MYTHOLOGEMES OF RUSSIAN FAIRY TALES: THE PERSONIFICATION AND DEIFICATION OF THE EARTH

DOI: 10.33876/2311-0546/2021-3/208-227

Abstract

The article examines the fairy tales’ motifs which present the earth as a zoomorphic or anthropomorphic creature endowed with magic power. From this point of view, the author analyses the semantic base of ungulate characters in the tales of types 511 and 1892 (according to ATU and Comparative index of Plots). The comparative study allows us to trace the probable development of the motif of the “alive earth” from its zoomorphic personification to an anthropomorphic one (through the uniting motif of the tree sprouting through a womb). The study reveals the echo of the idea of the “chain of rebirth” of a dead person’s soul, connected with an almost undoubted impersonation of the earth as a fairy-tale princess who owned the mythical lifesprings: reviving waters or a magic tree with reviving fruits. The paper also considers the probable origin of interconnection between the characters of the princess and the snake-like creature: their reconstructed original function is connected with the idea of rebirth/reincarnation. The author also traces the reflection of social changes in fairy tales. A male character transforms from a personified ancestor’s soul to a hero, including a hero who defeated a powerful princess.

For Citation: Denisova, I.M. M. 2021. Mythologemes of Russian Fairy Tales: the Personification and Deification of the Earth.  Herald of Anthрropology (Vestnik Antropologii) 3: 208–227