The Devil in the Dough-pan
by Alexander Afanasyev
The Devil in the Dough-pan Once a woman was kneading bread, but had forgotten to say the blessing. So the demon, Potánka,[56] ran up and sat down in it. Then she recollected she had kneaded the dough without saying the blessing, went up to it and crossed herself; and Potánka wanted to escape, but could not anyhow, because of the blessing. So she put the leavened dough through a strainer and threw it out into the street, with Potánka inside. The pigs turned him over and over, and he could not escape for three whole days. At last he tore his way out through a crack in the dough and scampered off without looking behind him. He ran up to his comrades, who asked him: “Where have you been, Potánka?” “May that woman be accursed!” he said. “Who?” “The one who was kneading her dough and had made it without saying the proper blessing; so I ran up and squatted in it. Then she laid hold of me and crossed herself, and after three livelong days I got out, the pigs poking me about and I unable to escape! Never again will I get into a woman’s dough.”
Moral of the Story
Neglecting religious observances can invite mischief, but faith offers protection and can even trap evil.
Characters
The Woman ★ protagonist
None explicitly mentioned, likely a peasant woman given the context of bread kneading.
Attire: None explicitly mentioned, likely simple, practical clothing suitable for household chores, such as a sarafan and headscarf.
Forgetful (initially), pious (recollects blessing), resourceful (uses strainer to dispose of dough).
Potánka ⚔ antagonist
Implied to be small enough to sit in a dough-pan, but strong enough to eventually tear through dough. His form is not explicitly described beyond being a 'demon'.
Attire: None, as he is a demon.
Mischievous (sits in dough), easily trapped (by blessing), resentful (curses the woman), cowardly (scampers off without looking back).
The Pigs ○ minor
Typical domestic pigs, described as 'turning him over and over'.
Attire: None.
Curious, persistent (in rooting through the dough).
Potánka's Comrades ○ minor
Demons, similar in nature to Potánka, but their appearance is not detailed.
Attire: None.
Curious (ask where Potánka has been).
Locations
Woman's Kitchen/House
A domestic space where a woman is kneading bread in a dough-pan.
Mood: initially mundane, then suddenly tense/magical
The woman kneads dough without blessing, Potánka enters the dough, and is trapped by the blessing.
The Street
An outdoor area where the dough, with Potánka inside, is thrown. Pigs are present.
Mood: humiliating, chaotic, desperate for Potánka
Potánka is trapped in the dough and tormented by pigs for three days before escaping.
Potánka's Comrades' Location
An unspecified location where Potánka meets his fellow demons after his ordeal.
Mood: curious, conversational, a place of recounting a tale
Potánka recounts his humiliating experience to his comrades.
Story DNA
Moral
Neglecting religious observances can invite mischief, but faith offers protection and can even trap evil.
Plot Summary
A woman forgets to bless her dough, allowing the demon Potánka to sit in it. When she remembers and blesses the dough, Potánka becomes trapped. She discards the dough, and Potánka endures three days of torment by pigs before escaping. He then recounts his humiliating experience to his comrades, vowing never to interfere with a woman's dough again.
Themes
Emotional Arc
mischief to suffering to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Afanas'ev collected Russian folk tales in the 19th century, reflecting traditional peasant beliefs and superstitions where religious observance was deeply integrated into daily life.
Plot Beats (10)
- A woman kneads dough but forgets to say a blessing.
- The demon Potánka, seeing the unblessed dough, jumps into it.
- The woman remembers her omission, approaches the dough, and crosses herself.
- Potánka tries to escape but is trapped by the blessing.
- The woman puts the dough through a strainer and throws it into the street with Potánka still inside.
- Pigs turn the dough (and Potánka) over and over for three days.
- Potánka finally tears a crack in the dough and escapes.
- Potánka runs to his comrades, who ask where he has been.
- Potánka curses the woman and explains his ordeal.
- Potánka vows never to get into a woman's dough again.
