# Chufíl-Fílyushka explained — Russian Folktales

> Chapter companion for Russian Folktales by A. N. Afanasyev.

## What happens

Three brothers—Ram, Goat, and Chufíl-Fílyushka—go into the forest to visit their grandfather. While the older brothers hunt, Fílyushka sneaks into a garden to pick apples, is captured twice by the Yagá-Búra (Baba Yaga), but escapes the first time with his brothers' help. The second time, he tricks the Yaga's daughter into the oven, kills the Yaga with her own pestle, and flies home on borrowed goose wings, where his family joyfully celebrates his return.

## Themes in this chapter

### Trickery and Cunning

Fílyushka uses deception to escape the Yagá-Búra, tricking her daughter into the oven and later killing the witch with her own pestle.

### Family and Betrayal

The older brothers initially leave Fílyushka with their grandfather, but later rescue him, showing both neglect and familial loyalty.

## Character check-ins

### Chufíl - Fílyushka

The youngest brother, clever and resourceful, who outwits the Yagá-Búra and her daughter.

### The Ram

Eldest brother who helps rescue Fílyushka from the Yagá-Búra.

### The Goat

Second brother who aids in the rescue of Fílyushka.

### Bába Yagá

The Yagá-Búra who captures Fílyushka twice and is ultimately killed by him.

### The Goose

Geese that lend Fílyushka their wings to fly home.

## Key lines

> Then Fílyushka remembered himself, and began to cry out, 'Goat, Ram, come along quick. Yagá has carried me away beyond the high, steep hills, the dark, lone woods, the steppes, where the geese roam.'

Fílyushka called for his brothers to rescue him from the witch who had taken him far away.

_Shows Fílyushka's reliance on his brothers in a moment of danger._

> But, although Chufíl-Fílyushka was small, he was no fool! He stuffed her at once into the oven, and shut the oven door with a bang.

Despite his size, Fílyushka cleverly tricked the witch's daughter into the oven and trapped her.

_Highlights Fílyushka's cunning and quick thinking._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters/chuf-l-f-lyushka
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/russian_folktales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/russian_folktales_se/chapters