Sorcery and Witchcraft" (345-387)(xerox); Alexander, "Charms" (113-118)(xerox)
In class: Curses as charms; typical Russian gestures rooted in superstitio, as well as gesture-cursesRSNST 298
Monday, March 10- Sorcery: Witchcraft and Shamanism.
Research paper topic statement due today: submit a one-page proposal via e-mail. Think of a general area of interest. Go to the library and begin to investigate on your own (we will have a session with a research librarian on Wednesday). Try to describe as precisely as possible what it is you hope to investigate. What is your goal in the research project? Try to list several potentially useful primary/secondary sources (beyond the required readings for class!).
In class: Amulet-making! Bring in some sort of small personal item to insert in amulet (a token, bit of jewelry, "good-luck" token, bit of hair, bit of finger nail, etc.). We need a volunteer to bring some earth from Samuel Kirkland's grave.
Reading: Ivanits, 38-50, 83-124, 154-168, 190-205; "Amulets for Anxiety" (xeerox)
*Wednesday, March 12- The Supernatural in the stories of Nikolai Gogol
Reading: Nikolai Gogol, "The Lost Dispatch," "Christmas Eve," "The Bewitched Place," plus the forewords to the collection, "Village Evenings Near Dikanka" (xerox)
*Reaction essay: Write a critique of the stories, pay particular attention to the folkloric elements employed by Gogol. (How does your knowledge increase your appreciation of the stories?)
If your last name begins A-M, write on "Lost Dispatch" and "Bewitched Place"; Nichols-W, on "Christmas Eve"; Nahor- provide some background for us on Gogol and comment on the compiler of the "Evenings," the bee-keeper Ginger Panko.
Second half of class: meeting with research librarian in Burke to discuss general resources for folklore study. You may want to consider making a special appointment with a librarian to pursue investigation of your topic. Try to place any requests for Inter-library loan before break!
SPRING BREAK (You should use break to begin research for your big paper. Make use of any libraries located near the spot you will be spring-breaking!)
NOTE: This week there are no reaction papers. You are to be energetically conducting research for your papers!
Monday, March 31- The Wedding Game I
Readings: Tian-Shanskaia, pp. 50-94
Ralston, "Marriage Songs" (xerox)
Texts of wedding songs from the White Sea region (xerox)
In class: recordings of wedding laments. Bring your hankies!
Wednesday, April 2- The Wedding Game II
Readings: Reeder, pp. 14-21, 121-133
In class: videos-- wedding segments of "Peter the Great" and "Young Catherine"; more recordings of wedding songs!
*Monday, April 7- Folktales I
Readings: Afanasev (49-53, 124-130, 299-302, 494-497, 590- 593, 612-624)(read first, then...)
*Propp, MORPHOLOGY (3-65) (reserve; this is heavy duty--give yourself enough time to digest this and compose a meaningful reaction essay in the form of an outline of Propp's theories on the structure of the wondertale.)
*Wednesday, April 9- Folktales II
Readings: Afanasev (142-172, 425-427)
Propp, MORPHOLOGY (65-91); Propp, THEORY (82-99)(reserve);
Propp (xerox of symbols from Morphology of the Folktale)
*Reaction: Continue your analysis of Propp's theories.
*Friday, April 11-
Written assignment due : Folktale Project 1 (hand in by 4 p.m. in hard copy to my office, or my e-mail)
Monday, April 14- Folktales III
Readings: Afanasev (194-195, 363-369, 439-447, 485-493, 553-562, 576-577)
Propp, MORPHOLOGY (92-116; contemplate 119-127, 149-155)
Jakobson, "On Russian Fairy Tales" (in Afanasev 631-651)
Wednesday, April 16- Folktales IV
In class: Guest story-teller! Mead sipping!
Read: Afanasev (131-133, 229-234, 252-255, 314-320, 325-327; review 439-447)
*Friday, April 18- Folktale Project 2 due (hand in by 4 PM)
Make an appointment for a first-draft conference for later this week. (Your first-draft of the research paper is to be discussed with a Writing Center tutor by this Friday. Attach to your paper evidence that conference took place!)
Monday, April 21- Folktales V
Readings: Afanasev (76-79, 90-113, 196-202)
Jung/Bettelheim packet (xerox)
*Wednesday, April 23- Byliny, the Kievan Cycle.
*(Reaction: As you read the epics, compile a list of the typical poetic devices you encounter in the texts.)
Readings:
Skaftymov, "The Structure of the Byliny" (xerox)
Packet of Kievan byliny (xerox)
In class: recordings of byliny!
*Friday, April 25- First draft of research project (at least 5-7 papers, complete with footnotes and bibliography; the final paper is to be a solid ten pages!) must be presented to the Writing Center by today. After your conference, rework your essay. Hand in second-draft to me by Tuesday, April 29.
Monday, April 28- Byliny, the Novgorod Cycle.
Readings:
Novgorod byliny (xerox)
In class- recordings of byliny; group chanting of byliny.
Tuesday, April 29- second-draft of research paper due (DO NOT E-MAIL! HARD COPY ONLY... at my threshold by 4 PM)(I will comment on your work and make suggestions for improvement. Final, polished version due as soon after return as possible, but in no case no later than May 13, 4 PM.)
Wednesday, April 30- Urban Folklore: Puppetry, Carnivals
Readings: Kelly, Petrushka (reserve, pp. 18-58); text of "Petrushka" play (xerox)
Monday, May 5-
Dracula and Vampirism
Readings: Oinas, "Heretics as Vampires and Demons in Russia" (xerox)
Monk Efrosin, "Story about Dracula" (xerox)
Bring garlic and crucifixes!
Wednesday, May 7- ORAL PRESENTATIONS! You will each have five-minutes to present your research topics. Prepare this well-- and practice your delivery! You are encouraged to use audio-visual aids. (This will be graded as part of this exercise.)
FINAL EXAM-- SUNDAY, MAY 18, 2:00 PM. (Let me repeat my e-mail note to you: "FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE HAS BEEN POSTED. OUR EXAM WILL TAKE PLACE SUNDAY, MAY 18, 2:00 PM. Make your departure plans accordingly! (Don't tell me your mother didn't realize and she already purchased a non-refundable ticket!) I will not be able to reschedule for anyone (there will be slide and audio identifications-- so it will be impossible). Any serious conflict will have to be taken up with the Dean!")
Project 1. Study the Aarne and Thompson categories of types and motifs, and carefully read the Introduction to the Motif-Index and the general and detailed synopses of the motifs (this is a xerox on reserve in library, called "Synopsis of the Aarne-Thompson Motif-Index," ##1377, 1378 or 1379). Also, look through a random volume of the big and complete Thompson's Motif-Index (they are on reserve). Come to a good and concrete understanding of what a "motif" is. THEN, without consulting any secondary materials, compile an exhaustive list of the motifs you discern in the fairytale "The Wise Maiden" (Afanasev, 134-140. Afterwards, go back to the COMPLETE SIX-VOLUME big and complete Motif-Index and locate four of the motifs. (Use the alphabetical index in Vol. 6 to help you track down very specific motifs.) Indicate the Thompson numbers and descriptions. (To be typed and handed in. Do not worry about numbering your collection of motifs, although you are encouraged to organize them in some useful and logical way.)
Project 2. Write a wondertale (volshebnaya skazka) based on the Proppian function-equation of "Frolka-Stay-at-Home" or "The Magical Pipe." Review the Propp essays carefully-- be sure you understand the theories of structure, function and variable elements. Read the assigned folktales carefully ; study the symbols to be employed in analyzing a text (refer to Appendix IV from Propp's Morphology of the Folktale). Enter into the spirit of these texts-- examine the structures and devices employed in the tales. Do exploit a variety of folkloric devices (but only those typical of the skazka). You may borrow cleverly turned phrases from the originals (e. g. "Her mouth was so full of venom that her teeth itched"). You may add functions to the sequences of "Frolka" and "Pipe," but do not discard any functions. Remember to keep your functions in proper Proppian sequence. Employ TRANSFORMATIONS of various types. You are to use Hamilton College material for local motifs/variables (such as they are necessary in your narration). In a column give the function letters to mark each developmental stage of your narrative. Please be inventive and brilliant. Hint: you might do a mini-motif analysis of "Frolka" or "Pipe" before writing your variant. By identifying the variables/elements you will be in a better position to employ the substitutions and transformations (see Propp, THEORY, pp. 89-95). Do not hesitate to employ "Externally Motivated Substitutions" (Propp, THEORY, p. 91) in order to provide a specifically Hamilton touch to your tale. (Warning: Don't use such realistic Hamilton variables to excess, or your narrative will not be a folktale!) (4-5 pp., typed neatly and edited carefully)