The Firebird, the Horse of Power, and the Princess Vasilissa
"The Firebird, the Horse of Power, and the Princess Vasilissa" is a traditional Russian folktale that illustrates themes of adventure, fate, and transformation. The story follows a young archer who, after discovering a golden feather from the mystical firebird, faces daunting tasks set by the czar who desires to possess the bird himself. Guided by his loyal horse, who possesses a unique ability to strategize their next moves, the archer navigates a series of challenges, including capturing the firebird and retrieving Princess Vasilissa for the czar.
Throughout the tale, the firebird serves as a powerful symbol, embodying both divinity and wealth, while also foreshadowing doom, reflecting its complex role in Russian folklore. The archer's journey emphasizes the importance of wisdom and heeding advice, as his initial disregard for the horse's counsel nearly leads to his demise. The story culminates in a dramatic twist where the czar's greed results in his own destruction, elevating the archer to the throne and allowing him to marry Vasilissa. This narrative not only explores the hero's journey but also highlights the interdependence between the archer and his horse, showcasing the latter's critical role in his transformation into a leader.
The Firebird, the Horse of Power, and the Princess Vasilissa
Author: Traditional
Time Period: 1851 CE–1900 CE
Country or Culture: Russia
Genre: Folktale
PLOT SUMMARY
A young archer in the service of the czar is riding through a lush forest when he notices that no birds are singing. As he wonders what has become of the birds, he comes across a large golden feather. The archer realizes that a mighty firebird has flown through the forest and scared away the other birds.
The archer’s horse pleads with the archer to leave the feather, for taking it will only lead to trouble. But the archer takes the feather anyway, with the intent of giving it to the czar. The czar is pleased with the feather but tells the archer that he now wishes for his servant to retrieve the firebird itself. He warns that if the archer does not comply, he will cut off the young man’s head. Distraught and fearing death, the archer follows the advice of his horse and arranges for one hundred sacks of maize to be scattered over an open field at midnight. This is done, and the archer climbs up an oak tree while the horse waits in the field.
The firebird sweeps in and begins grazing on the maize as the horse creeps closer and closer. When he gets close enough to the bird, the horse steps on one of its wings. The bird struggles, but the archer binds it and takes it to the czar, who is pleased, knowing that no other czar has ever captured a firebird. But the czar is not yet satisfied, and he next orders the archer to travel to the land of Never and bring back Princess Vasilissa, whom the czar wants to marry.
Again, the archer is distraught, but his horse tells him to ask the czar for a silver tent and plenty of rich wine and food. The czar grants the request, and the archer and his horse leave for the land of Never. After several days, they arrive, and the archer sets up the tent on the shore and unpacks the delicious food and wine. The silver tent catches Princess Vasilissa’s eye as she is rowing a boat near the shore. When she approaches the tent, the archer invites her in to feast and drink wine. The wine and food are heavy and eventually make the princess fall asleep. Once she is sleeping, the archer carries her back to the czar.
When she wakes, the princess is upset at the sight of the old czar. She tells him that she will not get married unless she has her wedding dress, which is hidden beneath a rock in the middle of the sea. The archer is sent to retrieve it. He cannot reach the rock, but the horse persuades a large lobster to get the dress for them. The princess next tells the czar that she will not marry until the one who captured her is thrown into boiling water, and he hurries to fulfill this condition, ordering his servants to fill a large cauldron with boiling water. Before the archer can be thrown into the water, Princess Vasilissa waves her hand over it and casts a spell. The czar’s servants seize the archer to throw him into the cauldron, but he breaks free of them and, following his horse’s advice, jumps into the cauldron of his own free will. The water does not harm him, and the archer comes out of the cauldron more handsome than before.
Believing that the cauldron will make him young again, the czar dives into the water and is boiled to death. The archer becomes the new czar and marries the princess. A golden stable is built for his horse.
SIGNIFICANCE
The story of the archer’s encounters with the firebird, the horse of power, and Princess Vasilissa is a folktale rich with adventure and familiar motifs of the hero’s journey. A traditional tale originating in Russia, it was included in the influential collection Russian Fairy Tales, compiled by folklorist Alexander Afansyev and published between 1855 and 1863. A particularly memorable version of the tale was collected by Arthur Ransome in his 1916 collection Old Peter’s Russian Tales.
Firebirds, known popularly as “phoenixes,” are prominent beings in Russian folklore and fairy tales. These birds are typically described as having plumage that emits a bright red-and-orange glow. At the end of its life cycle, a firebird is said to build a nest in which it burns itself alive. From the ashes, a newborn firebird emerges. Variations on the firebird exist in the folklore of other countries, including France and Ireland. In the Aarne-Thompson classification and indexing system for folk and fairy tales, stories of the firebird fall under type 550, the quest for the golden bird or firebird.
Firebirds symbolize many things in Russian folklore. Sometimes the bird is a symbol of divinity or wealth, while other times it is a harbinger of doom. In some stories, the bird brings hope and charity to those in need. In the tale of the archer, taking the firebird’s feather to the czar begins a chain reaction of difficult tasks and threats of beheading. The archer should have listened to his horse, and he avoids his gruesome fate only with the horse’s help. The sight of the golden feather inspires greed in the czar, which ultimately leads to his downfall.
Horses likewise appear throughout folklore and fairy tales of various cultures, often serving as the supernatural aids of heroes. From the flying Pegasus of Greek mythology to the eight-legged Sleipnir of Norse mythology, horses often play a significant role. The archer’s horse of power continuously devises all of the plans to accomplish the czar’s tasks, saving the archer’s life multiple times. Despite the archer’s initial disregard for the horse’s advice, the faithful steed continues to aid him in his transformation into a leader.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Afanasyev, Alexander. “The Firebird and Princess Vasilisa.” Russian Fairy Tales. Trans. Norbert Guterman. New York: Pantheon, 1976. 494–97. Print.
Gilchrist, Cherry. Russian Magic: Living Folk Traditions of an Enchanted Landscape. Wheaton: Quest, 2009. Print.
Ransome, Arthur, ed. “The Fire-Bird, the Horse of Power, and the Princess Vasilissa.” Old Peter’s Russian Tales. 1916. London: Abela, 2010. 227–42. Print.
“Tales Similar to Firebird.” SurLaLune FairyTales. Heidi Anne Heiner, 10 July 2007. Web. 19 July 2013.
Wheeler, Post. Russian Fairy Tales. New York: Senate, 1996. Print.