Russian Folktales · Chapter
The Realms of Copper, Silver and Gold explained
An old man and his wife send their three sons to find brides.
What happens
An old man and his wife send their three sons to find brides. The eldest two fail to lift a stone that reveals an underground passage, but the youngest, Iváshko Zapéchnik, succeeds with the help of a three-headed dragon. He descends through the copper, silver, and golden realms, meeting progressively fairer maidens and receiving tokens. He wins the golden realm maiden as his bride and brings all three maidens back up. His elder brothers betray him by cutting the rope ladder, but Iváshko survives, seeks help from the giant Ídolishche and Bába Yagá, and flies home on a mighty eagle. He reclaims his bride and lives happily.
Themes in this chapter
Heroic Quest and Transformation
Iváshko undertakes a perilous journey into the underworld, overcomes trials, and returns transformed, winning a bride and defeating betrayal.
Trickery and Cunning
The elder brothers deceive Iváshko by cutting the rope ladder, but he uses cunning to secure the eagle's help and ultimately reclaim his bride.
Characters to notice
- Ivánushka
The youngest son, Iváshko Zapéchnik, who succeeds in lifting the stone, descends into the three realms, wins the fairest maiden, and overcomes betrayal to return home.
- The Dragon
A three-headed dragon who guides the brothers to the stone and helps Iváshko descend into the underground kingdoms.
- Bába Yagá
The hut-dwelling witch who lends Iváshko her mighty eagle to fly back to Russia after he is betrayed.
- The Fair Maiden
The maiden from the golden realm, the fairest of the three, who agrees to marry Iváshko and gives him a golden ball.
Key passages
“Iváshko thrust the stone, and it flew up from its bed like a feather, as though it were not there, and revealed an aperture in the earth, with a rope ladder.”
Iváshko easily lifted the stone, uncovering a hole in the ground with a rope ladder leading down.
Demonstrates Iváshko's strength and the magical nature of the passage.
“When the steps were let down again, Iváshko sat on them, and the brothers drew it up into the height. But when they saw that this time it was Iváshko Zapéchnik who sat on it, they began to reflect: 'If we let him out perhaps he will not give us any of the maidens.' So they cut the steps down, and Iváshko fell down.”
The brothers pulled Iváshko up but then cut the rope, causing him to fall back down because they feared he would keep the maidens for himself.
Highlights the brothers' betrayal and Iváshko's subsequent ordeal.