The Snake Princess

Name: The Snake Princess
Author: Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev

A Cossack, while resting in a forest, accidentally ignites a hayrick, revealing a maiden trapped in the flames. He saves her by using his pike, but she transforms into a snake, coiling around his neck and instructing him to bear her for seven years and seek the Kingdom of Tin. After the period ends, he arrives at a tin castle, where the snake releases him and turns back into a beautiful maiden. The Cossack explores the empty castle, finding food and drink but feeling isolated. After a time of loneliness, he breaks the mirrors in frustration, hoping for a response. The maiden reappears, revealing her identity as a king's daughter, cursed by Koshchéy the Deathless. She thanks him for his service and offers him a reward from her father, advising him to request a special keg from the cellar. Upon reaching the kingdom, the Cossack declines riches, asking only for the keg. The king, valuing his daughter more than wealth, grants the request. The Cossack uses the keg to create a palace for an old man he encounters, who consumes a feast and offers to trade a magical sword for the keg. The Cossack accepts, but then kills the old man with the sword. With the sword's power, he defeats an invading army besieging the king's city. Grateful, the king offers him his daughter’s hand in marriage, leading to a grand wedding celebration. The Cossack's journey concludes with his newfound happiness and prosperity.

By Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev · First published 1912 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure · 1,828 words

First lines

A Cossack was going on his road and way, and he arrived in the sleepy forest, and in that forest, in a glade, stood a hayrick. So the Cossack stood in front just to have a little rest, lay down in front of the hayrick and smoked his pipe, went on smoking, smoking, and never saw that a spark had fallen into the hay. After his rest he again mounted his horse and went on his road.

But he had gone only some dozen paces, when a flame blazed out and lit up the wood. Then the Cossack looked back steadily, and saw the hayrick burning, and in the middle of the flame a fair maiden standing, saying in a threatening voice, "Cossack, good man, save me from death!"

What this Textopian page supports

The Snake Princess is listed on Textopian as a short story by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev, dated 1912 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: 1912 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure, Folklore, Romance
Length: 1,828 words
Structure: 1 section, 24 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Work identity for The Snake Princess by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Snake Princess?
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?

Similar titles

Genres

Fairy Tale — The narrative features magical elements, transformations, and a quest, typical of fairy tales.
Fantasy — The story includes fantastical creatures and settings, such as a snake princess and a magical keg.
Adventure — The protagonist embarks on a journey to find the Kingdom of Tin, facing challenges along the way.
Folklore — The story reflects cultural traditions and moral lessons common in folklore.