We invite you to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of fairy-tale characters who are the protagonists of your favorite fairy tales, and maybe you. They will help you more specifically choose certain fairy tales for your children for corrective purposes. Perhaps you will learn something new and interesting ... Or perhaps you will not agree with something. But familiarity with the characteristics of the characters will help you in choosing the hero of your own fairy tales for your baby, as well as for general awareness.
Cinderella lives in the kitchen near the stove and sleeps in a box of ash. Ash (ash) represents the essence of what is burnt. Fire is a symbol of destruction, purification and transformation. Cinderella lives next to fire, which transfers its strength to her, and she in turn helps her to survive adversity and suffering. Like a fire that turns water into steam, Cinderella recycles, burns out humiliation, resentment and pain, turning them into pure love. You need to have a warm heart so as not to become embittered and harden in soul when you are insulted, humiliated and hated.
Princess Frog
The amphibian frog and Vasilisa the Beautiful are one and the same creature: animal and earthly forces are fused together. Every person has incredible and wonderful possibilities. Merging with the image of Vasilisa the beautiful, you feel almighty, harmonious and joyful. the frog, turning into a beauty, realizes its potential, given from birth.
sleeping Beauty
In the days of the Sleeping Beauty, a person perceived and realized the world around him differently. Consciousness never stands still, it develops, and logical thinking had to replace intuitive perception. The spindle is a symbol of spinning. And the processes of spinning and thinking are inherently related. There are still expressions “I lost the thread of reasoning”, “I pulled the thread and remembered everything”. "Spinning" in figurative language means building thoughts, creating a logical chain.
A princess who, by the curse of an evil fairy, will prick on a spindle and die (fall asleep), is not ready to easily and quickly switch to a different type of thinking. And she falls asleep to accept this process on an unconscious level.
The Snow Queen
A woman of ice ... Ice is frozen crystallized water. The ice queen symbolizes frozen feelings and emotions, stopped movement. Admiring ice crystals, correct lines, geometry of space and time and not feeling the tenderness of a flower, the warmth of the sun, the soft touch of your beloved hands means living with a cold, frozen heart. The Snow Queen and her ice castle are at the psychological level detachment, insensitivity, firmness, determination, icy calmness, composure, the ability to control oneself. Are these qualities really that bad? Aren't there situations in life when we need to be cool, balanced and calm? It's just that all excess is harmful. And even the most beautiful, in large quantities, tires. And when the mind and feelings are in harmony - what could be better?
The image of the Snow Queen is very useful for children (adults) weak and weak-willed, insecure and timid, vulnerable and soft: it will give them strength, firmness, faith in themselves, and resilience in the face of difficulties. The image of the Snow Queen will also help those who are overly excited, temperamental and hot: it will cool the excessive ardor, balance and calm down.
Mermaid
The little mermaid is a child of the element of water and symbolizes the emotional and sensual world. The passionate desire of the Little Mermaid to experience earthly love and spend her life not in expanses of water, but on solid land can be associated with the fact that the intangible and invisible seeks to take shape. But life on earth is connected with the Little Mermaid with great pain. It is probably no coincidence that the heroine did not manage to fulfill her dream - to become the beloved and wife of the prince. It would seem that the Little Mermaid deserved her happiness, but did not receive it.
In such cases, you can invite children to compose their own fairy tale and change its end. The technique of changing fairy tales allows you to look at the world around you more optimistically and happily. This is especially important for children who are sad, indecisive, sluggish, and weak.
Mistress of Copper Mountain
This woman is unusually beautiful, balanced and strong. A stone woman, however, is capable of crying, and is just and compassionate. So why does it not bring joy even to good people? Maybe the point is not in the Mistress of the Copper Mountain, but in the person himself, who comes out to fight the stronger, but is unable to withstand the struggle? Gems are a symbol of wealth and power. How many are capable of possessing treasures and not having attachment to them, not falling into dependence? The image of the Mistress of the Copper Mountain allows one to feel strong and powerful in a good way, just and at the same time ruthless, powerful and rich.
Light, airy creature, endowed with magical powers. The messenger of fate, the witch, the sorceress are her other names. Fairy is a wonderful starry creature, a kind of mediator between Space and Earth, the world of people. The fairy is inextricably linked with the light that permeates any space. To feel like a fairy means to have an indestructible belief in yourself, in the power of your thought; to survive the state of a wizard, for whom nothing is impossible.
It got its name from the verb "to know" - to know. Her other titles are witch, knowledgeable, knowledgeable, witch. A witch is, first of all, a healer, a sorceress. She easily commands the diverse forces of nature and any creatures. Unlike a fairy and a good sorceress, a witch uses forces to harm a person or a creature, requires a considerable fee for services, rejoices when she herself is good, radiates anger, envy, tension and brute force (the force of a hurricane, whirlwind, earthquake).
One of the witches. The ancient Slavs in Russia called her a hellish goddess, a terrible goddess who destroys the bodies and souls of people. Baba Yaga is a powerful sorceress, and her hut on chicken legs is something like a walk-through, a kind of bridge between the world of the living and the kingdom of the dead. Only a brave hero who can overcome the fear of death can resist Baba Yaga. To incarnate in Baba Yaga, to live her image means to feel power, crushing strength and the absence of fear of death.
Koschei the Deathless
Belongs to the world of the dead. Why is he called immortal? Koschey the Immortal consists of some bones. bones are the hardest, most durable, toughest tissue in the human body, capable of withstanding enormous loads. Bones do not rot or decompose under certain conditions, they are hardly combustible.
Koschey the Immortal symbolizes complete insensitivity and lack of spirituality, rigidity, stereotypicality, limitation and inertia. At the same time, the image of Koshchei the Immortal helps to gain firmness of mind, fearlessness, unshakable self-confidence, determination and strength.
King (king)
Manages the state, a huge number of people are subordinate to him. At the symbolic level, the king means a certain dominant higher psychic center. To be in a regal state means to feel the unification of all parts of the “I”. To feel like a king means to control your thoughts, emotions, states, to feel responsibility for everything that happens in your “kingdom”.
The supreme regulatory center is responsible and governed. However, unlike the king, she symbolizes women's emotions and feelings.
A wonderful sign of beauty and the flowering of vitality. To more accurately understand the symbolism of a particular flower, describe it for yourself with 3-5 adjectives. These adjectives will mean the state of your soul that you see in a flower. If, for example, take "The Scarlet Flower", then you would like to describe it with such adjectives: beautiful, burning, flaming, scarlet. Is it not true, associated with heart, love? The desire of a merchant's daughter to find a scarlet flower is a desire for love, passion, dedication, heartfelt affection.
Freedom symbol. Living the state of a bird, you can get rid of heavy attachments to desires, feel the state of independence, lightness, airiness and flight.
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A simple and mysterious bird at the same time. Ravens are endowed with mystical power and the ability to penetrate supernatural worlds, including the afterlife. Ravens are smart and wise birds. Reincarnated as a crow, it becomes possible to look at the world with different eyes, see the deep and mysterious spheres of life, explore the dark side of your soul and touch your inner wisdom.
Swallow
The beautiful swift-winged bird is a symbol of spring and renewal, a symbol of new life. It is no coincidence that it was the swallow who transferred Thumbelina to a new world, in which the girl found a home, her prince and happiness. To look after the swallow, as Thumbelina did, means to prepare for changes, for the state of spring, joy, happiness.
The white swan symbolizes beautiful and pure thoughts. The swan is a sign of greatness, beauty and grace.
Owl (owl)
A predatory nocturnal bird that sees perfectly in the dark. She symbolizes the unknown and darkness. Unknown dark spaces are usually intimidating, and therefore people are always afraid of an owl (owl). But it is not for nothing that the owl (owl) is considered a symbol of wisdom. It is his fearless perception of the dark and mysterious side of life that gives depth and wisdom. Eagle owl (owl) is a symbol of transformation, the transition of negative dark states into a calm and harmonious perception of life.
A predatory beast, strong, smart and careful. Sometimes he is endowed with such traits as cruelty, ferocity, gluttony and greed. Wolves have a strong sense of family and pack. They are caring parents and partners who feel great about each other. In some tales the wolf is a bloodthirsty, ferocious and merciless monster, while in others, in particular in "Mowgli", it is a caring, attentive and even noble parent. Therefore, the wolf can symbolize different states of the soul.
In Russian fairy tales, he usually acts as an independent intelligent and resourceful creature who can easily defend himself and repulse any beast. Its needles symbolize caution, inaccessibility, closeness, fear of pain and the need for protection.
The hare is considered a symbol of fear, weakness, as well as bragging, unjustified self-confidence. And in many fairy tales, he is really presented that way. However, the fairy tale "Hare Koska and the Spring" shows other sides of the hare's nature: curiosity, playfulness, patience and courage.
An ambiguous and deep image, they are afraid of her, they associate cunning and meanness with her. Biblical motives characterize the snake as a seducer and tempter. The snake has the ability to frequently change skin, and by this it symbolizes rebirth and renewal. Different snakes symbolize different things: a boa constrictor, for example, can symbolize enormous stifling squeezing power and strength, and a viper - perhaps cunning and meanness.
Belongs to the category of amphibious animals and feels equally well in water and on land. She is subject to both the emotional and sensory world, and the material and objective. In different fairy tales, we see different images of frogs. in the fairy tale "The Frog the Traveler" curiosity, the desire for change, boasting and bombast come to the fore; in the fairy tale "The Frog Princess" there is nobility hidden behind the seeming external ugliness.
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When interpreting the image of a bear, one should take into account its dual nature. On the one hand, the bear is considered a clumsy, clumsy, heavy creature, on the other hand, the bear is unusually agile and fast. The bear represents cruelty, rudeness, evil force, and at the same time its image is associated with good nature and protection. In the fairy tale "Mowgli" the bear is a symbol of teacher's wisdom, attention, nobility and protection.
She is smart, courageous, fearless, cunning, has a seductive grace and flexibility, quietness, patience, and sometimes ruthlessness. The image of a panther will help to balance the existing qualities, give strength, firmness, sobriety, determination and courage.
Many different expressions are associated with the image of a fish: to be silent like a fish, to fight like a fish on ice, like a fish in water ... each of these expressions describes certain actions of a person. The image of a fish is often associated with the "emergence" of deep psychic unconscious information. You can also talk about such character traits as coldness and dispassion. Sometimes the fish symbolizes slipperiness, when the person with whom we are communicating deftly leaves the right topic, avoids acute moments or situations.
Known for its ability to shed its tail in times of danger and grow a new one over time. Therefore, it is considered a symbol of renewal, reincarnation, resourcefulness and vitality. Perhaps, thanks to Bazhov's tales, or perhaps for another reason, the habitats of lizards are associated with deposits of precious stones, gold or treasures. And that is why lizards are considered a symbol of wealth, material gain or reward.
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Russian folk tales with their amazing heroes familiar to all of us from an early age.
Russian folk tales are the most beloved and popular genre of Russian folklore and introduce readers to the history and culture of their ancestors. Russian folk tales Is a storehouse of folk wisdom. In their entertaining, engaging form, they contain a deep instructive meaning. Thanks to russian folk tale, children discover the world around them, get acquainted with the concepts of honor and conscience, learn goodness and justice using the example of the relationship of fairy-tale heroes.
Russian nationalFairy tales can be conditionally divided into three types: magic, about animals, and everyday, satirical. They all came to us from those distant times, when all natural phenomena and things were given a magical, sacred explanation. Therefore, many mythological heroes, such as Vodyanoy, Kikimora Bolotnaya, Leshy, mermaids and brownies, are associated with the elemental forces of nature and pagan beliefs.
Main hero in russian folk the tale usually combined noble human qualities: such as courage, honesty, fearlessness, mercy and decency. Ivan Tsarevich, heroes, peasant son Ivan is a fool, Emelya, they all passed trials and adversities, and in the end Russian folkfairy tales evil forces won. Often, the positive hero was accompanied by helpers, a gray wolf, symbolizing intelligence and cunning, or a horse, personifying devotion and loyalty.
Female images that meet in fairy tales, also possessed kindness, a bright mind, wisdom and tenderness. Vasilisa the Wise, Elena the beautiful, Marya - the Princess, the Snow Maiden were endowed not only with a very beautiful appearance, but also with a pure soul.
Positive heroesRussian folk tales, as a rule, they were opposed by dark forces, mysterious and insidious characters. Baba Yaga, Koschey the Immortal, Serpent Gorynych, Nightingale the Robber are the most popular fairy tale villains who brought harm to people, knew how to conjure and expressed the people's idea of \u200b\u200bcruelty and greed.
Heroes of Russian folk tales there were often animals and birds that lived and acted like people. Each fairy tale story with animals allegorically describes human types, with their different characters and vices. These fairy-tale characters are numerous - a bear, a wolf, a hare, a goat, a rooster, a chicken, a cat, a pig, a crane and a heron, and, of course, the sly fox that was found in russian fairy talesmore often than everyone else.
Russian folk tales so unique in their poetry and content, so vividly convey the spirit of the Russian person, that over time, interest in them does not diminish. Albeit in a more modern language, fairy tales continue to be told in families and animated by cartoonists, making children and adults laugh and empathize with their characters.
Ivan the Fool
Ivan the Fool, or Ivanushka the Fool - one of the main characters Russian folk tales... According to some versions, the name with the epithet fool is a name-talisman that prevents the evil eye. It embodies a special fairy-tale strategy that does not come from the standard postulates of practical reason, but relies on the search for its own solutions, often contrary to common sense, but ultimately bringing success.
According to other versions, a "fool" is his property status. Since he is the third son, he is not entitled to a share in the inheritance (remains a fool). As a rule, his social status is low - a peasant son or the son of an old man with an old woman. In the family, he was often the third, youngest son. Not married.
With the help of magical means and especially thanks to his "not mind" Ivan the Fool successfully passes all tests and reaches the highest values: he defeats the enemy, marries the Tsar's daughter, gets both wealth and glory ... Perhaps Ivan the Fool achieves all this thanks to that he embodies the first (according to J. Dumézil) magical-legal function, connected not so much with the deed as with the word, with priestly duties.
Ivan the Fool is the only brother who speaks in a fairy tale. Ivan the Fool makes and guesses riddles, that is, he does what a priest does in many traditions during a ritual timed to coincide with the main annual holiday.
Emelya
Emelya is a character in the Russian folk tale "At the Pike's Command." Emelya is not allowed to do serious family matters. He is extremely lazy: his daughters-in-law have to beg him for a long time to do any, even 
uncomplicated work. The only thing that can motivate him to act is the promise of gifts for which he is greedy. This is the hidden, at first glance imperceptible irony, the name Emelyan, according to one of the versions, translated from Latin means "hardworking". However, this seemingly unattractive character has qualities that make him a real hero: he is agile and lucky, he managed to catch a magic pike in an ice hole with his bare hands and get magic power from it (the pike becomes a “magic helper” of the village idiot).
First, Emelya uses the acquired gift for domestic purposes - makes buckets go for water, an ax - chop wood, a club - pound enemies. In addition, he moves on a self-propelled sleigh without a horse, and subsequently controls the stove (since he does not want to leave his favorite couch). Riding on the stove is one of the brightest episodes of the tale. It is interesting that, while driving his vehicles, Emelya ruthlessly crushes people (“Why did they climb under the sled?”). Among folklorists, there is an opinion that this detail indicates the royal nature of Emelya, who for the time being remains a "dark horse", and later reveals his heroic, outstanding essence.
Baba Yaga
Baba-Yaga is a character of Slavic mythology and folklore (especially a fairy tale) of the Slavic peoples, an old sorceress, endowed with magical powers, a witch, a werewolf. By its properties, it is closest to a witch. Most often - a negative character.
Baba Yaga has several stable attributes: she knows how to conjure, fly in a mortar, lives in the forest, in a hut on chicken legs, surrounded by a fence of human bones with skulls. Baba Yaga has the ability to decrease in size - thus, she moves in a mortar. She lures good fellows and small children to her and roasts them in the oven. She pursues her victims in a mortar, chasing her with a pestle and covering the trail with a broom (broom). There are three types of Baba Yaga: the giver (she gives the hero a fairy horse or a magic object); kidnapper; Baba Yaga is a warrior, fighting with whom “not for life, but for death,” the hero of the fairy tale goes to a different level of maturity.
Koschey (Kaschey)
Koschey is associated with the element of water: water gives Koschey supernatural strength. After drinking three buckets of water brought to him by Ivan Tsarevich, Koschey breaks 12 chains and frees himself from the dungeon of Marya Morevna.
Koshchei the Immortal was represented in the form of a skeleton, topped with a crown, with a sword, sitting on a skeleton horse, and they called Koshchei Kostya the Soulless. He, according to legends, sowed quarrels and anger, and his horse personified the death of all livestock. She spread a variety of diseases that kill domestic animals.
In tex Russian folk tales Koshchei's enemy is Baba Yaga, who tells the main character information on how to kill him, but sometimes they are at the same time. Koschei has many enemies, but few of them were worried about meeting him.
The word "koschey" in the XII century meant a slave, a captive.
Dragon
Serpent Gorynych is a multi-headed fire-breathing dragon, a representative of the evil principle in Russian folk tales and epics.
The multi-headedness of the snake is an indispensable feature of it. In different fairy tales, the number of snake heads differs: there are 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12. Most often, the snake appears to be three-headed. In most cases, the kite has the ability to fly, but, as a rule, nothing is said about its wings. The body of the snake is not described in fairy tales, however, in popular prints depicting a snake, favorite details are a long tail - an arrow and clawed paws. Another important feature of the snake is its fiery nature, however, how exactly the fire is spewed out, fairy tales do not describe. The snake carries fire in itself and spews it out in the event of an attack. In addition to the fiery element, the snake is also associated with the water element, and these two elements do not exclude each other. In some tales, he lives in water, sleeps on a stone in the sea. At the same time, the serpent is also the Serpent Gorynych and lives in the mountains. However, such a location does not prevent him from being a sea monster. In some tales he lives in the mountains, but when the hero approaches him, he comes out of the water.
Firebird
The Firebird is a fabulous bird, a character in Russian fairy tales, usually the goal of finding a hero of a fairy tale. The feathers of the firebird have the ability to shine and with their brilliance amaze a person's eyes. The Firebird is a fiery bird, its feathers shine with silver and gold, its wings are like flames, and its eyes shine like a crystal. It reaches the size of a peacock.
The Firebird lives in the Garden of Eden of Iria, in a golden cage. At night, it flies out of it and illuminates the garden with itself as brightly as thousands of lighted lights: heat is a bird as the personification of fire, light, sun. She feeds on golden apples, which give youth, beauty and immortality; when she sings, pearls fall from her beak.
The singing of the firebird heals the sick and restores sight to the blind. Leaving aside arbitrary mythological explanations, one can compare the firebird with medieval stories, very popular both in Russian and in Western European literature, about the Phoenix bird rising from the ashes. The prototype of the Firebird is the peacock. Rejuvenating apples, in turn, can be compared with the fruits of the pomegranate tree, a favorite delicacy of the Phoenixes.
Every year, in the fall, the Firebird dies and is reborn in the spring. Occasionally, a dropped Firebird's tail feather can be found brought into a dark room to replace the richest lighting. Over time, such a feather turns into gold. To catch the Firebird, they use a golden cage with apples inside as a trap. You cannot catch it with your bare hands, as you can burn yourself on its plumage.
Santa Claus
Ded Moroz (Dedko Morozko) - a character in Russian legends, in Slavic mythology - the personification of winter frosts, a blacksmith who fetters the water; in modern times - the main fairy-tale character at the New Year's holiday, the local version of the Christmas giver.
Moroz (Morozko, Treskun, Studenets) is a Slavic mythological character, the lord of the winter cold. The ancient Slavs represented him in the form of a short old man with a long gray beard. His breath is intense cold. His tears are icicles. Frost - frozen words. Hair - snow clouds. The wife of Frost is Winter herself. In winter, Frost runs through fields, forests, streets and knocks with his staff. From this knock, the crackling frosts freeze rivers, streams, puddles with ice.
Often depicted in a blue or red fur coat with a long white beard and a staff in his hand, in felt boots. Rides three horses. He is inseparable from his granddaughter, Snegurochka.
Initially, he had only blue (mostly) and white fur coats in his wardrobe, but in the middle of the 20th century he was dressed in a red fur coat. Changing the color of the costume played two roles: on the one hand, red was the national color of the USSR, on the other, red echoed the color of Santa Claus's fur coat, which was popular in Europe.
Snow Maiden
The Snow Maiden is a New Year character in Russian legends, the granddaughter of Santa Claus. However, among the Slavs, Snegurochka was considered the daughter of Frost and Spring.
The image of the Snow Maiden is unique for Russian culture. In the New Year and Christmas mythology of the rest of the world, there are no female characters. In Russian folklore, she appears as a character in a folk tale about a girl made of snow who came to life.
Russian folk tales - This is a significant element of national history, through the prism of which it is possible to consider not only the people as an integral entity, but also its individual aspects. Belief in good and evil, justice, family foundations, religious views, awareness of their own place in the world around them. Russian folktale always carries a teaching component, hiding it under the shell of an easy, unpretentious story.
Heroes of Russian folk tales Are collective images of the most typical folk traits. The breadth of the Russian soul, glorified by proverbs, perhaps, or a fool getting rich in thoughts - everything is reflected in folklore narratives. Whatever fairy tale we take, the deep meaning is hidden around. Often, under the guise of a clumsy club-footed bear, gullible hare or sly fox, one can see the vices of a human character, much more clearly than it would be noticeable in "adult" narratives.
It's not for nothing that they say - a fairy tale is a lie, but there is a hint in it ...
Animal heroes in Russian folk tales closely related to the ideas of the world of the ancient Slavs. Close proximity to the natural environment, vast forests and valleys of deep rivers, settled in fairy tales typical representatives of the surrounding landscape - foxes, bears, wolves, hares. Cattle and small ruminants also often act as fairy-tale characters. Especially in cases where the cult of the hearth, prosperity, family is emphasized ( for example, in the fairy tale Tiny-Khavroshechka). Poultry is also revered ( Ryaba chicken), and small rodents ( Mouse Norushka).
It is important to remember that the ability not only to listen, but to hear and understand what is hidden in russian folk tales, as valuable as, for example, understanding a foreign language. By themselves, symbol words do not matter. It is much more important what depth they keep in themselves. And, since fabulous legends have survived the troubled and well-fed times, since they have survived, it means that they are indeed a storehouse of folk knowledge.
List of heroes of Russian folk tales
1. Baba YAGA
An evil woman in the mythology of the Slavic peoples. Acts as a negative hero. Endowed with magical powers. Its main attributes are: a black cat, a hut on chicken legs, a mortar with a broomstick.
In various fairy tales, the image of Baba Yaga has different emotional colors. Sometimes she confronts the main character; in some cases, supports, instructs him; less often - she herself opposes evil.
Baba Yaga is a very ancient mythological image. It allows you to look differently at the life and philosophy of our ancestors.
Tales about Baba Yaga:
2.Vasilisa the Beautiful
Collective idealized image of the feminine principle in fairy tales. Combines the mind - worldly wisdom and beauty. Considered a daughter Sea King, and goes to the main character as a reward for defeating evil. Other names: Elena the Wise, Vasilisa the Wise, Marya the Artisan, Marya Morevna. Often changes images, transforming into animals.
Vasilisa is a very ancient Slavic image idealizing the feminine principle. By carefully reading the fairy tales, you can learn a lot about ancient social institutions, the relationship between men and women.
Tales about Vasilisa the Beautiful (Wise):
3. Water
The lord of the water element in the view of the Slavic peoples. Moreover, in contrast Sea King, reigns over stagnant, musty waters: pools, swamps, polynyas. Usually depicted as an old man with fish features, a long shaggy beard, dressed in mud.
Legends about Vodyanoy are very diverse. He is powerful and, despite his bad temper, favors beekeepers. He does not touch the fishermen who are ready to share their catch with him. But he does not regret the unbaptized or those who forgot to sign the sign of the cross before bathing.
The Tale of the Water One:
4. Firebird
A fire bird; usually a search object the main character of the tale... You cannot take it with your bare hands. Singing the Firebird heals the sick, restores youth, drives away sorrows. Able to give its owner untold wealth.
5. Serpent Gorynych
The mythical dragon in Slavic mythology. Has multiple heads. Capable of spewing flames. Lives in the area Fiery river and guards the passage to Kingdom of the Dead... In fairy tales, he acts as a negative character, an integral link in the balance of the forces of good and evil.
6. Ivan the Fool
A comic character in Russian folk tales. This is a collective image of the poorest peasant class - illiterate, artless and outrageously simple in everyday affairs. It is for these qualities that Ivan the Fool is given what he deserves. The late Christian cultural layer plays an important role in this image.
Truly I say to you, if you do not turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven ”(Matthew 18: 3)
7. Ivan Tsarevich
Hero of Russian folk tales. In most stories, he is a positive character. Name "Tsarevich" indicates rather the royalty of intentions and deeds than a real title. Usually, according to the plot, he performs a difficult task for which he receives a reward.
8. Gingerbread man
The protagonist of the eponymous Russian folk tale; rolled dough ball, symbol of contentment and satiety of the Russian people... A limited number of ingredients are used for its preparation, but despite this, Kolobok turns out to be ruddy and appetizing. This is hidden the main moral of the tale... True, in the end, for his arrogance, Kolobok faces retribution.
But, all the same, it is emphasized - Bread is the head of everything.
9. Cat Bayun
A mythical creature endowed with magical powers. Usually, negative hero... It has enormous size and the ability to speak with a human voice. "Bayun" means talker. With his stories - fairy tales, the cat can chatter to death the interlocutor. However, for those who manage to tame him or get him as a trophy, the cat will give eternal health, youth and strength.
10. Koschey (Kashchei) Immortal
Skinny, wrinkled old man... Always a negative character in fairy tales. Possesses magical powers. Immortal. His life is enclosed in several objects, placed one in another. For instance, an oak, under it is a cave, there is a chest, in a chest - a box, in a box - an egg, in an egg - a needle... In Slavic mythology, it guards the passage to the Kingdom of the Dead. Enters into an alliance with the Serpent Gorynych.
According to the plot of a fairy tale, he often kidnaps the bride of the protagonist.
11. Chicken Ryaba
Magic chicken from the fairy tale of the same name. Carries golden eggs... It personifies the special role of domestic animals in the peasant economy. Reasonable and wise. Shows that not always gold can be more important than an ordinary eggthat is used for food.
12. Goblin
Owner of the forest, incorporeal or corporeal being... Able to change appearance. It transforms into animals, trees, dwarfs, giants, and even takes the form of familiar people. Leshy neutral... And depending on his attitude towards the hero, he becomes either a good or an evil character. Knows how to emit all the sounds of the forest. Often the approach of Leshy is guessed in the rustle of foliage in calm weather.
13. Dashing
Living incarnation hard human life, fate. Usually appears as one-eyed ugly monster with a slobbering toothy mouth. The prototype of Likh in Slavic mythology is the Greek myths about the one-eyed Cyclops.
14. Frost
Morozko, Santa Claus. it gray-bearded old man in a long fur coat with a staff in his hands. Is an patron saint of cold... Snowfalls, blizzards and blizzards obey him. Usually fair. Gives gifts to those he likes. Helps in difficult situations and punishes those who deserve it. Rides a large sleigh pulled by three horses.
(In the western tradition - Santa Claus rides a sleigh with reindeer).
15. Sea King
Lord of all earthly waters. Possesses untold riches, remaining after the ships sunk in different historical eras. The Tsar lives in a huge palace in the very depths of the sea. He is surrounded sea \u200b\u200bmaidens, which are capable of capturing sailors and men just by chance walking along the shore. The king is subject to storms. He sinks ships of his own free will.
16. Snow Maiden
Granddaughter of Santa Claus. In Slavic mythology, it is referred to as a girl made out of the snow... In winter, the Snow Maiden has fun and behaves like an ordinary child. And as soon as the sun warms up, it melts, turning into a cloud until next Winter.
Winter frightens summer, but it still melts.
17. Soldier
The hero of Russian fairy tales, devoid of any supernatural power. Is the impersonation common Russian people... As a rule, after the end of the service, he finds himself in difficult situations, from which he is helped to get out magical creatures and objects.
The fire heats up the soldier, the rain washes, the wind blows, the frost burns through, but it still happens.
18. Princess Nesmeyana
Tsar's daughterwho never smiled. According to the concept of fairy tales, the main character comes up with how to make the princess laugh and for this he gets her as a wife, along with half the kingdom.
Laughter is not a sin, since it is pleasant for everyone.
19. The Frog Princess
Usually, under the guise of the Frog Princess hides Vasilisa the Wise... She is forced to be in the body of an amphibian until the main character frees her. Possesses magical abilities and worldly wisdom.
20. Miracle Yudo
An extraordinary fairytale character, inhabitant of the seas and oceans... Does not bear a pronounced emotional coloring ( not good and not evil). Usually perceived as a wonderful fish.
A folk tale is a message from our ancestors, transmitted from time immemorial. Through magic stories, sacred information about morality and spirituality, traditions and culture is conveyed to us. The heroes of Russian folk tales are very colorful. They live in a world full of wonders and dangers. There is a battle between light and dark forces, as a result of which good and justice always triumphs.
Ivan the Fool
The main character of Russian fairy tales is a seeker. He sets off on a difficult journey to get a magic item or a bride, to deal with a monster. At the same time, the character may initially occupy a low social position. As a rule, this is a peasant son, the youngest child in the family.
By the way, the word "fool" in ancient times had no negative meaning. Since the 14th century, it served as a name-amulet, which was often given to the youngest son. He did not get an inheritance from his parents. Older brothers in fairy tales are successful and practical. Ivan spends time at the stove, as he is not interested in living conditions. He is not looking for money or fame, he patiently endures the ridicule of others.
However, it is Ivan the Fool who is ultimately lucky. He is unpredictable, able to solve non-standard riddles, cunningly defeats the enemy. The hero is characterized by mercy and kindness. He helps those in trouble, lets go of the pike, for which he is rewarded with magic help. Having overcome all obstacles, Ivan the Fool marries the Tsar's daughter, becomes rich. Behind the unprepossessing clothes is the image of a sage who serves good and is wary of falsehood.
Bogatyr
This hero was borrowed from epics. He is handsome, courageous, noble. It often grows "by leaps and bounds." Possesses great strength, is able to saddle a heroic horse. There are many plots where the character enters into a fight with a monster, dies, and then resurrects.
The names of the heroes of Russian fairy tales can be different. We meet Ilya Muromets, Bova Korolevich, Alyosha Popovich, Nikita Kozhemyaka and other characters. Ivan Tsarevich can also be attributed to this category. He enters into battle with the Serpent Gorynych or Koshchei, saddles Sivka-Burka, protects the weak, rescues the princess.
It is indicative that the hero sometimes makes mistakes (rudely replies to the oncoming grandmother, burns the frog's skin). Subsequently, he has to repent of this, ask for forgiveness, correct the situation. By the end of the tale, he gains wisdom, finds a princess and receives half a kingdom as a reward for his exploits.
Wonder bride
An intelligent and beautiful girl by the end of the story becomes the wife of a fairytale hero. In Russian folk tales, we meet Vasilisa the Wise, Marya Morevna, Elena the Beautiful. They embody the popular idea of \u200b\u200ba woman who stands guard of her kind.
The heroines are distinguished by resourcefulness and intelligence. Thanks to their help, the hero solves ingenious riddles, defeats the enemy. Often, a beautiful princess is subject to the forces of nature, she is able to turn into an animal (swan, frog), to create real miracles. The heroine uses powerful forces for the benefit of her beloved.
The image of a meek stepdaughter who achieves success thanks to her hard work and kindness is also present in fairy tales. The common qualities for all positive female images are loyalty, purity of aspirations and a willingness to help.
Which hero of Russian fairy tales is the most beloved and popular among children and adults? The first place rightfully belongs to Baba Yaga. This is a very controversial character with a frightening appearance, a hooked nose and a bone leg. "Baba" in ancient times was called the mother, the oldest woman in the family. "Yaga" can be associated with the Old Russian words "yagat" ("shout loudly, swear") or "yagaya" ("sick, angry").
An old witch lives in the forest, on the border of our world and the other world. Her hut on chicken legs is fenced in with a fence made of human bones. The grandmother flies on a mortar, makes friends with evil spirits, kidnaps children and keeps many magic items from intruders. According to scientists, it is associated with the kingdom of the dead. This is indicated by the loosened hair that women unraveled before burial, the bone leg, and also the house. The Slavs made wooden huts for the dead, which they put in the forest on stumps.
In Russia, ancestors were always respected and they turned to them for advice. Therefore, good fellows come to Baba Yaga, and she tests them. To those who pass the test, the witch gives a hint, shows the way to Koschei, grants a magic ball, as well as a towel, a comb and other wonders. Baba Yaga does not eat children either, but he puts them in the oven and conducts the ancient rite of "baking". In Russia, it was believed that in this way it was possible to heal a child from an illness.
Koschey
The name of this fabulous hero of Russian fairy tales could come from the Turkic "koshchey", which translates as "slave". The character for three hundred years was chained and held in captivity. He himself also loves to kidnap beautiful girls and hide them in a dungeon. According to another version, the name comes from the Slavic "kostit" (to scold, harm) or "bone". Koschey is often depicted as a skinny old man, more like a skeleton.
He is a very powerful sorcerer, lives far from other people and owns untold treasures. The death of the hero is in a needle, which is reliably hidden in objects and animals, nested in each other like a nesting doll. The prototype of Koshchei may be the winter deity Karachun, who was born from a golden egg. It froze the earth and brought death with it, forcing our ancestors to move to warmer areas. In other myths, Koshchei was called the son of Chernobog. The latter could control time and commanded the army of the underworld.
This is one of the most ancient images. The hero of Russian fairy tales differs from foreign dragons by the presence of several heads. Usually their number is a multiple of three. The creature can fly, spews fire and kidnaps people. It dwells in caves where it hides captives and treasures. Often appears in front of a positive hero, leaving the water. The nickname "Gorynych" is associated either with the character's habitat (mountains), or with the verb "to burn".
The image of the terrible Serpent is borrowed from the ancient myths about the dragon, which guards the entrance to the underworld. To become a man, a teenager had to defeat him, i.e. perform a feat, and then enter the world of the dead and return back as an adult. According to another version, the Serpent Gorynych is a collective image of the steppe nomads who attacked Russia in huge hordes. At the same time, they used shells of fire that burned wooden cities.
Forces of nature
In ancient times, people personified the Sun, Wind, Month, Thunder, Rain and other phenomena on which their lives depended. They often became heroes of Russian fairy tales, married princesses, and helped positive heroes. There are also anthropomorphic rulers of certain elements: Moroz Ivanovich, goblin, water. They can play the role of both positive and negative characters.
Nature is portrayed as spiritualized. The well-being of people largely depends on her actions. So, Morozko rewards with gold and a fur coat the gentle, hardworking daughter of the old man, whom her stepmother ordered to be abandoned in the forest. At the same time, her self-serving half-sister is killed by his spell. The Slavs bowed before the forces of nature and at the same time were wary of them, tried to appease with the help of victims, made requests.
Grateful animals
In fairy tales, we meet a talking wolf, a magic horse and a cow, a goldfish, a wish-fulfilling pike. And also a bear, a hare, a hedgehog, a crow, an eagle, etc. They all understand human speech and have unusual abilities. The hero helps them out of trouble, bestows life, and in return they help to defeat the enemy.
Traces of totemism are clearly visible here. The Slavs believed that each genus descended from a specific animal. After death, the soul of a person is transferred to the beast and vice versa. For example, in the fairy tale "Burenushka" the soul of a deceased mother is reborn in the form of a cow to help an orphaned daughter. Such an animal could not be killed, because it became a relative and protected from harm. Sometimes the heroes of a fairy tale themselves can turn into an animal or a bird.
Firebird
Many positive heroes of fairy tales are trying to take possession of it. A wonderful bird dazzles the eyes, like a golden sun, and lives behind a stone wall in rich lands. Freely floating in the sky, it is a symbol of the heavenly body, which bestows good luck, abundance, and creative power. This is a representative of another world, who often turns into a kidnapper. The firebird steals rejuvenating apples, bestowing beauty and immortality.
Only those who are pure in heart, believe in a dream and are closely connected with deceased ancestors can catch it. Usually this is the youngest son who had to look after old parents and spent a lot of time near the birthplace.
Thus, the heroes of Russian fairy tales teach us to respect our ancestors, listen to our hearts, overcome fear, go to the dream, despite mistakes, always help those who ask for help. And then the divine radiance of the magic firebird will fall on a person, transforming him and granting happiness.
Speech - about the bride of the protagonist. Whether he is Ivan Tsarevich or Ivanushka the Fool, he will certainly find Vasilisa the Wise or Vasilisa the Beautiful. The girl is supposed to be saved first, and then to marry - all honor for honor. But the girl is not easy. She can hide in the form of a frog, possess some kind of witchcraft and abilities, be able to speak with animals, the sun, wind and moon ... In general, she is clearly a difficult girl. Moreover, there is also some kind of "secret". Judge for yourself: finding information about her is much more difficult than about any other fairy-tale character. In encyclopedias (both in classic, paper, and in new, online), you can easily find lengthy articles about Ilya Muromets and Dobryna Nikitich, about Koschey the Immortal and about Baba Yaga, about mermaids, goblin and water, but there is almost nothing about Vasilisa ... On the surface lies only a short article in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, which reads:
"Vasilisa the Wise is a character of Russian folk fairy tales. In most of them, Vasilisa the Wise is the daughter of the sea king, endowed with wisdom and the ability to transform. The same female image appears under the name of Marya the Princess, Marya Morevna, Elena the Beautiful. Maxim Gorky called Vasilisa the Wise one of the most perfect images created by the folk fantasy. Another in nature is the disadvantaged orphan - Vasilisa the Beautiful in Afanasyev's unique text. "
Let's start, perhaps, with Vasilisa the elder, with the one that Gorky identified with Marya Tsarevna, Marya Morevna and Elena the Beautiful. And there was every reason for that. All these characters are very similar, for example, in that nothing is really said about them in fairy tales. Like, a red girl, which the world has never seen - that's all. No detailed description of appearance, nor any character traits. She’s just a woman-function, without which a fairy tale will not work: after all, the hero must conquer the princess, and who she is there is the tenth thing. Let there be Vasilisa.
The name, by the way, hints at a high origin. The name "Vasilisa" can be translated from Greek as "regal". And this royal maiden (sometimes in fairy tales she is called the Tsar Maiden) begins to subject the hero to trials. That is, sometimes it is not she who does it, but some fabulous villain like Koshchei the Immortal or the Serpent Gorynych, who has kidnapped the princess and held captive (at best) or is going to devour (at worst).
Sometimes the villain is the father of the potential bride. In a fairy tale where Vasilisa appears as the daughter of a water king, the lord of sea waters interferes with the hero in order to destroy him, but loses, because the enemy suddenly turns out to be dear to the heart of his daughter, and no sorcery can overcome him. But here everything is more or less clear: there is some evil force (a dragon, a sorcerer, or the girl's evil parents), and the hero must fight the enemy. Actually, this is how he becomes a hero. A princess, princess or princess (it doesn't matter) is a reward for the hero.
However, it also happens that Ivan Tsarevich or Ivan the Fool or some other central fairy-tale character is forced to pass tests not because of dragons or sorcerers - he is tormented by the bride herself. Either the hero needs to jump on horseback to the windows of her parlor and kiss the beauty on the mouth of sugar, then recognize the girl among twelve friends who look exactly like her, then you need to catch the fugitive - or demonstrate an enviable cunning to hide from the princess so that she did not find him. At worst, the hero is invited to solve riddles. But in one form or another, Vasilisa will check him.
It would seem, what is unusual about trials? Experiencing a man is generally in a woman's character: is he good enough to associate his life with him or give birth to his offspring, does he have the strength and intelligence to be a worthy spouse and father? From a biological point of view, everything is absolutely correct. However, there is one small detail. If the unfortunate Ivan does not complete the task, then death awaits him - and this is repeatedly emphasized in dozens of Russian fairy tales.
The question is, why does the beautiful princess demonstrate bloodlust, which is more likely to face the Serpent Gorynych? Because, in fact, she does not want to get married at all. Moreover, she is the enemy of the hero, believes the famous researcher of Russian folklore Vladimir Propp in his book "The Historical Roots of a Fairy Tale":
“The task is set as a test for the groom ... But these tasks are interesting for others. They contain a moment of threat:“ If you don’t do it, cut your head off for a fault. ”This threat gives another motivation. In tasks and threats, there is not only a desire to have the best groom for the princess , but also a secret, hidden hope that such a groom will not exist at all.
The words "I think I agree, just complete three tasks in advance" are full of deceit. The groom is sent to death ... In some cases, this hostility is expressed quite clearly. It manifests itself outwardly when the task has already been completed and when more and more new and more dangerous tasks are set. "
Why is Vasilisa, she Marya Morevna, she is Elena the Beautiful, against marriage? Perhaps, in fairy tales, where she constantly intrigues the main character, she simply does not need this marriage. She either rules the country herself - and she does not need a husband as a competitor in power, or she is the daughter of a king who will be overthrown by her potential spouse in order to seize the throne. Quite a logical version.
As the same Propp writes, the plot about the intrigues that the future father-in-law repairs to the hero together with his daughter or in spite of her, could well have real grounds. According to Propp, the struggle for the throne between the hero and the old king is a completely historical phenomenon. The tale here reflects the transfer of power from father-in-law to son-in-law through a woman, through a daughter. And this once again explains why in fairy tales so little is said about the appearance and character of the bride - this is a character-function: either a prize to a hero, or a means of achieving power. Sad story.
Meanwhile, in the Russian tradition there is a fairy tale that tells about the childhood, adolescence and youth of Vasilisa. Gorky just mentioned her, saying that she does not look like the usual image of a princess whom the hero is trying to conquer. In this tale, Vasilisa is an orphan girl. Not the fact that this is the same character. Nevertheless, this Vasilisa, unlike other fairy namesakes, is an absolutely full-blooded heroine - with a biography, character, and so on.
I will sketch the storyline with a dotted line. The merchant's wife dies, leaving him a little daughter. The father decides to marry again. The stepmother has her daughters, and this whole new company begins to tyrannize Vasilisa, loading her with overwhelming work. In general, it is very similar to the fairy tale about Cinderella. It seems, but not quite, because Cinderella was helped by the fairy godmother, and Vasilisa was helped by a terrible witch from the forest.
It turned out like this. The stepmother and her daughters said that there was no more fire in the house, and sent Vasilisa to the forest to Baba Yaga, of course, hoping that she would not return. The girl obeyed. Her road through the dark forest was terrible - and strange: she met three horsemen, one white, another red, and the third black, and they all rode towards Yaga.
When Vasilisa reached her abode, she was met by a high fence of stakes, seated with human skulls. The house of Yaga turned out to be no less creepy: for example, instead of servants, the witch had three pairs of hands that appeared out of nowhere and disappeared into nowhere. But the most terrible creature in this house was Baba Yaga.
The witch, however, accepted Vasilisa favorably and promised that she would give her fire if Vasilisa completed all her tasks. Completing difficult tasks is an indispensable path for a hero. Unlike the fairy tales, which were mentioned above, a woman passes through this one, and therefore her tasks are female, there are simply too many of them: to clean the yard, and sweep the hut, and wash the linen, cook dinner, and sort out the grains, and that's all. - for one day. Of course, if the tasks are performed poorly, Baba Yaga promised to eat Vasilisa.
Vasilisa washed Yaga's clothes, cleans her house, cooked her food, then learned to separate healthy grains from infected ones, and poppy seeds from dirt. Then Yaga allowed Vasilisa to ask her a few questions. Vasilisa asked about the three mysterious horsemen - white, red and black. The witch replied that it was a clear day, a red sun and a black night, and they were all her faithful servants. That is, Baba Yaga in this tale is an extremely powerful sorceress.
After that she asked Vasilisa what she didn’t ask next, about dead hands, for example, and Vasilisa replied that if you knew a lot, you would soon grow old. Yaga looked at her and, screwing up her eyes, said that the answer was correct: she did not like those who were too curious and eats. And then she asked how Vasilisa manages to answer her questions without mistakes and how she managed to do all the work correctly.
Vasilisa replied that her mother's blessing helped her, and then the witch pushed her out of the door: "I don't need those blessed here." But in addition, she gave the girl fire - she removed the skull from the fence, whose eye sockets were blazing with flame. And when Vasilisa returned home, the skull burned her tormentors.
A terrible tale. And its essence is that Vasilisa the Beautiful, completing the tasks of Baba Yaga, learned a lot from her. For example, while washing Yaga's clothes, Vasilisa literally saw what the old woman was made of, writes the famous researcher of fairy tales Clarissa Estes in her book "Running with Wolves":
“In the symbolism of the archetype, the clothes correspond to the person, the first impression that we make on others. The person is a kind of camouflage that allows us to show others only what we ourselves want, and no more. But… the person is not only a mask behind which you can hide, but a presence that overshadows the familiar personality.
In this sense, a person or mask is a sign of rank, dignity, character and power. It is an external sign, an external manifestation of mastery. Washing Yaga's clothes, the initiate will see with her own eyes how the seams of the person look, how the dress is cut. "
And so - in everything. Vasilisa sees how and what Yaga eats, how he makes the world revolve around him, and day, sun and night - walk in his servants. And the terrible skull, blazing with fire, which the witch hands over to the girl, in this case, is a symbol of the special witchcraft knowledge that she received while being Yaga's novice.
By the way, the witch might have continued her studies if Vasilisa had not been a blessed daughter. But it didn't work out. And Vasilisa, armed with strength and secret knowledge, went back to the world. In this case, it is clear where Vasilisa got the magical skills that are often mentioned in other fairy tales. It is also understandable why she can be both good and bad.
She is still a blessed child, but Baba Yaga's school is also not going anywhere. Therefore, Vasilisa ceased to be a meek orphan: her enemies died, and she herself married the prince and sat on the throne ...
