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The tale of the sleeping princess and the seven heroes for children: what it teaches, meaning
Written in the Boldinskaya autumn of 1833, “The Tale of the Sleeping Princess and the Seven Heroes” is one of eight works created by Alexander Pushkin for children. Just a few months ago, in July, the poet’s first-born son Alexander was born. For a month and a half in his father’s estate, Pushkin wrote several great works and two fairy tales, which he would definitely read to his children.
The king of an unknown kingdom left on state affairs, his daughter was born at this time. The queen’s wife was all exhausted from melancholy, waiting for the return of her beloved husband, and when he returned, she died of strong emotions. A year of mourning passed, and a new mistress appeared in the palace – a beautiful, but cruel and proud queen. Her greatest treasure was a magic mirror that can speak skillfully and give compliments.
In the tale of the sleeping princess and the seven heroes, the evil stepmother poisoned the princess with an apple
The king’s daughter, meanwhile, grew up quietly and imperceptibly, without maternal love and affection. Soon she turned into a real beauty, and her fiancé, the prince Elisha, wooed her. Once, while talking to a mirror, the queen heard about him that the young princess was the most beautiful in the world. Burning with hatred and anger, the stepmother decided to destroy her stepdaughter. She told the servant to take the princess into the dark forest, and leave her tied. The maid took pity on the girl and set her free.
The poor princess wandered for a long time, and came out to a high tower. It was the home of seven heroes. She took refuge with them, helping with the housework, like a younger sister. The evil stepmother learned that the princess was alive from the mirror, and sent the maid to kill her with the help of a poisoned apple. Seven heroes were saddened to see their named sister dead. But she was so beautiful and fresh, as if she were sleeping, so the brothers did not bury her, but put her in a crystal coffin, which they hung on chains in a cave.
The princess was found by her fiance, in despair he broke the coffin, after which the girl woke up. The evil queen died of envy when she learned about the resurrection of her stepdaughter.
What the tale of the sleeping princess teaches
A fairy tale based on folk legends teaches kindness and humility. It is interesting that the princess did not ask the brothers of the heroes to return her home to her father in order to ask him for help and protection.
Probably, she did not want to interfere with the happiness of her father with a new wife, or she felt sorry for the queen, who would have faced severe punishment if the king had found out the whole truth. She preferred the work of a servant in the house of the brothers of the heroes, than the power and wealth, which belonged to her by right.
Her humility was rewarded with the devoted love of Tsarevich Elisha. He was looking for his bride in the world, turned to the forces of nature – the sun, wind, month, to find out where his beloved was. And when I found it, I was able to bring her back to life. Evil was punished, but good and truth triumphed.