The Peasant and the Water-Sprite by Leo Tolstoy
A peasant's daughter falls in love with a water-sprite who appears to her in the form of a handsome young man. The sprite promises to marry her if she can answer his riddles. She fails and he disappears, leaving her heartbroken.
By Leo Tolstoy · First published 1847 · Genre: Fable, Fantasy, Parable · 248 words
First lines
A Peasant lost his axe in the river; he sat down on the bank in grief, and began to weep.
The Water-sprite heard the Peasant and took pity on him. He brought a gold axe out of the river, and said: "Is this your axe?"
The Peasant said: "No, it is not mine."
The Water-sprite brought another, a silver axe.
What this Textopian page supports
The Peasant and the Water-Sprite is listed on Textopian as a fable by Leo Tolstoy, dated 1847 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Leo Tolstoy
- Date: 1847 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Fantasy, Parable, Folklore, Children's Literature
- Length: 248 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Peasant and the Water-Sprite by Leo Tolstoy
- 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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Genres
- Fable — The narrative conveys a moral lesson through a simple story involving anthropomorphized characters.
- Fantasy — The presence of a Water-sprite and magical elements categorizes the story within the fantasy genre.
- Parable — The story illustrates a moral truth, emphasizing the value of honesty.
- Folklore — The setting and characters reflect traditional folk narratives common in various cultures.
Tags
Folklore · Russian Literature · Fantasy · Mythology · Water Spirit · Peasant Class · Social Hierarchy · Class Struggle · Marriage · Love Story · Romance · Magic Realism