Zhikharka – A Russian Folk Tale about a Clever Fox and a Resourceful Girl
The Russian folk tale "Zhikharka" tells the story of a girl who used her cleverness to outwit a sly fox trying to deceive her. A story that teaches caution, bravery, and resourcefulness.
Description: A Russian folk tale about a girl who, using her quick thinking and cleverness, outsmarted the sly fox who tried to deceive her. An exciting and educational story for children.
Once upon a time, there lived a girl named Zhikharka. She lived with her grandfather and grandmother. They cared for her, but one day they had to go to the field and left the girl at home. Before they left, they warned her:
– Don’t open the door to anyone, especially the fox. She’s sly and could deceive you.
Zhikharka promised to be careful and went about her business. But soon, the red fox approached the house. Seeing that the girl was alone, the fox decided to trick her. She knocked on the door and said sweetly:
– Zhikharka, my dear, come out to me! I’ve got a treat for you – pies, candies, and nuts!
But the girl knew it was a trick and replied:
– Go away, fox! I don’t want anything.
The fox realized she couldn’t deceive her so easily and decided to try a different trick. She hid behind the corner and spoke in a thin voice:
– Open the door, my dear! It’s me, your grandmother. I’m back from the field!
Zhikharka looked out the window, saw the fluffy tail, and said:
– Grandmother isn’t red, and she doesn’t have a tail! You’re a fox, go away!
The fox got angry but came up with another plan. She spoke in a pleading voice:
– If you won’t come out, at least help me – tie a knot on my tail. It’s come undone, and I can’t do it myself!
Zhikharka, deciding to teach the trickster a lesson, went outside with some rope. The fox, thinking that now she could catch the girl, was pleased. But Zhikharka was quicker – she pretended to help but instead tightly tied the fox’s tail to a heavy pole near the house. The fox tugged and tried to escape but couldn’t free herself.
Meanwhile, the grandparents returned. They saw how the girl had outsmarted the fox, praised her for her cleverness, and quickly drove the trickster out of the village. The fox ran into the forest and never tried to sneak up on their house again.
Moral: This story teaches us that trickery and stubbornness are not without consequences. Honesty and friendship always defeat tricksters.
Questions for children:
- Why did the fox want to trick the girl?
- How did Zhikharka outsmart the fox?
- What lesson does this story teach us?
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