The Smith and the Demon Information

The Smith and the Demon is a captivating Russian folktale that was featured in “Russian Fairy Tale: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore”. This compilation of Russian folktales was translated and published by W.R.S Ralston in 1873. This story is a folktale that falls into the category of traditional Russian folklore that has been passed down through generations.

Literary Contexts

Russian Folklore dates to the 16^th century and encompasses a variety of elements within the contents of each tale.  Folklore itself is defined as “traditional customs, tales, sayings, dances, or art forms preserved among a people” ^[1] (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).

This definition of folklore indicates that such stories are passed through generations and highlight the culture and shared experiences between a set of people. Russian Folklore specifically derives from “myths and rituals of tribal forms of society” ^[2] (Moniz). With these tales being works of folklore at times would appear without any trace of their original authors.

The Smith and the Demon is a tale that is included in “Russian Fairy Tale: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore” ^[3], a compilation of tales translated and published by W.R.S Ralston.

Plot Summary

The Smith and the Demon is a folktale about a smith and his young son.  The smith was introduced to the image of a demon at church and from there had one painted at his shop. The smith would simply greet the painting each day before entering the shop. When the smith’s son got older, he succeeded his father and became a smith himself.

Once he had taken over the role as smith, he would not greet the painting of them Demon. Instead the smith would tamper, harm, and even spat ugly words to the painting of the Demon. After countless of interactions with this painting the Demon soon came to life and took the presence of a young boy in an attempt to get back at the smith. As a young boy the Demon worked under the smith and learned about his work.

After time the smith became welcoming of the you boy and took him on as an apprentice. From there the smith would allow his new apprentice to be alone. One day, when the young apprentice was left alone, he used his Demon abilities to turn an older woman young again. From this point forward the smith and the Demon are faced with one another and the consequences of the smith’s actions towards the Demon.

Religious History in Connection to Russian Folktales

Folklore itself is defined as “traditional customs, tales, sayings, dances, or art forms preserved among a people” ^[1] (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). In the case of Russian Folklore, it has been used to tell stories by highlighting specific topics that pertain to the Russian culture from the 16th century and onward. These tales have also been used to provide a moral for readers to learn from.

These types of morals focus on warning readers and providing them with insight. In The Smith and the Demon, a prominent character is the demon. The demon has been used in multiple folktales to cover religious beliefs of the time and to personify evil as a a physical being. Prior to the introduction of Christianity, many Russians followed Slavic paganism which lasted until the 13th century. By the time Russian Folktales were introduced, they followed more Christian based teachings with hints of paganisms.

In a sense, it could be understood through The Smith and the Demon that paganism is shown in a negative light. This is done by utilizing the Christian portrayal of the devil along with the pagan tradition of sacrifices, to indicate that there is something bad. By combing the devil along with specific pagan traditions, these tales create a "warning for readers to stray away from these types of persons and beliefs. By portraying the devil as the bad guy, Christian beliefs slowly start to seep through the tale and others that showcase Christian beliefs.

Themes

The tales within the anthology provide different tales that highlight different themes. Some themes presented in this tale are good versus evil, religion, right versus wrong, revenge, faith, arrogance, and Pre-Christian beliefs. The piece itself is a tale that entertains its audience, but also allows for readers to gain valuable insight through the themes presented. With the use of the demon and the negative perception he carries; the readers are challenged with choosing if the demon is to be granted the respect and kindness he demands.

The use of these characters and themes challenges the readers to look beyond the notion of good or evil and instead discover the intended moral of the tale. Specifically in The Smith and the Demon themes of human sacrifice are noted by the death of a man. The use of demon or devil like character also plays into religious themes and specific beliefs during that time.

The creation of Russian folklore created an outlet to keep traditions, customs, and the culture of its people alive. As the tale unfolds, the reader is introduced to the overall theme and message of the story through a satirical lens. The reasoning for the Demons actions become clear but puts the reader in a position that makes them identify right from wrong and good from evil.

Popular Reception/Adaptations Information

Through an online search you will commonly find a tale about a blacksmith and the devil. Though similar in characters, this tale focuses on a deal made between the blacksmith and the devil. The deal between the two entails that the devil will give the blacksmith the ability to make anything he wants. This version highlights the consequences that come with making a deal with the devil as well as the abilities the devil possess. This tale connects with The Smith and the Demon by including themes such as religion, good versus evil, and right versus wrong.

Footnotes

External Links

• https://www.gutenberg.org/files/22373/22373-h/22373-h.htm

• https://hilo.hawaii.edu/campuscenter/hohonu/volumes/documents/TheVoiceofaCulture-FolktalesinRussiaArielMoniz.pdf

• JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/130323

• https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folklore#:~:text=Kids%20Definition-,folklore,down%20from%20generation%20to%20generation