A Tale of the Dead III
A soldier returns home after being discharged and visits an old friend, a miller. The miller warns him about a sorcerer who has died and now haunts the village at night. Undeterred, the soldier continues his journey and encounters the sorcerer in a graveyard, who invites him to a wedding. At the wedding, the sorcerer causes chaos, injuring the bride and groom and filling bladders with their blood, claiming it will ensure their death. He reveals that he can only be defeated by burning him in a specific manner, ensuring no part of him escapes. After a struggle, the soldier defeats the sorcerer, retrieves the bladders, and returns to his family, who mourn the dead couple. He offers to revive them for a reward, which the grieving family agrees to. Using the sorcerer's instructions, he successfully revives the bride and groom, turning sorrow into joy. The soldier then organizes the villagers to gather aspen wood to burn the sorcerer’s remains, ensuring that all parts of him are destroyed. With the sorcerer defeated, peace returns to the village. The grateful villagers honor the soldier, who eventually returns to military service, later retiring to live a contented life, enjoying prosperity and avoiding misfortune.
By Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev · First published 1833 · Genre: Fantasy, Folklore, Adventure · 1,381 words
First lines
They had discharged the soldier home, and he was going on his road, it may be far, it may be a short way, and he at last was nearing his village. Not far from his village there lived a miller in his mill: in past times the soldier had been great friends with him.
Why should he not go and see his friend? So he went.
What this Textopian page supports
A Tale of the Dead III is listed on Textopian as a short story by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev, dated 1833 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev
- Date: 1833 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Folklore, Adventure, Fairy Tale, Drama
- Length: 1,381 words
- Structure: 1 section, 43 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Tale of the Dead III by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Tale of the Dead III?
- How does this short story by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Fantasy — The story features magical elements such as a sorcerer, resurrection, and supernatural events.
- Folklore — The narrative draws on traditional folk themes and motifs common in Slavic folklore.
- Adventure — The soldier's journey and encounters with the wizard provide an adventurous plot.
- Fairy Tale — The structure and moral lessons align with classic fairy tale conventions.
Tags
Russian Folklore · Fairy Tale · Mythology · Slavic Mythology · Death · Afterlife · Spirituality · Mortality · Grief · Loss · Family · Love