Chufíl-Fílyushka
by Alexander Afanasyev
Chufíl-Fílyushka
Once upon a time there were three brothers in a family; the eldest was called the Ram, the second the Goat, and the third and youngest Chufíl-Fílyushka.[38] One day all three went into the forest, where the warder lived who was their real grandfather. With him Ram and Goat left their own brother Chufíl-Fílyushka, and went out into the forest to hunt. Fílyushka had all his own will and way: his grandfather was old, and a great stupid; and Fílyushka was generous. He wanted to eat an apple. So he eluded his grandfather, got into the garden, and climbed up the apple-tree.
All of a sudden, Heaven knows where from, who should come but the Yagá-Búra,[39] with an iron mortar, and a pestle in her hand; she leaped up to the apple-tree, and said, “How are you, Fílyushka? What have you come here for?”
“Oh, to pluck an apple!” said Fílyushka.
“Well, then, dearie, have a bite of mine!”
“No, it’s a rotten one,” said Fílyushka.
“Well, here’s another one!”
“No, it’s all wormy!”
“Don’t be saucy; just come up and take one out of my hand.”
He stretched out his hand. Then Yagá-Búra gripped it tight, put him into the mortar, and made off, leaping over hills, and forests, and clefts; and swiftly with the pestle driving the mortar.
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.”
The Ram and the Goat were just then resting. One was lying on the ground, and heard a noise of somebody shouting. So he told the other one: “Come and lie down, and listen!”
“Oh, it’s our Fílyushka crying.”
Off they went and ran and ran, and ran the Yagá-Búra down, saved Fílyushka and brought him home to his grandfather, who had nearly gone out of his mind with fright! They told him to look after Fílyushka better, and went out again.
But Fílyushka was a real boy, and the first chance he got, off he was again to the apple-tree, clambered up. There was the Yagá-Búra again, and offering him an apple.
“No, you won’t catch me this time, you old beast!” said Fílyushka.
“Don’t be unkind—do just take an apple from me; I’ll throw it to you!”
“Right: throw it down.”
Then Yagá threw him down an apple: he stretched out his hand, and she clutched it and leapt over hills, and valleys, and dark forests, so fast that it seemed like a twinkling of an eye, got him into her home, washed him, went out and put him into the bunk.
In the morning she made ready to go out, and ordered her daughter, “Listen! heat the oven well, very hot, and roast me Chufíl-Fílyushka for supper.” And she went out to seek further booty.
The daughter went and got the oven thoroughly hot, took out and bound Fílyushka, and put him on the shovel, and was just going to shove him into the oven, when he went and knocked his forehead with his feet.
“That’s not the way, Fílyushka,” said the daughter of the Yagá-Búra.
“How then?” he answered. “I don’t understand.”
“Look here, just let go; I’ll show you.” She went and lay down on the shovel in the right fashion.
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.
About two or three hours later Fílyushka smelt a smell of good roast meat, opened the door, and took out the daughter of the Yagá-Búra well cooked; buttered it over, put it into the frying-pan and covered it with a towel, and put it into the bunk; then he climbed up to the roof-tree and took away the business-day pestle and mortar of the Yagá-Búra.
About evening time, the Yagá-Búra came in, went straight to the bunk and took the roast meat out; ate it all up, collected all the bones, laid them out on the ground in rows, and began to roll on them. But somehow she could not find her daughter, and thought she had gone away to another cottage to weave. But suddenly, whilst she was rolling, she said, “My dear daughter, do come to me and help me roll Fílyushka’s little bones!”
Then Fílyushka cried out from the rafters: “Roll away, mother, and stand on your daughter’s little bones!”
“Are you there, you brigand! You just wait, and I’ll give it you!”
But little Chufíl was not frightened, and when the Yagá-Búra, gnashing her teeth, stamping on the ground, had got up to the ceiling, he just got hold of the pestle and with all his might struck her on the forehead, and down she flopped. Then Fílyushka climbed up on to the roof, and saw some geese flying, and called out to them, “Lend me your wings; I want wings to carry me home.”
They lent him their wings, and he flew home.
But they had long, long ago been praying for the repose of his soul at home, and how glad they were to see him turn up alive and sound! So they changed the requiem for a merry festival, and lived out their lives, and lived on to receive more good yet!
Moral of the Story
Even the smallest and seemingly weakest can overcome great evil through wit and courage.
Characters
Chufíl-Fílyushka ★ protagonist
Small in stature, but clever and brave.
Attire: Likely simple peasant clothing appropriate for a young boy in a rural setting.
Generous, clever, mischievous, brave, resourceful.
The Ram ◆ supporting
The eldest of the three brothers.
Attire: Likely simple peasant clothing.
Protective, attentive (hears Fílyushka's cries).
The Goat ◆ supporting
The middle of the three brothers.
Attire: Likely simple peasant clothing.
Protective, attentive (hears Fílyushka's cries).
The Grandfather ○ minor
Old and described as 'a great stupid'.
Attire: Simple, worn peasant clothing.
Forgetful, easily frightened, not very observant.
Yagá-Búra ⚔ antagonist
A monstrous figure, capable of leaping great distances.
Attire: Unknown, but likely dark and tattered, fitting a witch-like figure.
Cannibalistic, deceitful, persistent, easily outsmarted.
Yagá-Búra's Daughter ○ minor
Unknown, but presumably similar to her mother in species.
Attire: Unknown, likely simple and rustic.
Obedient, naive, easily tricked.
Locations
Grandfather's Forest Dwelling and Garden
A forest setting where the warder (grandfather) lives, featuring a garden with an apple-tree.
Mood: initially safe and familiar, then becomes a place of sudden danger
Fílyushka's initial capture by Yagá-Búra while trying to pick an apple.
Yagá-Búra's Home
The dwelling of Yagá-Búra, containing an oven, a bunk, and rafters. It's where she plans to cook Fílyushka.
Mood: eerie, dangerous, claustrophobic, then becomes a place of clever escape and revenge
Fílyushka outsmarts Yagá-Búra's daughter and later defeats Yagá-Búra herself.
The Sky/Air
The open air above the forest, where geese fly.
Mood: hopeful, liberating
Fílyushka's escape from Yagá-Búra's home by borrowing wings from geese.
Story DNA
Moral
Even the smallest and seemingly weakest can overcome great evil through wit and courage.
Plot Summary
Chufíl-Fílyushka, a mischievous young boy, is twice captured by the fearsome witch Yagá-Búra after disobeying his grandfather and climbing an apple tree. The first time, his brothers rescue him, but the second time, Fílyushka must rely on his own wits. He cleverly tricks Yagá-Búra's daughter into being roasted in the oven instead of himself, then hides. When Yagá-Búra unknowingly eats her own daughter, Fílyushka reveals himself and kills the witch. He then uses flying geese to return home, where his family joyfully welcomes him back.
Themes
Emotional Arc
innocence to peril to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This tale features a character akin to Baba Yaga, a prominent and often ambiguous figure in Slavic folklore, embodying both malevolence and sometimes aid. The 'warder' grandfather suggests a rural, perhaps isolated, setting.
Plot Beats (14)
- Three brothers, Ram, Goat, and Chufíl-Fílyushka, live with their grandfather.
- Ram and Goat leave Fílyushka with their old grandfather while they go hunting.
- Fílyushka disobeys and climbs an apple tree, where he is tricked by the Yagá-Búra into her mortar.
- Yagá-Búra carries Fílyushka away, but he cries out, and his brothers hear him.
- Ram and Goat rescue Fílyushka and return him to their terrified grandfather, warning him to be more careful.
- Fílyushka, being a 'real boy', returns to the apple tree and is captured again by Yagá-Búra, who takes him to her home.
- Yagá-Búra instructs her daughter to roast Fílyushka for supper and leaves.
- Fílyushka tricks Yagá-Búra's daughter into demonstrating how to lie on the shovel, then shoves her into the oven.
- Fílyushka cooks the daughter, prepares her, and hides her in a bunk, then hides himself in the rafters with Yagá-Búra's pestle and mortar.
- Yagá-Búra returns, eats her daughter, and then rolls on the bones, wondering where her daughter is.
- Fílyushka calls out from the rafters, revealing Yagá-Búra has eaten her own daughter.
- Yagá-Búra attempts to reach Fílyushka, but he strikes her with the pestle, killing her.
- Fílyushka calls to flying geese, who lend him their wings, and he flies home.
- His family, who believed him dead, joyously welcomes him back, turning their mourning into celebration.
