“I saw these stories near Akkerman, in Bessarabia, on the seashore,” - this is how Maxim Gorky begins one of his best works. The story "Old Woman Izergil" reflected unforgettable experience the author from his wanderings in southern Bessarabia in the early spring of 1891. The story belongs to the early works of M. Gorky and continues the romantic line (the stories “Makar Chudra” and “Chelkash”), which most strongly reflected the author’s admiration for an integral and strong human personality.
The composition of the story is quite complex. The narrative of Izergil, who has told a lot in her lifetime, is divided into three seemingly independent parts (the legend of Larra, Izergil’s story about her life, the legend of Danko), each of which is entirely subordinated to one goal - to most fully create the image of the main character. Therefore, all three parts represent a single whole, permeated with a common idea, which is the author’s desire to identify true value human life. The composition is such that two legends seem to frame the narrative of Izergil’s life, which forms the ideological center of the work. Legends reveal two concepts of life, two ideas about it.
The system of images is completely subordinated to the author’s desire the best way reveal the theme of the work, since the question of human freedom and unfreedom haunts him throughout creative life. The most striking images of the story, which carry the main ideological load, include the images of Larra, Danko and the old woman Izergil.
Larra, leading the image of the first legend, is presented to the reader in in the worst possible light. Excessive pride, enormous selfishness, extreme individualism that justifies any harshness - all this causes only horror and anger in people. The son of an eagle and an earthly woman, he, considering himself the embodiment of strength and will, puts his “I” above the people around him, thereby dooming himself to eternal loneliness, contempt and dislike. Therefore, the long-awaited freedom and immortality is a strange and inevitable punishment for him.
In the story Larra is contrasted with the hero of the second legend, expressing highest degree love for people. Danko's pride is his strength of spirit and self-confidence. Having sacrificed his life for the liberation of people, he deserves true immortality for the feat accomplished in the name of the life and happiness of the people.
One of the less noticeable, but no less meaningful images is the image of the story. This is precisely the image of a man wandering around Rus', meeting the most different people, contains the most important means expressions author's position. It is through the eyes of the autobiographical hero that the reader sees Izergil. Her portrait immediately reveals a very significant contradiction. A young girl should be talking about beautiful and sensual love, but a very old woman appears before us. Izergil is sure that her life, full of love, was completely different from Larra’s life. She cannot even imagine anything in common with him, but the narrator’s gaze finds this commonality, paradoxically bringing their portraits closer together.
The author’s attitude towards the outcast Larra, in my opinion, is unequivocal. Condemning life position of this hero, Gorky shows what results individualistic morality leads to. In the image of Danko, the writer embodies his ideal strong personality capable of self-sacrifice.
In all his images (episodic and main), Gorky sees a manifestation of the folk character of the turn of the century, tries to explore its weak and strengths, expressing their position not directly, but indirectly, using a variety of artistic means. In “The Old Woman Izergil” the connection with the traditions of romanticism is clearly felt in the sharp contrast between the two heroes, in the use of romantic images of darkness and light (the comparison of the shadows of Larra and Danko in the legend of Danko), in the exaggerated depiction of the heroes (“There was so much melancholy in his eyes that It would be possible to poison all the people of the world with it." The image of colorful landscapes has a huge artistic value. It not only conveys an unforgettable impression to the reader, but also, as it were, brings together “truth” and “fairy tale”.
The uniqueness of the genre (story within a story), which plays a large ideological and artistic role in this work, allows the writer to establish a connection between the legendary stories told by Izergil and reality.
A special place in the story is occupied by elements of a detailed description of Izergil, such as: “dull eyes, “chapped lips,” “wrinkled nose, bent like the nose of an owl,” “black pits in the cheeks, “a strand of ash-gray hair.” They tell of a difficult life main character long before she tells her story. The meaning of the name is quite easy to determine of this work. The fact is that the image of the old woman Izergil is as close as possible to the image of “a person living among people.” Only she is endowed with the right and opportunity to accessible form express your own view of life. Therefore, it is her consciousness, character, and sometimes mysterious contradictions that turn out to be the main subject of the image, from which we can conclude that the story was written for the sake of creating the image after which the work is named.
M. Gorky considered “Old Woman Izergil” his best work, as evidenced by his letters addressed to his colleagues. This work belongs to the early work of the writer, but it surprises with unusual images, plot lines and composition. Schoolchildren study it in 11th grade. We offer brief analysis works “The Old Women of Izergil”, which will help you prepare qualitatively for lessons and for the Unified State Exam.
Brief Analysis
Year of writing - 1894.
History of creation- In the spring of 1891, M. Gorky traveled around Bessarabia. Atmosphere southern region inspired young writer to create the analyzed story. The poet realized the idea only 3 years later.
Subject- The work reveals several themes, the central ones being: love that knows no barriers, man and society, generation weak people.
Composition- The structure of the work has its own peculiarities. It can be defined as stories within a story. “Old Woman Izergil” consists of three parts, link between which there is a dialogue between a guy and an old woman.
Genre- Story. The parts dedicated to Larra and Danko are legends.
Direction- Romanticism.
History of creation
The history of the creation of the work dates back to 1891. Then M. Gorky traveled around Bessarabia. He was impressed by the nature and people of the southern region. At this time, he had an idea for a work, the writer began to implement it in 1894. Assumptions about the year of writing are confirmed by letters addressed to V. G. Korolenko.
The story refers to early period creativity of M. Gorky, represents the romantic layer of his work. The author himself considered “Old Woman Izergil” “slender and beautiful work", about which A. Chekhov wrote. He doubted he could create anything like this again.
The work first saw the world on the pages of the Samara Gazette in the spring of 1895.
Subject
The analyzed story displays motifs characteristic of romantic literature. The author realized them through extraordinary plots and images. M. Gorky revealed several topics, among which the following stand out: love that does not obey; man and society, a generation of weak people. Specified topics are closely intertwined with each other and determine the problems of the work.
“Old Woman Izergil” begins with a landscape sketch, immersing the reader in the atmosphere of Bessarabia. Gradually the author's attention switches to the company of boys and girls. The narrator is watching them. He notices external beauty young people, which radiates freedom that fills their souls. The narrator himself remains near the old woman Izergil. The woman cannot understand why her interlocutor did not go with a cheerful company. Gradually, a conversation begins between the narrator and the old woman.
A woman tells a guy from a foreign land local legends and remembers her life. The first legend is dedicated to Larra, a shadow that wanders the Bessarabian steppes. Once upon a time he was a young man - the son of an eagle and a woman. He and his mother descended from the mountains after the death of their eagle father. The guy considered himself superior to people, so he dared to kill the girl. For this he was expelled. At first, Larra enjoyed his solitude and kidnapped girls and cattle without a twinge of conscience. But loneliness began to “eat” him. Larra decided to commit suicide, but death did not want to free him from torment. The guy wandered the steppes for thousands of years, his body and bones dried up, only a shadow remained.
In the first part the problem of man and society is revealed. M. Gorky shows that a person cannot live without love, without the support of other people. A lonely existence is just an illusion of happiness, which is quickly shattered.
In the second part The old woman talks about her life and relationships with men. The meaning of life, according to the heroine, is love. Izergil had many fans. She knew how to give herself tender feelings without further thought. In her youth, a woman sacrificed herself for those she loved. She was mercilessly betrayed and used, but her soul continued to radiate light. Izergil’s story pushes the reader to the conclusion: one should not allow one’s self to become covered with a stone shell, even if it has been broken more than once.
The third part M. Gorky's story “Old Woman Izergil” is a legend about Danko, a guy who sacrificed his heart for the sake of other people. In it, the author continues the theme of the conflict between man and society. That's just Danko - complete opposite Larra. Danko - typical romantic hero. He is alienated from society, at the same time his soul is filled with noble impulses. Old Woman Izergil sets this guy as an example to the narrator’s generation who is weak in spirit.
Meaning of the name works should be sought in the system of images. Its center is precisely the old woman Izergil. It is also important to consider symbolic meaning woman's name. Most researchers believe that the name “Izergil” was derived from the Old Scandinavian “yggdrasil”, meaning ash. The Scandinavians considered this tree to be the basis of the world, connecting three kingdoms: the dead, gods and people. The heroine of the story also resembles a mediator between the living and the dead, because she stores and transmits the wisdom given by life itself.
Idea of the piece: glorification of courage, beauty and noble impulses, condemnation of the passivity and spiritual weakness of people.
Main thought– a person cannot be happy without society, at the same time he should not extinguish his inner fire, trying to conform to stereotypes.
Composition
Features of the composition allow the author to explore several themes. The work can be called stories within a story. It consists of three parts, which are framed by a dialogue between the storyteller and the old woman Izergil. The first and last parts are legends, and the second are the old woman’s memories of her youth. The conversation between the elderly woman and the narrator connects three parts that are different in content.
Each story has an exposition, a plot, a development of events and a denouement. Therefore, for a deeper understanding of the work “Old Woman Izergil,” an analysis of the plot of each part should be done separately.
Main characters
Genre
The genre of the work is a story, because it is small in volume, and the main role is played by story line old woman Izergil. There are also two legends in the story (the first and third parts). Some researchers consider them parables because of their pronounced instructive component. The direction of “The Old Woman Izergil” is romanticism.
Genre originality, system of images and plot determined the nature of artistic means. Paths help bring the story closer to folklore.
Composition
The story “The Old Woman Izergil” (1894) is one of the masterpieces of M. Gorky’s early work. The composition of this work is more complex than the composition of others early stories writer. The story of Izergil, who has seen a lot in her life, is divided into three independent parts: the legend of Larra, Izergil’s story about her life, and the legend of Danko. At the same time, all three parts are united by a common idea, the author’s desire to reveal the value of human life.
The legends about Larra and Danko reveal two concepts of life, two ideas about it. One of them belongs to a proud man who loved no one but himself. When Larra was told that “for everything a person takes, he pays with himself,” the selfish man replied that this law does not concern him, because he wants to remain “whole.” The arrogant egoist imagined that he, the son of an eagle, was superior to other people, that everything was allowed to him and that only his personal freedom was valuable. This was an assertion of the right to dominance of a strong individual opposed to the masses. But free people rejected the individualist killer, condemning him to eternal loneliness.
The self-loving Larra is contrasted with the hero of the second legend - Danko. Larra valued only himself and his freedom, but Danko decided to get it for the whole tribe. And if Larra did not want to give people even a particle of his “I”, then Danko died saving his fellow tribesmen. Illuminating the way forward, the daredevil “burned his heart for people and died without asking them for anything as a reward for himself.”
Izergil, whose raspy voice “sounded as if all forgotten centuries were grumbling,” told two ancient legends. But Gorky did not want to connect the answer to the question: “What is the meaning of life and real, not imaginary, freedom?” only with the wisdom of past years. The three-part composition allowed the artist to establish a connection between the legends told by the heroine and reality. Izergil’s narrative about her own fate, placed at the center of the work, serves as a connecting link between legend and real life. Izergil herself met freedom-loving and courageous people: one of them fought for the freedom of the Greeks, the other ended up among the rebel Poles.
And therefore, not only legends, but also her own observations led her to a significant conclusion: “When a person loves feats, he always knows how to do them and will find where it is possible. In life, you know, there is always room for exploits.” No less important is Izergil’s second conclusion: “Everyone is his own destiny!”
Along with the glorification of the feat in the name of people’s happiness, another, no less characteristic Gorky's creativity - an exposure of the cowardly inertia of the average man, the bourgeois desire for peace. When Danko died, his brave heart continued to burn, but “a cautious man noticed this and, fearing something, stepped on his proud heart.” What confused this man? Danko’s feat could inspire other young men in their tireless quest for freedom, and therefore the tradesman tried to extinguish the flame that lit the road ahead, although he himself took advantage of this light, finding himself in dark forest.
Ending the story with thoughts “about the great burning heart,” Gorky seemed to explain what the true immortality of man lies. Larra has alienated himself from people, and only a dark shadow reminds of him in the steppe, which is difficult to even discern. And a fiery memory of Danko’s feat was preserved: before a thunderstorm, blue sparks of his trampled heart flared up in the steppe.
There is a clear connection in the story with the traditions of romanticism. They manifested themselves in the contrasting opposition of two heroes, in the use of traditional romantic images (darkness and light in the legend of Danko), in an exaggerated depiction of the heroes (“What will I do for people!?” Danko shouted louder than thunder”), in pathos, intense emotion speech. The connection with the romantic tradition is also felt in the interpretation individual topics, for example, in Larra’s understanding of personal freedom. IN romantic traditions The story also contains pictures of nature.
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The story is constructed in the form of a dialogue between the author and an old woman who has lived a stormy life and knows a lot different stories. Compositionally, the story can be divided into three parts: about Larra, about the old woman Izergil herself and about Danko, these are, as it were, three stories within one, dedicated to one goal: to find out what the meaning of human life is.
Using the example of the selfish Larra, who lived the way he wanted; his hectic, disorderly life devoted to the search for pleasure, frequent changes lovers and “ended” somewhere at the age of forty; as well as the bright life-deed of Danko, who illuminated the path for people with his heart, Izergil tries to show that a person’s freedom is in his making the right choice. Larra and she did the wrong thing, she now, at the end of her life, realized it.
Larra is a proud man, the son of a human woman and an eagle, unfamiliar with the concepts of love and self-sacrifice, a selfish insolent man who does not recognize respect for others, ready only to receive without giving anything in return. It is easy for him to kill a woman who rejected him, but he is aware of his loneliness despite his invulnerability, courage and the superiority that he feels over others. This eagle can fly high and feel happiness from the flight, not wanting to share it with anyone. Larra is half human. And people cannot bear loneliness, it breaks their hearts, no matter how stony they may seem.
The old woman Izergil in her youth also considered herself superior to others, endowed with beauty, selfish and reckless. She, unlike Larra, who did not experience feelings at all, experienced them when she was young, even in excess, getting what she wanted - and immediately forgetting about it. While she was young and men fell in love with her, she did not notice the value of her youth. They remained shadows for her, her half-forgotten lovers, for many of whom her love was fatal. When she fell in love herself, she was disappointed - they abandoned her and laughed at her. But feelings always guided Izergil.
She saved her ungrateful lover and refused to be loved in gratitude for her salvation. Human pride makes a person balance on the edge. This was the old woman's last loving memory. Then she simply tried to exist. When she loved and was loved, she lived. And now she is left with only fairy tales and stories that she tells to the young, wanting to once again see the sparkle in her eyes and try to feel those feelings that have always guided her life.
Danko is the third young “proud man” that Izergil talks about; he, like Izergil, is brave and reckless. The belief that he is the one who will save people forces him to lead them through the swamps, to a goal that may not exist. At the moment of their despair and readiness to rush at him, he risks himself for the sake of this faith, tearing his chest with his hands and illuminating the impenetrable darkness with his heart. He managed to do what Larra and Izergil could not - die. He was able to die not only in the prime of his life, but not uselessly, in the name of future human lives. The old woman Izergil, of course, secretly envies him: he was able to die young, and die brightly.
Although his feat continues to live in the memory of the people, having turned into a fairy tale, the old woman Izergil talks about human ingratitude- Larra was ungrateful, accepted into his mother’s tribe, a handsome Pole who finally decided to do Izergil a favor: “Now I will love you,” as well as the “cautious man” who extinguished Danko’s heart, and the people who, having found freedom, they immediately forgot about the savior.
Human nature is capable of greatest feats and the lowest crimes. But not everyone can live one day at a time, this is the choice of the chosen ones. The main thing is to be able to accomplish your feat. The old woman Izergil, realizing that she has grown old and will no longer have those hot feelings that always seethed in her, does her little thing - she saves her beloved, even going to murder for him. She contemptuously refuses Arcadek's love, which he offers as payment for salvation. And even though her heart breaks at this moment, she proudly watches him leave with the other prisoners. Danko's feat, as well as her self-sacrifice, remained unrewarded. But she believes that it’s better this way, and memories are all she has left for her lifetime.
The romantic heroes in this story are strong, brave, reckless - endowed with all the qualities that are inherent in youth. Feelings are heightened, it seems that there is a lot ahead happy years. But the story is called “Old Woman Izergil”; there is no mention of Larra and Danko in the title.
Perhaps Gorky wanted to say by the title of the story that youth is not eternal, that the outcome of life is summed up according to one’s actions? Everything you did in your youth will be remembered by you as an old man. And it is a person who chooses how he will live his life - whether fairy tales will be told about him, or his fate - to wander around the world as an unknown shadow who wants to die.
Everyone has the right to accomplish their feat, the choice is only theirs.
Subject: Maksim Gorky. "Old Isergil". Problems and features of the story composition.
The purpose of the lesson:
Continue acquaintance with early creativity M. Gorky; analyze the legends. Compare the main characters of the legends Larra and Danko; draw a parallel with biblical legend about Moses and the legend about Danko, trace how the writer’s intention is revealed in the composition of the story; consider features romanticism in the work being studied;
Develop skills in analyzing a work of art;
Bring students to the idea of the value of human life, to an understanding of responsibility for their life choices.
During the classes.
I. Organizational moment.
II. Motivation for learning activities.
In 1895, Samara Gazeta published M. Gorky’s story “The Old Woman Izergil.” Gorky was noticed, appreciated, and enthusiastic responses to the story appeared in the press. The reader sees images of Gorky’s strong and freedom-loving heroes. The most important issue, components ideological content the story “Old Woman Izergil” is the meaning of human life, the highest purpose. The plot and composition of the work, as well as a special heroic pathos, serve to reveal the idea.
III. Working on the topic of the lesson.
1. Early stories M. Gorky are of a romantic nature.
Let's remember what romanticism is. Define romanticism and name its distinctive features.
Romanticism - special type creativity, characteristic features which is the display and reproduction of life outside the real-specific connections of a person with the surrounding reality, the image of an exceptional personality, often lonely and dissatisfied with the present, striving for a distant ideal and therefore in sharp conflict with society, with people.
(see presentation slides " Romantic stories Gorky")
2 . The heroes appear in a romanticlandscape . Give examples that prove this (working with text).
Conversation on questions:
At what time of day do the events in the story take place? Why? (Old woman Izergil tells legends at night. Night is the most mysterious, romantic time of day);
Which natural images could you highlight? (sea, sky, wind, clouds, moon);
Which artistic media did the author use in depicting nature? (epithets, personification, metaphor);
Why is the landscape shown in this way in the story? (Nature is shown as animate, it lives according to its own laws. Nature is beautiful, majestic. The sea, the sky are endless, wide spaces. All natural images are symbols of freedom. But nature is closely connected with man, it reflects his inner spiritual world. That is why nature symbolizes the boundlessness of the hero’s freedom, his inability and unwillingness to exchange this freedom for anything).
CONCLUSION: Only in such a landscape, seaside, nocturnal, mysterious, can the heroine who tells the legends of Larra and Danko realize herself.
3. Composition of the story “Old Woman Izergil”.
What is the compositional solution of the story?
In the works of which authors have we encountered such a composition? (“Asya” by I.S. Turgenev, “After the Ball” by L.N. Tolstoy, “Makar Chudra”, “Song of the Falcon” by M. Gorky).
For what purpose do you think the writer used such a technique in the story? (In her legends, the heroine of the story expresses her idea of \u200b\u200bpeople, what she considers valuable and important in her life. This creates a coordinate system by which one can judge the heroine of the story).
How many parts of the composition could you identify? (Three parts: 1 part - the legend of Larra; 2 part - the story of the life and love of Old Woman Izergil; 3 part - the legend of Danko).
4 . Analysis of the legend of Larra.
Who are the main characters of the first legend?
Is the story of a young man’s birth important for understanding his character?
How does the hero relate to other people? (disdainfully, arrogantly. He considers himself the first on earth).
For romantic work characterized by a conflict between the crowd and the hero. What lies at the heart of the conflict between Larra and people? (his pride, extreme individualism).
What is the difference between pride and arrogance. Distinguish between these words. (Card No. 1)
High opinion, excessively high opinion of oneself.
Pride - exorbitant pride.
Prove that it is pride, and not pride, that characterizes Larra.
What does the hero's extreme individualism lead to? (to crime, to selfish tyranny. Larra kills the girl)
What punishment did Larra suffer for his pride? (loneliness and eternal existence, immortality).
Why do you think such punishment is worse than death?
What is the author’s attitude to the psychology of individualism? (He condemns the hero, who embodies an anti-human essence. For Gorky, Larra’s lifestyle, behavior, and character traits are unacceptable. Larra is an anti-ideal in which individualism is taken to the extreme)
5. Analysis of the legend about Danko.
a) The legend of Danko is based on the biblical story of Moses. Let's remember it and compare it with the legend of Danko. Individual student message. (Students listen to the biblical story and compare it with the legend of Danko).
God commanded Moses to bring out Jewish people from Egypt. Jews have lived in Egypt for hundreds of years, and they are very sad to leave their homes. The convoys were formed, and the Jews set off.
Suddenly the Egyptian king regretted letting his slaves go. It so happened that the Jews approached the sea when they saw the chariots of the Egyptian troops behind them. The Jews looked and were horrified: in front of them was the sea, and behind them was an armed army. But the merciful Lord saved the Jews from death. He told Moses to strike the sea with a stick. And suddenly the waters parted and became walls, and in the middle it became dry. The Jews rushed along the dry bottom, and Moses again struck the water with a stick, and it closed again behind the backs of the Israelites.
Then the Jews walked through the desert, and the Lord constantly took care of them. The Lord told Moses to hit the rock with a stick, and water gushed out of it. cold water. The Lord showed many mercy to the Jews, but they were not grateful. For disobedience and ingratitude, God punished the Jews: for forty years they wandered in the desert, unable to come to the land promised by God. Finally, the Lord took pity on them and brought them closer to this land. But at this time their leader Moses died.
Comparison of Biblical history and the legend of Danko:
What are the similarities biblical history and the legends about Danko? (Moses and Danko lead people out of places dangerous for further residence. The path turns out to be difficult, and the relationship between Moses and Danko with the crowd becomes complicated, as people lose faith in salvation)
How does the plot of the legend about Danko differ from the biblical story? (Moses relies on the help of God, since he fulfills his will. Danko feels love for people, he himself volunteers to save them, no one helps him).
b) What are the main features of Danko? What is the basis of his actions? (love for people, desire to help them)
What act did the hero do for the sake of love for people? (Danko accomplishes a feat, saving people from enemies. He leads them from darkness and chaos to light and harmony)
How is the relationship between Danko and the crowd?
Work with text . (At first, people “looked and saw that he was the best of them.” The crowd believed that Danko himself would overcome all difficulties. Then they “began to grumble about Danko,” since the path turned out to be difficult, many died along the way; now the crowd is disappointed in Danko. “People attacked Danko in anger" because they were tired, exhausted, but they were ashamed to admit it. People are compared to wolves and animals, because instead of gratitude they feel hatred for Danko, they are ready to tear him to pieces. Indignation boils in Danko’s heart , “but out of pity for people it went out." Danko pacified his pride, since his love for people is boundless. It is love for people that drives Danko’s actions).
CONCLUSION: We see thatLarra is a romantic anti-ideal , therefore, the conflict between the hero and the crowd is inevitable.Danko – romantic ideal, but the relationship between the hero and the crowd is also based on conflict. This is one of the features of a romantic work.
Why do you think the story ends with the legend of Danko?
See the diagram on the slide in the presentation.
Why do you think Gorky attributes the old woman Izergil to Larra? (her love is inherently selfish. Having stopped loving a person, she immediately forgot about him)
IY. Conclusion from the lesson.
Summing up the lesson.
V. Homework:
1. Fill out the table for the story
2. Read Gorky’s play “At the Lower Depths.”