The Poor Widow
A narrative unfolds in a time when Christ and the twelve Apostles traveled incognito, seeking shelter. They approached a wealthy peasant, who dismissed them, directing them to a poor widow. Despite her meager possessions—a crust of bread, a handful of flour, and a cow without milk—she welcomed them into her home. The widow expressed her concern about feeding them, but Christ reassured her, stating that they would all be satisfied. Miraculously, the single crust of bread sufficed for all, leaving crumbs behind. The next morning, the widow's sister found an abundance of flour in the corn-bin, allowing the widow to prepare a pancake for her guests. After their meal, Christ and the Apostles departed, but not before encountering a hungry wolf. Christ instructed the wolf to eat the widow's cow, prompting astonishment among the Apostles. The widow, upon witnessing the loss, accepted it with grace, attributing it to divine will. Continuing their journey, Christ directed a keg of money to roll to the rich peasant's door, further perplexing the Apostles, who believed the widow deserved it more. The rich man, despite receiving the money, remained dissatisfied, wishing for more. As they traveled, the Apostles grew thirsty. Christ sent them to a well, but they found it filthy and refused to drink. When they reported back, Christ asked why they had not quenched their thirst. They explained the well's repulsiveness. He remained silent as they continued. Later, they encountered another well, this one beautiful and inviting. They drank deeply and lingered, enchanted by its surroundings. Upon their return, Christ revealed that they had been gone for three years, contrasting the experiences of the two wells with the fates of the rich peasant and the poor widow. The narrative illustrates themes of generosity, divine justice, and the contrasting fortunes of the rich and the poor, emphasizing that true wealth lies in faith and kindness rather than material possessions.
By Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev · First published 1833 · Genre: Religious Allegory, Fable, Fairy Tale · 1,233 words
First lines
A very long time ago Christ and the twelve Apostles walked on earth. They went about like simple people, and nobody could have known that it was Christ and the twelve Apostles.
Once they came to a village and they asked a rich peasant for a bed. The rich peasant would not let them in, telling them: "Over there there lives a widow who receives beggars; go to her. " So they asked the widow for a night's rest, and the widow was poor, poor of the poorest; she had nothing at all. She had only a very little crust of bread and a mere handful of flour, and she also had a cow, but the cow had no milk.
What this Textopian page supports
The Poor Widow 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: Religious Allegory, Fable, Fairy Tale, Parable, Folklore
- Length: 1,233 words
- Structure: 1 section, 34 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Poor Widow 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 The Poor Widow?
- How does this short story by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Religious Allegory first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Religious Allegory — The story conveys moral and spiritual lessons through the actions of Christ and the Apostles, highlighting themes of faith, generosity, and divine providence.
- Fable — The narrative features anthropomorphized characters and teaches a moral lesson, typical of fables.
- Fairy Tale — The story includes fantastical elements and a moral resolution, characteristic of fairy tales.
- Parable — The story serves as a parable, illustrating moral lessons through simple, relatable characters and situations.
Tags
Russian Literature · Folk Tale · Short Story · Poverty · Widowhood · Social Commentary · Realism · 19th Century Fiction · Slavic Folklore · Marriage · Family Dynamics · Economic Struggle