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Quiz about Some Folks from Russian Folklore

Some Folks from Russian Folklore Quiz

Funky questions on some major figures in Russian folklore.

A multiple-choice quiz by stuthehistoryguy. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
stuthehistoryguy

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
188,399

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
822

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

Last 3 plays: 1nn1 (10/10), looney_tunes (7/10), gme24 (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. According to most surviving sources, this deity was the most powerful figure in pre-Christian Russian mythology. Hint

Baba Yaga

Simargl

Perun

Stribog

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Perhaps the most popular recurring character in Russian folklore, this ogress lived in a hut perched atop two giant bird legs. Hint

Baba Yaga

Raisa Gorbacheva

Rusalka

Dvo Everie

3. This fabulous creature embodied the magical world in Russian folklore. Though supposedly uncatchable, Russian heroes seem to have little trouble capturing this remarkable avian when the story calls for it. Hint

Roc

Firebird

Chimera

Thunderbird

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. A Russian cognate of the vampire, as reported by folklorist Felix Oinas. Hint

Vukodlak

Langsuyar

Strigoi

Eretik

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Question 5 of 10

5. Among the more poetic of the stock figures in Russian folklore, this is a mournful spirit of a girl who died before being baptized. Though usually depicted as a beautiful, naked young woman with long flowing hair, she is rarely depicted as a temptress. Hint

Varcolac

Baba Yaga

Rusalka

Grendela

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Question 6 of 10

6. This mischievous forest spirit's favorite trick was to make wayward peasants get lost.
Hint

Danke

Spisibo

Leshii

Hvala

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Question 7 of 10

7. Perhaps the most feared creature in Russian folklore, this water spirit's avowed purpose was to drown people. However, the occasional fisherman would offer it tobacco in exchange for fish. Hint

Vodianoi

Poludnitsa

Polevoi

Bolotnyi

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. This house spirit, though mischievous also, is a guardian of the family when treated with respect.
Hint

Domovoi

Constinovoi

Tartovoi

Gigovoi

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. This is the most common Russian term for sorcerer.
Hint

Koldun

Rusalka

Baba Yaga

Polevoi

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Question 10 of 10

10. This Christian figure had twelve Fridays per year reserved for its veneration. Failure to properly respect this saint carried dire repercussions!
Hint

St. Paraskeva

St. Nicholas

St. George

St. Cassian

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. According to most surviving sources, this deity was the most powerful figure in pre-Christian Russian mythology.

Answer: Perun

Perun was the embodiment of thunder and war. Some evidence suggests that Svagrog, the keeper of fire, was actually head of the Russian pantheon, but this is not reflected in the "Primary Chronicle".

2. Perhaps the most popular recurring character in Russian folklore, this ogress lived in a hut perched atop two giant bird legs.

Answer: Baba Yaga

She was depicted as having huge breasts and flying about in a giant mortar and pestle. She also was very obsessive about counting spoons. "Dvo Everie" is the Russian term for "dual faith"--belief in both Christianity and folk figures. Raisa was Mikhail Gorbachev's wife and erstwhile object of Opus the Penguin's affection in the comic strip "Bloom County".

Answer: Firebird

The Roc, Chimera, and Thunderbird are from Arabic, Greek, and Navajo folklore. The Firebird was later the subject of a composition by Igor Stravinsky.

4. A Russian cognate of the vampire, as reported by folklorist Felix Oinas.

Answer: Eretik

The Strigoi and Langsuyar are vampiric creatures from Serbia, Romania, and Malaysia, while the Vukodlak in Serbia is a werewolf. As the name suggests, the Eretik was thought to be a religious dissenter in life. Usually it was a sorcerer in life as well.

Answer: Rusalka

The Varcolac is a Romanian monster who devours the sun and moon, thus causing eclipses. Grendela is a figure from my own twisted imagination.

6. This mischievous forest spirit's favorite trick was to make wayward peasants get lost.

Answer: Leshii

According to Oinas, this spirit shares many characteristics of forest bandits. The other terms are Serbian, Russian, Croatian, and German words for "thank you".

7. Perhaps the most feared creature in Russian folklore, this water spirit's avowed purpose was to drown people. However, the occasional fisherman would offer it tobacco in exchange for fish.

Answer: Vodianoi

The Polevoi and Poludnitsa are more obscure forest spirits. The Bolotnyi is a swamp spirit.

8. This house spirit, though mischievous also, is a guardian of the family when treated with respect.

Answer: Domovoi

The Domovoi's family often refers to him as "grandfather". The other terms are derivations of some of my Eastern European friends' names.

9. This is the most common Russian term for sorcerer.

Answer: Koldun

The Koldun had a love-hate relationship with the peasantry. It did many magical favors, but was also feared for its ability to "spoil" weddings and harvests.

10. This Christian figure had twelve Fridays per year reserved for its veneration. Failure to properly respect this saint carried dire repercussions!

Answer: St. Paraskeva

"Paraskeva" means "Friday" in Greek. Cassian is one of the most unusual figures in Russian folk belief. His characteristic harshness and lack of compassion often seem more diabolical than saintly. George and Nicholas both figure in their share of Russian tales, but they are usually their familiar benevolent selves.

Source: Author stuthehistoryguy

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