The Animals in the Pit
by Alexander Afanasyev · from Russian Fairy Tales
Original Story
The Animals in the Pit
And, as soon as she had said it, she turned round to the wall and was
snoring.
Vasilísa at once fetched her doll, who ate, and said as she had the day
before: “Pray and lie down to sleep, for the morning is wiser than the
evening. Everything shall be done, Vasilísushka.”
Next morning Bába Yagá got up and stood at the window, and then went
into the courtyard and whistled; and the mortar, the besom, and the
pestle appeared at once, and the red horseman came by: and the sun rose.
Bába Yagá sat in the mortar and went off, sweeping away her traces as
before.
Vasilísa got everything ready with the help of her doll. Then the old
woman came back, looked over everything, and said: “Ho, my faithful
servants, friends of my heart! Make me some poppy-oil.” Then three pairs
of hands came, laid hold of the poppies and carried them off.
Bába Yagá sat down to supper, and Vasilísa sat silently in front of her.
“Why do you not speak; why do you stay there as if you were dumb?” Bába
Yagá asked.
“I did not venture to say anything; but if I might, I should like to ask
some questions.”
“Ask, but not every question turns out well: too knowing is too old.”
“Still, I should like to ask you of some things I saw. On my way to you
I met a white horseman, in a white cloak, on a white horse: who was he?”
“The bright day.”
“Then a red horseman, on a red horse, in a red cloak, overtook me: who
was he?”
“The red sun.”
“What is the meaning of the black horseman who overtook me as I reached
your door, grandmother?”
“That was the dark night. Those are my faithful servants.”
Vasilísa then thought of the three pairs of hands and said nothing.
“Why don’t you ask any further?” Bába Yagá asked.
“I know enough, for you say yourself ‘too knowing is too old.’”
“It is well you asked only about things you saw in the courtyard, and
not about things without it, for I do not like people to tell tales out
of school, and I eat up everybody who is too curious. But now I shall
ask you, how did you manage to do all the work I gave you?”
“By my mother’s blessing!”
“Ah, then, get off with you as fast as you can, blessed daughter; no one
blessed may stay with me!”
So she turned Vasilísa out of the room and kicked her to the door, took
a skull with the burning eyes from the fence, put it on a staff, gave it
her and said, “Now you have fire for your stepmother’s daughters, for
that was why they sent you here.”
Then Vasilísa ran home as fast as she could by the light of the skull;
and the flash in it went out with the dawn.
By the evening of the next day she reached the house, and was going to
throw the skull away, when she heard a hollow voice coming out of the
skull and saying: “Do not throw me away. Bring me up to your
stepmother’s house.” And she looked at her stepmother’s house and saw
that there was no light in any window, and decided to enter with the
skull. She was friendlily received, and the sisters told her that ever
since she had gone away they had had no fire; they were able to make
none; and all they borrowed of their neighbours went out as soon as it
came into the room.
“Possibly your fire may burn!” said the stepmother.
So they took the skull into the room, and the burning eyes looked into
the stepmother’s and the daughters’ and singed their eyes out. Wherever
they went, they could not escape it, for the eyes followed them
everywhere, and in the morning they were all burned to cinders. Vasilísa
alone was left alive.
Then Vasilísa buried the skull in the earth, locked the house up, and
went into the town. And she asked a poor old woman to take her home and
to give her food until her father came back; she said to the old woman,
“Mother, sitting here idle makes me feel dull. Go and buy me some of the
very best flax; I should like to spin.”
So the old woman went and bought good flax. Vasilísa set herself to
work, and the work went merrily along, and the skein was as smooth and
as fine as hair, and when she had a great deal of yarn, no one would
undertake the weaving, so she turned to her doll, who said: “Bring me
some old comb from somewhere, some old spindle, some old shuttle, and
some horse mane; and I will do it for you.”
Vasilísa went to bed, and the doll in that night made a splendid
spinning stool; and by the end of the winter all the linen had been
woven, and it was so fine that it could be drawn like a thread through
the eye of a needle. And in the spring they bleached the linen, and
Vasilísa said to the old mistress: “Go and sell the cloth, and keep the
money for yourself.”
The old woman saw the cloth and admired it, and said: “Oh, my child!
nobody except the Tsar could ever wear such fine linen; I will take it
to Court.”
The old woman went to the Tsar’s palace, and kept walking up and down in
front of it.
The Tsar saw her and said: “Oh, woman, what do you want?”
“Almighty Tsar, I am bringing you some wonderful goods, which I will
show to nobody except you.”
The Tsar ordered the old woman to be given audience, and as soon as ever
he had seen the linen he admired it very much. “What do you want for
it?” he asked her.
“It is priceless, Bátyushka,” she said; “I will give it you as a
present.”
And the Tsar thought it over and sent her away with rich rewards.
Now the Tsar wanted to have shirts made out of this same linen, but he
could not find any seamstress to undertake the work. And he thought for
long, and at last he sent for the old woman again, and said: “If you can
spin this linen and weave it, perhaps you can make a shirt out of it?”
“I cannot weave and spin the linen,” said the old woman; “only a maiden
can who is staying with me.”
“Well, she may do the work.”
So the woman went home and told Vasilísa everything.
“I knew that I should have to do the work!” said Vasilísa. And she
locked herself up in her little room, set to work, and never put her
hands again on her lap until she had sewn a dozen shirts.
The old woman brought the Tsar the shirts, and Vasilísa washed and
combed herself, dressed herself, and sat down at the window, and waited.
Then there came a henchman of the Tsar’s, entered the room and said:
“The Tsar would fain see the artist who has sewn him the shirts, and he
wants to reward her with his own hands.”
Vasilísa the Fair went to the Tsar. When he saw her, he fell deep in
love with her. “No, fairest damsel; I will never part from you. You must
be my wife.”
So the Tsar took Vasilísa, with her white hands, put her next to him,
and bade the bells ring for the wedding.
Vasilísa’s father came back home, and was rejoiced at her good luck, and
stayed with his daughter.
Vasilísa also took the old woman to live with her, and the doll ever
remained in her pocket.
THE ANIMALS IN THE PIT
A Pig was going to church at St. Petersburg, and the Wolf met him.
“Piggy, Piggy, where are you faring?”
“To St. Petersburg, to pray to God.”
“Take me with!”
“Come along, Gossip.”
So they went on together, and met the Vixen.
“Pig, where are you going?”
“To St. Petersburg, so please you.”
“Take me with!”
“Come along, Gossip.”
So they went on together and met the Hare, who said, “Piggy, Piggy,
where are you going?”
“On to St. Petersburg, to pray to God.”
“Very well, take me with.”
“Very well, Slant-eyes, I will.”
Then they met the Squirrel, who also went with them. But on their road
they came across a broad, deep pit. The Pig jumped and tumbled in, and
after him the Wolf, the Fox, the Hare and the Squirrel.
And they sat there for a long time, and became very hungry, for they had
nothing to eat.
“Let’s all begin singing,” said the Vixen, “and we will eat the animal
who has the thinnest voice.”
So the Wolf struck in a deep gruff voice, Aw, aw, aw! And the Pig
followed in a tone just a shade softer, Oo, oo, oo! But the Vixen came
in fine and sharp, Eh, eh, eh; whilst the Hare trilled the thinnest Ee,
ee, ee in the world. The Squirrel also sang Ee, ee, ee! So the animals
at once set to tearing up the Squirrel and Hare, and ate them down to
their bones.
Next day the Vixen said: “We will eat the person with the fattest
voice.” That was the Wolf with his great gruff Aw, aw, aw! So they ate
him up. The Vixen ate up the flesh and kept the heart and the bowels.
And for three days she sat and ate them.
And the Pig then asked her: “What are you eating?—give me some!”
“Oh, Pig, I am eating my own flesh. You tear your belly up and munch it
yourself.”
So the Pig did, and the Vixen feasted on him.
The Vixen then was left as the last person in the pit.
Did she climb up, or is she there still? I don’t know, really!
Story DNA
Moral
Goodness and perseverance, especially when aided by a mother's blessing, will ultimately triumph over cruelty and evil, leading to a just reward.
Plot Summary
Vasilísa, sent by her cruel stepmother and stepsisters to the fearsome Bába Yagá for fire, survives by completing impossible tasks with the help of her magical doll, a gift from her deceased mother. Bába Yagá, recognizing the mother's blessing, expels Vasilísa but gives her a skull with burning eyes, which then incinerates her wicked stepfamily. Alone, Vasilísa finds refuge with an old woman and uses her extraordinary spinning and weaving skills, aided by her doll, to create exquisite linen. This linen catches the eye of the Tsar, who, upon meeting Vasilísa, falls in love and marries her, bringing her father and the kind old woman into her new life.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story is a variant of the 'Vasilísa the Beautiful' tale, a classic Russian fairy tale collected by Alexander Afanas'ev. It reflects traditional Russian peasant life, beliefs in household spirits, and the importance of family blessings.
Plot Beats (12)
- Vasilísa is sent by her stepmother and stepsisters to Bába Yagá for fire, knowing it's a death sentence.
- Vasilísa's magical doll helps her complete Bába Yagá's impossible chores overnight.
- Vasilísa answers Bába Yagá's questions about the white, red, and black horsemen (Day, Sun, Night) but avoids asking about the three pairs of hands.
- Bába Yagá learns Vasilísa is blessed by her mother and banishes her, giving her a skull with burning eyes for fire.
- Vasilísa returns home with the skull, which burns her stepmother and stepsisters to ashes.
- Vasilísa buries the skull and moves to town, living with a kind old woman.
- Vasilísa spins and weaves incredibly fine linen with her doll's help.
- The old woman takes the linen to the Tsar, who is so impressed he accepts it as a gift.
- The Tsar needs shirts made from the linen and sends for the old woman, who reveals Vasilísa is the maker.
- Vasilísa sews a dozen shirts for the Tsar.
- The Tsar summons Vasilísa, falls in love with her beauty and skill, and marries her.
- Vasilísa's father and the old woman join her in the palace, and the doll remains with her.
Characters
Vasilísa ★ protagonist
Fair, with white hands
Attire: Simple maiden's dress initially, later fine clothes as the Tsar's wife
Resourceful, obedient, patient, kind
Image Prompt & Upload
A young woman in her late teens with long, wheat-gold hair woven into a single thick braid. She wears a traditional Slavic folk costume: a richly embroidered red sarafan over a white linen blouse with billowing sleeves. Her expression is one of quiet determination and kindness, her posture straight and resolute as she holds a simple wooden lantern that glows with a warm, magical light. She stands on a forest path at twilight. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Bába Yagá ⚔ antagonist
Old woman, implied to be fearsome
Attire: Traditional Russian peasant clothing, possibly dark or tattered
Cruel, powerful, demanding, cunning
Image Prompt & Upload
An ancient, fearsome crone with a long, hooked nose and wild, tangled grey hair. She wears layered, ragged black robes and a tattered headscarf. Her posture is hunched and menacing, leaning on a gnarled wooden staff, one bony hand extended with long, dirty fingernails. Her expression is a cruel, toothy sneer, with piercing, cunning eyes. She stands in a shadowy, twisted forest at dusk, with a faint, eerie glow around her. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Vasilísa's Doll ◆ supporting
A small, inanimate doll
Attire: Not described, likely simple doll clothes
Wise, helpful, magical, loyal
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, enchanted wooden doll with a kind, wise expression. She has painted rosy cheeks, wide blue eyes, and a gentle smile. Her hair is carved and painted as glossy black braids adorned with tiny red ribbons. She wears a traditional sarafan dress in deep crimson and gold, with intricate floral embroidery along the hem and sleeves. Her pose is attentive and supportive, standing upright with her small wooden hands clasped gently in front of her. She appears ancient yet timeless, with a subtle, magical glow emanating from her wooden form. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Tsar ◆ supporting
Not explicitly described, but implied to be a man of authority
Attire: Regal attire, indicative of a Russian Tsar
Admiring, decisive, generous, loving
Image Prompt & Upload
A man in his fifties with a stern, weary expression and a neatly trimmed grey beard. He wears an elaborate, heavy crimson robe with gold embroidery and white ermine fur trim over a dark tunic. A large jeweled crown rests on his head. He stands upright, holding a golden orb in one hand and a tall scepter in the other, his posture regal and imposing. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Old Woman (Vasilísa's caretaker) ◆ supporting
Poor old woman
Attire: Simple, worn peasant clothing
Kind, helpful, honest, observant
Image Prompt & Upload
A very old woman with deeply wrinkled skin and kind, weary eyes. She has gray hair pulled back in a tight bun and wears a simple, faded brown peasant dress with a patched white apron. Her posture is slightly bent with age, and she is gently stirring a large cauldron over a hearth fire in a rustic, dimly lit cottage kitchen. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Skull ◆ supporting
A human skull with burning eyes
Vengeful, magical, obedient to Bába Yagá's purpose
Image Prompt & Upload
An ancient, gaunt figure with a skeletal face and hollow eye sockets that glow with a faint, eerie green light. He is draped in tattered, dark grey robes adorned with subtle bone-like motifs, and wears a heavy, hooded cloak that shadows his features. He leans slightly on a tall, gnarled wooden staff topped with a carved skull, his posture stooped and weary. His expression is one of cold, calculating patience. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Vixen ⚔ antagonist
A fox
Cunning, manipulative, cruel, selfish
Image Prompt & Upload
A sharp-featured woman in her late 30s with a predatory smile and calculating green eyes. Her long, fiery red hair is sleek and straight, framing a pale, angular face. She wears a form-fitting, high-collared dress of deep burgundy velvet with black lace detailing, the sleeves ending in points that resemble claws. Her posture is poised and confident, one hand resting on her hip while the other holds a single black rose. She stands in a shadowy, moonlit forest clearing. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Pig ★ protagonist
A pig
Gullible, trusting, easily tricked
Image Prompt & Upload
A young, anthropomorphic pig with soft pink skin and a friendly, curious expression stands upright. He wears simple brown overalls over a white shirt, and a straw hat sits atop his head. His posture is open and welcoming, with one hoof-like hand slightly extended. He has bright, intelligent eyes and a cheerful smile. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Bába Yagá's Courtyard
The area outside Bába Yagá's dwelling where she whistles for her magical transportation and where Vasilísa encounters the horsemen.
Mood: magical, foreboding, active
Bába Yagá departs and returns; Vasilísa witnesses the magical horsemen representing day, sun, and night.
Image Prompt & Upload
A twilight scene in a deep, ancient forest clearing. The ground is packed earth and moss, dotted with gnarled roots. The centerpiece is a large, dilapidated hut standing on giant, weathered chicken legs, its wooden walls crooked and dark. A fence made of bleached human bones encircles the yard. A path of smooth, dark stones leads from a rickety gate to the hut's doorstep. To the side, three tall, slender birch trees sway slightly, their white bark glowing in the fading light. The atmosphere is heavy and silent, with a low mist clinging to the ground. The sky is a deep indigo, with the first pale stars appearing. A single, eerie greenish-yellow light glows from within the hut's small, crooked window. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Bába Yagá's House Interior
The inside of Bába Yagá's house, where Vasilísa performs tasks and interacts with the witch.
Mood: tense, eerie, dangerous, magical
Vasilísa completes impossible tasks, is questioned by Bába Yagá, and is eventually expelled with the burning skull.
Image Prompt & Upload
Inside a cramped, crooked house built of dark wooden bones and packed earth walls, lit by a flickering hearth fire casting long shadows. The air is thick with the scent of dried herbs and woodsmoke. Shelves overflow with murky glass jars, bundled roots, and strange bones. A massive, iron mortar and pestle sit near the cold hearth. The floor is strewn with rushes and scattered feathers. A single window shows a deep twilight sky through warped glass. Everything is draped in deep amber light and inky shadows, with a sense of dense, lived-in clutter and ancient, watchful silence. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Stepmother's House
Vasilísa's original home, described as having no light in the windows upon her return.
Mood: dark, cold, vengeful, destructive
The skull's burning eyes destroy Vasilísa's stepmother and stepsisters.
Image Prompt & Upload
Twilight descends upon a desolate, overgrown yard surrounding a decrepit wooden izba. The house slumps under a sagging thatched roof, its small windows dark and vacant, reflecting no light. Peeling paint flakes from weathered log walls, and the wooden door hangs slightly ajar. The atmosphere is heavy, silent, and forlorn. Muted colors of grey, brown, and deep shadow dominate. A single, gnarled tree stands bare against a bruised purple and grey sky. The ground is littered with dead leaves and twisted weeds. No smoke rises from the chimney. The scene is hauntingly still, embodying neglect and a profound absence of warmth or welcome. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Pit
A broad, deep pit encountered on the road, trapping the animals.
Mood: desperate, gruesome, confined, predatory
The animals are trapped and resort to cannibalism to survive, with the Vixen ultimately being the last one remaining.
Image Prompt & Upload
Late afternoon, stormy sky with bruised purple clouds, a broad, deep pit gapes in the middle of a muddy forest road. The pit’s sheer, earthen walls are slick with dark clay and tangled with exposed, gnarled roots. The road leading to its edge is churned and scarred with frantic hoofprints and broken branches. Gnarled, leafless trees lean over the chasm, their skeletal branches clawing at the dimming light. The surrounding forest is dense and shadowy, with deep emerald moss covering fallen logs. A single, ominous shaft of cold, grey light illuminates the pit's muddy bottom, where still, dark water has pooled. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
