The White Duck – A Russian Folk Tale
The folk tale "The White Duck" tells the story of a princess who was turned into a duck by an evil witch, and her husband who saved her through love and courage. A story about justice and loyalty.
Description: The full version of the Russian folk tale about a princess who was turned into a white duck and her husband who saved her with love and courage. A story about love, loyalty, and justice.
Once upon a time, there lived a king and a queen. They lived happily for many years, but they had no children. Finally, the queen became pregnant, and the king decided to take her to a secluded palace so she could peacefully wait for the birth of their child. They set off on their journey.
On the way, they stopped at a beautiful lake. The king went for water, and the queen stayed behind alone. Suddenly, an evil witch approached and asked:
– Are you tired, beautiful lady? Let me help you!
The queen trusted the witch, and the witch, coming closer, transformed her into a white duck. The witch took on the queen's appearance and met the king when he returned with the water. The king noticed nothing and went with the witch to the palace.
The real queen stayed by the lake. In her form as a duck, she lived on the water, laid eggs, and raised her ducklings. Every day, she wept bitterly, looking at her new form.
Meanwhile, the witch, pretending to be the queen, lived in the palace. She behaved arrogantly and wickedly, which surprised and upset the king. He did not understand what had happened to his wife but suspected nothing.
One day, the king went hunting and accidentally came to the very lake. There, he heard the white duck sing:
– I have become a duck, the poor queen. The wicked witch lives in the palace, she deceived the king!
The king recognized the voice of his wife and was shocked. He began calling the duck. At first, she was frightened and did not approach, but when she saw the king crying, she swam to him. The king took her in his arms and carried her to the palace.
The king demanded that the witch break the spell. She first refused, but when she saw the king’s anger, she spoke the magical words, and the queen regained her human form. The evil witch was not spared and was punished according to the law.
From then on, the king and queen lived happily. They had a child, and nothing ever clouded their life again.
Moral: This story teaches us that love, loyalty, and justice always defeat evil.
Questions for children:
- Why did the witch turn the queen into a duck?
- How did the king discover the truth about his wife?
- What lesson does this story teach us?
What's Your Reaction?
