RUSS 260 - Witches and Devils:From Slavic Folklore and Fairy Tales to Modern Literature

Institution:

Wellesley College

Subject:

Description:

Pankenier Witches, devils, and vampires continue to populate the modern imagination, but where did such beliefs originate Slavic folklore and fairy tales uniquely preserve the richness of older traditions and thus offer a window into a past that still exerts an influence today. First we will study Slavic folklore to uncover the power of folkloristics and understand the layering of belief systems. We will then read Afanasyev's Russian Fairy Tales from various critical perspectives and discuss Propp's groundbreaking analysis of their basic structure i n Morphology of the Folktale . Throughout the course, we will examine literary works, art, films, and music that return to folk themes, culminating with a closer analysis of the use of folk elements in Bulgakov ? The Master and Margarit a, a Faustian novel of witches and devil s. Prerequisite: None Distribution: Language and Literature Semester: Spring Unit: 1.0

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.wellesley.edu

Phone Number:

(781) 283-1000

Regional Accreditation:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Semester

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