Indiana University Press, 1993
Propp’s essay in Russian Folk Lyrics extends beyond the formalistic analysis of folklore outlined in his classic The Morphology of the Folktale. In this study Propp considers the Russian folk lyric in the social and historical context in which it was produced. His extensive analysis serves as an introduction to a comprehensive anthology of Russian folk lyrics, which are divided into categories such as calendar rituals, wedding rituals, games, lullabies, love lyrics, work songs and revolutionary songs. Some of the lyrics presented here were imitated by or appear in the works of Russia’s major writers, such as Pushkin and Nekrasov. Whether the songs are about love, labor, or children’s games, whether they are sad, humorous, or satiric in tone, Russian folk lyrics are rich in metaphor and symbolic meaning. The author’s introduction and editorial notes to Propp’s text and the folk lyrics provide valuable information to an audience unfamiliar with Russian peasant life, its beliefs and social customs. There is also a bibliography of Propp’s sources as well as an extensive selected bibliography of works on Russian folk lyrics and Russian folklore in general.
