The Enchanted Tsarévich
A merchant with three daughters embarks on a journey to foreign lands, asking each daughter what she desires. The eldest two request coats, while the youngest asks for a specific flower she sketches. The merchant, unable to find the flower, stumbles upon a magnificent palace and, upon seeing the flower, picks it. This act awakens a three-headed serpent who demands that the merchant give up the first person he meets upon returning home. The merchant reluctantly agrees, and upon his return, his youngest daughter runs to greet him. He reveals the situation, and she bravely offers to go to the serpent in his place. The daughter arrives at the serpent's palace, which is filled with riches but devoid of people. She discovers that her wishes are instantly fulfilled, and each night the serpent visits her, asking her to place his bed next to hers. Eventually, he requests to share her bed, and despite her fear, she complies. The serpent allows her to visit her family, warning her not to be late. Her envious sisters manipulate her into staying longer, causing her to return late. Upon her arrival, she finds the serpent dead from grief. Devastated, she weeps and embraces the serpent, who transforms into a handsome prince, revealing that he was under a curse. Grateful for her love and bravery, they return to her father, get betrothed, and live happily ever after.
By Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev · First published 1855 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Folklore · 1,336 words
First lines
Once upon a time there was a merchant who had three daughters: it so happened he had one day to go to strange countries to buy wares, and so he asked his daughters, "What shall I bring you from beyond the seas?"
The eldest asked for a new coat, and the next one also asked for a new coat; but the youngest one only took a sheet of paper and sketched a flower on it: "Bring me, bátyushka,52 a flower like this!"
What this Textopian page supports
The Enchanted Tsarévich is listed on Textopian as a short story by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev, dated 1855 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: 1855 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Folklore, Adventure, Romance
- Length: 1,336 words
- Structure: 1 section, 34 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Enchanted Tsarévich 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
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Enchanted Tsarévich?
- How does this short story by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features magical elements, a moral lesson, and a transformation, typical of fairy tales.
- Fantasy — The presence of an enchanted prince and a magical snake indicates a fantasy setting.
- Folklore — The narrative reflects cultural traditions and oral storytelling common in folklore.
- Adventure — The merchant's journey and the daughter's experiences involve elements of adventure.
Tags
Folklore · Russian Literature · Mythology · Fantasy · Adventure · Coming of Age · Magic Realism · Historical Fiction · Cultural Heritage · Slavic Mythology · Tsarist Russia · Royal Family