Иван царевич и серый волк на английском

"The Tale of Ivan Tsarevich, the Firebird, and the Gray Wolf" is a classic Russian fairy tale from Alexander Afanasyev's collection. It follows the journey of a young prince who, with the help of a magical wolf, overcomes various trials to bring glory to his father's kingdom. Plot Summary

• The Theft of Golden Apples: King Berendey has a magnificent garden with a tree that bears golden apples. When he notices apples are being stolen nightly, he tasks his three sons with catching the thief. The two eldest sons fall asleep during their watch, but Ivan Tsarevich, the youngest, stays awake and discovers the culprit: a Firebird. He managed to grab only a single glowing feather.
• The Encounter with the Wolf: The King sends his sons to capture the bird. During his journey, Ivan's horse is eaten by a Gray Wolf. Feeling remorseful and pitying the prince, the wolf offers to serve as Ivan’s mount and magical guide.
• The Triple Quest: The wolf carries Ivan to various kingdoms to fulfill specific tasks:
  1. The Firebird: Ivan is caught trying to steal the Firebird's golden cage despite the wolf's warning.
  2. The Golden-Maned Horse: To get the bird, he must bring King Afron the Golden-Maned Horse.
  3. Elena the Fair: To get the horse, he must bring King Kusman the beautiful Elena the Fair.
• Betrayal and Resurrection: Using the wolf's shape-shifting abilities, Ivan manages to keep all the prizes. However, on his way home, his jealous older brothers murder him and steal his rewards. The Gray Wolf finds Ivan's body and uses the Water of Death to heal his wounds and the Water of Life to revive him.
• Resolution: Ivan returns to his father's palace just as his brothers are about to marry Elena. The truth is revealed, the brothers are punished, and Ivan marries Elena the Fair.

Major Characters

• Ivan Tsarevich: The archetypal hero, often portrayed as naive but persistent and eventually successful through magical aid.
• The Gray Wolf: A powerful shape-shifter and mentor figure who possesses wisdom and magical abilities beyond the hero.
• The Firebird: A mythical creature whose feathers glow like fire, symbolizing the unattainable or divine illumination.
• Elena the Fair: The "Beauty itself" who becomes Ivan's wife.

Cultural Impact The story has been immortalized in various forms of art:

• Painting: Viktor Vasnetsov’s famous 1889 painting "Ivan Tsarevich Riding the Gray Wolf" is one of the most recognizable depictions of the tale.
• Music: The legend of the Firebird served as the primary inspiration for Igor Stravinsky’s world-renowned 1910 ballet, The Firebird.
• Animation: In modern times, the Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf franchise (since 2011) has reimagined these characters for contemporary audiences.

Would you like a list of English-language books containing this tale or a more detailed analysis of the symbolism behind the Firebird and the Gray Wolf?