Folk Narrator

Folk Narrator

 

(in Russian, skazochnik), a narrator of folktales (skazki) who draws on a large or small repertoire. While narrating the traditional folktale, the narrator gives it new features and alters it in accordance with his abilities and tastes and the demands of his audience. Folk narrators differ in their repertoire, the language and ideological orientation of the tales, and the manner of narration.

Professional folk narrators played an important role in the development of folktales among all peoples. The best-known folk narrator in 19th-century Russia was the Samara narrator Abram Novopol’tsev. Outstanding Soviet folk narrators have included A. K. Baryshnikova (Kuprianikha) and A. N. Korol’kova.

REFERENCES

Brodskii, N. L. “Sledy professional’nykh skazochnikov v russkikh skazkakh.” Etnograficheskoe obozrenie, 1904, no. 2.
Azadovskii, M. K. “Russkie skazochniki.” In Russkaia skazka, vol. 1. Moscow, 1932.
Korol’kova, A. N. Russkie narodnye skazki. [Notes by E. V. Pomerantseva and others.] Moscow, 1969.