Story " Prisoner of the Caucasus"was written by L. N. Tolstoy in the 70s XIX years century.
“The events of the story take place during the war between the Russians and the highlanders, but the narrator does not report any historical information, limited to one a short phrase: "There was a war in the Caucasus then." For the first time, Tolstoy's story is built on the events themselves, on the plot itself - on the simplest interest in how the matter will end.
The reader is not required to do anything other than sympathy for the hero who is threatened with death.
The material for the story was the events from the life of Tolstoy himself in the Caucasus (persecution by the Chechens, who almost took him prisoner) and some book sources describing the Caucasian war and captivity.
B. Eichenbaum. "Lev Tolstoy"
From the memoirs of F.F. Tornau: “In order for a stranger not to sneak up to my prison at night, Tambiev (the owner) taught him to lie near the door of a very angry large black dog, which instilled fear in the entire neighborhood. At first, at my appearance, she bared her teeth, grumbled, and was even about to cling to her legs, but soon I made the closest friendship with her, of course, secretly, in order not to arouse Tambiev's suspicions. I was not very full, but the poor dog was even hungrier: secretly I gave her what I could from my millet, and Ha-kraz, as she was called, when she saw me, was no longer angry, but only waved her tail, looking at me with the most tender eyes...
Having obtained a piece of pencil, I drew on the shutter and on the planed posts everything that came to mind; paper was out of the question. The Circassians endured animals, flowers and species, but did not want to endure human figures and always scraped them off. The Surets, as they called them, inspired superstitious fear in them. “Where do you get the courage,” Tambiev once told me, “so similarly depict a person created in the likeness of Allah? After all, you cannot give souls to your image. Look, when you die, in the next world your surets will take away your peace, demanding for themselves immortal soul; and where do you get it from?" Then I took up the carving of dogwood sticks used by the Circassians for walking in the mountains. They really liked it, and many asked to decorate their sticks, which I always succeeded, to their pleasure.<...>
Children's curiosity prevailed over fear. Looking at the children of Tambiev, who had long been accustomed to me, other children began to come closer, then one of the girls decided to climb into my tower, and we ended up becoming very friends ... Most often, two young girls visited me ... Kuchuhuzh and her servant Han. Taking advantage of every free minute, they came running to me with some children's stories or questions, brought me eggs, berries, tobacco, brought other girls behind them, sang Abazekh songs in chorus or, seeing me unwilling and thoughtful, sat silently waiting for me. sweet word."
Circassian song
Epilogue
Notes
Basic information
"Prisoner of the Caucasus"- the second completed poem by Alexander Pushkin. The poem was written in 1820-1821. during the southern exile.
"Prisoner of the Caucasus" combines elements of descriptive (Pushkin planned to write descriptive poems about the Crimea and the Caucasus) and plot romantic poem: the epic line (Caucasus, the exotic life of the highlanders, the arrival of Russian conquerors) is intertwined with the lyric (the love of a captive Russian and a Circassian woman). For the first time Pushkin depicts romantic hero-contemporary. The poem gained immense popularity, including many imitations. poem of the same name(borrowing whole fragments of the text from Pushkin) was written by 14-year-old Lermontov.
The Prisoner of the Caucasus was greatly influenced by Byron's poems - Don Juan, The Bride of Abydos, Gyaur - French translations of which Pushkin met during his southern exile.
In the epilogue to this lyric poem Pushkin deals with military-political issues. There is no doubt that the romantic poet was not going to sing of the aggressive policy of the Russian government. "Ardent Tsitsianov", Kotlyarevsky, "the scourge of the Caucasus" Yermolov, from the approach of which "the East raises a howl" - in them the young romantic was looking for a living embodiment of the same ideal of the "romantic hero", which, in his words, and "the horror of people and glory was worthy."
The romantic style created by Pushkin in The Prisoner of the Caucasus became for a long time the model of the style of all romantic poems.
Despite Pushkin's critical statements about his poem, he still loved it. IN draft version his letters to N. I. Gnedich dated April 29, 1822 read: “You see that paternal tenderness does not blind me about the“ Prisoner of the Caucasus ”, but, I confess, I love him, without knowing why; it contains poems of my hearts. My Circassian is dear to me, her love touches the soul. " In 1829, in "Journey to Arzrum" he wrote: "Here I found a smeared list of the" Prisoner of the Caucasus "and, I confess, re-read it with great pleasure. All this is weak, young, incomplete; but much is guessed and expressed correctly."
"Prisoner of the Caucasus" is dedicated to N. N. Raevsky (son of the hero of the Patriotic War of 1812), close friend a young poet who supported him during the difficult events of the spring of 1820, which preceded his exile to the south. “You know our close relationship,” Pushkin wrote about N. Raevsky to his brother, “and important services, forever unforgettable for me ...” (letter dated September 24, 1820)
"Prisoner of the Caucasus" is a story about a brave officer who did not lose hope of surviving when he was taken prisoner by the Tatars.
IN mid-nineteenth V. in the Caucasus there was a heavy and bloody war, L.N. Tolstoy served there in those days, so he saw everything with his own eyes.
The genre of the work is determined by the writer himself - a true story, it indicates the reality of the events described. Tie. Life goes to his mother. Highlights:
1. Zhilin and Kostylin are captured.
2. Unsuccessful escape.
3. The second escape of Zhilin.
The denouement is the happy release of Zhilin, he finds himself in a Cossack detachment. Barely alive, Kostylin, having paid off, ends up in his camp.
The story fully and in detail describes the life of the highlanders, their customs. The narrative is strikingly dynamic: everything around moves, breathes, lives, everything is real, but at the same time we are as if in a fairy tale. But the main thing is a vivid description of the characters and actions of people who know how to adequately endure difficulties, fight for freedom without losing their own dignity.
The story is based on a comparison of two characters. By the way, their names are significant. Zhilin - from the word "lived", folk name blood vessels and tendons. This is a strong, strong-willed, calm, courageous person, able to withstand a lot. Kostylin - from the word "crutch", a wooden tool that helps the lame move. This is a weak-willed person, easily succumbing to despondency, he needs to be supported, guided. From the very beginning, the characters behave differently. Both of them do not want to move with a barely crawling convoy. However, Zhilin thinks about whether it is worth risking his life by getting to dangerous places on his own. This hero always thinks first, makes a decision, and then acts. Kostylin's thoughts here (and below) are intentionally hidden from us by the author. He does not think about his actions in advance. He invites Zhilin to go together, without thinking about the consequences, and tacitly agrees with Zhilin's proposal not to leave in case of danger. When meeting with the Tatars, Kostylin instantly forgets his promise and, seeing that Zhilin is almost a prisoner, shamelessly flees.
When both end up with the Tatars, Kostylin immediately agrees to write a letter home to be ransomed for five thousand rubles. Zhilin knows that his mother will not be able to send such an amount for ransom, so he first bargains with those who captured him, and then indicates the wrong address on the envelope. Zhilin says that they will not be able to give more than five hundred rubles for him. He just wants to buy time to be able to get out of captivity himself.
Zhilin commands respect even from his enemies. His "master" Abdul-Murat calls him a horseman, locals they appreciate him as a master who can fix any thing. Zhilin made friends with Dina, Abdul-Murat's daughter, making toys for her.
Kostylin in captivity is just waiting for help from home, while Zhilin relies only on himself. He prepares an escape: he inspects the area in order to know where to move when escaping, he feeds the owner's dog in order to tame it, he digs a hole from the barn. In an effort to escape from captivity, he does not forget Kostylin, takes him with him. Zhilin does not remember evil (after all, Kostylin once betrayed him). After an unsuccessful escape, Zhilin still does not give up, and Kostylin completely loses heart. Thanks to a happy coincidence (the help of Dina, the absence of the Tatars), his own perseverance, courage and ingenuity, Zhilin manages to get out of captivity.
in Wikisource"Prisoner of the Caucasus"- a story (sometimes called a story) by Leo Tolstoy, which tells about a Russian officer captured by the highlanders. Written for the "ABC", first published in 1872 in the magazine "Zarya". One of the most popular works writer, repeatedly reprinted and included in the school curriculum.
The title of the story is a reference to the title of Pushkin's poem Prisoner of the Caucasus.
Story
The plot of the story is partly based on real event that happened to Tolstoy during his service in the Caucasus in the 1850s. On June 23, 1853, he wrote in his diary: “He almost got captured, but in this case he behaved well, although too sensitively.” According to the memoirs of S. A. Bers, the brother-in-law of the writer,
| The peaceful Chechen Sado, with whom L. N-ch was traveling, was his great friend. And shortly before that they exchanged horses. Sado bought a young horse. Having tested it, he gave it to his friend L. N-chu, and he himself moved to his pacer, who, as you know, cannot ride. In this form, the Chechens overtook them. L. N-ch, having the opportunity to gallop away on his friend's frisky horse, did not leave him. Sado, like all highlanders, never parted with a gun, but, unfortunately, he did not have it loaded. Nevertheless, he aimed it at the pursuers and, threatening, shouted at them. Judging by further action pursuing, they intended to capture both, especially Sado for revenge, and therefore did not shoot. This circumstance saved them. They managed to get closer to Groznaya, where a vigilant sentry noticed the chase from a distance and made an alarm. The Cossacks who came to meet them forced the Chechens to stop the persecution. |
Tolstoy's daughter tells about this case as follows:
| Tolstoy and his friend Sado escorted the convoy to the Groznaya fortress. The convoy moved slowly, stopped, Tolstoy was bored. He and four more riders who accompanied the convoy decided to overtake him and go ahead. The road went through a gorge, the highlanders could attack from above, from the mountain, or unexpectedly from behind the cliffs and ledges of rocks every minute. Three went along the bottom of the gorge, and two - Tolstoy and Sado - along the top of the ridge. Before they had time to go to the crest of the mountain, they saw Chechens rushing towards them. Tolstoy shouted to his comrades about the danger, and he, together with Sado, rushed forward at full speed towards the fortress. Fortunately, the Chechens did not shoot, they wanted to capture Sado alive. The horses were frisky, and they managed to gallop away. A young officer was injured, a horse killed under him crushed him and he could not free himself from under it. The Chechens galloping past chopped him half to death with swords, and when the Russians picked him up, it was already too late, he died in terrible agony. |
During the active compilation of the "ABC" Tolstoy wrote a story about a Caucasian prisoner. Sending the story to N. N. Strakhov in March 1872, Tolstoy noted:
The story "Prisoner of the Caucasus" was published in the magazine "Zarya" (1872, No. 2). He entered the "Fourth Russian Book for Reading", published on November 1, 1872.
Tolstoy himself highly appreciated his story and mentioned it in the treatise “What is art? ' in the following context :
At the same time, the “second kind” of good art is defined by him there as “art that conveys the simplest everyday feelings, those that are accessible to all people of all peace, art worldwide."
Commenting on this treatise, the philosopher Lev Shestov notes that “... he actually perfectly understands that his“ Prisoner of the Caucasus ”or“ God knows the truth, but he will not tell soon ”(only these two stories from all that he wrote, relates He to good art) - will not have for readers the meaning that not only his great novels have - but even "The Death of Ivan Ilyich".
Plot
The action takes place during the Caucasian War.
Officer Zhilin serves in the Caucasus. His mother sends a letter in which he asks to visit her, and Zhilin leaves the fortress along with the convoy. On the way, he overtakes the convoy and stumbles upon several mounted "Tatars" (Muslim highlanders), who shoot down his horse and take him prisoner. Zhilin is brought to a mountain village, where he is sold to Abdul-Murat. The same owner turns out to have a colleague Zhilina Kostylin, who was also caught by the Tatars. Abdul forces the officers to write letters home to be ransomed. Zhilin indicates the wrong address on the letter, realizing that his mother still cannot collect the required amount.
Zhilin and Kostylin live in a barn, during the day they put shoes on their feet. Zhilin makes dolls, attracting local children and, above all, Abdul's 13-year-old daughter, Dina. While walking around the aul and its environs, Zhilin wonders which way to run back to the Russian fortress. At night he digs in the barn. Dina sometimes brings him cakes or pieces of lamb.
When Zhilin notices that the inhabitants of the village are alarmed because of the death of one of his fellow villagers in a battle with the Russians, he decides to escape. He and Kostylin crawl through the tunnel at night and try to get to the forest, and from there to the fortress. However, due to the sluggishness of the obese Kostylin, they do not have time to reach, the Tatars notice them and bring them back. Now they put them in a pit and do not remove the blocks for the night. Dina continues to occasionally bring food to Zhilina.
Realizing that the highlanders are afraid of the arrival of the Russians and can kill the prisoners, Zhilin one day, at nightfall, asks Dina to bring him a long stick, with which he crawls out of the pit (Kostylin, ill and limp, remains). He tries to knock the lock off the blocks, but is unable to do so, including with Dina's help. Having made his way through the forest, at dawn Zhilin goes to the location of the Russian troops. Subsequently, Kostylin is redeemed from captivity.
Reviews
| "Prisoner of the Caucasus" is written in a completely special, new language. Simplicity of presentation is put in the foreground. There is not a single superfluous word, not a single stylistic embellishment... One involuntarily marvels at this incredible, unprecedented restraint, this ascetically strict fulfillment of the task taken upon oneself to tell the people the events of interest to them "without further ado." This is a feat that, perhaps, will be beyond the power of any of the other luminaries of our modern literature. The artistic simplicity of the story in "The Prisoner of the Caucasus" is brought to its apogee. There is nowhere else to go, and before this majestic simplicity, the most talented attempts of the same kind by Western writers completely disappear and are obscured. |
| The theme "Russian among Chechens" is the theme of Pushkin's Prisoner of the Caucasus. Tolstoy took the same name, but told everything in a different way. His prisoner is a Russian officer from poor nobles, such a person who knows how to do everything with his own hands. He is almost not a barin. He is captured because another, noble officer, rode away with a gun, did not help him, but he himself was also caught. Zhilin - that's the name of the captive - understands why the highlanders do not like Russians. Chechens are strangers, but not hostile to him, and they respect his courage and ability to fix watches. The prisoner is freed not by a woman who is in love with him, but by a girl who pities him. He is trying to save his comrade, he took him with him, but he is timid, not energetic. Zhilin dragged Kostylin on his shoulders, but was caught with him, and then ran away alone.
Tolstoy is proud of this story. This is beautiful prose - calm, there are no decorations in it, and there is not even what is called psychological analysis. Human interests collide, and we sympathize with Zhilin - good man, and what we know about him is enough for us, and he himself does not want to know much about himself. |
Screen adaptations
- The Prisoner of the Caucasus is a classic 1975 film adaptation; director Georgy Kalatozishvili, in the role of Zhilin Yuri Nazarov
- "Prisoner of the Caucasus" - a 1996 film in which the motives of the story are used, but the action is moved during Chechen war 1990s; director Sergei Bodrov , in the role of Zhilin Sergey Bodrov Jr.
Audio productions
There are several audio versions of the story:
Vladimir Makanin's story "The Prisoner of the Caucasus" (1994) in its title contains a reference to several works of Russian classics called " The Prisoner of the Caucasus", including Tolstoy's story. Also in Makanin's novel "Asan" (2008), dedicated to the events of the Chechen war of the 1990s, the main character's name is Alexander Sergeevich Zhilin.
Notes
Links
- "Prisoner of the Caucasus" in the Collected Works of Leo Tolstoy in 22 volumes ("Russian Virtual Library")
| Bibliography of Leo Tolstoy | |
|---|---|
| Novels | Family happiness Decembrists War and peace Anna Karenina Resurrection |
| Tale | (Trilogy) Childhood Boyhood Youth Two hussars Albert Morning of the landowner Cossacks Polikushka Kholstomer Notes of a madman Death of Ivan Ilyich Kreutzer Sonata The Devil Father Sergius Hadji Murad |
| stories |
Sevastopol stories (collection) |
| Drama | The power of darkness The fruits of enlightenment The living corpse |
| Educational and teaching aids |
Alphabet New alphabet Arithmetic First Russian book for reading Second Russian book for reading Third Russian book for reading Fourth Russian book for reading |
| Pedagogical articles |
On Public Education Upbringing and Education Progress and Definition of Education On Public Education |
| Publicistic works |
About the census in Moscow Confession So what should we do? About life Hunger or not hunger? the kingdom of God is within you |
| Who should learn to write from whom, the peasant children from us, or us from the peasant children? A few words about the book "War and Peace" About art What is art? About Shakespeare and Drama | |
| Other | Reading Circle |
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Year of publication of the story: 1872
The story of LN Tolstoy "The Prisoner of the Caucasus", although written more than a hundred years ago, has not lost its relevance in our time. Moreover, the "Prisoner of the Caucasus" should be read according to the school curriculum. The story was filmed in 1975, and in 1996 formed the basis of the film, which takes place in Chechnya. Lev Nikolayevich himself spoke highly of his work and rightfully called it one of his best creations. It is thanks to such stories as "The Prisoner of the Caucasus" that Tolstoy to this day occupies the highest places in.
The plot of the story "Prisoner of the Caucasus" briefly
If we talk about Tolstoy's short story "The Prisoner of the Caucasus", then the action of the work takes place during the Caucasian War of 1829 - 1864. The action revolves around officer Zhilin, who receives a letter from his mother and decides to visit her, and possibly marry. He sets off on the road with the nearest convoy, but having overtaken him, he meets another officer Kostylin. Together they ride until several Tatars leave to meet them. Kostylin, who was supposed to cover the main character of the story "Prisoner of the Caucasus", rushes to run. Because of this, both of them, as in, are captured and sold to another Tatar - Abdul-Murat.
Further, in the story of Leo Tolstoy "Prisoner of the Caucasus" you can read about how the new "owner" of the captives requires them to write a letter home. In it, they must ask their relatives to ransom them. But the amount indicated by the Tatar is not lifting for Zhilin's mother. Therefore, in order not to make the mother suffer and get into debt, the main character writes a letter with the wrong address.
Both prisoners are kept in a barn. At night they are put on stocks, and during the day they are forced to work. Zhilin finds mutual language with the daughter of the Tatar who captivated them - Dina, and she begins to bring him cakes and milk for wooden dolls. Soon Zhilin decides to escape and begins to dig a tunnel. When the tunnel is over, both prisoners escape. But Kostylin cannot run fast, complaining about his feet rubbed with boots. Because of this, they are noticed by one of the locals, who tells Abdul-Murat about the escaped captives. A chase with dogs is organized and soon both captives are caught. 
If further than the story "Prisoner of the Caucasus" read summary, then you will find out that now the captives are put in a pit. The blocks are not removed from them day or night, and the possibilities for escape are practically zero. But Dina helps the main character. She lowers a stick into the pit on which Zhilin gets out of the pit. Kostylin is afraid to decide on a new escape. The daughter of a Tatar cries for a long time, parting with the main character, because she is very attached to him. Moving away from the village, Zhilin tries to knock down the blocks, but nothing comes of it. So he runs right into the stocks.
The main character of Leo Tolstoy's story "Prisoner of the Caucasus" will long road and, if not for the cakes that Dina gave him, he could hardly have made it all the way. And even when exhausted, he continues to crawl. At dawn, he reaches the field, behind which the Russian units are already standing. But this field still needs to be overcome, and, as luck would have it, the Tatars notice it. They rush to Zhilin and he last strength calls for help. He is heard from the Russian positions, and the Cossacks rush to cut the Tatars. The Tatars do not dare to approach, and Zhilin gets to his own. Main character Tolstoy's story "The Prisoner of the Caucasus" tells them about his misadventures, ending the story with the words: "So I went home, got married! No, it’s not my destiny.” So Zhilin remained to serve in the Caucasus, and Kostylin was ransomed a few months later, barely alive and in bad health.
The story "Prisoner of the Caucasus" on the Top Books website
Thanks to the presence in school curriculum the story "Prisoner of the Caucasus" is very popular to read. Moreover, in most educational institutions mandatory is the essay "Prisoner of the Caucasus" by Tolstoy. Thanks to this, the work got into our winter rating of 2016. In addition, thanks to a surge of interest in the story, it is presented among. But even before that, the story periodically fell into our ratings. Therefore, in the future, we will certainly meet him more than once on the pages of our Top Books website.
You can read Leo Tolstoy's story "Prisoner of the Caucasus" online on the Top Books website.
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