Russian Fairy Tales (RUSS 047/LITR 047R) -- Spring 2008 -- Swarthmore College

Sibelan Forrester

More on Propp

Sets of functions (the most important stuff to know):

• Preparatory section (Greek letters)
• Villainy (A), Liquidation (K), and wedding (W)
• Departure or dispatch ( up arrow ) and return ( down arrow ) of the hero
• Donor sequence (D, E, and F) – donor = Propp’s term for a magical helper
• Struggle (H), Victory (I), and Branding (J)
• Pursuit (Pr) and Rescue (Rs) of hero – that is, pursuit after the liquidation of the misfortune (K)
• Claims of false hero (L), Recognition of hero (Q), Exposure of false hero (Ex), and Punishment of false hero (U)

Functions can be modified: they can have positive or negative results: when a donor tests the hero, hero may pass or fail (E), and receive or not receive a magic agent (F). Or functions may be modified by trebling: a trebled H-I (struggle-victory) sequence (perhaps like the Brave Youth going through Baba Yaga's three daughters), or hero may battle three dragons (ever-more-many-headed).

What to learn from this unit on Propp:

• Know the principal types of functions (villainy, mediation; the groups listed above)
• Know that these have subtypes, but you don’t need to memorize the lists of specific subtypes (A1: Kidnapping, A2 seizure, etc.)
• Concentrate on the most common functions. As you read tales and think about them from a Proppian perspective, you’ll notice that some functions occur in almost every tale (Lack/Lack Liquidated, as it breaks down), while others are rarer.
• Know what the common specific functions are, but you don’t need to memorize the letters. You may have to identify “acquisition or receipt of a magic agent” in a tale, but you don’t have to know that Propp labeled it “F.” (Refer to the book if you want the precise details.)

Take out “The Crystal Mountain” and work in groups to make up its morphological formula. (If you finish fast, go on to do “The Firebird and Princess Vasilisa,” a rather more complex tale.)

Return to the class syllabus

Proceed to the lecture notes for Monday, March 24, 2008.