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Quiz about Some Folks from Russian Folklore
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.
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Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
188,399
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
814
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: Guest 184 (1/10), RebeccaQ (3/10), meekeli7 (5/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. According to most surviving sources, this deity was the most powerful figure in pre-Christian Russian mythology. Hint


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


Question 3 of 10
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


Question 4 of 10
4. A Russian cognate of the vampire, as reported by folklorist Felix Oinas. Hint


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


Question 6 of 10
6. This mischievous forest spirit's favorite trick was to make wayward peasants get lost.
Hint


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


Question 8 of 10
8. This house spirit, though mischievous also, is a guardian of the family when treated with respect.
Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. This is the most common Russian term for sorcerer.
Hint


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



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 15 2024 : Guest 184: 1/10
Feb 25 2024 : RebeccaQ: 3/10
Feb 21 2024 : meekeli7: 5/10

Score Distribution

quiz
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".
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.

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.
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.

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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3/28/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us