The main episodes of Taras Bulba. “Analysis of the last scene of the story “Taras Bulba”

The description of Andriy’s death from the story “Taras Bulba” cannot be interpreted unambiguously. The scene is complex and difficult to pinpoint.

Death of a Lover

Laws of the Sich

The beauty of death

What is the greatness of Taras?

(In the fact that he does not think about himself, all his thoughts are about his comrades, about the Motherland, he is not afraid of death. So he himself follows the words once spoken about comradeship.)

Describe what Taras looks like at the moment when the Cossacks do not hear his words, at the moment when he sees the Cossacks sailing away.

What can you say in the final words of the story: “And the fire was already rising above the fire, engulfing its legs and spreading flames across the tree.:. Are there really such fires, torments and such strength in the world that would overpower the Russian force!

(Taras's death was not in vain.)

What did the Cossacks sailing along the Dniester say about their chieftain? Why?

(The memory of Taras, like the memory of the heroes of the epic, lives among the people.)

IV. Discussion of home essay.

Possible topics:

“Three Deaths”, “Zaporizhian Sich”, “Ostap and Andriy”.

Homework.

Write an essay on the topics discussed (it is advisable to divide the class into 2 groups and each group reveals its own topic).

Information for teachers

A.G. Kutuzov’s program provides for a more in-depth study of the story “Taras Bulba”. Below is material that will allow the teacher (through additional lessons or reduction of other material) to cover the topic in more detail.

Approximate lesson planning for studying the story “Taras Bulba” 1.

Giving methodological recommendations for the study of “Taras Bulba”, G. A. Gukovsky pointed out that it is necessary to understand the story as a single whole, and not the sum of individual images and characteristics. Very often, when studying a story, students’ entire attention is focused on three main characters - Taras, Ostap and Andriy, the entire time of analysis of the work is devoted to revealing the characters of which. Of course, these characters occupy a central place in the figurative system, the plot of the work, the author writes a lot about them, but if we consider these characters outside the author’s main idea, then much in the work (including the characters) will remain not fully understood. It is important to help students understand the story as a single ideological and artistic whole. It is the historical, heroic and romantic aspects that determine the conversation about Gogol’s story.

1st lesson. Teacher's opening speech. The history of the creation of the story. Historical basis and folk poetic origins of the story. Role historical background in the narrative, elements of fiction.

Revealing initial perception. Start of work on the first chapter of the story.

Since Gogol refers to the past in the story, it is important to understand the relationship between “Taras Bulba” and historical stories, such as “ Captain's daughter"etc. Does this work show an authentic picture historical life people of a certain era?

In “The Author's Confession” Gogol wrote: “I had no attraction to the past. My subject was modernity and life in its present way of life, perhaps because my mind was always inclined towards significance and towards more tangible benefits. The further I went, the more intense was my desire to be a modern writer.”

In "Taras Bulba" there is no depiction of genuine historical facts, real historical figures. The action takes place in the old days, when - with absolute confidence It’s impossible to say. The time depicted in the story can only be determined with approximate accuracy: the 15th-17th centuries. There is not a single definite historical fact in the story, that is, Gogol did not set himself the goal of reliably telling about specific historical events, and did not intend to recreate the picture of the historical past. The historical background is quite conventional. This is due to the fact that Gogol set himself not so much historical as epic goals, which is why “Taras Bulba” is not a historical story, but a heroic epic. Recreating in the past the ideal of life that lives in the popular consciousness, and ideal human characters. Gogol also draws an ideal, fair social order - the Zaporozhye Sich. It is in this environment that the characters of the main characters of the story are formed. The description of the Sich is given a significant place on the pages of the work. One of the lessons devoted to the study of the story is necessarily devoted to the study of life and customs Zaporozhye Sich(second, third, fourth chapters). Drawing the structure of the Sich, Gogol draws attention to the fact that this is a society of equal and free people living according to strict but fair laws. According to Gogol, only such a way of life, such circumstances can create strong and powerful people, like Taras, Ostap and other Cossacks were. “So here she is, Sich! This is the nest from which all those proud and strong like lions fly out! This is where the will and Cossacks spread throughout Ukraine!” The question arises: was the real Sich as Gogol describes it, or is it more of a utopia? Of course, the Sich in the story is a poetic picture of an idealized society that gives birth to heroic characters. It embodied Gogol's dream of a free, free life based on equality and brotherhood.

2nd lesson. Analysis of the first and second chapters. First acquaintance with the heroes of the story. Meeting of father and sons. Life history of Taras's family. The role of the interior, artistic detail in creating national and historical flavor and creating characters. Comparison of two brothers - Ostap and Andria: the difference in character, behavior during their arrival at their parents' house, while studying at the bursa. Description of the steppe as an expression of the author's lyrical feeling, emotional and artistic subtext of the story. Gogol's mastery in depicting nature. Correlation of pictures of nature with the fate of heroes.

The plot of "Taras Bulba" is formed by the lines of Taras and his two sons - Ostap and Andriy. Ostap's path is the path of a faithful warrior of the Sich, and Andriy's fate is the fate of someone who betrayed her for the sake of passion. Both brothers are compared throughout the entire narrative: their appearance, characters, behavior in different life situations. Students work on a comparative description of Ostap and Andriy, considering the following questions: what impression does the first acquaintance with the brothers leave? What made them different while studying at the bursa? What is the difference between the behavior of Ostap and Andria in the Zaporozhye Sich, in battle? How did the brothers die?

Andriy is attractive with his beauty and passion, he is more tender with his mother, more sensitive to beauty. But his passion for a woman strengthens his individualistic principles, forcing him to betray his comrades, the brotherhood of the Sich, and the Fatherland.

While studying the story, the teacher works on the episode, paying attention to the artistic means and techniques used by the author: landscape, interior, hyperbole, artistic detail.

In the first chapter of the story, Gogol introduces a magnificent description of the steppe, which occupies an important place in the narrative. In connection with it, students remember what a landscape is and what role it plays in a work of art. How does Gogol describe the steppe? What does he pay attention to when talking about her? How does it help to see the richness of its colors? What events is the landscape associated with?

The text is full of artistic details. Artistic detail includes details of everyday life, landscape, portrait, interior, as well as gesture, action, speech: The detail helps to clarify and understand the author's intention. Using the example of the first chapter of the story, we can show the role of artistic detail: “The lighthouse was decorated in the taste of that warring time...” The teacher helps students see how, with the help of interior details, the author recreates the appearance of the era and the character of the hero.

The author also uses such a technique as hyperbole. The writer resorts to it to enhance the impression, to sharpen the image. This is an important way of conveying the author’s thoughts, constructing a plot, figurative system. Find hyperboles in the text of the story. What important function do they perform? “The entire surface of the earth seemed like a green-golden ocean, across which splashed millions of different colors...”; “...the Cossack, like a lion, stretched out on the road. His forelock, thrown back proudly, covered half an arshin of ground”; “harem pants as wide as the Black Sea.”

After the second lesson, you can be given the task of drawing up the storylines of Ostap and Andriy and answering questions about which of them is the most dynamic, in which of them the events are more important.

Lesson 3. Zaporozhye Sich. Its morals and customs. Political and economic structure of the Sich. The embodiment of Gogol's dream of a fair, free society.

What is your first idea of ​​the Sich? How does Gogol paint her?

Let us turn to the social structure of the Sich, its rights and customs. There is no class enmity and dependence of people on each other, there are no property windows. This military organization of the free people is contrasted by Gogol to a world where there are masters and slaves, princes and servants, a world of hostility and slavery. “Instead of the former inheritances, small towns filled with huntsmen and hunters, instead of petty princes warring and trading in cities, formidable villages, kurens and outskirts arose, connected by a common danger and hatred against non-Christian predators.” Describing the political structure of the Sich, Gogol emphasizes the democracy of the Cossack society: “... the hetmans, elected from among the Cossacks themselves, transformed the outskirts and kurens into regiments and regular districts.” A leader who is objectionable or has been guilty of something before the people is immediately re-elected (the scene of the election of a new Koshevoy: the Koshevoy unquestioningly came to the meeting and after his removal “bowed very low and disappeared into the crowd”; in the fourth chapter he says “I am a servant of your will... Already smarter than that it cannot be imagined that the voice of the people is the voice of God"). The people elect rulers who protect their interests. This is Taras, who, as a colonel, defends the rights of the people, such is Ostap, chosen as a commander.

When describing the Sich, the theme of the fruitful work of free people is also heard. This theme has been and will be heard more than once in various works depicting the structure of a utopian society of the future. How are the people of Sich shown at work? At what point do all the Cossacks get to work together?

Gogol does not idealize the Sich, showing its spontaneity, willfulness, and unbridledness. But all this disappears when peaceful life ends and wartime begins. At the first call of the Fatherland, the Cossacks drop everything and take up arms: “The plowman broke his plow, the brewers and brewers threw their casks and broke barrels, the artisan and tradesman sent both his craft and his shop to hell, he broke the pots in the house. And whatever it was, sat on the horse. In a word, the Russian character here acquired a powerful, broad scope, a hefty appearance.”

Military service in the Sich is not coercion, but voluntary service to one’s Fatherland. It is no coincidence that Taras, almost without giving his sons a rest after their arrival, sends them to the Sich, and they readily agree. This is a call of the heart, not a compulsion. The Sich severely punishes violations of its laws, the laws of a free people: Gogol describes cruel punishments for theft, for non-payment of debt, for murder. A society where there is no inequality, slavery, where people are free, must be moral, there is no basis for hostility, here public morality is high and it is this society that gives birth to heroic characters.

4th lesson. Father and sons. Conflict between Taras and Andria. Its romantic interpretation. The difference in life positions of Taras, Ostap and Andriy. Romantic elements in the characters' stories. Continuation of the comparative characteristics of the brothers.

Lesson 5 Romantic heroism and pathos of the story. Taras and Ostap as heroic and epic characters. The author's ideal embodied in the people and life of the Zaporozhye Sich.

The strong and powerful characters of the story are a consequence of the way of life that shaped these characters. Taras is the son of his time, and his wildness and unbridledness are the result of the wildness of this era (“heavy fifteenth century”, “semi-wild age”, “then rough age”). Features of a wild era appear more than once in the story: the cruelty of the Cossacks during the battle and capture of cities, the terrible torment to which they subjected their enemies, including women and children. Noteworthy is Taras’s rudeness towards his wife, who does not have the right to vote in her family, and his unbridled behavior in the house: “... he began to beat and throw pots and flasks.”

But Bulba is great at the same time, great as a man of the Sich, defending the freedom and independence of his people. Velik and Ostap, and other Cossacks - Kukubenko, Tovkach, Mosiy Shilo. They are also characterized by the vices of time. At the end of the second chapter, Gogol writes that the Sich only knew how to “walk and fire guns.” The Cossacks did not refuse to drink either. “The gaiety was drunken, noisy, but for all that it was not a black tavern, where a person is forgotten by the darkly distorted features of gaiety: it was a close circle of school friends.” Cheerfulness and riotousness are born from the breadth of the soul, a sense of freedom in camaraderie. The most important thing that appears in a society of equals is a sense of camaraderie. “The first duty and first honor of a Cossack is to maintain comradeship. No matter how long I live, I have never heard, gentlemen brothers, of a Cossack leaving somewhere or somehow selling his comrade...” - this is what old Kasyan Bovdyug says.

The central monologue of the story is Taras’s speech about camaraderie in front of last battle near Dubno (ninth chapter). This speech reveals the hero’s patriotic feelings, his courage, and life experience, and a passionate conviction in the rightness of his cause. Exclamatory intonations convey the depth of the hero’s excitement.

The sense of collectivism makes the heroes of Taras Bulba strong. A modern person, living on his own, with his own personal interests, isolated from others, is weak, but Gogol’s heroes are strong, because each of them feels the shoulder of the other, they are united general idea.

The Cossacks in the story are contrasted with the Polish lordship. Prove that not all Poles are condemned by Gogol. Find evidence in the text for this idea. How are Polish soldiers portrayed in battles? They are portrayed as worthy opponents, as valiant knights showing courage and bravery. What means does the writer use in the scene of the fight between the Polish knight and Kukubenko (comparisons, epic anaphora, inversion, epithets)? Does Gogol condemn the Polish lady, Andria's beloved? Read how the author describes her. She embodies beauty, passion, love, and there is no judgment towards her.

The opposition of the Cossacks to the Polish lordship is already evident in the description of their appearance. Gogol depicts the Poles with flashy, colorful colors: “...the copper hats shone like the sun, feathered with white feathers like a swan. Others wore light caps, pink and blue, with the tops bent to one side; caftans with folding sleeves, embroidered with gold and simply lined with skins; They had sabers and weapons in expensive frames, for which the lords paid dearly, and there were a lot of other decorations...” How does Andriy change when he finds himself in the Polish environment? How does his appearance change? He has a “copper hat”, “an expensive scarf on his hand...”. In the Polish environment, class disunity is emphasized: masters - servants. It is noteworthy that all the hierarchical diversity - artisans, gentry, lords - is ironically crowned with the image of a falcon located above them all.

Compare the descriptions of the Poles and Cossacks, in which the writer emphasizes simplicity, rigor, unity by a common idea, a sense of the people's good. What is the meaning of such a contrast? The unity of the Sich is contrasted with the disunity and internal disorder of Gogol’s contemporary society.

6th lesson. General lesson. Theme and problems of the story.

Lesson 7 Traditions of the heroic epic of past centuries in the story “Taras Bulba”.

In a well-prepared class, you can offer more complex search tasks related to intertextual comparative analysis, with the question of the traditions of the heroic epic of past centuries in Gogol's story.

The work is structured as follows. The teacher offers the students several passages: fragments from Homer’s Iliad (for example, the battle between Hector and Diomedes), fragments of the battle from the Song of Roland, an excerpt from a Russian epic (for example, from the epic about Ilya Muromets and Kalina the Tsar). When choosing passages, the teacher relies on the similarity of language formulas, the similarity of some plot situations (a dispute and a duel between the characters, the death of one of them). From the story “Taras Bulba” we can offer an episode of the battle from the seventh chapter. Students are invited to find commonality in these passages: in the plot, the development of the action, the conflict (opposition of the parties), in the actions and ideals of the characters, in linguistic formulas, artistic techniques used by the author (hyperbole, etc.), in the author's ideals. Next, the students, together with the teacher, try to resolve the question of why this commonality arises, and together they come to the understanding that any literary work is created on the foundation of deep literary, cultural, philosophical, aesthetic traditions and that every writer strives in his work to recreate the ideal of the era , embodying various spiritual and moral values.

Concluding our reflections on the story, let us return to the thought of G. A. Gukovsky that the study of the story can and should be carried out not by tearing out individual characters and their characteristics from the general narrative, not by repeating the plot with naive psychological explanations of the actions of the heroes that lead to to the fact that before the students appears fragmented into parts, and not a whole, unified, bright work, but by understanding the ideological basis of the work through understanding the meaning of a number of elements of the text.

Taras Bulba. This main character story of the same name. It was not by chance that Gogol chose events from the distant past for the plot of his work. The main problem of his time, he considered vulgarity and the reduction of personality. The heroic past of his country could, from his point of view, teach a lesson to his compatriots. Taras Bulba was the hero who set the example of service to the Fatherland.
He is a Cossack, but not an ordinary one - he is a commander. Taras Bulba's lifestyle is very strict, one might say, Spartan. The decoration of his home speaks about this. The details of the description (weapons on the walls, worn out utensils, devoid of luxury) tell us that the life of Taras Bulba is subordinated not to pleasure, but to service.
The episode of his meeting with his sons is significant. He greets them with ridicule, provokes them into a fight, tests their mood and rejoices when they are ready to stand up for themselves.
Taras is very harsh with his wife. The very next day he takes his sons to the Sich. But even at this moment, Bulba acts in the spirit of her “abusive, difficult time.”
Taras Bulba has clear, reasonable rules lives that are subordinated to the service of Orthodoxy and the Fatherland.
He is respected in the Sich, his opinion is listened to.
When hostilities begin, Taras Bulba leads the regiment. He is very pleased that his sons stand out for their daring and courage. “Good warrior” is the highest praise for Ostap and Andriy.
The meaning of his life is partnership. About this famous speech. “The first duty and first honor of a Cossack is to maintain partnership” - this is how he lives himself, and this is how, in his opinion, everyone else should live.
This phrase reflected the spirit of the time. Partnership is unity, and it is necessary to protect the Fatherland. In accordance with this motto, Taras Bulba judges the actions of his sons. Ostap is captured, Taras secretly attends his torture and execution. He supports him with the word “I hear!”
Andriy commits a terrible betrayal from Taras’ point of view, and he executes him. It’s a pity for the reader Andriy, but Bulba acts as his duty tells him, as the time demands.
After the death of Ostap, Taras began to fight with special zeal, so he “sent a wake for Ostap.” Therefore, it was ordered to catch Taras. “Strength prevailed over force,” and the old Cossack was captured.
During the execution, he behaves heroically, he takes care of his comrades, gives them advice.
Gogol concludes the story of his death with solemn words: “Will there really be such fires, torments and such strength in the world that would overpower the Russian force!”
Anthem heroic essence The Russian soul can be considered this image created by N.V. Gogol.
Ostap is internally similar to his father. Even in the bursa, he showed himself to be a rebel, not wanting to study, he defended his freedom. Only his father's threat forced him to take up his books. Ostap was a very good friend, a leader in everyone, even not very good deeds. During the proceedings, he never betrayed his comrades.
In the Sich, Ostap behaves as if the battle path was destined for him.” At twenty-two years old, he was calm and prudent.
After the battle near Dubno, Ostap was elected kuren chieftain. He proved himself to be a wise and prudent organizer.
In the second battle of Dubno, Ostap was captured. He was executed, he experienced terrible torment before his death, and only once did he burst out: “Father! Where are you? Do you hear too? He wanted to be like his father in everything. The goal of Taras Bulba’s life was revenge for Ostap, and the Cossack did not remember his youngest son.
Andriy - younger son Taras Bulba. Already at the beginning of the story, the author emphasizes the difference between Ostap and Andriy: Ostap is straightforward and stern, Andriy is softer and more sensitive. This is a nature alien to its age.
Even in bursa, he experienced love, his soul was ardent and passionate.
In the Sich, Andriy also felt differently than Ostap. During the war, he also fought with passion, but this passion was different: he was fascinated by the poetry of battle, where he experienced bliss and rapture. During the battle, he “performed such miracles” that a sane person would not dare to do.
But the war was boring for him.
After meeting with the lady, Andriy commits treason. The reader humanly sympathizes with the young man in love, but according to the laws of that time, he committed a terrible crime. That is why Taras Bulba says famous phrase: “I gave birth to you, I will kill you!”
When Andriy meets his father on horseback during a battle, he experiences conflicting feelings: he understands his guilt, but cannot overcome his feelings for the lady.
Andriy died at the hands of Taras Bulba, who unconditionally blames him. The reader is left with an ambivalent feeling. On the one hand, Andriy’s fate evokes sympathy, on the other, Taras Bulba could not have done otherwise.
The author, using the image of Andria, gives us an idea of ​​the complexity peace of mind a person, about the contradictions in which a person can be with himself, with his time. “Be patient, Cossack, and you will become an ataman!” - Taras Bulba said this to Andriy when he discovered that he was burdened by the life of the Sich. “What, son, did your Poles help you?” - this is how Taras Bulba asks Andriy after the betrayal.
"There is life in the old dog yet?" - Bulba asks three times during the battle.
The first and last expressions can be used as catchphrases. The first is when it is necessary to support someone in difficult situation, and the last one is also words of support in a moment of emotional hesitation.
We find manifestations of camaraderie and brotherhood in many actions of the Cossacks. This is both the decision to go to Poland and the desire to go to the rescue of comrades captured by the Turks. An example of camaraderie is the behavior of Taras Bulba during the execution: he worries not about himself, but about his comrades floating along the river, and calms down only when they move away from danger.

“We will remember Taras and sing a song...” We read an excerpt from the story from the words “There stood a naked tree ...” to the words “... which would have overpowered the Russian force!” and then analyze it. For example, the capture of Taras and his sentence cause difficult experiences for both the author and the reader. We feel sorry for Taras; it is difficult for us to come to terms with the idea that he will die in terrible agony. At the same time, we experience a feeling of indignation and anger towards our enemies. Taras does not think about himself before his death. Taras passionately wants his comrades to escape persecution, and we are filled with a sense of pride in the man loving the Fatherland and more comrades than yourself. When for the first time Taras's voice was not heard by the Cossacks, he was overcome heartache. But the pain gives way to joy, when Taras caught his eye “four sterns emerging from behind the bushes,” and there was hope that the Cossacks could be saved. Joy gives way to deep satisfaction that this time his call is heard.

A terrible blow to the head caused Taras to lose consciousness for some time. But when he woke up and saw that his comrades had escaped the pursuit, joy took possession of him again. And the reader at this moment admires the courage of Taras, his courage, sense of camaraderie and contempt for death, is imbued with his hatred of his enemies, contempt for them and faith in the triumph of a just cause. Examination and comparison of illustrations by P. P. Sokolov, E. A. Kibrik and D. A. Shmarinov, depicting the death of Taras, gives students the opportunity to visually imagine this, perhaps the strongest link of the story, to correlate their visual ideas with the vision of the artists - illustrators, to think about which of the artists managed to convey Gogol’s text more clearly and accurately, to recreate Taras’s last feat more emotionally convincingly.

Comparing the illustrations, everyone comes to the conclusion that a stronger impression is made by those drawings where all the artist’s attention is focused on Taras himself, his experiences, where Taras is given close-up. The artist Sokolov includes too much in the sphere of the image, thereby scattering the viewer’s attention. He describes in detail the collapsed fortress, the Poles tying Taras with ropes to a tree broken by lightning, and another group of Poles swinging clubs at Taras. The illustration as a whole gives the impression of stylization, everything in it is written out too carefully, even somewhat decoratively, it is of little concern.

What deeds and exploits of their ataman did the Cossacks remember while sailing on their canoes?

along the Dniester? And then the firing of the Poles stopped, the Cossacks swam briskly on narrow canoes, rowed together with oars, carefully passing the shallows, alarming the rising birds and talking about the exploits of their chieftain. They recalled how Bulba was chosen as Koschevo near Dubno, when everyone was divided into two groups, and how nicely he spoke about Russian comradeship. And those who did not participate in the battle of Dubno were told some episodes from it. One already middle-aged Cossack, who had smelled gunpowder, told two young Cossacks about how Taras, saving a comrade, rushed alone towards a detachment of horsemen.

Several Cossacks remembered his speech near Dubno; they understood then that for many it would be last Stand, but they were ready to give their lives for Holy Rus'. “Yes,” said the Cossacks, “ good comrade was Taras. It was not for nothing that he spoke words about camaraderie: he inspired us to heroic deeds and himself accomplished many feats for the glory of camaraderie and native land. After all, how did he fight with the Poles, how many of them did he chop into cabbage? And so we didn’t save him. Taras didn’t want to leave the cradle on someone else’s land, but had to stay there himself. But also in last minutes He didn’t think about death, but thought about us, about his comrades: “To the shore, boys, to the reeds, there are canoes, take everything and leave!” - Taras shouted. And now we are free, and he is in the damp ground. And when Ostap was executed,” said other Cossacks, “although Taras was very sad, he did not lose heart, he did not go to his farm to rest, but began to take terribly revenge on the enemies for Ostap and his murdered comrades.”
And they talked about a lot more. They remembered where and when Taras and his sons came to the Sich, how for the sake of the Fatherland Taras did not spare the life of his youngest son, a traitor. “We wouldn’t spare our lives for Taras. Now it’s our turn to take revenge on our enemies for him and protect our beloved Fatherland.” The life of Taras Bulba was a feat, and his exploits are worthy of song. Who is Taras Bulba? This is a representative of the life of a whole people, a whole political society in a certain era of life. He loved his native Ukraine and knew nothing higher and more beautiful than the daring Cossacks, because he felt both in every drop of his blood.

The Cossacks row together. They sail on their narrow canoes, lifting huge flocks of birds into the air, and talk about their chieftain. The people live, their feats live. They live in the people's memory, and in their songs and tales best sons. So " immortal soul"of old Taras comes to life in the works of poets, writers and artists who created their works during the Great Patriotic War. The story lives on in the minds of our contemporaries, spiritually enriching each new generation. The heroic past, revealed to an inquisitive and demanding youth, cannot but inspire with its example, beautiful and harsh, and Gogol’s amazing talent made the idea of ​​​​serving the Motherland bright, exciting and eternally alive.

V. G. Belinsky calls “Taras Bulba” “a wondrous epic, written with a bold and wide brush,” “a huge picture in a tight frame, worthy of Homer.” There is no need to give students the definition of “epic” in this regard, especially since Belinsky uses the word “epic” not in its modern sense, but rather emphasizing the internal closeness of Gogol’s story to the folk heroic epic.

How does “Taras Bulba” resemble a folk heroic epic? We find out that the heroes of the story are strong, powerful people, striving for a high civil ideal, committing legendary feats for the glory of the Fatherland. Folk poetic traditions had a particularly strong impact in the description of the Battle of Dubno. The hyperbolic portrait of Taras resembles portraits epic heroes, and the image of Taras in battle is similar to the image of Ilya Muromets, who fought with countless enemy forces. The obvious similarity of other Cossacks with the epic heroes is also striking.

In conclusion, it must be emphasized once again that Gogol’s wonderful story, which appeared so full expression national spirit, entered the treasury for all times folk culture as one of its most valuable assets.

“We will remember Taras and sing a song...” We read an excerpt from the story from the words “There stood a naked tree ...” to the words “... which would have overpowered the Russian force!” and then analyze it. For example, the capture of Taras and his sentence cause difficult experiences for both the author and the reader. We feel sorry for Taras; it is difficult for us to come to terms with the idea that he will die in terrible agony. At the same time, we experience a feeling of indignation and anger towards our enemies. Taras does not think about himself before his death. Taras passionately wants his comrades to escape persecution, and we are filled with a feeling of pride in a man who loves the Fatherland and his comrades more than himself. When for the first time Taras’s voice was not heard by the Cossacks, he was overcome by mental pain. But the pain gives way to joy, when Taras caught his eye “four sterns emerging from behind the bushes,” and there was hope that the Cossacks could be saved. Joy gives way to deep satisfaction that this time his call is heard.

A terrible blow to the head caused Taras to lose consciousness for some time. But when he woke up and saw that his comrades had escaped the pursuit, joy took possession of him again. And the reader at this moment admires the courage of Taras, his courage, sense of camaraderie and contempt for death, is imbued with his hatred of his enemies, contempt for them and faith in the triumph of a just cause. Examination and comparison of illustrations by P. P. Sokolov, E. A. Kibrik and D. A. Shmarinov, depicting the death of Taras, gives students the opportunity to visually imagine this, perhaps the strongest link of the story, to correlate their visual ideas with the vision of the artists - illustrators, to think about which of the artists managed to convey Gogol’s text more clearly and accurately, to recreate Taras’s last feat more emotionally convincingly.

Comparing the illustrations, everyone comes to the conclusion that a stronger impression is made by those drawings where all the artist’s attention is focused on Taras himself, his experiences, where Taras is shown in close-up. The artist Sokolov includes too much in the sphere of the image, thereby scattering the viewer’s attention. He describes in detail the collapsed fortress, the Poles tying Taras with ropes to a tree broken by lightning, and another group of Poles swinging clubs at Taras. The illustration as a whole gives the impression of stylization, everything in it is written out too carefully, even somewhat decoratively, it is of little concern.

What deeds and exploits of their ataman did the Cossacks remember while sailing on their canoes?

along the Dniester? And then the firing of the Poles stopped, the Cossacks swam briskly on narrow canoes, rowed together with oars, carefully passing the shallows, alarming the rising birds and talking about the exploits of their chieftain. They recalled how Bulba was chosen as Koschevo near Dubno, when everyone was divided into two groups, and how nicely he spoke about Russian comradeship. And those who did not participate in the battle of Dubno were told some episodes from it. One already middle-aged Cossack, who had smelled gunpowder, told two young Cossacks about how Taras, saving a comrade, rushed alone towards a detachment of horsemen.

Several Cossacks remembered his speech near Dubno; they understood then that for many this would be the last battle, but they were ready to give their lives for Holy Rus'. “Yes,” said the Cossacks, “Taras was a good comrade. It was not for nothing that he spoke words about camaraderie: he inspired us to heroism and himself accomplished many feats for the glory of camaraderie and his native land. After all, how did he fight with the Poles, how many of them did he chop into cabbage? And so we didn’t save him. Taras didn’t want to leave the cradle on someone else’s land, but had to stay there himself. But even in his last moments he did not think about death, but thought about us, about his comrades: “To the shore, boys, to the reeds, there are canoes, take everything and leave!” - Taras shouted. And now we are free, and he is in the damp ground. And when Ostap was executed,” said other Cossacks, “although Taras was very sad, he did not lose heart, he did not go to his farm to rest, but began to take terribly revenge on the enemies for Ostap and his murdered comrades.”
And they talked about a lot more. They remembered where and when Taras and his sons came to the Sich, how for the sake of the Fatherland Taras did not spare the life of his youngest son, a traitor. “We wouldn’t spare our lives for Taras. Now it’s our turn to take revenge on our enemies for him and protect our beloved Fatherland.” The life of Taras Bulba was a feat, and his exploits are worthy of song. Who is Taras Bulba? This is a representative of the life of an entire people, an entire political society in a certain era of life. He loved his native Ukraine and knew nothing higher and more beautiful than the daring Cossacks, because he felt both in every drop of his blood.

The Cossacks row together. They sail on their narrow canoes, lifting huge flocks of birds into the air, and talk about their chieftain. The people live, their feats live. His best sons live in the people's memory, songs and legends. Thus, the “immortal soul” of old Taras comes to life in the works of poets, writers and artists who created their works during the Great Patriotic War. The story lives on in the minds of our contemporaries, spiritually enriching each new generation. The heroic past, revealed to an inquisitive and demanding youth, cannot but inspire with its example, beautiful and harsh, and Gogol’s amazing talent made the idea of ​​​​serving the Motherland bright, exciting and eternally alive.

V. G. Belinsky calls “Taras Bulba” “a wondrous epic, written with a bold and wide brush,” “a huge picture in a tight frame, worthy of Homer.” There is no need to give students the definition of “epic” in this regard, especially since Belinsky uses the word “epic” not in its modern sense, but rather emphasizing the internal closeness of Gogol’s story to the folk heroic epic.

How does “Taras Bulba” resemble a folk heroic epic? We find out that the heroes of the story are strong, powerful people, striving for a high civic ideal, performing legendary feats for the glory of the Fatherland. Folk poetic traditions had a particularly strong impact in the description of the Battle of Dubno. The hyperbolic portrait of Taras is reminiscent of portraits of epic heroes, and the image of Taras in battle is similar to the image of Ilya Muromets, who fought with countless enemy forces. The obvious similarity of other Cossacks with the epic heroes is also striking.

In conclusion, it must be emphasized once again that Gogol’s wonderful story, which was such a complete expression of the people’s spirit, has forever entered the treasury of folk culture as one of its most valuable assets.