The Bear and the Nightingale

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2017

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-4

Part 1, Chapters 5-11

Part 2, Chapters 12-17

Part 2, Chapters 18-22

Part 3

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Background

Cultural Context: Russian Folklore

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death and religious discrimination.

In The Bear and the Nightingale, Arden uses elements of Russian folklore to build the world and shape the characters. While many are immediately recognizable as part of a larger European folklore tradition, such as the wicked stepmother or the impossible tasks, some are more specific. For example, the story that Dunya tells the children at the very beginning of the novel is an actual Russian folktale, recorded in Alexander Afanasyev’s Russian Fairy Tales (1855-1863) as “Father Frost” and later in Andrew Lang’s The Yellow Fairy Book (1894) as “The Story of King Frost.”

Likewise, the spirits that appear in the village and the forest are primarily based on actual creatures from Slavic tradition. For instance, there is the domovoi, which lives in the family’s oven and protects the household in the novel. To keep a domovoi happy, families traditionally offer small gifts, such as bread, milk, or salt, left in a respectful manner. Maintaining a clean and orderly home is another way to ensure the spirit remains content. Disrespectful behavior, loud arguments, or neglect of the domovoi’s needs are thought to provoke its ire. Rusalki, such as the one that attempts to drown Konstantin, are female Slavic water spirits. While they later became known as beings who lure unsuspecting men to their deaths, earlier stories show these spirits caring for water sources and plant life. While she is dangerous, the rusalka in The Bear and the Nightingale also embodies the untamed aspects of nature that Vasya herself represents.

Finally, the upyrs that Agafya and, later, Dunya become after their deaths are heavily based on the malevolent, blood-drinking spirits of the same name that later inspired the vampires written about by John William Polidori in The Vampyre (1819) and Bram Stoker in Dracula (1897). By grounding her narrative in these traditions, Arden creates a world that feels authentic to its cultural roots.

Historical Context: Medieval Russia and the Spread of Orthodox Christianity

The Bear and the Nightingale is a work of historical fantasy set in medieval Russia. While the narrative mainly focuses on its folkloric and magical influences, Arden also incorporates historical facts to ground the novel. The rulers of Moscow referenced in the story set the book in the mid-14th century.

The Grand Prince who takes power during the novel, Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy, was one of the most critical figures of the medieval period in Russia. When Dmitry ascended to the throne of the Grand Duchy of Moscow in 1359, Russia was a fragmented collection of rival principalities under the suzerainty of the Golden Horde. The Mongol-Tatar yoke had dominated the region since the early 13th century, requiring Russian princes to pay tribute and seek approval for rulership. Dmitry’s most significant contribution to Russian history was his military leadership during the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380.

The battle fought on the Kulikovo Field near the Don River was a decisive victory for Dmitry’s forces. Although it did not end Mongol control over Russia, it weakened their grip on the region and boosted Russian morale. Dmitry earned the moniker “Donskoy” (“of the Don”) in honor of this victory. The beginnings of this conflict can be seen in the later parts of The Bear and the Nightingale with Rodion’s news from Moscow in Chapter 18, in which Pyotr refuses to let himself or his sons become involved.

Dmitry’s defiance of the Tatars was as much a religious endeavor as a political one. The Orthodox Church framed the conflict as a holy war, sanctifying the struggle for freedom as a defense of Christian values against foreign domination. The spread and intensification of Orthodox Christianity in rural Russia is another critical element of the period that influences the novel. By the 14th century, the Orthodox Church had established itself as a dominant institution in urban centers such as Moscow, Novgorod, and Vladimir but had not completely taken over the rural population. Despite the efforts of the Church, pagan traditions were deeply entrenched in the cultural fabric of life there, and many villagers continued to practice old rituals alongside Christian observances. The geographical vastness of Russia also posed logistical challenges, as many areas were inaccessible to missionaries.

Additionally, the limited number of clergy and their lack of understanding of local customs sometimes hindered the effectiveness of conversion efforts. This can be seen in the village of Lesnaya Zemlya before the arrival of Father Konstantin. The villagers honor the local spirits and offer tributes to ensure their protection. However, the arrival of an Orthodox priest brings conflict as he preaches against these practices, labeling them heretical and urging the villagers to place their faith solely in God.