The Historical Roots of the Fairy Tale

Methodology and Conclusions

In his fundamental work, Vladimir Yakovlevich Propp approaches the fairy tale as a living organism whose roots reach deep into archaic rituals and mythological ideas. His research methodology is based on meticulous comparative-historical analysis, where every fairy tale detail is examined through the lens of ancient rituals, ceremonies, and beliefs. Propp scrupulously compares motifs, images, and structures of fairy tales with initiation rites, wedding and funeral ceremonies, revealing their original meaning and function in the life of ancient people. He traces how ritual actions, having lost their sacred significance, gradually transformed into artistic elements of fairy tale narrative. In his conclusions, Propp asserts that the fairy tale is not the product of free folk creativity, but the result of a complex evolution of ritual forms, where every motif and character bears the imprint of the most ancient rituals. His work presents the reader with a fascinating picture of the continuity of cultural layers, where the fairy tale appears as a living testimony to the historical memory of the people.