The czar and Ivan discuss the sale of Ivan's wondrous horses. The illustrations accompanying this article were created by V.A. Milashevkij and appeared in a 1956 edition of Kanyok Garbunok, published by the State Publishing House of Children's Literature, Moscow.

The principal character, Ivan the Fool, is the hero of many Russian folktales. As a Russian Everyman, he proves that honest people are not fools, despite the label dishonest people give them. Major events in Russian history, such as the era of Tatar rule and the nation's conversion to Orthodox Christianity, have also left their mark throughout the story. The laughable image of the czar is the only revenge powerless subjects can ever inflict on their rulers. It can also be presumed that the core of the story contains pagan explanations of nature. The czar maiden is the reflection in water of the sun and moon, and she disappears when they go into the clouds.

The three parts of the story take place in the three primary habitats of Russia: plains, mountains, and seas.  Ershov lived much of his life in Siberia; perhaps this explains why his tale begins somewhere beyond our known horizons.

Kanyok Garbunok

Beyond the hills, beyond the forests, beyond the broad seas, not in the heavens, but on earth, there lived an old man in a village.  He had three sons: the oldest – Danilo – was a big, smart fellow; the middle – Gavrilo – went this way, that way, and every which way; and the youngest – Ivan – was a total fool.  Once, a great misfortune befell the family:  Someone was trampling their wheat.  To spy the robber, they decided to stand watch by night.

At dusk, Danilo, the oldest brother, set out.  The night was rainy: Fear befell him, so he hid beneath the hay.  When daylight arrived he returned to the hut and announced: “All night long I didn’t sleep.  Rain poured down in buckets and soaked my shirt.  It was so unsettling! In short, all is well.”

Father praised him: “You are a good son!”