Russian Folktales · Chapter
The Feast of the Dead explained
A group of girls holding an evening party mockingly invite bones lying on the road to join them.
What happens
A group of girls holding an evening party mockingly invite bones lying on the road to join them. The bones come to life, sit at the table, and demand food and drink. When one girl drops meat, the bones chase the girls, killing two of them while one escapes by hiding and giving clever answers.
Themes in this chapter
Fate and Divine Justice
The girls' mockery of the bones leads to their grim fate, illustrating a moral lesson about respecting the dead.
Characters to notice
- The Devil
Referenced indirectly as 'the Devil's poker' in the girl's answer to the bones.
- The Fair Maiden
One of the girls who survives by hiding behind a water-butt and answering the bones' questions.
Key passages
“Ho! they said, bones, bones, come and be our guests: we are having an evening party.”
The girls jokingly invited the bones to join their party.
This act of mockery sets the supernatural events in motion.
“The bones came and sat at the table just like men, and said to the maidens, 'Now give us the brandy.'”
The bones assumed human form and demanded alcohol from the girls.
The bones behave as living guests, demanding hospitality.
“The bones caught one girl up, and broke her across their knees. The other girls made their escape into the loft; one girl hid behind the water-butt.”
The bones killed one girl by breaking her over their knees, while the others fled; one hid behind a water barrel.
The bones exact violent retribution for the girls' earlier disrespect.