A Comparative Study of the Magical Functions of the Apple in Selected Iranian and European Folktales Based on Vladimir Propp’s Theory

Abstract

Introduction

Myths and folktales have always reflected the profound connection between humans and nature. Among natural elements, plants and fruits occupy a special place, since they are not only symbolic motifs but also endowed with magical and mythical functions. The apple, as one of the most recurrent magical fruits in Iranian and European folklore, plays diverse roles such as fertility, transformation, healing, and deception. This study adopts a comparative approach to examine the morphological and thematic functions of the apple in Iranian and European tales, aiming to reveal both similarities and differences of this shared cultural motif. The significance of this research lies in the fact that no independent comparative study has yet focused specifically on the apple in folklore narratives, and thus this investigation contributes to the enrichment of cross-cultural studies.
 

Methodology

The research employed a structural-comparative method based on Vladimir Propp’s morphological model. Stories in which the apple played a central role were selected. Using the Aarne-Thompson classification and Marzolph’s typology, apple-related tale types were identified. Subsequently, Propp’s functions—including acquisition of a magical object, alleviation of misfortune, prohibition, and transformation—were coded within the selected tales. The corpus consisted of 137 Iranian tales from The Encyclopedia of Iranian Folktales and 54 European tales from the Brothers Grimm, Italo Calvino’s folktales, and Irish folklore collections. Data analysis focused on identifying common and distinctive functions of the apple across the two cultural domains.
 

Discussion

Findings revealed that in Iranian tales, the apple most frequently functions as a fertility agent. In 52 stories, childless couples conceive after receiving a magical apple from a dervish or sorcerer. The dervish often acts as the helper figure, giving the apple to the king or queen. In contrast, European tales emphasize the deceptive and deadly function of the apple, as exemplified by Snow White, where the poisoned apple induces a long sleep.
In terms of transformation, both cultural traditions contain narratives in which a girl or the main character emerges from within an apple, or a human is transformed into an apple or other objects. Similarities are also observed in the healing function: in Iranian tales, the apple or the leaves of the apple tree possess restorative powers, while in European tales the apple is introduced as a magical fruit for curing illnesses. Another important difference lies in the symbolic role of the apple. In Iranian stories, the laughing apple, the crying apple, and the talking apple appear as living, personified symbols, whereas in European folklore such symbolic features are far less common.
Overall, Propp’s functional analysis showed that Type 303 (fertility apple) is most frequent in Iranian tales, while European tales highlight poisoned apples and golden apples. This indicates that in Iranian culture, the apple is primarily associated with fertility and birth, whereas in European culture it is linked to deception, trials, and danger.
Furthermore, the comparative analysis revealed that in Iranian tales, the role of the dervish or sorcerer in giving the apple to the king or queen is more prominent, while in European tales the apple is often directly picked from the tree or handed over by a female witch. This difference reflects the social structures and cultural beliefs of the two traditions. In Iran, the presence of the dervish as a mediator between humans and nature is significant, while in Europe the female witch often plays the role of tester or deceiver.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that the apple, as a shared folkloric motif in Iranian and European traditions, embodies diverse functions, some of which are universal (fertility, transformation) and others culture-specific (personified apples in Iran, poisoned apples in Europe). These differences mirror the socio-cultural contexts, religious beliefs, and symbolic systems of each tradition.
From a theoretical perspective, applying Propp’s morphology and the Aarne-Thompson typology enabled a more precise analysis of narrative structures and symbolic roles. From a practical perspective, the findings can inspire comparative literature studies, folklore research, and even cultural or media productions that seek to highlight shared human motifs. Ultimately, the comparative study of the apple illustrates how a natural symbol can acquire distinct meanings across cultures while simultaneously reflecting universal human concerns.