Gorodok in a snap. Russian literary fairy tale

Vladimir Fedorovich Odoevsky (1804-1869) - Russian writer and philosopher, art critic. Born in Moscow in the family of a large official, was the last representative of one of the oldest branches of the Rurikovich family. His father took a straight line from the Chernigov Prince Mikhail Vsevolodovich. In 1816, V.F. Odoevsky entered the Moscow University noble boarding house, and already during the years of study in the magazine “Bulletin of Europe” his first works were published. In 1826, V.F. Odoevsky moved to St. Petersburg and settled down in the service of the assistant director of the St. Petersburg Imperial Chancellery. In these years, he is fond of alchemy, writes fairy tales for children.

His Peru is owned by the first science fiction fairy tale “City in the Tabakerka” (1834). The main character - the boy Misha - receives a music box as a gift. The boy’s curiosity has no limit, he really wants to understand how everything is arranged and interconnected. Misha’s desire is fulfilled, and he gets acquainted with the fabulous inhabitants of the musical snuffbox, being inside her. From a scientific point of view, the mechanism is described very accurately, and the fabulous form makes the description extremely exciting. As noted by the famous literary critic of that era V. G. Belinsky, the complex scientific material “cleverly charged to children's fantasy”.

The fairy tale "Moroz Ivanovich" was first published in the collection "Tales of Grandfather Irinea" in 1841. The plot of the Russian folk tale "Morozko" was based. As in any fairy tale, there is a hint here - "good young people." The contrast of a kind and hardworking needlewoman and impatient and selfish lazy again and again convinces the reader that evil and laziness must be punished, and hard work, modesty and kindness are rewarded.