Arts
The series contiues with the role Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) played in Russian civilization. Emphasis is placed on his contributions, which included the collection and distribution of folklore. A discussion on his epithet "Ivan the Terrible" is also provided. I was surprised to find that although Ivan IV carried out several wicked acts, he was nonetheless praised as a good ruler. His character and reign marked the beginning of a type of rule that will come to dominate Russia. His interest in folklore provides the basis for collection and distribution of Russian folklore. Special attention is given to this subject in this episode. For a better understanding of Russian folklore, I turn to Vladimir Propp, author of "The Morphology of Folklore". Enjoy!