Summary by chapter
Chapter 1
Two sons of Taras Bulba - Ostap and Andrey - return home after studying at the Kyiv Bursa. They are greeted by a joyful father and a worried mother. After a short greeting, Taras and the eldest son Ostap suddenly wanted to measure their strength and began to beat each other, much to the concern of their mother. Finally, the father appreciated his son’s strength with the words: “Yes, he fights well!.. He will be a good Cossack!”
The dream of making his sons fighters for his homeland has been ingrained in the soul of the stubborn Taras Bulba for a long time. And he decided to send them to Zaporozhye. He is not touched by the tears of his mother, who has not seen Ostap and Andrei for so long, nor by the fact that they have not been home for so long. “Sons should be at war – that’s it,” Taras thinks. In the heat of inflamed feelings, he suddenly expresses a desire to go with them. The father and two young Cossacks, to the great grief of the poor old woman, set off on the road the very next day.
Chapter 2
Bursa, where Ostap and Andrey studied, did not teach them knowledge, but it strengthened their character. For example, the eldest son, often beaten with rods, began to be distinguished by firmness, which is acceptable for the Cossacks, and valued comradeship; The younger one studied better and knew how to at least sometimes evade punishment. In addition to the thirst for achievement, other feelings were also available to his soul.
On the way to Zaporozhye, sitting on a horse, Andrei began to remember his first meeting with a beautiful Polish lady, a lady: how frightened she was when she saw a stranger in front of her, how she put her brilliant diadem on his head; how childishly she behaved, confusing him.
Andrei was brought out of his thoughts by the loud voice of his father, who ordered them to spur their horses and rush across the steppe so that “not even a bird could keep up with them.”
And Zaporozhye was getting closer every day. The Dnieper was already blowing with cold waves, and the Cossacks, after crossing it, found themselves on the island of Khortitsa, near the Sich.
Chapter 3
The incessant feast of the Sich, where Taras Bulba settled with his sons, and the drunken gaiety of the people captivated Ostap and Andrei so much that they enthusiastically indulged in riotous life. The cruel laws of the Cossacks, when a person who stole was beaten to death with a club, and the debtor was chained to a cannon awaiting ransom for him, were not yet so severe punishments in comparison with those that were due for murder. The person who committed this was buried alive in the ground along with the murdered person. This made an indelible impression on Andrey.
So the sons of Taras lived relatively calmly until their father wanted a new war. It was he who began to encourage the Koshevoy to start a battle with the Busurmen, despite the fact that the Sultan had been promised peace. Believing that, without knowing how to fight, a person without a good deed will perish like a dog, Taras Bulba looked for any reason for enmity with other people. The Koschevoy’s objections were met with hostility, and very soon they elected another leader of the Cossacks, an old comrade of Taras Bulba named Kirdyaga. In Sich they celebrated this event all night.
Chapter 4
No matter how strange it may seem to a normal person, Taras Bulba was simply obsessed with the idea of fighting with someone. He lamented the fact that “the Cossack strength is disappearing, there is no war” and began to incite the people to take radical action. A reason was soon found. A ferry arrived on the island with fugitive Cossacks, who spoke about the lawlessness of the “Jews”, who sew clothes for themselves from priests’ vestments and impose a ban on Christian holidays. This became a signal to start a new war between the Cossacks and the Poles.
Chapter 5
The beginning of the war satisfied Taras Bulba. He was proud of his mature sons, although he believed that Ostap was more capable of military affairs than Andrei. The romantic nature of the youngest son was also manifested in his longing for his mother, who handed over the icon; and in contemplation of beautiful nature. A soft heart, not completely hardened by battles, strived to love. That is why Andrei, having learned from the Tatar woman that the lady was starving, decided on a desperate act: to take a bag of food from his sleeping brother, follow the Tatar woman, see the beautiful Polish woman and help her.
Chapter 6
As the Tatar woman leads Andrei through the underground passage, he notices Catholic priests praying and women and children dying of hunger - a terrible picture that makes his heart freeze. Arriving at the place, the young man meets with someone whom he has not seen for a long time - and notices that she has become even more beautiful. Andrei's feelings prevailed over common sense, and he went so far as to give up everything for the sake of this girl - his homeland, his father, his brother, his friends. Without hesitation he went over to the side of the enemy.
Chapter 7
The Cossacks are preparing to attack Dubno in order to strike for the captured Cossacks. Taras Bulba is worried because he does not see his son Andrei anywhere - neither in the Cossack detachment, nor among the killed, nor among the prisoners. And suddenly Yankel reports terrible news: he saw Pan Andriy, but not tied up in captivity, but alive, a knight, all in gold, like the richest Polish lord. Taras was shocked by this news, and at first he did not want to believe his ears, accusing Yankel of lying. And he cited more and more terrible facts, saying that Andrei even renounced his father and brother, saying that he would fight with them.
A battle ensues between the Poles and the Cossacks, in which many Cossacks die, including the ataman. Ostap decides to avenge him, and for such a feat he himself is elected chieftain.
Taras worries about his son, worrying why he was not among those who fought.
Chapter 8
The Cossacks are attacked by the Tatars, and after consulting, the Cossacks decide to drive them away and return the loot. However, Taras has a different opinion: he proposes to first rescue his comrades from Polish captivity. Kasyan Bovdyug's wise advice - to divide and go to war with both - turns out to be just the right thing. Warriors do this.
Chapter 9
In a harsh battle, the Cossacks suffered heavy losses: cannons were used against them. However, the Cossacks, encouraged by Bulba, do not give up. Suddenly Taras sees his youngest son riding a black horse as part of a Polish regiment. The father, distraught with anger, catches up with the young man. He kills Andriy with a shot with the words: “I gave birth to you, I will kill you.”
Ostap sees what happened, however, there is no time to figure it out - Polish soldiers attack him. So the eldest son becomes a prisoner of the Poles. And Taras is seriously injured.
Chapter 10
Bulba, brought by his comrades to Sich, recovers from his wounds a month and a half later and decides to go to Warsaw to see Ostap. He turns to Yankel for help, not even afraid that a lot of money is promised for his head. And he, having taken the reward, hides Taras at the bottom of the cart, covering the top with bricks.
Chapter 11
Ostap is going to be executed at dawn. Bulba was late: it was no longer possible to free him from prison. You are only allowed to see him at dawn. Yankel, in order to arrange a meeting, resorts to a trick: he dresses Taras in foreign clothes, but he, offended by a remark addressed to the Cossacks, gives himself away. Then Bulba goes to the place of his son’s execution. He stands in the crowd, sees the torment that one who did not betray the Fatherland has to experience, gives his life for it, and says approvingly: “Good, son, good.”
Chapter 12
The entire nation, led by Taras Bulba, rose up against the Poles. He became very cruel, did not spare any of his enemies, and burned eighteen cities. Considerable money was offered for Bulba's head, but they could not take him - until he himself, due to an absurd accident, fell into the hands of enemies. Taras's cradle of tobacco fell out, and he stopped his horses to look for it in the grass. Then the Poles captured him and sentenced him to a harsh death - by burning. But Taras did not give up in the face of torment, and even a blazing fire did not stop him. Until his last breath, he encouraged the Cossacks fighting the battle on the banks of the Dniester River.
And then they remembered and praised their chieftain.
Summary, overview of events
The story begins with the arrival of Taras Bulba’s two sons, Ostap and Andriy, at their home. They, like many other children of the Cossacks-Cossacks, were sent to study at the Kyiv Bursa - to the seminary. There were no plans to make priests out of them, but Cossack Colonel Taras believed that his children should have an education. He considered no less important the continuation of their male education in the Zaporozhye Sich, where he and his sons had to go as quickly as possible.
Already in the first scene of the story, the characters of the main characters are visible. Ostap is courageous, decisive, straightforward. He does not tolerate jokes and ridicule and is ready to defend his honor with all his might, even in front of his father. Andriy, on the contrary, is gentle, sensitive, dreamy. Taras is noisy, extravagant, does not tolerate refusal in anything, he is a man of action.
With great tenderness Gogol describes the mother of the young Cossacks - the wife of Taras Bulba. She is a quiet, unrequited woman, accustomed to obeying her husband, and suffered many insults from him. During his frequent departures, she managed a large household herself. She raised her children without the help of her husband, but does not have the opportunity to keep them at home. She only has one night left to admire the children before leaving. The poor mother does not know whether her sons will return home alive, because at that time the Cossacks were in a state of almost continuous war.
In Zaporozhye Sich
The day after the young people return from Bursa, their father takes them to the Cossack military camp. On the way, travelers have different thoughts. Ostap dreams of military glory, Taras remembers his old exploits, and Andriy dreams of a beautiful Polish girl whom he met and fell in love with during his studies.
Taras brings his sons to the Zaporozhye Sich - a Cossack camp. Here they spend almost all their time between battles. This is a male community with its own laws, where daring and youth, the ability to drink alcohol and fight enemies are valued. Kurenny atamans here are chosen by the Cossacks, the rules are established once and for all.
Ostap and Andriy, despite all their differences, come to court in the Sich. Both young Cossacks and veterans consider them good warriors, respect and love them. Old Taras is proud of them. He is glad that his children perform well in peacetime. He hopes that during the war he will not be ashamed of his sons.
The war has begun
You don’t have to wait long for a suitable opportunity, and Taras himself helps to increase the military fervor of the Cossacks. On his advice, the head of the Sich, the Koshevoy, was re-elected. Now the Cossacks are commanded by a warlike man who gives the command to prepare for war with Poland.
However, the Cossacks cannot break their word given to the Poles and Turks. They cannot attack their enemies without a reason. But the reason will also soon be found. A detachment of Cossacks appears in the Sich and talks about the atrocities of the Poles and Jews. This becomes the formal reason for the Cossacks to speak out.
War is always accompanied by death, blood and fires. The Cossacks marched across Poland, sparing no one, killing both old and young. Every Polish or Jewish family could become a victim of a pogrom.
Ostap and Andriy during the war
The sons of old Taras were tempered in battle. Ostap showed himself to be a skillful leader, and his father already dreamed that he would become a famous commander. And in every battle Andriy surprised everyone with his reckless courage and military prowess.
The Cossacks brought with them fear, fires, hatred and murder. In battles and battles, in smoke and fire, the Zaporozhye army came to the large city of Dubna. It was a large and well-fortified fortress. The Cossack army could not take it right away, so a siege was organized.
Skirmishes occurred rarely, and the rest of the time the Cossacks burned villages around, robbed local residents, had fun and waited for a real battle. And in the besieged fortress, real famine began. The residents of Dubna did not give up.
Andria's betrayal
One night an elderly woman came to Andriy. He recognized her as the maid of a beautiful Polish woman. The girl saw Andriy from the walls of the fortress and recognized him as a seminarian who was in love with her. She sent her maid for help. The old woman asked to give her some food for her mistress, but Andriy did differently. He decided to go to the Polish woman himself to see her again.
But, having seen the girl, he could no longer part with her, and remained in the fortress to protect her from his comrades. Andriy abandoned his Fatherland, his family and friends - he betrayed his land.
Andrei's betrayal Taras did not believe it for a long time, but when he saw his son with the Poles, he vowed to kill him with his own hands. In one of the battles, when a detachment from the city tried to break the siege, the old Cossack fulfilled his promise - he killed his youngest son. In the same battle, Ostap Bulba was captured.
Death of Ostap
Taras was seriously wounded in the battle and was ill for a long time. He managed to recover only after lengthy treatment. And then he learned that Ostap was in Warsaw and was about to be executed.
Taras, with the help of a Jew whom he once saved from death, comes to Warsaw to try to save his son. He gives a large sum to the prison guard to see Ostap. But the Pole deceives Taras. He doesn't even get to see his son.
The old Cossack can do nothing more. But he wants to see Ostap at least once again and goes to the square where the execution of the Cossacks is to take place. Taras sees that Ostap did not lose the honor of an Orthodox warrior here either and withstood all the torture without requests or groans. And only before his death he loudly calls for his father. And his father responds to him, but the Poles, who were just waiting for this, fail to catch him. Taras leaves the city to begin a terrible revenge for his son.
Read the summary of “The Overcoat” by Gogol. The story describes the difficult life of a St. Petersburg official who is forced to endure hardships every day for the sake of his dream.
Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol’s novel-poem “Dead Souls” is a recognized encyclopedia of human souls and characters, types of Russia at that time.
Gogol N.V. Taras Bulba
Gogol Nikolai Vasilievich. Taras Bulba.
Tale.
Time and place of action.
The era of enmity between the Zaporizhian Cossacks and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Mid-17th century. (Before writing Taras Bulba, Gogol had already addressed this historical time in the story “Terrible Revenge” from the cycle “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka” and in the unfinished novel “Hetman”.
Heroes and events.
“Taras was one of the indigenous, old colonels: he was all about scolding anxiety and was distinguished by the brutal directness of his character. Then the influence of Poland began to affect the Russian nobility. Many had already adopted Polish customs, had luxury, magnificent servants, falcons, hunters, dinners, courtyards. Taras did not like this. He loved the simple life of the Cossacks...”
Gogol worked on the story for nine years, studied Ukrainian chronicles, folk songs, and historical books. But the reader sees here, first of all, not the result of research, but genuine folk life - both past and present.
As Gogol himself said in the article “On Teaching World History,” “peoples, events must certainly be alive and, as it were, before the eyes of listeners or readers, so that every people, every state preserves its peace, its colors, so that the people with all their his exploits and influence on the world flashed brightly..."
Editions:
Gogol N.V. Taras Bulba. - M.: Russian book, 1992. - 192 p.: ill.
(28 drawings from the 1903 edition, made by artists I. Khrabrov, Stein, Kotlyarovsky and others, are reproduced)
Gogol N.V. Taras Bulba / Intro. Art. V. Guminsky; Artist A. Kostin. - M.: Book, 1984. - 325 pp.: ill.
Gogol N.V. Taras Bulba / Artist. M. Dorokhov. - M.: Sovremennik, 1984. - 80 p.: ill. — (Adolescence. Series of books for teenagers).
Gogol N.V. Taras Bulba / Il. E. Kibrika. - Reprint. — M.: Det. lit., 1979. - 175 pp.: ill. - (School library).
Gogol N.V. Taras Bulba / Artist. D. Shmarinov. - M.: Sovremennik, 1979. - 141 p.: ill. - (Classical library "Contemporary").
Gogol N.V. Taras Bulba / Artist. Kukryniksy. - M.-L.: Detgiz, 1943. - 119 p.: ill. - (School library).
Gogol N.V. Mirgorod: Stories / Author. preface and note. V.M. Guminsky; Artist I.M.Godin. — M.: Det. lit., 1989. - 288 pp.: ill. - (School library).
Contents: Old World Landowners; Taras Bulba; Viy; The story of how Ivan Ivanovich quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich.
Gogol N.V. Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka; Mirgorod. - M.: Lyumosh, 1995. - 480 p. — (Key: Classic literature for young readers).
PS
“Taras Bulba” has long been included in the seventh grade school curriculum. But it would be good to keep in mind that reading this story requires wisdom that is rarely characteristic of a young age. However, this is probably an unnecessary remark: this always happens with classics.
