Fairy tale Chicken Ryaba. Russian folktale

Analysis of the fairy tale Chicken Ryaba

The child's life experience makes the fairy tale attractive to him. All the actions that the characters perform are clear to him: “egg”, “beat but didn’t break”, “the mouse broke”, “crying”, “the chicken calms down”. This is a chain of emotions understandable to a little man, which he expresses when he listens to a fairy tale: interest, grief, compassion, reassurance. This is the secret of the popularity of the fairy tale among the little ones. For adult uncles and aunts, a short, simple children's fairy tale with traditional heroes - a grandfather and a woman - is easy to retell, but it is not easy to explain the behavior of the characters. If the egg is golden, why break it? If an egg breaks, why cry? Yes, the meaning of the fairy tale Ryaba Hen is not easy to explain: happiness in the form of a golden egg left Grandfather and Baba because they were unable to keep it; but perhaps a simple (egg) human happiness will be enough for an ordinary person, which he will learn to appreciate.

Amazing Variations

The tale of the hen Ryaba has many variations. And the differences are sometimes very significant.

In the collection of Alexander Nikolaevich Afanasyev you can find a version called “Chicken”. The plot is simple. An old man and an old woman had a hen that laid an egg “variegated, vostro, boney, tricky.” They put it on the shelf. But then a mouse ran by, waved its tail, and the egg broke.

Next, a broken egg (not a golden one, but a very simple one) gave rise to real panic. Even the objects were alarmed - “the top of the hut is shaking.” The old woman began to cry, the old man began to sob. The girl-granddaughter hanged herself out of grief.

A buttermilk woman passed by and asked what was the matter. “How can we not cry!” - and the story follows about all the events, starting with the broken egg. The buttermilk heard and broke all the buttermilk. Then the sexton found out about the incident, ran to the bell tower and broke all the bells.

Alexander Nikolaevich Afanasyev Photo: ru.wikipedia.org

The tale ends with another strange reaction:

The priest comes and asks the sexton: why did you break the bells? The sexton recounted all the grief to the priest, and the priest ran and tore up all the books.

This is where the fairy tale ends. The plot is broken. Open ending? And then the series of inappropriate reactions could continue. However, it is said that the egg is “tricky.”

An interesting version of Alexei Nikolaevich Tolstoy. The beginning is familiar: “Once upon a time there was a grandfather and a woman. They had Ryaba chicken.” Then everything is predictable - the chicken laid an egg: “variegated, vostro, boney, tricky.” The mouse “returned” its tail, and the result is clear. And the real phantasmagoria began. The grandfather and woman began to cry, the gates creaked, the chickens began to fly... But the fairy tale ends with consolation: Ryaba promised to lay another egg, not a simple one, but a golden one.

Alexey Nikolaevich Tolstoy Photo: Russian Academy of Sciences, ru.wikipedia.org

A reversal of the usual plot. A simple egg broke, and the chicken promised a golden one in return. That is, something more valuable.

Kaleidoscope of mysteries

There can be many interpretations of the fairy tale about the hen Ryaba. Sometimes they are mutually exclusive. Even the fact that the chicken is Ryaba (white and black) also makes sense. White color is day, black color is night. And here it is two-color. The speckled hen is a cross between day and night. And more globally - between life and death. And the golden egg is something inanimate. And simple is the continuation of life.

Gold is mined underground. Therefore, it was associated with death. And the grandfather and grandmother received news of their imminent departure. The only way to delay this is to break the egg. But gold doesn't break. This was done by a mouse - a mediator between the earthly and underground worlds. And the grandfather and woman cry - they could not escape fate. Ryaba the hen promises them another egg - a simple one. That is, a chance to prolong life.

But it can also be interpreted in a very everyday way. The Golden Egg is a chance to improve your life. By the way, similar thoughts are suggested by Alexei Tolstoy’s version, where in return for a broken simple Ryaba promises gold. But in Ushinsky’s version, the grandfather and woman did not understand its value. They need scrambled eggs here and now. A dream come true. But this is too simple an interpretation.

Diego Velazquez, “The Old Cook” 1618 Photo: ru.wikipedia.org

An egg can also be a symbol of rebirth and renewal of life. The mythological bird Phoenix burned itself and was reborn. According to one version, an egg appeared at the site of self-immolation, from which a young, renewed Phoenix, even more beautiful, was born. And his song had magical properties.

It is very likely that the firebird from Russian fairy tales is also some version of the Phoenix. The heat of self-immolation, and then rebirth. This could just be through a new egg - very likely golden.

The Death of a Phoenix Burning in Flames, Aberdeen Bestiary Photo: ru.wikipedia.org

...A simple fairy tale, at first glance, contains a lot of meaning. It is like a seed that gradually grows in the reader’s mind. And also food for thought. Everyone has their own chain of associations. Probably, the fairy tale has not yet been fully unraveled. And it’s up to new readers to do this.

Tags: the meaning of the fairy tale, Ryaba hen, folk tales

Notes

A corner in a hut, a counter, a stall in which chickens were kept in winter.
A woman at the church who baked prosvira - specially shaped bread
Recorded in Arkhangelsk province. A. Kharitonov.
A tub hollowed out of a solid tree or stump.
Beggar, cripple.
Veres are pillars on which gates are hung.
They made a face

Chicken - fairy tale No. 70 from the collection “Russian Folk Tales” by A. N. Afanasyev
Chicken - fairy tale No. 71 from the collection “Russian Folk Tales” by A. N. Afanasyev
Dear egg. Saratov region
Ruffed chicken. Voronezh region
There was an old man and an old woman. Vologda region
Chicken Ryaba. Ukrainian story. Chernigov region
Ryabonka Chicken. Ukrainian story. Chernigov region
Did and Baba. Ukrainian story. Poltava region
About the pockmarked chicken. Ukrainian story. Kharkov region.
Belarusian story.
Golden egg. Retelling by D. Ushinsky
Ryabka hen. Retelling of A. Tolstoy

Ukrainian story

Chernigov region

Chicken Ryaba

Once upon a time there lived a grandfather and a woman. They had chicken Ryaba. The hen laid an egg, not an ordinary one - a golden one. Grandfather beat and beat, but did not break. The woman beat and beat, but did not break. The mouse was running, its tail touched it, the egg fell and broke. The grandfather is crying, the woman is crying, and the hen is cackling: “Don’t cry, grandfather, don’t cry, woman: I will lay you an egg, not a golden one, but a simple one!”

(village Ploskoe, Nezhinsky district of Chern.).

Ryabonka Chicken

Long live the old man, long live the old woman. Dida had a rouse hen. The chicken attacked the egg, and the mouse jumped at the window, wagged its tail, the egg fell and broke. They started crying. The hen laid an egg; Then the chicken disappeared within two days.

(village Ploskoe, Nezhinsky district of Chern.).

Poltava region

Did and Baba

Buv sobi did and baba // Mali sobi chicken grouse. // The hen laid an egg, // Baba is a sweet hut, // She broke the egg. // Did you cry, woman cry, // The gates creak, // The magpie chirps.

A magpie flew, hitting the oak tree. A magpie is feeding on an oak tree: “Why are you chirping?”, “Hey oak, oak.” If you had known, you would have dropped the leaves. Letting go of the oak leaves.”

Buv sobi did and baba // Mali sobi chicken grouse. // The hen laid an egg, // Baba is a sweet hut, // She broke the egg. // Did you cry, woman cry, // Gates creaking, // Magpies chirping // Oak leaves drooping.

Priishov bull. Pitae goby: “Why are you lowering the leaves?” “If you had known, you would have forgotten your eyes.”

The bull went to the water. Water Pitae: “Why are you beating your eyes?” “Water, water, if you knew, you would become bloody.”

Buv sobi did and baba // Mali sobi chicken grouse. // The hen laid an egg, // Baba is a sweet hut, // She broke the egg. // Did you cry, woman cry, // The gates creak, // The magpie chirps. // The oak leaves dropped, // The bull's mouth left. // The water became blood.

The hired woman Popova came to the water: “Water, water, why did you become bloody?” “It’s amazing, it’s amazing, if you knew, you’d be dead.”

The hired woman came to the house. Pyup pitae: “Why were you there?” “Her ass, ass, if you had known, you would have thrown everyone out of the church.”

Priishov pyup do popoddi. Then you try: “Pop, pop, why did you leave the church?” “Oh come on, come on, if only you knew, you’d throw away the proskura.”

Buv sobi did and baba // Mali sobi chicken grouse. // The hen laid an egg, // Baba is a sweet hut, // She broke the egg. // Did you cry, woman cry, // The gates creak, // The magpie chirps. // The oak tree dropped its leaves, and the little bull left its mouth. // The water became blood. Vidra's hireling stayed. // I threw him out of the church. // Having thrown out the proskuryts.

(M. Borispol, Pereyaslavsky district, Poltava province. Chubinsky. Proceedings of an ethnographic-statistical expedition to the Western Russian region. Materials and studies collected by Chubinsky. T.2 Little Russian fairy tale. St. Petersburg. 1878 department 1 , 2)

Kharkov region.

About the Ryaba chicken

When the woman told her, and their hen was pockmarked, she laid an egg, not simpler, more golden. Did beat - didn't break, baba beat - didn't break. They put it in a little skull and put it next to the little hutch. The beagle mouse capped its tail and went away. Did you cry, woman cry, the chicken is kudkudache, the doors are digging straw. There is an oak tree. “Doors, doors, why are you rattling? “Let go of Gill, I’ll say so. Oak and lowering the gill.. “As it seems, we are not rypyty: Buv sobi did that woman, and their hen is pockmarked, she laid an egg, not simpler, more golden. Did beat - didn't break, baba beat - didn't break. They put it in a little skull and put it next to the little hut. The beagle mouse capped its tail and went away. Did you cry, woman cry, the chicken is kudkudache, the doors are digging straw. The gill oak has descended. Idea ram of the waters of torture: “Dube, Dube, why are you letting go of the hill?” “You gotta lose your horns, I’ll say so.” Taking the wine and visiting. “Why don’t they let me go: Buv sobi did that woman, and their hen is pockmarked, she laid an egg, not simpler, more golden. Did beat - didn't break, baba beat - didn't break. They put it in a little skull and put it next to the little hutch. The beagle mouse capped its tail and went away. Did you cry, woman cry, the chicken is kudkudache, the doors are digging straw. Beating Gill's oak. The ram has lost its horns. Priyshov ram to the river. “Ram, ram, have you forgotten your horns? “And become crooked, I’ll say so. Richka became crooked. “Like my horns haven’t forgotten: If they did that woman, and their hen is pockmarked, she laid an egg, not simpler, more golden. Did beat - didn't break, baba beat - didn't break. They put it in a little skull and put it next to the little hut. The beagle mouse capped its tail and went away. Did you cry, woman cry, the chicken is kudkudache, the doors are digging straw. The gill oak has descended. The ram has lost its horns. Richka became crooked. When the priest arrived at the river, a diva of plates of banyty: “Richka, richka, why did you become crooked?” “If you break the dishes, I’ll say so. The diva stayed. “How, it seems, I’m crooked, I’m not worthy: If that woman did sobi, and their hen is pockmarked, she laid an egg, not simpler, more golden. Did beat - didn't break, baba beat - didn't break. They put it in a little skull and put it next to the little hut. The beagle mouse capped its tail and went away. Did you cry, woman cry, the chicken is kudkudache, the doors are digging straw. The gill oak has descended. The ram has lost its horns. The div has left the dishes. The diva came home, and when she got there she taught the diju. “Why are you torturing the dishes? And give it a whirl, I’ll say so. She scattered the wrath, the diva, and she said: “How come they haven’t been to me: If they did that woman, and their hen had a pockmarked hen, she laid an egg, not simpler, more golden. Did beat - didn't break, baba beat - didn't break. They put it in a little skull and put it next to the little hutch. The beagle mouse capped its tail and went away. Did you cry, woman cry, the chicken is kudkudache, the doors are digging straw. The gill oak has descended. The ram has lost its horns. The div has left the dishes. When I got into trouble, I scattered it all over the place. The pip comes: “What did you get? “And I’ll put it on the braid, I’ll say so. Pip recognized and shouted. “How come they didn’t give me away: Buv sobi did that woman, and their hen is pockmarked, she laid an egg, not simpler, more golden. Did beat - didn't break, baba beat - didn't break. They put it in a little skull and put it next to the little hut. The beagle mouse capped its tail and went away. Did you cry, woman cry, the chicken is kudkudache, the doors are digging straw. The gill oak has descended. Beating Gill's oak. The ram has lost its horns. The div has left the dishes. Mother threw a piss out of her hat. Pip straightened his braid.

(Manzhura I.I. Fairy tales, proverbs, etc. recorded in the Ekaterinoslav and Kharkov provinces. Collection of the Kharkov Philological Society. T. 3, issue 2 Kharkov. 1890.)