Why the forest is named primeval in fairy-tales

Abstract. The article is devoted to the possible meaning of the set expression “primeval (dremuchij) forest”. It comes out with conjugate word “drowse” (drema). In his work “Historical background of the fairy tail” Vladimir Propp shows not only linguistic, but also historical correlation between «primeval forest» and “drowse” by the ex-ample of the initiation rite and its specificity.