Another Ivan in "The Tale of Vasilisa the Golden Spit" also saves all the people and his own from a terrible snake that captivated the beauties and his own sister. Ivan Peas - a strong and formidable hero, ready to deal with any evil, to protect native land and defend the honor of the sister. But in the fairy tale "Ivan Tsarevich and Gray wolf» more positive character a wolf appears, Ivan Tsarevich was only lucky to meet such a faithful and devoted friend. The same trend can be observed in the fairy tales "The Little Humpbacked Horse", "After pike command"and many others.
The Russian people for the most part believed that “the hunchbacked grave would fix it,” therefore, the transformation of the hero from a negative character into a positive one is not typical for Russian fairy tales.
The most positive female characters Vasilisa the Beautiful and the Wise act in Russian fairy tales. The Russian beauty is primarily distinguished by intelligence and kindness, she helps her chosen one defeat evil with cunning and ingenuity, get a magical item or direct it to the wise. Oddly enough, but in some fairy tales even Baba Yaga can be positive, which supplies the traveler with parting words, ancient knowledge and provides financial assistance in the form of magic items: a scarf, a comb, a ball of thread or a mirror.
Positive heroes of foreign fairy tales
The heroes of European fairy tales are radically different from Russian ones, they are physically weak, intelligence and cunning are not sung in them like in folklore. Such qualities as kindness, humility, and diligence come to the fore. Snow White and Cinderella are downtrodden beauties, born for love and luxury, but, by will, they are obliged to play the role of servants. They make no effort to change their fate, they are submissive to it and freed from the shackles only by chance. Moreover, the main idea of such fairy tales is the idea that only virtue and diligence are necessary for justice, and God or good fairies generously reward the heroine for all the hardships.Pinocchio - fairy tale Italian writer about the transformation of a stupid, naughty and sometimes cruel wooden doll into a kind and caring boy. Pinocchio or Pinocchio are one of the most positive children's characters.
Warrior heroes in foreign fairy tales are presented quite rarely, one of the few such characters is Cipollino, although this is more the image of a revolutionary fighting dictators against the bourgeoisie and slavery. Another stands out positive hero- Medieval revolutionary Robin Hood. The collective image of the noble robber-warrior is romanticized and inspired. He fights evil in the face of cruel feudal lords, lawlessness and injustice.
Oriental fairy tales are closer in their ideas, for example, Aladdin is an analogue of Ivan the Fool or Emelya. Eastern characters, like Russians, are often helped by cunning, dexterity and resourcefulness, the most popular hero- "The thief of Baghdad", a criminal who managed to cheat more than a dozen moneybags around his finger and was never caught. In almost every Arabian fairy tale there is also a guiding hand - as in the Russian tradition,. The smart and cunning wife of Ali Baba, Sakine, Scheherazade, like Vasilisa in Russian fairy tales, personifies such quick wit and ingenuity that is inherent only.
Scheherazade, she is Scheherazade, Scheherazade is the daughter of the vizier, and later the wife of King Shahriyar, a character in the cycle of fairy tales “1000 and 1 night.” Own famous fairy tales she told the king.
To whom and why did she tell the tales of Scheherazade
Shahriyar had a brother, Shahzeman, who was cheated on by his wife. Heartbroken, he shared this news with the king. After that, Shahriyar decided to make sure of the fidelity of his own wife, but she turned out to be even more dissolute than her brother's wife. He executed her and all his concubines, deciding that no woman in the world was capable of being faithful. Since then, the king every day ordered an innocent girl to be brought to him, spent the night with her, and executed her the next morning.
This continued until it was the turn of the vizier's daughter to go to the king. Scheherazade was not only very beautiful, but also exceptionally smart. She figured out how to stop Shahriyar's cruelty and at the same time not die herself.
On the first night that Scheherazade was brought before the king, she asked permission to entertain him and tell cautionary tale. Having received consent, the girl told him stories until dawn, but in fact interesting place it's morning. Shahriyar liked listening to her so much that he decided to postpone the execution and find out the continuation. And so it happened: Scheherazade told all sorts of stories every night, leaving the most interesting for later.
After 1000 and 1 nights, Scheherazade came to the king with a request to have mercy on her, and brought three sons born from him during this time. Shahriyar replied that he had long decided not to execute her, as she showed herself to be chaste and faithful woman, and now he repents of killing innocent girls.
Who came up with "1000 and 1 night"?
The very story of Scheherazade is the frame and link of the cycle. All fairy tales in the collection can be divided into three types. Heroic stories are stories with a lot of content. fantastic plot. It is believed that they are the earliest in time of occurrence, and constitute the original core of "1000 and 1 nights". More late group fairy tales reflect the life and customs of the merchant population, most often these are various love stories. They are called urban adventurous tales. The last to be included in the collection are picaresque tales, which are distinguished by irony in relation to the authorities and narration on behalf of the poor.
Fairy tales known to us European editions such as "Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves", " Magic lamp Aladdin" were not actually included in any Arabic manuscript.
The history of the emergence of "1000 and 1 nights" is still unclear to the end. It is generally accepted that the tales are Arabic, however, there are many hypotheses about the origin of the collection. Individual stories from there were known long before the appearance of the cycle. It can be argued, not without reason, that the folk art edited by professional storytellers and then written down by book sellers.
For many centuries of compilation and formation, the book has absorbed cultural heritage Arabs, Indians, Persians, and even Greek folklore.
The collection had a great influence on the work of many writers, such as Gauf, Tennyson, Dickens. Pushkin admired the beauty of "1000 and 1" nights, which is not surprising, because. fairy tales have the brightness of the narrative, a colorful description of the East of that time, a combination of a fantastic and quite real plot.
Fairy tales form the thinking, fantasy and worldview of many generations. Fairy tales not only entertained us in childhood, but the actions of the heroes of Russian fairy tales taught us to distinguish between good and evil, to be brave and to do justice.
At the same time, in fairy tales, beliefs, views and ideas of the people are displayed at different times. In the course of its development, the tale has changed significantly, and its functions have also changed. If initially it was used for a magical incantatory purpose (to call for good luck on a hunt, to protect oneself from enemies or to ensure victory in battle), then over time, having lost its ritual significance, the tale acquired an aesthetic, educational or entertaining character.
Remained conditional fairy tale characters. They are types, not individuals, which means they are described in in general terms, are often idealized, exalted, exaggerated. The main images here are always antagonistic: one embodies the good, the beautiful; the other is evil forces. Hence - their characteristics - actions, deeds, intentions, language. According to their functions, the heroes of Russian fairy tales are conventionally divided into benefactors, evil-doers and the destitute.
most large group fabulous folk epic make magic, fantasy tales. The explanation of many motives and features of fairy-tale characters can only be found in comparison with ancient rituals, elements of the socio-religious way of life of the Proto-Slavs and ancient Eurasians. Let's try to analyze some of the most famous characters Russian fairy tales.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. baba yaga
Baba Yaga is a character in Slavic mythology and folklore. Usually an ugly old woman, endowed with magic power And magic items. Often a witch, a sorceress. Most often - a negative character (lures children and good fellows to her hut on chicken legs to eat), but sometimes acts as an assistant to the hero. According to folklore specialist Vladimir Propp, three types of Baba Yaga can be distinguished in fairy tales: the giver (gives the main character a fairy-tale horse), the kidnapper of children and the warrior (fights with the main character "not for life, but for death").
IN contemporary ideas Baba Yaga - mistress of the forest and guardian of the borders of the "other world" ( Far Far Away kingdom). Therefore she has bone leg- to stand in the world of the dead. In many fairy tales, Baba Yaga drowns the bathhouse and evaporates the hero, performing the rite of ablution. Then he feeds him, that is, performs, as it were, a feast with him. And the female image of Baba Yaga itself is associated, according to researchers, with matriarchal ideas about the structure of the social world.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Water
IN Slavic mythology- the spirit that lives in the water, the master of the waters, the embodiment of the element of water as a negative and dangerous principle. Appears before us in the form of a flabby old man, goggle-eyed, with a fish tail. He has a huge beard and mustache, sometimes - fish features, webbed paws and a horn on his head. Lives in whirlpools, whirlpools, but especially loves water mills. Therefore, the millers coaxed them in every possible way, and also buried a live black rooster or other security attributes under a log, where there would be a door to the mill. Often the Vodyanoy is associated with the sea king.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Firebird
A fairy bird is usually the goal of finding a fairy tale hero. The feathers of the firebird glow and amaze with their beauty. Lives in garden of paradise, in a golden cage. He feeds on golden apples, heals the sick with his singing and restores sight to the blind. At a deep mythological level, it is the personification of fire, light and the sun. Therefore, every year in the autumn the Firebird dies, and in the spring it is reborn. At the intercultural level, it has an analogue - the Phoenix bird, reborn from the ashes.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Dragon
A fire-breathing dragon with several heads, the personification of the evil inclination in fairy tales and epics. He usually lives in the mountains, near the fiery river and guards the Kalinov Bridge, through which they enter the kingdom of the dead. The number of heads of the Serpent-Gorynych is usually three (3, 6, 9 or 12). In fairy tales, the fire element is usually associated with the snake. The Serpent-Gorynych kidnaps girls (often princesses) to feast on. After that main characters comes to him for a duel, before killing his baby vipers.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Ivan the Fool
A very popular image in mythology, which, when solving problems, is guided by its own, non-standard solutions, often contradictory common sense but bringing success. The designation "fool" is interpreted in different ways. Some of the researchers consider this a talisman against the evil eye. According to another version, Ivan is called a fool, because usually in fairy tales he is the third son who is not entitled to a share of the parental inheritance (hence the ability to think outside the box, find a way out of difficult situations). Etymologically, the image of Ivan the Fool is associated with the image of a priest, because he can sing and play different instruments and also speaks in riddles. At the end of the tales, Ivan the Fool receives wealth and the princess as his wife.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Cat Baiyun
A huge man-eating cat with a magical voice. On the one hand, he speaks and lulls travelers with his tales, on the other hand, his tales can heal. The very word "bayun" means "talker, narrator". In fairy tales cat Baiyun sits on a high pillar far away in the distant kingdom or in a lifeless forest where there are no animals. In one of the tales, he lives with Baba Yaga.
Catching Bayun the Cat is usually a test for the protagonist, who catches him wearing an iron cap and iron gauntlets. But the caught Cat Bayun then serves at the royal court, heals the sick with his stories.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Kolobok
A fairy-tale character in the form of a spherical wheat bread that escapes from grandparents, from various animals, but is eventually eaten by a fox. This character clearly embodies a reverent attitude Slavic people to bread, and its sacred meaning. Namely, the round shape of Kolobok, which also rolls, which refers us to the cult of the sun.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Koschey (Kashchey) the Immortal
An evil sorcerer whose death is hidden in several nested magical animals and objects. “There is an island on the sea, on the ocean, on that island there is an oak, a chest is buried under an oak, a hare is in the chest, a duck is in the hare, an egg is in the duck, Koshchei’s death is in the egg.” Often kidnaps the bride of the protagonist. In appearance - a thin (Koschey - from the word "bone") a tall old man or a living skeleton. Sometimes on a talking and flying horse. A powerful sorcerer, which also allows priests to be called his prototypes.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Goblin
The master spirit of the forest in the mythology of the Slavs. Its appearance is different, the breeds are even opposite in different fairy tales- either he is small in stature, then a giant, then an anthropomorphic creature, then he has an animal appearance. In any case, its otherworldly nature. The attitude of people towards him is also ambivalent. On the one hand, they are afraid of him, he can make a person go astray, sometimes plays pranks, can punish for inappropriate behavior in his domain. At the same time, it is Leshy who guards the forest, on which human life largely depends.
Heroes of Russian fairy tales. Miracle Yudo
Character folk tales and epics, and even Proto-Slavic mythology. The positive or negative nature of the character is not clearly indicated, as well as his gender - in different eras he was both feminine and masculine and average. Miracle Yudo is a character so ancient that researchers find it difficult to tie him to any phenomenon.
It can be a sea animal, a mythical serpent, a dragon. And in author's fairy tale Pyotr Ershov's "Humpbacked Horse" (1834) there is a Miracle Yudo Whale fish - an island fish.
A son, a spoiled prince and even a gray wolf. One of the most popular positive fabulous images is a hero who has a remarkable physical strength, perseverance, courage and kindness. Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich - heroes who were not afraid of the three-headed Serpent Gorynych, Nightingale - and combine a brilliant mind, ingenuity and cunning.
Often in Russian fairy tales there are also kind animals - a horse, a wolf or a dog, which symbolize intelligence, cunning, devotion and fidelity.
Another well-known fairy-tale hero is the collective image of a simple Russian guy Ivan. Ivan Tsarevich is always noble, brave and kind. He shows unprecedented heroism and kingdom from evil forces. Ivanushka the Fool is another favorite of the positive Russian folk - most often this is the son in the family, but the most talented and unique. He knows how to understand animals, and they willingly help Ivanushka fight evil.
The kindest fairy tale hero
Answer yourself the question "which hero is the most?" possible only by concretizing the purpose of good deeds. So, undoubtedly, one can call the kindest Ivanushka, who bravely goes against the dark forces, not thinking about his own well-being. True good, first of all, is determined by selflessness, since the hero who commits noble deeds for the sake of profit, turns into a simple mercenary.
Traditionally good heroes in fairy tales, they help the world restore the natural balance of good and evil, preventing the antagonist from realizing his insidious plans.
Therefore, the present good deed can be done only when the hero is guided solely by the breadth of his soul. Such characters are Morozko, Santa Claus, Vasilisa the Beautiful, Cinderella's fairy godmother and other heroes who do good for the sake of good, without expecting any reward in return.
Thus, it is possible to award the title of the kindest fairy-tale hero to each of these characters, since in the fight against evil it is not so much the skill that is important, but the intention, and the intention of each of them is undoubtedly the most noble.
Ilya Muromets can be called without exaggeration the most famous of the Russian epic heroes. Even the Russian who has never read epics or their prose retellings knows about this Russian hero at least from cartoons.
Researchers of Russian folklore know 53 epic heroic stories, and in 15 of them Ilya Muromets is the main character. All these epics belong to Kyiv cycle associated with Vladimir the Red Sun - an idealized image of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich.
The deeds of the epic hero
The beginning of the epic "biography" of Ilya Muromets is associated with a very typical epic hero the motive of belated maturation: for 33 years the hero sits on the stove, being unable to move either his arms or legs, but one day, three elders come to him - “passing kaliks”. In the publications of Soviet times, a clarification was “cut out” of epics who these people were, but tradition hints that they are Jesus Christ and the two apostles. The elders ask Ilya to bring them water - and the paralyzed man gets to his feet. Thus, even the hero's healing turns out to be connected with the readiness to do a good deed, albeit an insignificant one.
Having found heroic strength, Ilya goes to perform feats. It is noteworthy that neither Ilya Muromets nor other Russian heroes ever perform feats just for the sake of personal glory, as heroes of Western chivalric novels sometimes do. The deeds of Russian knights are always socially significant. This is the most famous feat of Ilya Muromets - the victory over the Nightingale the Robber, who killed travelers with his robber whistle. “You are full of tears and fathers and mothers, you are full of widows and young wives,” says the hero, killing the villain.
Another feat of the hero is the victory over Idolishche, who seized power in Constantinople. Idolishche is a collective image of nomadic enemies - Pechenegs or Polovtsians. These were pagan peoples, and it is no coincidence that Idolishche threatens to "smoke God's churches". Defeating this enemy, Ilya Muromets acts as a defender of the Christian faith.
The hero always appears as a protector common people. In Ilya of Muromets and Kalin Tsar, Ilya refuses to fight, offended by the injustice of Prince Vladimir, and only when the prince's daughter asks the hero to do this for the sake of poor widows and small children, does he agree to fight.
Possible historical prototypes
No matter how fabulous the plots of epics about Ilya Muromets may seem, historians say: this is a real person. His relics rest in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, but originally the tomb was in the aisle of St. Sophia of Kyiv - the main temple Kievan Rus. Usually only princes were buried in this cathedral, even the boyars were not honored with such an honor, therefore, the merits of Ilya Muromets were exceptional. Researchers suggest that the hero died in 1203 during the raid of the Polovtsian troops on Kyiv.
Another version is offered by the historian A. Medyntseva, who tried to explain why epic tradition connected the image of Ilya Muromets with Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich, who lived much earlier. Without denying connection epic hero with the real-life Ilya Muromets, she points out that another source of the image could be the same person who served as the prototype for Dobrynya Nikitich. It was the uncle of Prince Vladimir
The characters invented in Russia are symbols of the childhood of each of us, while in different countries world they are perceived differently. For example, if in Russian mythology Baba Yaga is evil spirits, then among the Scandinavians a similar character is a goddess realms of the dead, Hel.
Female images: "my light, mirror, tell me ..."
Vasilisa the Wise, Elena the Beautiful, Mary the Artisan, the Frog Princess, the Snow Maiden, Alyonushka - female images who possessed not only stunning female logic, but also kindness, wisdom, beauty, sincerity. The brightest of them are:
1 A fragile, little girl, Santa Claus's helper is a favorite New Year's guest, a role model for naughty children. From the middle of the 19th century, the image of a little granddaughter was replaced by a young beauty, with an obligatory kokoshnik or a fur hat, the preferred headwear of Russian women.
No country in the world can boast such a magical and romantic biography like the Russian Snegurka. In Italy, this is the fairy Befana, an old woman with a hooked nose, who flies to the kids on a broomstick, giving gifts. A kind of "Santa Claus" in a skirt. The Mongols call their Snow Maiden Zazan Ohin, the girl Snow. The heroine, by tradition, makes riddles and gives gifts only after she hears the answer. In the USA, Santa has only deer from his assistants, but there is no Snow Maiden.
It is curious that if you try to translate the word Snow Maiden into English using the service " Google Translate”, then the result will always be different. Yesterday, the Snow Maiden was translated as "Snow - boy" (literally - a snow boy). Today, the Snegurochka in the database of the service is translated as Snow-maiden (Made of snow).
2 Masha, a restless companion of the Bear, a naughty character of a 3D cartoon breaking all records.
The green-eyed fidget is fluent in hand-to-hand combat, loves to be capricious and hooligan, asks questions that are difficult to answer. The prototype of the animated series was the folklore heroine of the Russian folk tale. Director O. Kuznetsov borrowed character traits from the hero of O. Henry's story "The Leader of the Redskins". The team of creators of the series does not adapt native Russian characters for broadcast in various countries.
3 baba yaga- a witch, the heroine of Slavic mythology, endowed with magical powers. A negative character lures good fellows into his hut on chicken legs, without fail gives the heroes a fairy-tale horse and a magical navigator of those times - a ball of thread. The Russian witch is not always friendly, but if you are gifted with eloquence, she can help.
4 Firebird, fairy bird, healing the sick and restoring sight to the blind, is the sister of the Western European bird Phoenix, which knew how to revive from the ashes. The father of the two fiery heroines, most likely, was Peacock.
Each heroine is an individual, embodying good or evil, her actions and deeds are directly related to her character and mission.
Male images: “the heroes have not yet died out on the Russian land!”
No less colorful top positive male images, vividly conveying the spirit of the Russian people. The main images are always antagonistic: in contrast to the beautiful, there is sure to be a bad one. Without which male images Russian fairy tales are inconceivable:
1 Father Frost.
In the Russian version - Morozko, Student, mighty ruler winter blizzard. The character, adored by the children, rides on a troika of horses, fetters reservoirs and rivers with the sound of a staff, sweeps cities and villages with cold breath. IN New Year together with the Snow Maiden gives gifts. During Soviet times, Grandfather was dressed in a red coat, the color of the country's flag. The image of the popular Grandfather, who "wanders through forests and meadows" is played differently in different countries: Santa Claus, Youlupuki, Jouluvana.
This is interesting:
According to the most conservative estimates of scientists, Santa Claus is more than 2000 years old. For two thousand years, Santa Claus has repeatedly appeared in different images. First, in form pagan god Zimnik: an old man of small stature, with white hair and a long gray beard, with an uncovered head, in warm white clothes and with an iron mace in his hands. And in the fourth century, Santa Claus was reminiscent of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, who lived in Asia Minor in the city of Patara.
Grandfather began to come to the house with gifts with the beginning of the celebration of the New Year in Rus'. Previously, he gave gifts to the obedient and smart, and beat the mischievous with a stick. But the years made Santa Claus more compassionate: he replaced the stick with a magic staff.
By the way, Santa Claus first appeared on the pages of books in 1840, when Vladimir Odoevsky's "Children's Tales of Grandpa Iriney" were published. In the book, the name and patronymic of the winter wizard, Moroz Ivanovich, became known.
In the twentieth century, Santa Claus almost disappeared. After the revolution, it was considered that celebrating Christmas is harmful for the people, because this is a real “priestly” holiday. However, in 1935, the disgrace was finally removed, and soon Father Frost and Snegurochka first appeared together for the Christmas tree holiday at the Moscow House of Unions.
2 Three heroes. Strong, brave, funny heroes have long become a symbol of Russia, thanks to a series of full-length adventures by Alyosha Popovich, Dobrynya Nikitich and Ilya Muromets. In fact, the brave fellows never met in life, according to epics, they even lived in different centuries.
This is interesting:
In 2015, the 6th part of the saga, “Three Heroes: The Knight’s Move”, which was released on the screens, collected 962,961,596 rubles. Almost 1 billion rubles! Thus, the picture became the highest grossing animated film of the year. Although it all started modestly: the box office of the first part - "Alyosha Popovich and Tugarin the Serpent" (2004) - amounted to 48,376,440 rubles. Since then, fees have steadily increased.
3 Ivan the Fool(third son) - a character who embodies a special "magic strategy": the hero acts contrary to common sense and always succeeds! The fool perfectly solves riddles, defeats evil spirits and valiantly saves the main character.
Pinocchio, Crocodile Gena, Dr. Aibolit, Barmaley, Winnie the Pooh, Leopold the Cat and Matroskin the Cat are also some of the most popular and beloved heroes of Russian cinema, who rightfully occupy high positions in the rating of fairy-tale characters.
Undead: guardians of forests, swamps and houses
The largest group of Russian folk epic is made up of mythical creatures. Water, Kikimora, Leshy, mermaids, Brownie, Baba Yaga - magical images that appeared along with inexplicable forces nature. By their actions and character - this is more negative characters, but at the same time, they are charming and charismatic in modern films and cartoons, these include:
1 Koschei the Deathless. A character who has supernatural power. According to legend, this is an insidious old man who kills pets. The sorcerer often kidnaps the protagonist's bride in the hope of "mutual love".
This is interesting:
In Soviet cinema, Koshey was brilliantly played by actor Georgy Millyar. Basically, he played all sorts of evil spirits and had to put on complex makeup. But for the role of Koshchei the Immortal, makeup was practically not needed, since the actor himself resembled a living skeleton (after suffering from malaria, the actor's weight was only 45 kg).
Koschey the Immortal - Georgy Millyar - Article
Fairy tale plays a significant role in human life. This is what he hears one of the first after birth; she also accompanies him in the next stages of growing up. Fairy tales are loved not only by children, but also by adults. Their deep philosophical meaning makes it possible to take a different look at ordinary things; understand the principles of good and evil; learn to believe in a miracle and not forget about your own role.
Moral values are transmitted through characteristic characters, each of which has its own folk prototype.
Hare
Runaway bunny, gray bunny, oblique - as soon as they don’t call the animal in Russian folk tales. He is endowed with a cowardly, but at the same time friendly character. Fairy hare has cunning, dexterity and resourcefulness. A striking example- the fairy tale "The Fox and the Hare", where a small animal turns from a cowardly animal into a savvy hero who managed to deceive even an evil wolf and help his friends.
In nature, hares do have cautious habits that help them avoid the teeth of predators. Our ancestors also knew this feature of the animal.
Fox
Cunning, dodgy, smart, insidious, vindictive ... What features are not given to the fox in fairy tales. She deceives animals, looks for profit everywhere, is not afraid of people. The fox is friends with the strong, but only for his own benefit.
Cunning is embodied in the image of an animal. Folk prototype can be considered dishonest, thieving, but at the same time smart person. The fox is feared, despised and respected at the same time. This is evidenced by the appeal to her in fairy tales as Lisa Patrikeevna, Chanterelle-Sister.
Wolf
The wolf in Russian fairy tales embodies anger. He preys on weaker animals; is not always smart. The shortsightedness of the wolf is used by other characters. In the fairy tale "The Chanterelle Sister and the Gray Wolf" a formidable predator was deceived by a red cheat, and in "The Three Little Pigs"
harmless pigs could wrap him around their fingers.
Our ancestors also associated the wolf with death. Indeed, in nature, this predator is considered a kind of forest orderly who hunts weak and sick animals. And the human prototype of the wolf can be considered the one who is too evil, greedy and vengeful.
Bear
Fairy bear is the owner of the forest. He is strong, rude, clumsy and not exactly smart. It is believed that in the form of a bear, ordinary people wanted to show the landowners. Therefore, in fairy tales, this animal is often deceived by weaker animals, with which ordinary people are associated.
At the same time, in fairy tales you can also find another image of a bear: kind, calm, honest and freedom-loving. Suffice it to recall how the bear helped the lost girl Masha in the work of the same name.
Man (peasant)
The image of a man in fairy tales has different meaning. In some works, he acts as the personification of the working people: he is somewhat rustic, he works all the time, does not put up with the injustice of rich owners. On the other hand, such traits as wisdom and cunning were embodied in the peasant. He is hardworking, not rich, but much more cunning and resourceful than the landlords and generals.
Baba Yaga
A hut on chicken legs, a black cat, a mortar and a broom are the main attributes of any fabulous Baba Yaga. This old woman is both evil (what her threats are worth) and kind (helps in difficult situations). She is wise, strong-willed, purposeful. It can be an adviser, or it can be a threat.
The image of Baba Yaga in Russian fairy tales is one of the most controversial and controversial. She personifies matriarchal traits. Our ancestors Baba Yaga was closely associated with the clan.
Koschei the Deathless
In fairy tales, his image can be seen in three guises: a sorcerer with special power, a king underworld and an old man who may be the husband of the Serpent or a friend of Baba Yaga. Possesses unusual abilities: Transforms heroes into animals and birds. It can be defeated only thanks to certain rituals (with the help of a magic horse, club, burning). Despite his name, he is not immortal at all, because his death is on the tip of a needle (or, alternatively, in an egg), which are securely hidden.
The folk prototype of Koshchei is an imperious, evil, cunning and vile person, endowed with magical properties.
Ivan the Fool
Contrary to the ambiguous name, Ivan is not at all the personification of stupidity, even if he is called a fool in the work. In fairy tales, he is the youngest of the sons, who often does nothing, is lazy, but achieves a lot in life thanks to cunning and luck. This is a positive hero, embodying the features of what people would like to have. Some kind of dream where without special efforts, by chance, everything works out: to become rich, and to take a princess as a wife. Our ancestors in the image of Ivan the Fool wanted to show a lucky person.
Ivan Tsarevich
Unlike Ivan the Fool, who gets everything simply and effortlessly, Ivan Tsarevich must overcome many obstacles to achieve his goal, showing his strength, intelligence and skills. He becomes a prince not only by the fact of birth, which he does not even know about, but by merit. Like Ivan the Fool, he is most often the youngest of the brothers, only of royal blood.
kikimora
Kikimora in fairy tales can act as an ugly creature of indeterminate age (this is a girl, an old woman, and even a man). Is the personification evil spirits. She tries to hide from people, but lives near residential buildings or in a swamp. Her job is to frighten and frighten.
The mythological meaning of kikimora among our ancestors is a person who passed away in an unrighteous way. Therefore, his soul does not find rest.
Water
The merman is the master of water. This is a half old man half a fish. Lives near mills, in a whirlpool and a polynya. Scares people and drags them to the bottom; breaks mills and drowns cattle. But the merman can be deceived, defeated by cunning.
