Foreign fairy tales for kids. French folk tales

Old French fairy tales existed until the 17th century only in oral form. They were written for children. simple people- nannies, cooks and just villagers. Such fantasies were not published as a genre of low literature.

The situation was changed by the texts of folk art, recorded, processed and published by Charles Perrault. Heroes of folklore stepped into the royal palace and castles high society. Known statesmen don't mind writing fairy tales and even memorized them from their own servants. They were imbued with a sincere interest in unusual plots and felt the educational power of a fairy tale in relation to their own children.

Main plots and characters

As in most countries, French folklore contains children's fairy tales about animals, as well as magical and everyday ones. Many of them were published under the names of those who found and edited oral stories. So folk tales turned into literary copyrights.

Small works could be significantly expanded, some of them became softer and kinder. The thought of the inevitability of punishment in children's heads was replaced by a desire to do the right thing. Fairy tale acquired new facets of beauty and wonder.

Why did French fairy tales spread around the world?

Natural humor, artistry and bright characters of the main characters, an abundance of amazing adventures gave French fairy tales worldwide fame. The processing of folk art by educated writers improved the style of presentation and understanding of what was happening. Children from all over the world saw what wonderful storytellers write in France and began to read them with pleasure.

Such works have also been published in Russian. This gives our little readers and listeners the opportunity to plunge headlong into the fantasy world of French magic.

Foreign tales tell of miracles and amazing people and also ridicule human vices. Good necessarily triumphs over evil, generosity and courage are rewarded according to their deserts, and nobility always triumphs over meanness. We present to your attention a list of foreign folk tales which will appeal to children of all ages.

Ayoga

The fairy tale "Ayoga" is named after a girl who became proud because everyone considered her beautiful. She refused to go for water, and the neighbor's girl went instead. She also got the pie that her mother baked. Out of resentment, Ayoga turned into a goose, which to this day flies and repeats its name so that no one confuses it with others.

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

The tale "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" tells the story of two brothers. One of them, Kasim, became rich after his father's death. And the other - Ali Baba quickly squandered everything. But he was lucky, he found a cave of robbers with treasures. Ali Baba took some goodness and left. When his brother found out about the treasure and went to the cave, he could not restrain his greed. As a result, Kasim died at the hands of robbers.

Aladdin magic lamp

The work "The Magic Lamp of Aladdin" tells about a poor young man and his adventures. Once Aladdin met a dervish who introduced himself as his uncle. In fact, he was a sorcerer who, with the help of a young man, tried to get magic lamp. As a result of long adventures, Aladdin managed to defeat the dervish and stay with his beloved princess.

humpbacked princess

The heroine of the work "Humpbacked Princess" once offended a hunchbacked beggar. As a result of the vicissitudes of fate, he became the husband of a princess. When she managed to get rid of her hated husband, the girl was left with a hump from him. The princess enters the castle of the prince in a golden cloak. As a result, she gets rid of the humpback and becomes the wife of the prince.

Jack and the beanstalk

Jack and the Beanstalk is the story of a poor boy who lived with his mother. Once he traded a cow for magic beans. Climbing a stalk grown from beans, Jack took the gold, the duck, and the ogre's harp. When in last time the giant tried to catch up with the boy, he cut down the stalk and killed the ogre. He then married a princess and lived happily ever after.

Pan Kotsky

The fairy tale "Pan Kotsky" tells about a cat, which the owner took to the forest when he grew old. There he was met by a fox. The cat called himself Pan Kotsky. The fox invited him to become husband and wife. The red-haired cheat deceived the forest animals, who invited the spouses to dinner, and by cunning made them afraid of the cat.

Why is the sea water salty

The tale "Why is the water in the sea salty" tells the story of two brothers. Once a poor man begged from rich meat. He gave, but sent his brother to old Hiisi. As a reward for courage, the poor man received a millstone, giving whatever you want. Upon learning this, the rich man begged for a gift from his brother and did not want to return it back. While fishing, a millstone grinding salt did not stop and sank the boat.

Sinbad the Sailor

The fairy tale "Sinbad the Sailor" tells about amazing adventures hero. One of the three stories tells of an island that turns out to be a whale. The second tells about the meeting of Sinbad with the bird Roc and the amazing rescue of the sailor. In the third, the hero had to survive in a skirmish with a cannibal giant.

worn shoes

The Worn Shoes is a fairy tale about 12 princesses and their secret. No one was able to find out why the shoes of the girls, who were closed in their bedchamber, were worn out the next morning. Those who tried and failed to solve the riddle were decapitated. Only a poor soldier managed to find out the secret of the princesses and get one of them as his wife.

Three piglets

From the fairy tale "Three Little Pigs" children learn about the need to think through everything in advance. By the approach of cold weather, one of the brothers-piglets - Naf-Naf built a solid stone house. But Nif-Nif and Nuf-Nuf built frail buildings that could not resist the onslaught of the wolf. All three brothers are saved in the house of prudent Naf-Naf.

Miraculous pearl

"Wonderful Pearl" - a fairy tale about poor girl Whoa. She worked for an elder who abused her. Once the girl was asked to save the daughter of the lord of the waters, which she did. As a reward, Ua received a magical wish-granting pearl. A wonderful thing helped the girl get rid of poverty and live happily with her lover.

Why do rabbits have long ears

The hero of the fairy tale “Why does the hare have long ears” is a small shy animal. He overheard the conversation of the elk with his wife, when he argued to whom to distribute the antlers. And begged for the biggest horns for himself. And when a bump fell on his head, he was so frightened that he got entangled in the bushes. He took away the antlers of the elk and rewarded the hare with big ears because he loves to eavesdrop.

three oranges

The tale "Three Oranges" about how the old woman cursed the king's son. According to her prophecy, as soon as he was 21 years old, the young man went to look for a tree with three oranges. He had to wander for a long time, but he found what he was looking for. Together with oranges, the prince acquired a beautiful bride and married her.

golden shoe

The fairy tale "The Golden Shoe" tells the story of two sisters Mugazo and Muhalok. The first was kind and obedient, but her stepmother did not love her. Mugazo had to experience many troubles, because she turned into a turtle, a bird, and a persimmon. But thanks to the intercession of the goddess, the girl remained alive and married the king.

Two greedy bear cubs

"Two Greedy Bears" - instructive tale for children. It tells about two brothers cubs. One day they went on a trip together. When the cubs got hungry and found a head of cheese, they did not know how to share it. Because of their greed, they trusted the cunning fox who deceived the cubs.

Jug of gold

The work "Jug of Gold" tells about a poor plowman who rented land to a neighbor. When he was working in the field, he found a jug of gold. Unable to agree on who it belongs to, the plowmen turned to the king. However, instead of gold, he saw only snakes. Only the wise men helped to resolve such a controversial issue.

The poor man and the wind brothers

“The Poor Man and the Wind Brothers” is a fairy tale about two brothers: the poor and the rich. One was simple-hearted, but had little good. The other is rich but greedy. Once the poor man had to turn to the winds that left him without torment. They gave the peasant a present, but he failed to save the gifts. The brother misappropriated them. But the winds helped the poor man not only to return the good, but also taught the mind.

How the Sun and the Moon visited each other

“How the Sun and the Moon went to visit each other” is a fairy tale about why the night luminary reflects light. When the Moon came to visit the Sun, she presented a star on a platter. Going for a return visit, the King of Light ordered the tailor to sew a dress from clouds for a gift. But he refused, as the moon is constantly changing shape. Then the Sun allowed the night luminary to use its rays for outfits.

Little man-Burachok

The fairy tale "Peasant-Gimlet" is named after the main character. He was an ordinary plowman, but ingenuity surpassed any sage. Upon learning of this, the pan did not believe the stories of people and decided to check the peasant. He summoned Burachok to him and asked him riddles. But he used his ingenuity and proved that he was smarter than the pan.

A pot of porridge

The fairy tale "The Pot of Porridge" tells about a kind girl. Having met an old woman in the forest, she treated her to berries, for which she received a magic pot. This miracle dish was filled delicious porridge as soon as the right words have been spoken. When the girl went away, her mother used the potty, but did not know how to stop him. As a result, porridge filled the entire city.

Stories and tales of foreign writers

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Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875)

More than one generation of people grew up on the works of the Danish writer, storyteller and playwright. From early childhood, Hans was a visionary and a dreamer, he adored puppet theaters and began to write poetry early. His father died when Hans was not even ten years old, the boy worked as an apprentice at a tailor, then at a cigarette factory, at the age of 14 he was already playing minor roles V Royal Theater in Copenhagen. Andersen wrote his first play at the age of 15, it was a great success, in 1835 his first book of fairy tales was published, which many children and adults read with delight to this day. Of his works, the most famous are Flint, Thumbelina, The Little Mermaid, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Snow Queen, The Ugly Duckling, The Princess and the Pea and many others.

Charles Perrault (1628-1703)

The French storyteller, critic and poet was an exemplary excellent student in childhood. He received a good education, made a career as a lawyer and writer, he was admitted to the French Academy, wrote a lot scientific papers. He published his first book of fairy tales under a pseudonym - the name of his eldest son was indicated on the cover, since Perrault was afraid that the storyteller's reputation could damage his career. In 1697, his collection "Tales of Mother Goose" was published, which brought Perrault world fame. According to the plot of his fairy tales, famous ballets and operatic works. As for the most famous works, few people did not read in childhood about Puss in Boots, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Gingerbread house, Thumb boy, Blue beard.

Sergeyevich Pushkin (1799-1837)

Not only the poems and poems of the great poet and playwright enjoy the well-deserved love of people, but also wonderful fairy tales in verse.

Alexander Pushkin began to write his poems in early childhood he got good home education, graduated from the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum (privileged educational institution), befriended others famous poets, including the "Decembrists". In the life of the poet there were both periods of ups and tragic events: accusations of freethinking, misunderstanding and condemnation of the authorities, finally, a fatal duel, as a result of which Pushkin received a mortal wound and died at the age of 38. But his legacy remains: last fairy tale, written by the poet, became "The Tale of the Golden Cockerel". Also known are “The Tale of Tsar Saltan”, “The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish”, the Tale of dead princess and seven bogatyrs", "The Tale of the Priest and Worker Balda".

Brothers Grimm: Wilhelm (1786-1859), Jacob (1785-1863)

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm from their youth to the very gravestone were inseparable water: they were tied common interests and general adventure. Wilhelm Grimm grew up sickly and weak boy, only in adulthood his health more or less returned to normal, Jacob always supported his brother. The Grimm brothers were not only connoisseurs of German folklore, but also linguists, lawyers, scientists. One brother chose the path of a philologist, studying the memoirs of ancient German literature, the other became a scientist. world fame it was fairy tales that were brought to the brothers, although some works are considered “not for children”. The most famous are Snow White and Scarlet, Straw, Coal and Bean, Bremen Street musicians”, “The Brave Little Tailor”, “The Wolf and the Seven Kids”, “Hansel and Gretel” and others.

Pavel Petrovich Bazhov (1879-1950)

Russian writer and folklorist, the first to perform literary processing Ural legends, left us an invaluable legacy. He was born into a simple working-class family, but this did not stop him from graduating from the seminary and becoming a teacher of the Russian language. In 1918, he volunteered for the front, returning, he decided to turn to journalism. Only on the 60th anniversary of the author was published a collection of short stories " Malachite Box", which brought Bazhov people's love. It is interesting that fairy tales are made in the form of legends: vernacular, folklore images make each piece special. Most famous fairy tales: "Mistress of the Copper Mountain", " silver hoof”, “Malachite Box”, “Two Lizards”, “Golden Hair”, “Stone Flower”.

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

Famous writer, poet and reformer. Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay (India), at the age of 6 he was brought to England, he later called those years “years of suffering”, because the people who raised him turned out to be cruel and indifferent. Future Writer received an education, returned to India, and then went on a journey, visiting many countries in Asia and America. When the writer was 42 years old, he was awarded Nobel Prize- and to this day he remains the youngest writer-laureate in his nomination. Kipling's most famous children's book is, of course, The Jungle Book, the main character of which was the boy Mowgli, it is also very interesting to read other fairy tales: the leopard got his spots”, they all tell about distant lands and are very interesting.

Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann (1776-1822)

Hoffmann was a very versatile and talented person: composer, artist, writer, storyteller. He was born in Koningsberg when he was 3 years old, his parents separated: the older brother left with his father, and Ernst stayed with his mother, Hoffmann never saw his brother again. Ernst has always been a mischievous and dreamer, he was often called a "troublemaker." Interestingly, next to the house where the Hoffmanns lived, there was a women's boarding house, and Ernst liked one of the girls so much that he even began to dig a tunnel to get to know her. When the manhole was almost ready, my uncle found out about it and ordered to fill up the passage. Hoffmann always dreamed that after his death there would be a memory of him - and it happened, his fairy tales are read to this day: the most famous ones are “The Golden Pot”, “The Nutcracker”, “Little Tsakhes, nicknamed Zinnober” and others.

Alan Milne (1882-1856)

Who among us does not know funny bear with sawdust in his head - Winnie the Pooh and his funny friends? - the author of these funny fairy tales and is Alan Milne. The writer spent his childhood in London, he was wonderful an educated person, then served in the Royal Army. The first bear stories were written in 1926. Interestingly, Alan did not read his works to his own son Christopher, preferring to educate him on more serious literary stories. Christopher read his father's fairy tales as an adult. The books have been translated into 25 languages ​​and enjoy great success in many countries around the world. In addition to stories about Winnie the Pooh famous fairy tales "Princess Nesmeyana", " ordinary fairy tale"," Rabbit Prince "and others.

Alexey Nikolaevich Tolstoy (1882-1945)

Alexei Tolstoy wrote in many genres and styles, received the title of academician, and during the war he was a war correspondent. As a child, Alexei lived on the Sosnovka farm in the house of his stepfather (his mother left his father, Count Tolstoy, while pregnant). Tolstoy spent several years abroad, studying literature and folklore. different countries: so the idea arose to rewrite new way fairy tale Pinocchio. In 1935, his book The Golden Key or the Adventures of Pinocchio was published. Alexei Tolstoy also released 2 collections of his own fairy tales, called "Mermaid Tales" and " Forty tales". The most famous "adult" works are "Walking through the torments", "Aelita", "Hyperboloid of engineer Garin".

Alexander Nikolaevich Afanasiev (1826-1871)

This is an outstanding folklorist and historian, who from his youth was fond of folk art and explored it. At first he worked as a journalist in the archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at which time he began his research. Afanasiev is considered one of the most prominent scientists of the 20th century, his collection of Russian folk tales is the only collection of Russian East Slavic tales that can be called " folk book“, because more than one generation has grown up on them. The first publication dates back to 1855, since then the book has been reprinted more than once.

I don't remember exactly what year it was. Whole month I hunted with enthusiasm, with wild joy, with the ardor that you bring to new passions.

I lived in Normandy, with a single relative, Jules de Banneville, in his family castle, alone with him, with his maid, footman and watchman. A dilapidated building surrounded by groaning fir trees in the middle of long oak avenues through which the wind rushed; the castle seemed long abandoned. In the corridor, where the wind blew, as in the avenues of a park, hung portraits of all those people who once ceremoniously received noble neighbors in these rooms, now locked and cluttered with nothing but antique furniture.

As for us, we simply fled into the kitchen, where there was only one to live in, into a huge kitchen, the dark nooks and crannies of which were lit up only when a new pile of firewood was thrown into the huge fireplace. Every evening we dozed sweetly by the fireplace, in front of which our wet boots smoked, and the hunting dogs curled up at our feet barked in their sleep, seeing the hunt again; then we went upstairs to our room.

It was the only room in which all the walls and ceiling were carefully plastered because of the mice. But, bleached with lime, it remained bare, and only guns, rapniks and hunting horns hung on its walls; chattering our teeth from the cold, we climbed into the beds that stood on both sides of this Siberian dwelling.

At a distance of one league from the castle, a steep bank broke into the sea; from the powerful breath of the ocean, day and night, tall bent trees groaned, roofs and weather vanes creaked as if with a cry, and the whole venerable building crackled, filling with wind through thinning tiles, through fireplaces as wide as an abyss, through windows that no longer closed.

That day there was a terrible frost. Evening came. We were about to sit at a table in front of a high fireplace, where a hare's back and two partridges were roasting on a bright fire, emitting a delicious smell.

My cousin raised his head.

“It won’t be hot to sleep tonight,” he said.

I answered indifferently:

- Yes, but tomorrow morning there will be ducks on the ponds.

The servant girl, who was setting the table for us at one end and for the servants at the other, asked:

Do the gentlemen know that today is Christmas Eve?

Of course, we didn't know, because we almost never looked at the calendar. My friend said:

“So there will be midnight Mass tonight.” So that's why they've been calling all day!

The maid replied:

“Yes and no, sir; they also called because Uncle Fournel had died.

Uncle Fournel, an old shepherd, was a local celebrity. He was ninety-six years of age, and he never fell ill until the very time when, a month ago, he caught a cold, having fallen down. dark night into the swamp. The next day he fell ill and has been dying ever since.

The cousin turned to me:

“If you want, let’s go visit these poor people now.”

He meant the old man's family—his fifty-eight-year-old grandson and his grandson's fifty-seven-year-old wife. The intermediate generation has long since died. They huddled in a miserable shack, at the entrance to the village, to the right.

I don't know why, but the thought of Christmas in this wilderness got us to chat. We told each other all sorts of stories about previous Christmas Eve, about our adventures on this crazy night, about past successes with women and about awakenings the next day - awakenings together, accompanied by surprise and risky surprises.

Thus, our lunch was delayed. Having finished with him, we smoked a lot of pipes and, seized by the gaiety of hermits, the cheerful sociability that suddenly arises between two bosom friends, continued to talk incessantly, going over in conversation the most intimate memories that are shared during hours of such closeness.

The maid who left us long ago reappeared:

"Sir, I'm going to Mass."

- A quarter past twelve.

- Shall we go to church? Jules asked. – The Christmas mass is very curious in the countryside.

I agreed, and we set off, wrapped in hunting fur coats.

Severe frost pricked his face, and his eyes watered. The air was so icy that it took your breath away and your throat dried up. The deep, clear and severe sky was dotted with stars, they seemed to have turned pale from frost and flickered not like lights, but like sparkling ice floes, like shining crystals. In the distance, on the sonorous, dry and resonant earth, like copper, peasant clogs rang, and all around small village bells rang, sending their liquid and, as it were, also chilly sounds into the freezing expanse of night.

They didn't sleep in the village. The roosters crowed, deceived by all these sounds, and passing by the barns, one could hear the animals moving, awakened by this roar of life.

Approaching the village, Jules remembered the Fournels.

“Here’s their shack,” he said, “let’s go in!”

He knocked for a long time, but in vain. Finally, we were seen by a neighbor who left the house to go to church.

“They went to matins, gentlemen, to pray for the old man.

“So we will see them when we leave the church,” Jules told me.

The setting moon stood out like a sickle on the edge of the horizon amid an endless scattering of sparkling grains thrown into space with a flurry. And across the black plain, trembling lights moved, heading from everywhere to the pointed bell tower ringing incessantly. Through the tree-lined farms, through the dark valleys, these lights flickered everywhere, almost touching the ground. They were cow horn lanterns. Peasants walked with them in front of their wives, dressed in white caps and wide black cloaks, accompanied by awakened children who held their hands.

Through open door the illuminated pulpit could be seen from the church. A garland of cheap candles illuminated the middle of the church, and in its left aisle the chubby wax baby Jesus, lying on real straw, among spruce branches, flaunted his pink, cutesy nakedness.

The service has started. The peasants bowed their heads and the women knelt down and prayed. These simple people, having risen in the cold night, gazed with emotion at the crudely painted image and folded their hands, looking with naive timidity at the wretched luxury of this childish performance.

The cold air stirred the flames of the candles. Jules told me:

- Let's get out of here! Still better outside.

Heading home along the lonely road, while the kneeling peasants trembled devoutly in the church, we relapsed into our reminiscences and talked so long that the service was already over when we came back to the village.

A thin streak of light shone from under the Furnels' door.

“They watch over the dead,” said my cousin. “Let’s finally go to these poor fellows, it will please them.”

Several firebrands were burning in the hearth. The dark room, the greasy walls of which were glossy and the worm-eaten beams blackened with age, was full of the suffocating smell of roasted blood sausage. On a large table, from under which a bread chest protruded like a huge belly, a candle burned in a twisted iron candlestick; acrid smoke from a wick burnt with a mushroom rose to the ceiling. Furneli, husband and wife, broke their fast in private.

Gloomy, with a dejected look and stupid peasant faces, they ate intently, without uttering a word. On the only plate between them lay a large piece of black pudding, spreading a fetid steam. From time to time, with the end of a knife, they cut off a circle from it, put it on bread and began to chew slowly.

When the husband's glass was empty, the wife took the pitcher and filled it with cider.

When we appeared, they stood up, seated us, offered to “follow their example”, and after our refusal they again began to eat.