A Common World Literature Mistake You Are Probably Making Now With Russian Fairy Tales Part 2

Russian Fairy Tales are probably the most overlooked literary study for those studying for the CSET English and the CSET Multiple Subjects exams. Remember, the World Literature section of the CSET demands your attention of World Literature studies.

This is the final part in our 2 part lesson on the Russian Fairy Tale.

We continue with our next Russian Fairy Tale The Tsarevna Frog, and we conclude the lesson with Prince Ivan and Grey Wolf.

The Tsarevna Frog

AN an old, old Russian tsarstvo, I do not know when, there lived a sovereign prince with the princess his wife. They had three sons, all of them young, and such brave fellows that no pen could describe them. The youngest had the name of Ivan Tsarevitch. One day their father said to his sons:

“My dear boys, take each of you an arrow, draw your strong bow and let your arrow fly; in whatever court it falls, in that court there will be a wife for you.”

The arrow of the oldest Tsarevitch fell on a boyar-house just in front of the terem where women live; the arrow of the second Tsarevitch flew to the red porch of a rich merchant, and on the porch there stood a sweet girl, the merchant’s daughter. The youngest, the brave Tsarevitch Ivan, had the ill luck to send his arrow into the midst of a swamp, where it was caught by a croaking frog.

Ivan Tsarevitch came to his father: “How can I marry the frog?” complained the son. “Is she my equal? Certainly she is not.”

“Never mind,” replied his father, “you have to marry the frog, for such is evidently your destiny.”