Nikíta the Tanner
A dragon terrorizes a region near Kíev, demanding tribute in the form of a maiden, ultimately taking the Tsarévna as his wife. Despite her beauty, the dragon does not consume her but keeps her captive. The Tsarévna, with the help of her loyal dog, communicates with her parents, who advise her to find someone stronger than the dragon. She learns that Nikíta, a tanner in Kíev, is the only one capable of defeating the beast. The Tsar seeks out Nikíta, who is initially reluctant to confront the dragon. To persuade him, the Tsar gathers a group of children who plead for his help. Moved by their tears, Nikíta prepares for battle by covering himself in tar and hemp to protect against the dragon's attacks. When he confronts the dragon, it initially refuses to fight, but Nikíta's determination forces it out of its den. After a fierce struggle, the dragon proposes a truce, suggesting they divide the earth between them. Nikíta agrees but insists on establishing clear boundaries. He harnesses the dragon to a plough and drags it from Kíev to the Caspian Sea, marking their territorial division. However, Nikíta realizes they must also divide the sea to prevent future disputes. In the middle of the sea, he ultimately defeats the dragon, drowning it and creating a deep trench that remains a landmark. Having accomplished this heroic feat, Nikíta returns home without seeking any reward, resuming his work as a tanner. The story highlights themes of bravery, the power of community, and the importance of resolving conflicts through strength and wisdom.
By Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev · First published 1855 · Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Adventure · 724 words
First lines
One day, somewhere near Kíev, a dragon appeared, who demanded heavy tribute from the people. He demanded every time to eat a fair maiden: and at last the turn came to the Tsarévna, the princess. But the dragon would not eat her, she was too beautiful. He dragged her into his den and made her his wife. When he flew out on business, he used to pile logs of wood in front of the den to prevent the Tsarévna escaping. But the Tsarévna had a little dog that had followed her all the way from home. When she wrote a letter to her father and mother she used to tie it to the neck of her little dog, which would run all the way home and bring an answer back. One day her parents wrote to her: "Try to discover anyone who is stronger than the dragon. " The Tsarévna got every day on more intimate terms with her dragon in order to discover who was stronger. At last he owned that Nikíta, the tanner at Kíev, was the stronger. So the Tsarévna at once wrote to her father: "Look for Nikíta, the tanner at Kíev, and send him on to me to deliver me from my imprisonment."
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Nikíta the Tanner is listed on Textopian as a short story by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev, dated 1855 CE.
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- Work type: Short story
- Author: Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev
- Date: 1855 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Adventure, Folklore, Heroic Tale
- Length: 724 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Fantasy — The story features mythical elements such as a dragon and magical feats, characteristic of the fantasy genre.
- Fairy Tale — The narrative structure and moral lessons align with traditional fairy tales, including a hero's journey and a princess in distress.
- Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a quest to confront the dragon, embodying the adventure genre.
- Folklore — The story reflects cultural traditions and oral storytelling typical of folklore, particularly Slavic folklore.
Tags
Russian Folklore · Fairy Tale · Slavic Mythology · Tannery Setting · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Moral Lesson · Good vs Evil · Friendship · Loyalty · Courage · Perseverance