The Feast of the Dead
by Alexander Afanasyev
The Feast of the Dead Some girls were out at night for the evening, and arranged for an evening party. They went out to get some _vódka_. There were bones lying on the road. “Ho!” they said, “bones, bones, come and be our guests: we are having an evening party.” So, they went back home, brought the _vódka_, and stepped in over the threshold. But the bones came and sat at the table just like men, and said to the maidens, “Now give us the brandy.” So the girls gave them brandy. “Give us bread!” So they gave them bread. They all sat down to eat, and one maiden dropped the meat. Then the bones began lifting and stretching their legs under the bench. The girls tried to run away; and the bones raced after them. 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 ran up to the loft and asked: “What is there up there?” “God’s taper.” “But down there?” “The Devil’s poker,” she answered. So the bones hauled the second girl out and strangled her.
Moral of the Story
Do not mock or disrespect the dead, for their spirits may seek retribution.
Characters
The Girls ★ protagonist
Unspecified, but likely young and able-bodied to be out at night and running.
Attire: Unspecified, but likely simple dresses or peasant attire appropriate for an evening party in a rural setting.
Frivolous, playful (initially), terrified, quick-thinking (some of them).
The Bones ⚔ antagonist
Skeletal remains, described as 'bones' that can sit like men, lift and stretch legs, and race.
Attire: None, as they are bones.
Demanding, menacing, predatory, relentless.
The First Girl Caught ○ minor
Unspecified, but she was caught by the bones while trying to escape.
Attire: Unspecified, likely similar to the other girls.
Unlucky, terrified.
The Second Girl Strangled ○ minor
Unspecified, but she hid behind a water-butt and was later found.
Attire: Unspecified, likely similar to the other girls.
Resourceful (in hiding), terrified, quick-witted (in her answers).
Locations
Road outside the house
A road where bones are lying, presumably in the evening or night.
Mood: eerie, foreboding
The girls invite the bones to their party.
Dining area of the house
The main room of the house where a table is set for a party.
Mood: initially festive, then terrifying
The bones join the girls at the table and demand food and drink, then begin to menace them.
The Loft
An upper storage area in the house, accessible by climbing, where some girls hide.
Mood: terrified, desperate, claustrophobic
The girls attempt to escape the bones, and one is caught and strangled here.
Story DNA
Moral
Do not mock or disrespect the dead, for their spirits may seek retribution.
Plot Summary
A group of girls planning an evening party mockingly invites bones they find on the road to join them. The bones arrive at their party, demanding food and drink. When one girl drops meat, the bones become enraged and pursue the fleeing girls, catching and breaking one. They then trick and strangle a second girl who is hiding, leaving the fate of the remaining girls uncertain.
Themes
Emotional Arc
carelessness to terror
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Afanas'ev collected Russian folk tales in the 19th century, reflecting traditional peasant beliefs and superstitions.
Plot Beats (13)
- Girls plan an evening party and go to buy vodka.
- They find bones on the road and mockingly invite them to their party.
- The girls return home with vodka.
- The bones arrive and sit at the table like men, demanding brandy.
- The girls give them brandy, then bread when demanded.
- During the meal, one maiden drops meat.
- The bones become agitated, stretching their legs under the bench.
- The girls try to run away, but the bones chase them.
- The bones catch one girl and break her across their knees.
- The remaining girls escape into the loft; one hides behind a water-butt.
- The bones ask what is in the loft.
- A girl answers, identifying 'God's taper' (the bones) and 'the Devil's poker' (the girl behind the water-butt).
- The bones pull out and strangle the second girl.
