The Two Corpses
by W. R. S. Ralston
The Two Corpses THE TWO CORPSES.[409] A soldier had obtained leave to go home on furlough--to pray to the holy images, and to bow down before his parents. And as he was going his way, at a time when the sun had long set, and all was dark around, it chanced that he had to pass by a graveyard. Just then he heard that some one was running after him, and crying: "Stop! you can't escape!" He looked back and there was a corpse running and gnashing its teeth. The Soldier sprang on one side with all his might to get away from it, caught sight of a little chapel,[410] and bolted straight into it. There wasn't a soul in the chapel, but stretched out on a table there lay another corpse, with tapers burning in front of it. The Soldier hid himself in a corner, and remained there, hardly knowing whether he was alive or dead, but waiting to see what would happen. Presently up ran the first corpse--the one that had chased the Soldier--and dashed into the chapel. Thereupon the one that was lying on the table jumped up, and cried to it: "What hast thou come here for?" "I've chased a soldier in here, so I'm going to eat him." "Come now, brother! he's run into my house. I shall eat him myself." "No, I shall!" "No, I shall!" And they set to work fighting; the dust flew like anything. They'd have gone on fighting ever so much longer, only the cocks began to crow. Then both the corpses fell lifeless to the ground, and the Soldier went on his way homeward in peace, saying: "Glory be to Thee, O Lord! I am saved from the wizards!" Even the possession of arms and the presence of a dog will not always, it seems, render a man secure from this terrible species of cut-throat.
Moral of the Story
Even in the face of overwhelming supernatural danger, unexpected circumstances or divine intervention can lead to salvation.
Characters
The Soldier ★ protagonist
Implied to be physically capable, able to run and spring aside quickly.
Attire: Military uniform, appropriate for a soldier on furlough in the given period.
Fearful, quick-thinking, pious, relieved.
First Corpse ⚔ antagonist
A reanimated dead body, capable of running and gnashing teeth.
Attire: Implied burial shrouds or tattered clothing.
Aggressive, predatory, persistent, argumentative.
Second Corpse ⚔ antagonist
A reanimated dead body, initially lying on a table, capable of jumping up and fighting.
Attire: Implied burial shrouds or tattered clothing, lying on a table with tapers burning around it.
Possessive, aggressive, argumentative.
Locations
Graveyard Path
A dark path leading through a graveyard, with the sun long set and all around dark.
Mood: Eerie, frightening, desolate
The soldier is chased by the first corpse.
Little Chapel
A small, empty chapel with a corpse stretched out on a table and tapers burning in front of it. The soldier hides in a corner.
Mood: Eerie, tense, claustrophobic, supernatural
The two corpses fight over the soldier, who is hiding. The climax of the story occurs here.
Story DNA
Moral
Even in the face of overwhelming supernatural danger, unexpected circumstances or divine intervention can lead to salvation.
Plot Summary
A soldier, traveling home at night, is chased by a reanimated corpse from a graveyard. He takes refuge in a chapel, only to find another corpse already inside. The two corpses then argue and fight over who gets to eat the soldier, but their battle is abruptly ended by the crowing of cocks at dawn, causing them both to fall lifeless. The soldier, saved by this unexpected turn of events, continues his journey home in peace.
Themes
Emotional Arc
fear to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Ralston's collection 'Russian Folk Tales' (1873) compiled stories from various Russian sources, reflecting common peasant beliefs and superstitions of the time.
Plot Beats (11)
- A soldier is on furlough, returning home to his parents.
- He travels at night and passes by a graveyard.
- A corpse emerges from the graveyard and chases him, threatening to eat him.
- The soldier flees in terror and finds refuge in a small, deserted chapel.
- Inside the chapel, he sees another corpse laid out on a table with tapers burning.
- The chasing corpse enters the chapel and confronts the corpse on the table.
- The two corpses argue vehemently, each claiming the right to eat the soldier.
- They begin to fight violently, creating a great commotion.
- Cocks begin to crow, signaling the approach of dawn.
- Both corpses immediately fall lifeless to the ground.
- The soldier, relieved and grateful, continues his journey home in peace, attributing his salvation to divine intervention.
