11. Reading. Baba Yaga and the witch

Read the text and mark the statements as True or False.

 

 

 

 

Baba Yaga in Slavic folklore and the witch in British folklore are both famous characters. They are known for their magical abilities and their connection to the supernatural. We can often see them as old or middle-aged powerful women who live far away from others in quiet areas.

 

Baba Yaga lives in a forest in a very unusual house that stands on chicken legs. Witches in British folklore often live in the forest, caves, or small cottages. Baba Yaga and the witch use different kinds of transport. Baba Yaga can fly around in a mortar driving it with a pestle or broomstick. Witches usually ride broomsticks.

 

These characters often have animals that help them. A witch usually has only one personal magical friend: a black cat, a raven, a toad or some other pet. If Baba Yaga keeps animals, she often has more than one of them: a cat, a dog, a few ravens, several dangerous horses, sometimes even a bear.

 

As for their personalities, Baba Yaga is not a simple character. In some stories, she’s rude and really scary. However, in other stories she might be a wise advisor. She likes to test other characters. If someone is hard-working and intelligent, she might help them (for example, in the tale Vasilisa the Beautiful).

 

Like Baba Yaga, a witch can be both evil and dangerous, or helpful. Some stories show witches as good ladies who use their powers to help and protect others. These witches are wise and caring. They also know a lot about the nature and they can make medicine.

 

Both Baba Yaga and the witch play important roles in their folklore stories. Both are characters who teach us important lessons. They remind us to be careful when we go far from home or go into the woods alone.
 

1) In all the stories, Baba Yaga can have only one animal-helper. TrueFalse.

 

2) The witch in British folklore often has a pet. FalseTrue.