Tolstoy, Folk Tales, and Theme “What Men Live By”

Folk Tales  Folklore can be divided into four areas of study:  Artifacts  Oral Tradition  Culture  Behavior/Rituals  Popularity springs from their imaginative characters, their supernatural elements, their focus on action, their simple sense of justice, their happy endings, and the fundamental wisdom they contain  We want to draw connections to how Tolstoy uses folklore to validate cultural norms  Folklore can be divided into four areas of study:  Artifacts  Oral Tradition  Culture  Behavior/Rituals  Popularity springs from their imaginative characters, their supernatural elements, their focus on action, their simple sense of justice, their happy endings, and the fundamental wisdom they contain  We want to draw connections to how Tolstoy uses folklore to validate cultural norms

Folk Tale Focus  Characters  Characters are either completely good or entirely evil- and those characteristics are clear  Motivation is singular-one overriding desire overwhelms them (greed, love, fear, hatred, jealousy)  The main character is often isolated or left alone to handle challenges on their own  Characters  Characters are either completely good or entirely evil- and those characteristics are clear  Motivation is singular-one overriding desire overwhelms them (greed, love, fear, hatred, jealousy)  The main character is often isolated or left alone to handle challenges on their own

What’s It All About?  Themes are generally simple-but pack a punch!  Detail the virtues of compassion, generosity, and humility  Can also show the dangers of vices like greed, selfishness, and excessive pride  Connection to Greek tragedy all falling back to the universal idea that wisdom comes through suffering (For every benefit there is a condition, nothing in life comes without strings attached, responsibilities to be met, and bargains to be kept  Themes are generally simple-but pack a punch!  Detail the virtues of compassion, generosity, and humility  Can also show the dangers of vices like greed, selfishness, and excessive pride  Connection to Greek tragedy all falling back to the universal idea that wisdom comes through suffering (For every benefit there is a condition, nothing in life comes without strings attached, responsibilities to be met, and bargains to be kept

Beauty is in the Details  Language is economical  Dialogue is used to convey emotion rather than description  Motifs (recurring thematic elements) are everywhere!  Powerful visual images  Element of supernatural, magic, or otherworldliness  Language is economical  Dialogue is used to convey emotion rather than description  Motifs (recurring thematic elements) are everywhere!  Powerful visual images  Element of supernatural, magic, or otherworldliness

And How Does This Relate to Tolstoy?  We are always aiming to draw connections between the text we are reading to ourselves, the world or other pieces/types of literature  Knowing his inspiration-why would folktales inform his style of writing?  What is the role of folklore in Russian culture? How would they influence Tolstoy?  Drawing comparisons-how universal are the pieces of folktales and of Tolstoy’s writings?  Why are these motifs, themes, and moral explorations so important to have repeated?  What are the connections that you see?  We are always aiming to draw connections between the text we are reading to ourselves, the world or other pieces/types of literature  Knowing his inspiration-why would folktales inform his style of writing?  What is the role of folklore in Russian culture? How would they influence Tolstoy?  Drawing comparisons-how universal are the pieces of folktales and of Tolstoy’s writings?  Why are these motifs, themes, and moral explorations so important to have repeated?  What are the connections that you see?