Students are encouraged to use a variety of techniques to explore the topic. The epigraph to the essay, written competently and thoroughly, testifies to the deep understanding of the topic by the author. It is important to be able to correctly format and select words suitable for the narrative. Scientific and journalistic works often begin with an epigraph, so each student needs to master this skill.
An epigraph to an essay - what is it?
Terminology defines an epigraph to an essay as an original statement borrowed from a famous person or a short excerpt from a literary work. A small but capacious text has a deep meaning and from the first lines gives the reader an understanding of the holistic content of the further narrative. A well-chosen epigraph to the essay gives it style and originality.
Where to get a good epigraph
For a school assignment, you can safely use the lines from the work on which the writing of the work is proposed. It can be a single phrase or a whole small paragraph. If you look at the problem more broadly, then the statements of critics can also be used. Any borrowed phrases that reflect the essence of the problem and most fully convey the idea to the reader must be in the text of the essay.
Very often, aphorisms, popular sayings, proverbs and catchphrases can be seen as an epigraph. Poetic excerpts also often adorn literary works.
Where to begin
Before embarking on the process of finding a suitable epigraph, it is necessary to carefully consider what message the reader should receive. The first line sets the general mood. It can be dark, cheerful or frivolous. The colossal relationship between the beginning and the main part obliges the author to approach the issue with all responsibility.
How to write an epigraph for an essay
So, when the right words are chosen, you should think about the proper design of the epigraph. Serious requirements are put forward for its location on the page, they are the same for all works. The correct arrangement of text on the page is as follows: the epigraph is written on the next line after the title, before the main body of the text. Special condition: right-aligned. To write an epigraph in computer editors, it is convenient to use the automatic placement function on the right.
Having figured out how to write an epigraph to an essay, it is important to pay attention to some nuances. The text is written without the use of quotation marks, the name of the author of the quotation is indicated below it. It is allowed to designate the title of a work if the words are taken from a literary source. In this case, the name is written with a comma after the author's data.
epigraph picture
Very often, bloggers and site owners use recognizable pictures that define their profile as special, individual. This form of text design is perfect for keeping diaries and forums. To create an epigraph picture, you do not need to have special knowledge in computer technology. It is enough to own a simple editor for processing photos. The text on the image is chosen by the author and can have any message. The nickname of the author must be indicated, by which other visitors to the Internet space can easily recognize the author.
Why do you need an epigraph
Any literary creation is always criticized by the author himself. There is always a desire to see the created text expressive, capacious, interesting and useful for the reader. The epigraph allows you to add zest and style to the text, helps to give the story a deep meaning.
Thinking about the title
Taking any text in hand, the reader should set himself the task of highlighting the main thing, that is, to understand why this text was written.
The heading is the "front door" of the text. Mental processing of the title is the first step towards understanding the author's idea. The title sets up a subsequent dialogue with the text, during which the content and its main idea are comprehended.
If the title does not linger in memory, then the conversation with the text “does not stick”, self-control and generalization of the information received is difficult. The better the title is processed, the more complete the further reading will be.
Predicting content from a headline has varying degrees of difficulty, depending on what the child is reading. If he is reading fiction, the title may tell you exactly what the story is about, and lead to assumptions that are completely different from what the work will actually talk about.
Work with headings can be carried out at different stages: both before and after reading the text.
Why do you need an epigraph
Epigraphs, most often small, short, take on a huge burden. Directly or allegorically, causing some associations, they are representatives of the main idea.
Along with the title, the correct reading of the epigraph is a “starting” moment on the way to the main idea. Sometimes in a work with a complex structure there are epigraphs not only after the title of the entire book, but also before each chapter. This helps the reader build a hierarchy of main thoughts and main events.
Work with epigraphs, as well as work with headings, can be carried out in two stages. The first is an attempt to explain the meaning of the epigraph before reading the text and, on this basis, make some assumption about the content of what is to be read. The second is a return to the epigraph after reading and understanding the relationship between the text and the epigraph.
Highlighting the main idea
The ability to conduct a dialogue with the text does not always lead to the main result of understanding - highlighting the main idea. This needs to be taught purposefully.
Many schoolchildren, even after a detailed conversation with the text, give up when they are asked to highlight the main idea. This indicates a misunderstanding of the text: after all, the correct selection of the main idea is one of the most important indicators of understanding. Expressing an idea in words is an independent and very difficult task. The expression of thought in words does not always correspond to the thought itself: it can be incomplete, inaccurate, and distorted. Hence the famous Tyutchev: "A thought uttered is a lie."
To single out the main idea means to realize it in the general flow of the text, to abstract from the specific embodiment, which is the form of its being, and to assess the degree of its significance.
To learn and learn to highlight the main idea, the following conditions must be observed.
The first is for students to know that this goal is always in front of them, with every interaction with the text.
Ideally, the desire to find out: “What is the main thing here?” or “What matters most here?” - becomes a habit, and the student simply does not know another reading
The second = is the scooping out of all meanings from each word, phrase, sentence and larger semantic units, as well as from their montage.
The third is the constant work on predicting the text at all levels - from a word or phrase to a whole text.
This work will not give a big increase in the ability of schoolchildren to learn if it is episodic.
Dictionary Ushakov
Epigraph
epigraph(epigraph obsolete), epigraph, husband. (Greek epigraphe - inscription).
1. The ancient Greeks had an inscription on a tombstone.
2. A short text (usually a quote from somewhere, a proverb, a saying and so on.), placed by the author in front of his work or its separate part, and giving a kind of coverage to the main idea of the work ( lit.). “We decided, with the permission of the relatives, to publish it (the manuscript) separately, finding a decent epigraph for each chapter.” Pushkin. “He (Onegin) knew enough Latin to understand epigraphs.” Pushkin.
Culturology. Dictionary-reference
Epigraph
(Greek epigraphe - inscription)
1) in antiquity, an inscription on a monument, building;
2) quotation, saying, proverb, placed by the author before the text of the entire artistic (journalistic) work or part of it. The epigraph explains the main idea of the work or its assessment, expressed by a more authoritative person.
Terminological dictionary-thesaurus on literary criticism
Epigraph
(from Greek epigraphe - inscription) - a quote, saying, proverb, placed by the author before the text of an artistic (journalistic, scientific) work or part of it. The epigraph explains the main conflict, theme, idea or mood of the work, contributing to its perception by the reader.
RB: Composition and plot
Ass: idea, prologue
Example: "Vengeance is mine, and I will repay" (an epigraph to L. Tolstoy's novel "Anna Karenina")
* "A.S. Pushkin in The Captain's Daughter uses as epigraphs excerpts from folk songs, from the works of Kheraskov, Knyazhnin and other authors" (V. Kozlovsky). *
Gasparov. Entries and extracts
Epigraph
♦ Composer Gadzhiev wrote the work, rewriting Shostakovich and only ornamenting it in an oriental way. This was noticed, a case of plagiarism arose, he hurried to Sh. and brought a note: "I confirm that G.'s work has nothing in common with mine" - Shostakovich, in order to be left behind, signed everything. This note should have been printed as an epigraph when writing Gadzhiev, but where it is is now unknown.
Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language (Alabugina)
Epigraph
A, m.
A quote or saying containing the main idea of the work and placed at the beginning of the story.
* Epigraph to the essay. *
Design. Glossary of terms
Epigraph
EPIGRAPH- an inscription usually placed on a monument, building, statue, tombstone etc. Hence "epigraphy" - the study of inscriptions carved on hard surfaces.
encyclopedic Dictionary
Epigraph
(from the Greek. epigraphe - inscription), ..
- in antiquity, the inscription on the monument, the building ...
- Quote, saying, proverb, placed by the author before the text of the entire artistic (journalistic, scientific) work or part of it. The epigraph explains the main idea of the work or characterizes it as if on behalf of another, more authoritative person (source).
Ozhegov's dictionary
EP AND GRAPH, A, m. A saying (or quotation) prefaced by a work (or part of it, a chapter) and focusing thought on its idea. E. to the novel.
| adj. epigraphic, oh, oh (special).
Dictionary of Efremova
Epigraph
m.
Short text, quote, saying, placed by the author before his work
or before a separate part of it and characterizing their main idea.
Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron
Epigraph
(Greek επιγραφή - "inscription") - a quote placed at the head of an essay or part of it in order to indicate its spirit, its meaning, the author's attitude towards it, etc. Depending on the literary and social mood, e. came into vogue, became a manner, went out of use, then resurrected. In the first half of the last century, they willingly shone as an expression of erudition and the ability to apply someone else's thought in a new sense. E. are known in Montesquieu's "Esprit des Lois" - "Prolem sine maire creatam", to Buffon's "Histoire nature l le" - "Naturam amplectimur omnem", E. Rousseau's mottos ("Vitam impendere vero"), Bernardin de Saint- Pierre ("Miseris succurrere disco"). We know E. Pushkin to the second chapter of "Eugene Onegin" - "Oh, rus. Oh, Russia", Gogol to "The Government Inspector" - "No one should blame the mirror if the face is crooked", Leo Tolstoy to "Anna Karenina" - " I will have revenge and I will repay Az", Turgenev to "Faust" - "Entbehren sollst du, sollst entbehren", Dostoevsky to "Demons", Schiller in "The Song of the Bell" (and Herzen to "The Bell"): "Vivos voco, mortuos p lango, fulgura frango".
A. Gornfeld.
Russian language dictionaries
Luzyanina Antonina Grigorievna,
Russian Language and Literature Teacher, Secondary School No. 2088
Working with an epigraph
an effective way of teaching the analysis of a work of art.
(From work experience, grade 8, A. S. Pushkin's story "The Captain's Daughter")
Epigraph (from the Greek επιγραφή - “inscription”) - a quote placed at the head of an essay or its parts in order to indicate its spirit, its meaning, the author’s attitude towards it, etc.
Epigraphs, most often small, short, take on a huge burden. Directly or allegorically, causing some associations, they are representatives of the main idea.
Along with the title, the correct reading of the epigraph is a “starting” moment on the way to the main idea. Sometimes in a work with a complex structure there are epigraphs not only after the title of the entire book, but also before each chapter. This helps the reader build a hierarchy of main thoughts and main events.
I work with the epigraph in stages.
- Stage 1 - preparing students for the perception of the new, intensifying mental activity and awakening interest in the work and the epigraph as one of its components. Students recall the definition of an epigraph and theoretical information about this type of literary quotation.
- Stage 2 is the concentration of attention on finding an answer to the question: - Is an epigraph really necessary in a work?
- Stage 3 - the formation of cognitive interest.
Each philologist wants his pupil to develop the habit of serious thoughtful reading, the ability to see the events and heroes of the work through the eyes of the author - the bearer of moral and aesthetic assessment. Introduction to the author's position activates the mental activity, creative abilities of children, enriches their reading culture.
- Stage 4 - observation of the text, which gives students the opportunity to make sure that the epigraph is only an outwardly independent, autonomous quote, in fact it is closely related to other compositional components: the title, beginning, end, plot and images of the work.
- Stage 5 - identifying the level of reader's perception. It includes a conclusion about the functions of the epigraph.
- Stage 6 - consolidation and generalization of the acquired knowledge and skills to analyze this literary quotation. At this stage, the skill is transferred to other activities: the study of textbook articles containing epigraphs, the selection of epigraphs for essays, and understanding their role in organizing a literature lesson.
- Stage 7 - understanding the author's position based on understanding the role of the epigraph.
A fertile material for the formation of epigraph analysis skills is the story "The Captain's Daughter". Before reading the story, the teacher introduces the students to the note of the “publisher”: “We decided, with the permission of relatives, to publish it separately, having found a decent epigraph for each chapter ...” Then the words of V. B. Shklovsky are quoted, who called the epigraphs of The Captain’s Daughter “semantic the key of the work, giving an idea of the author's attitude to the topic, which he wants to convey to readers.
The students are given the task of tracing how the epigraphs are connected with the text of the story itself and what role they play.
The discussion of chapter 1 begins with a historical commentary. The teacher explains that the word "undergrowth" used to have a different meaning than it does now. This was the name of the young nobles of the 18th century, who had not reached the age of majority and had not yet entered the public service, but were enrolled in the army from birth. While the minor reached adulthood, he was automatically promoted and by the age of seventeen, without making any effort, he could “reach the rank” to the captain.
Students are asked to answer the following questions:
What is the epigraph about?
How many parts does it consist of?
How is it related to the title, beginning and end of the chapter?
What events in Petrusha's life does he pay attention to?
Why is the second part of the epigraph needed: “Who is his father?”
How does the epigraph help us understand Pushkin's attitude to the characters and events depicted?
The technique of observing the text will allow the children to determine the structural connections within the text. "Sergeant of the Guard" with the help of the lexical repetition "Captain of the Guard" is connected with the epigraph and emphasizes Pushkin's ironic attitude to the rosy dreams of the underage Petrusha about the Guards service.
The phrase: “Who is his father?” - echoes the beginning of the chapter, which, as it were, gives an answer to the question: “My father came out as prime minister in 17 .. year ..” The meaning of the epigraph is connected with the events of the plot: the father’s decision to send not to the guards at court, but to the army in the field. Thus, the author emphasizes the importance of the event that changed the usual course of life of the underage and explains the reason for such severity of Grinev, the eldest, who seeks to instill high moral qualities in his son.
The father wants his heir to continue the best noble traditions, so he does not protect him from difficulties, does not look for a warm place for him: “Petrusha will not go to St. Petersburg. What will he learn by serving in St. Petersburg? To wind and hang out? No, let him serve in the army, let him pull the strap, let him sniff the gunpowder, let him be a soldier, not a shamaton.
Speaking about the functions of the epigraph, it is necessary to point out to students that it predicts or predicts the future events of the chapter, the development of the images of Petrusha Grinev and his father, reveals Pushkin's ironic attitude to Petrusha's unfulfilled dreams, helps to understand the features of the moral code of the nobility.
In the lesson on the topic: “Life Universities of Petrusha Grinev”, dedicated to the story of his service in the Belogorsk fortress, an analysis of 3-5 chapters can be carried out on the following issues:
Did Petrusha's ideas about fortress and service correspond to reality?
How does the epigraph help answer this question?
How did Masha's love affect Petrusha?
How does he react to evil?
The epigraph to chapter 3 characterizes the way of life established in the fortress. Students have no difficulty in determining its semantics - this is a soldier's song, daring, perky, raising morale, it creates in the imagination images of brave, courageous warriors who do not care about anything, they threaten enemies:
Let's give the guests a feast,
Let's load the cannon.
The teacher draws the attention of the children to the stylistic heterogeneity of the epigraph: words from the book vocabulary (“fortecia”) and colloquial (“we will set a feast”, “they will come to the pies”) collide in it. This technique emphasizes the discrepancy between Petrusha's expectations and real life. (“Belogorsk fortress was forty miles from Orenburg ...”)
The epigraph is connected with the title of the chapter "Fortress" and its beginning through the synonymous repetition of "fortress". With the help of a teacher, students also find textual links between the epigraph and the narrative:
We live in a fort. I looked in all directions, expecting to see formidable bastions, towers and ramparts; but saw nothing but a village surrounded by a log fence.
We eat bread and drink water... | We sat down to have lunch. |
And how fierce enemies ... | “They poke their noses in, so I’ll set such an ostracism that I’ll calm down for ten years ... |
They will come to us for pies ... | Let's give the guests a feast ... |
And how, two years ago, Ivan Kuzmich invented shooting on my name day ... | Let's load the cannon... |
from our cannon, so she (Masha), my dear, almost went to the next world out of fear. | Since then, we have not fired from the damned cannon. |
The teacher helps the students to understand that these parallels clearly indicate the author's ironic attitude to the garrison service, where there were no exercises, reviews, guards.
The second epigraph from D. I. Fonvizin's comedy "Undergrowth" will help to more fully reveal the images of "old people". Students are already familiar with this work and the manners of Mrs. Prostakova, who subjugated her mute husband and runs the whole house.
After that, students can easily determine that the content of the epigraph is projected onto relations in the Mironov family, onto the image of Vasilisa Yegorovna, who commands not only her husband, but the entire garrison. With Prostakova, she is related by imperiousness and arrogance, but the image of the commandant is not unambiguous: the author endows her with kindness, cordiality, hospitality, and devotion to her husband. It is simplicity, sincerity and kindness that attract Petrusha in the family of Captain Mironov.
The epigraphs of chapter 5 are connected with the image of Masha Mironova, emphasizing her nobility and spiritual beauty. She releases Grinev from the promise to marry her, because she does not want to go against the will of his parents, she wishes well-being and happiness to her beloved:
If you find me better, you will forget
If you find me worse, you will remember.
Students determine the structural connections of the epigraph with the content of the chapter: "... At least be happy ... if you find yourself narrowed, if you love another, God bless you ... and I am for both of you ..."
The second epigraph is also a quote from a folk song. He points to those ethical laws that have been worked out for centuries by the people and which Masha follows. Determining within the textual structural connections of the epigraph and the chapter, eighth graders note repetitions:
Do not go, the girl is young, married;
You ask, girl, father, mother ...
(In the text) “…I will not marry you without the blessing of your parents. Without their blessing, you will not be happy.”
The epigraph to Chapter 4 helps readers understand Pushkin's attitude towards Petrusha Grinev.
Schoolchildren determine that the structural connection of a literary quotation with the title “Duel” and the end of the chapter (“At that very time I was stabbed severely in the chest below my right shoulder ...” - we compare “I will pierce the figure”) is carried out using synonymous repetition. In terms of meaning, the epigraph fully predicts upcoming events, as well as the outcome of the duel, and acts as a tuning fork, setting the reader up for an ironic perception of events. The very combination of a serious, almost tragic theme of the duel and a quote from a comedy shows Pushkin's ambiguous attitude both to the noble code of honor and to Petrusha Grinev: on the one hand, he respects the readiness of his hero to stand up for the honor of a girl, to fight for justice, even exposing his life danger, but, on the other hand, comically depicts the very means of this struggle.
In the lesson on the topic “Two meetings of Grinev with Pugachev - the leader in the steppe and the leader of the uprising”, work with epigraphs of chapters 2-8 also occupies a significant place. Quotations from an old recruit song (chapter "Counselor"), which tells about a good fellow, who was led in an unfamiliar direction by "quickness, gallant courage", emphasizes the folk "peasant" appearance of Pugachev, his epic strength.
Pushkin chose lines that directly echo the conversation between Petrusha and the counselor:
Unfamiliar side! Why didn't I come to you myself,
Is it not a good horse that brought me.
(From the text) ... - Listen, man, - I told him, - do you know this side?
The side is familiar to me, - answered the roadman, - thank God, it is well-trodden and traveled along and across. …. But they differ in the content of the chapter.
What caused it?
How did they reflect Pugachev's biography?
At the first lesson, devoted to the history of the creation of the story, the teacher informs the children that Yemelyan Pugachev is a Don Cossack by origin. For three years he was in the royal service, participated in the battles of the Seven Years' War and was taken by one of the colonels as orderlies for "excellent agility." Upon his return from the army, he was called twice more to pacify the schismatics and to fight against the Turks. The royal service was tired, but Pugachev did not receive a resignation and fled. For two years he wandered around the Don, Ukraine, hiding from arrest, then went to the Urals. During his wanderings, he participated in peasant unrest: he was a walker to the queen from the inhabitants of the Terek (caught and punished), then he led the departure of the Yaik Cossacks from the oppressors from the Southern Urals to the Kuban, to the Turkish side - he was arrested, and now he was threatened with Siberian penal servitude. Here, in custody, Pugachev's resourcefulness, his ability to convince and influence people, showed up - he fled with the guards.
Answering the questions posed, students make a conclusion about the functions of the epigraph of Chapter 2. He points out the reasons for the appearance of the Don Cossack outside the familiar side, in the Urals, helps to express the author’s attitude towards this hero, whom he calls a fine fellow and emphasizes his daring, strength, courage, kinship with epic heroes (for him, even a snowstorm in the steppe is not terrible). Structurally, the epigraph of the chapter is connected with the words of Pugachev “the side is familiar to me ...” and indicates that both in the Ural steppe and among the Yaik Cossacks, the leader of the popular uprising is his own person.
A comparison of the two epigraphs preceding chapters 2 and 8 helps to move on to the analysis of the chapter "The Uninvited Guest". If the first - characterizes Pugachev as a good fellow, then the second - gives him an unfriendly assessment: "An uninvited guest is worse than a Tatar."
It should be reported that initially Chapter 8 was preceded by other lines: “And the villains came to us at mass - and they put three barrels of beer at the national hut, drank - but they didn’t give us anything.” (Testimony of headman Ivan Paramonov in March 1774)
Why did Pushkin refuse this option, because this text is a broader description of the actions of the “intruder?
The rejection of this quote can be explained by several reasons: firstly, the testimony of the headman has a reduced everyday coloring, tells about a particular case - the capture of a village by the rebels, and secondly, in The Captain's Daughter the author avoids referring to documents and does not want to violate unity of artistic narrative.
Having found out the meaning of the epigraph, we direct the search to determine its connection with the text. The question is posed:
Do the events of Chapter 8 confirm Pugachev's assessment given in the epigraph?
This question focuses the attention of students on the portrait of Pugachev created by Pushkin, the hero's reaction to Petrusha's words that he would fight against him, fulfilling his duty.
At the stage of generalization, students come to the conclusion that Pushkin contrasts the content of Chapter 8 with the epigraph, showing the leader of the uprising capable of nobility, generosity and kindness, even in relation to representatives of the hostile camp.
The lesson "Trials of the nobleman Grinev" (chapters 9-12) is devoted to the disclosure of Petrusha Grinev's complex attitude towards Pugachev and the rebels, we compare his opinion with Pushkin's position.
The epigraph of chapter 10 does not quite correspond to the content of the chapter and is not predictive.
For what purpose does Pushkin introduce him into the story? He sets up readers to understand the importance of the events of the peasant war, which the author compares in significance for Russian history with the Kazan campaign, and Pugachev with Ivan the Terrible. It should be noted that in parallel with the hidden comparison of the hero with the Russian Tsar, there is also a direct comparison of him with an eagle, which strives for a free life. The image of an eagle reappears in a fairy tale told by Pugachev to Petrusha. The epigraph to chapter 11 also elevates the protagonist by comparing him to a lion. Students should be told that this epigraph belongs to Pushkin himself, although the author refers to A.P. Sumarokov.
Dictionary work: the word "nativity scene" has two meanings:
- cave - underground entrance, hard-to-reach ravines; 2) the dwelling of people of questionable behavior, criminals.
In what sense do you think this word is used in the quote? So, the lion, by nature usually ferocious, kindly receives the guest in his cave only because at that time he is full. The content of the epigraph is projected onto the events of the chapter: Pugachev shows favor to Petrusha, despite the fact that his associates accuse the young nobleman of espionage and demand his execution. The question is asked: - What traits of Pugachev's character does the author emphasize with an epigraph - ferocity or affection? The teacher then introduces the students to the opinion of A.P. Sumarokov, who wrote about Pugachev like this: This murderer, having struck, the tyrant of the noble, Koliko killed fathers and mothers! In marriage, he gives worthless Honorary daughters for warriors. This statement about the arbitrariness and tyranny of the leader of the peasant uprising contradicts the events described by Pushkin: Pugachev is ready to help Grinev save his beloved and even arrange their wedding. Making a conclusion about the functions of the epigraph of chapters 10-11, students note that by putting next to the name of the leader of the rebels the names of "royal" animals and birds - a lion and an eagle - Pushkin wants to emphasize his opinion of him as a strong, powerful personality. The teacher draws the attention of students to the fact that all the epigraphs related to Pugachev are taken from any literary works where the words “Russian Tsar” are mentioned, he does not at all want to convince readers of the royal origin of the impostor, but sets himself the goal of showing the extraordinary person who is able to lead thousands of people. The lesson "The mercy of the impostor and the mercy of the autocrat" should reveal the moral integrity of Pugachev and show the depth of the personality of Masha Mironova ((chapters 13-14).
The source of the epigraph to chapter 13 is an excerpt from Ya.B Knyaznin's comedy "Bouncer", but some literary critics argued that this literary quotation was composed by Pushkin himself, and the last two lines only resemble a replica of the comedy hero. The students understand the meaning of the epigraph without much explanation: this is a dialogue between two people, one of whom, “in his duty,” must arrest the other, a friend, and send him to prison. The friend expresses a desire to explain himself first and hopes that he will be presented with such an opportunity. The analysis reveals within the text structural links of this quote with the title of the chapter and its end through lexical repetitions.
The meaning of the epigraph predicts the events of the plot. Zurin is friendly to Grinev, believes in his innocence, but is obliged to follow the order and arrest him. Petrusha is not fully aware of the danger hanging over him, because he believes in the triumph of justice: “My conscience was clear, I was not afraid of the court ...” Pushkin destroys the hopes of his hero: members of the commission of inquiry treat him with prejudice during interrogation. The author bitterly shows how Shvabrin's slanders take precedence over justice and an innocent person is convicted.
Chapter 14 is called "The Court", but only a few lines are devoted to this important event in Grinev's life: everything is clear and without long descriptions. The epigraph to this chapter is the proverb “Worldly rumor is a wave of the sea”. Resorting to folk wisdom, the writer wanted to show the illegality of the court verdict, based not on an objective analysis of the case, but on "people's rumors", i.e. Shvabrin's slander.
Students can easily determine the connection of the epigraph with the words of Petrusha's mother, who spoke about "infidelity of the rumor, about the precariousness of people's opinions" and could not allow the thought of her son's betrayal. A conversation is being held on the topic “Who can be called the savior of Grinev? Questions: - Why did justice prevail? - What fate awaited Petrusha if Masha had not asked the Empress for him? - What is the difference between the mercy of Catherine2 and the mercy of Pugachev? The epigraph of Chapter 9 is projected onto the events of the plot: the separation of the lovers after their release from the Shvabrinsky captivity.
The task of the lesson "Pushkin's depiction of the popular uprising and its leader" is to systematize the students' ideas and impressions about the author's attitude towards Pugachev and the peasant revolt. The teacher draws attention to the epigraphs of chapters 6 and 7, the first of which is knocked out of the general system of quotations, because it emphasizes the temporal distance between the events described in the story and Pushkin's contemporary era. These are lines from a folk song, the meaning of which is teaching, drawing the attention of the younger generation to the importance of what is being reported. The teacher introduces students to the context of the quote:
You young guys listen
What are we old people going to say?
About the Terrible Tsar Ivan, about Vasilyevich,
How he, our Sovereign Tsar, went near Kazan - the city.
These lines once again emphasize Pushkin's opinion about the historical significance of the peasant war under the leadership of Pugachev. The author calls on his contemporaries to learn a lesson: he feels the proximity of a new Pugachevism. The popular uprisings of the 1930s, the uprising in Poland again kindled hatred, were ready to grow into a new Russian revolt, "senseless and merciless", because it does not lead to an improvement in the life of the people, but brings misfortune and grief. Pushkin is frightened by the spontaneity of the uprising, its uncontrollability.
In the lesson “Affirmation of humanism, honor and duty in the story,” the teacher draws the attention of students to the commonality of moral principles by which Grinev and Pugachev live. It is they who contribute to the rapprochement of the young nobleman and the leader of the people's revolt. Both of them are open, sincere, generous, they know how to repay good with kindness, they hate Duplicity, cowardice and meanness. The basis of Grinev's morality was laid by his parents, especially his father. But where do these principles come from Pugachev? Their source is the ideals of goodness and justice, which have been developed by the people over the course of centuries of history. Not without reason Pushkin in his epigraphs reflects two layers of culture - noble and folk.
The literary epigraphs of the story are taken from the works of poets of the Catherine's era: Ya.B. Knyazhnina, M.M. Kheraskov... These poets in their works glorified the high service to the fatherland, fidelity to duty and noble honor. Folklore epigraphs reflect the historical, social and moral experience of the people, their way of life, interests, views and ideals, their wisdom, and emphasize the high moral foundations of people's life.
It is no coincidence that Pushkin uses the proverb “Take care of honor from an early age” for his life credo. It is placed at the beginning of the work and is very important for understanding the meaning of The Captain's Daughter. The writer omits its “everyday” first part “Take care of your clothes again…”, which makes the remaining phrase even more universal, elevating it to an absolute moral principle of life for people, regardless of their class affiliation. “Take care of honor from a young age” means to remain a man in any conditions, no matter what fate puts you in.
So, the system of work described by me with epigraphs to the story of A.S. Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter", convinced me that this is one of the effective ways of teaching students the analysis of a work of art, it also forms a cognitive interest in the subject being studied and a literary work, educates a thoughtful, literate reader who can see the events and characters of the work through the eyes of the author. I hope that this work will be useful and will help my colleagues.
The role and meaning of the epigraph in the story "The Captain's Daughter".
It would seem rather banal: - "The Captain's Daughter." But ... this work is in many school programs, and, so far, no one has thrown it off the "ship of modernity." I want to introduce my vision and work on the analysis of this story.
I propose to work on the analysis through the identification of the meaning and significance of the epigraph.
Homework for lesson 1 sounded like this: using dictionaries, remember and accurately determine what an epigraph is. In the future, getting acquainted with the pages of the story, the guys explain the meaning and meaning of the epigraph. And only at the final lesson we come to conclusions about the meaning and meaning of the epigraph to the whole story.
Turning to this topic of research, I would like to understand how literary critics understand the term "epigraph". What do dictionaries say? For example, in the “Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron” one can read the following: “Epigraph (Greek epigrajh - inscription) is a quote placed at the head of an essay or part of it in order to indicate its spirit, its meaning, the author’s attitude towards it, etc. Depending on the literary and social mood, epigraphs came into fashion, became a manner, went out of use, then resurrected. In the first half of the last century, they willingly shone as an expression of erudition and the ability to apply someone else's thought in a new sense.
And in the Literary Encyclopedia » the understanding of this term is as follows: “An epigraph is a phrase in the title of a literary work or before its individual sections. As an epigraph, proverbs, sayings, words from well-known literary works, from scripture, etc. are often taken. them in the work. The epigraph can be lyrical, to a greater or lesser extent, depending on whether the author expressed his attitude simply in a condensed formula of the main events of the given work as a whole, a separate chapter, etc.
The “School Poetic Dictionary” gives the following understanding of the epigraph: “Epigraph (Greek epigrajh - inscription)
1) In ancient times, the inscription on the monument, on the building.
2) In general European literature, an epigraph means a saying or a quotation placed before the text of a whole literary work or its individual chapters. The epigraph creates the main idea developed by the author in the narrative. Thus, we see that the epigraph is one of the optional elements of the composition of a literary work. Thanks to this, the epigraph always carries an important semantic load. Given that we have before us a type of author's expression, there are two options for its use, depending on whether the author's direct statement is present in the work. In one case, the epigraph is an integral part of the structure of artistic speech, given on behalf of the author.
In the other, it is the only element, apart from the title, that clearly expresses the author's point of view.
often used epigraphs in his work. We meet them in "Eugene Onegin", "The Captain's Daughter", "Poltava", "Stone Guest", "Tales of Belkin", "Queen of Spades", "Peter the Great's Moor", "Dubrovsky", some lyrical works, "Egyptian nights”, “Bakhchisaray fountain”. Regarding the latter, he once remarked: “So the Bakhchisarai Fountain was called “Harem” in the manuscript, but the melancholic epigraph (which, of course, is better than the whole poem) seduced me.” The above list of works emphasizes that the use of epigraphs by the author is not accidental. It is clear that the epigraphs in them in a certain way form the meaning of these works. What is the mechanism of this work? What connections does each epigraph have with the text? What does he serve? The answers to these questions will clarify the role of Pushkin's epigraphs. Without this, one cannot count on a serious understanding of his work.
Literary critics are always attentive to the epigraph that the author uses in his work. Let's try to figure out what is the role and significance of this literary device in prose. The Captain's Daughter, one of Pushkin's most perfect and profound creations, has repeatedly been the subject of research attention. However, this does not mean that the problems of The Captain's Daughter have been exhaustively clarified. Moreover, many issues are still controversial. In our opinion, the epigraphs in this story are of interest for research. Before us, as many Pushkinists believe, and we follow them, is a whole system of epigraphs. Let's move on to a direct analysis of the epigraphs before the chapters of the story.
They are prefaced to each chapter and to the entire work. Some chapters have multiple epigraphs. Working on the analysis of the novel, we compile the following table:
Application.
The Story of the Captain's Daughter
Take care of your honor from a young age.
Proverb
Chapter Title | Source epigraph | The role and meaning of the epigraph in the chapter. |
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Sergeant of the Guard | - If he were a guard, he would be captain tomorrow. | "Braggart". | The chapter reveals the reasons for military service by Peter Grinev. Moreover, the epigraph suggests that the hero, before setting foot on the path of life, must serve. An important role will be played by the image of the father: he sends his son to experience all the hardships of army life in a garrison remote from the capital. The meaning of using the second epigraph (the answer to the question) will be revealed in the finale, when Catherine gives life to Petrusha because of the merits of his father. The epigraph here also serves as an introduction. Artistic skill is manifested in the transition from the text of the epigraph to the main text of the chapter, which begins with the words: “My father Andrei Petrovich Grinev…” |
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Is it my side, side, old song | The epigraph outlines the main provisions of the chapter: the hero finds himself in a foreign country, because of his mistakes without money in a snowstorm, fate confronts not only bad weather, but also with a counselor, who later turns out to be Pugachev. The rebel will save Grinev and play both a noble and fatal role in his fate. |
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Fortress | We live in a fort Soldier song. Old people, my father. Undergrowth. | It is still unknown whether we have a pastiche of Pushkin or a folk song. The quote from Fonvizin's comedy "Undergrowth" has been changed. Prostakova says: “Old people, my father!” | The atmosphere is conveyed from the first lines of the epigraph: the commandant and Vasilisa Yegorovna greet Petrusha kindly, they really are old people - the second epigraph is stylized as Vasilisa Yegorovna’s speech, the commandant will tell about the incident with firing at the cannon. |
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Duel | - If you please, stand in positivity. Knyazhnin. | Comedy "Jacks" | The epigraph predicts that there will be a duel in which one of its participants will “pierce” the other. Wounded - Petrusha. |
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Oh, girl, red girl! Folk song. If you find me better, you will forget, If you find worse than me, you will remember. Same | Folk songs. | These two epigraphs turn out to be unfortunate messengers for Petrusha. Masha will not marry Grinev in this situation: she needs the marriage to be consecrated with the blessing of the future father-in-law and mother-in-law. She cares not only about herself, but also about Peter, because she understands that in the future he will not be able to be happy without parental love. The second epigraph conveys the feelings of the heroine: Masha understands that it is necessary to break off relations. Her heart is filled with pain and suffering. |
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Pugachevshchina | You young guys listen Song | Folk song. | The epigraph plays an unusual role: in it we see a parallel with the appeal of the “old old man” Pyotr Andreevich to the younger generation about non-violent changes in life. At the end of the novel, Grinev assessed the actions of Pugachev and his accomplices in this way: “God forbid to see a Russian rebellion, senseless and merciless!” |
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My head, head folk song | Folk song. | Looking for an epigraph to this chapter, the publisher sought to reveal Grinev's intention in the most voluminous way, who called the seventh chapter "Attack". There was no assault, as such. Breaking into the fortress, Pugachev and his gang started to their usual work - to brutal reprisals against those who dared to oppose them. The epigraph of the seventh chapter does not directly correlate with the fate of Grinev: the hero mourns the fate of Captain Mironov and Lieutenant Ivan Ignatich. |
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Uninvited guest | An uninvited guest is worse than a Tatar. Proverb | Proverb. | The interpretation of the epigraph is ambiguous, but we believe that the author of this proverb meant the following: Grinev is at Pugachev's feast by invitation, and no one invited the rebel and his gang to the fortress, so the uninvited guest is Pugachev! |
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It was sweet to recognize Kheraskov | "Parting". | The epigraph aims at a lyrical, even minor mood: Grinev, with a pain in his heart, parted with Masha, who remained in the power of Shvabrin. |
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City siege | Having occupied forests and mountains, Kheraskov | “Rossiada”: “Meanwhile, the Russian Tsar, having occupied the meadows and mountains, / From the top, like an eagle, cast his eyes to the city.” The author has changed the text. | The epigraph conveys the feelings of the hero and talks about what Grinev is doing to free Masha. The epigraph predicts that Pyotr Andreevich (“like an eagle”) will gallop from the city (“at night”) to the Belogorsk fortress in order to free his beloved from the hands of Shvabrin. |
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rebellious settlement | At that time, the lion was full, even though he was ferocious from birth. A. Sumarokov | The stylization clearly reveals the meaning of the chapter: Pugachev (the lion) was both well-fed and ferocious (we have already read about his atrocities on the pages of the novel). Already in the epigraph, we feel that an important conversation will take place between the characters, despite the formidable tone, the owner will be affectionate with Peter. |
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Like our apple wedding song | Folk song, the author changed it. Original version: A lot, a lot of oak cheese, | The author changed the original song: the oak was replaced by an apple tree. And immediately everything becomes clear: the fate of Marya Ivanovna depends on the killer of her parents (and we know that Pugachev was cruel to the children of the nobles). Therefore, as a savior of an orphan, Pugachev is dangerous! |
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- Do not be angry, sir: according to my duty Knyazhnin | Styling under. | The epigraph of the chapter points to the arrest of Grinev and the hesitation of who should fulfill the duty: Grinev is arrested by Zurin, who once "taught him about life" in Simbirsk. But the second part of the epigraph can also refer to Zurin. After all, he knew from Petrusha about his “friendly travels with Pugachev”, he was convinced that the Investigative Commission would not find anything reprehensible in them either. |
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Worldly rumor - Proverb | Proverb. | With the rhyme “rumour-wave”, the author expressed the essence of the trial that was carried out over Grinev: first, the Investigative Commission believed Shvabrin, then Father Andrei Petrovich believed the verdict of the Investigative Commission and the empress, who, out of respect for his father, saved his son from shameful execution and “ordered only to be exiled to a remote region of Siberia for an eternal settlement.” And then Masha saves the honor of her beloved from a slander. |
Analyzing the role and significance of the epigraph in the story "The Captain's Daughter", we came to the following conclusions.
1. Epigraphs in the story do not play the role of annotations.
2. Pushkin's epigraph can play a dual role: already in Chapter 1, "Sergeant of the Guards", the second epigraph performs, on the one hand, the role of an introduction (a smooth transition from the epigraph to the main text). " Who is his father?"- the epigraph sounds, and the text of the chapter begins with the words: "My father Andrei Petrovich Grinev ...". On the other hand, the meaning of this epigraph will be explained at the end of the novel, when Catherine could ask such a question when discussing the Grinev case and, having found out everything, gave Peter life because of the merits of his father.
2. Comparison of the meaning contained in the epigraph with the meaning of the chapter can be compared with the effect of light passing through a prism. We have special recommendations for readers. For example, in the chapter “Duel”, the epigraph (see table) predicts that there will be a duel in which one of the participants “pierces” the other. Petrusha is the victim. The irony is felt already in the epigraph itself.
3. Often, the epigraph conveys the style and atmosphere of everything below. For example, in chapter 3 "Fortress" a folk song and an excerpt from Fonvizin set the atmosphere for the entire chapter (see table). Pyotr Grinev finds himself in a benevolent atmosphere. The commandant and Vasilisa Yegorovna are, indeed, ancient people. And the second epigraph is superbly stylized as the speech of a common man, Vasilisa Egorovna.
4. In the chapter “Pugachevshchina”, the epigraph plays an unusual role: in it we see a parallel with the appeal of the “old old man” Pyotr Andreevich to the younger generation about non-violent changes in life. IN
At the end of the story, Grinev will assess the actions of Pugachev and his accomplices in the following way: “God forbid to see a Russian rebellion, senseless and merciless!”1
5. In the chapters “Counselor”, “Love”, “Attack”, “Separation”, “Siege of the City”, “Orphan”, the lyrical notes contained in the epigraph set the mood, permeate the content of the entire chapter.
6. Many epigraphs in the novel have been changed by the author (chapters 3 (second epigraph), 10, 12) in accordance with the meaning of the chapter. And in chapters 11 and 13, the author acts as a skillful stylizer: in chapter 11 he created an excerpt - an imitation of Sumarokov's fable, and in chapter 13 replicas in the style of Knyaznin. These epigraphs already at the very beginning reveal the meaning and main idea of the chapter.
7. With the rhyme “rumour-wave” in the epigraph to chapter 14 “Court” (see table), the author expressed the essence of the trial that was carried out over Grinev. Wave 1 - The Investigation Commission accepts Shvabrin's testimony as true, 2 - Father Andrei Petrovich believes the verdict of the Investigation Commission and the Empress, who, out of respect for her father, saved his son from a shameful execution and "ordered only to be exiled to a remote region of Siberia for eternal settlement." Wave 3 - Masha saves the honor of her beloved from a slander.
9. The proverb, put into the epigraph by the author to the whole novel: “Take care of honor from a young age,” sets the tone for the whole story. Wisdom, enshrined in the proverb, acts here as a life guide, a moral basis not only for Pyotr Grinev, but also for society as a whole. And the main character of the story, we think, will never sully honor.
Thus, we see that the epigraphs in the story have a great semantic load, are an appeal to the reader, create an atmosphere, express the author's point of view, become one with the whole novel.
