Report on the historical basis of Taras Bulba. The historical basis of the story "Taras Bulba"
Abstract of a literature lesson in the context of the implementation of the Federal State Educational Standard
"Taras Bulba". The historical basis of the story. Combat partnership of the Zaporizhian Sich, its manners and customs. (7th grade)
Lesson type: introductory lesson.
Lesson form: traditional.
Method: combined.
The purpose of the lesson: continuation of acquaintance of seventh-graders with the work of N.V. Gogol; training in the analysis of the work “following the author”
Lesson objectives:
Educational:
develop the ability to formulate definitions of concepts; expanding students' knowledge about the work of N.V. Gogol;
deepen the understanding of the features of the genre of the story;
develop the ability to express their thoughts, perceive and assimilate information;
enrich students' vocabulary;
improve reading technique.
Developing:
implementation of the system-activity approach;
development of critical thinking;
development of attention;
formation of UUD (personal, regulatory, cognitive):
development of the ability to formulate and prove one's point of view;
development of skills to analyze, compare, generalize;
develop the ability to apply new knowledge;
development of creative, speech abilities of students;
formation of logical skills;
development of the ability to rely on what is already known, on one's own subjective experience;
development of the ability to formulate a problem;
developing the ability to work in pairs.
Educational:
fostering interest and respect for literature;
education of a value attitude to the word;
development of communicative UUD:
creating a favorable atmosphere of support and interest, respect and cooperation;
interaction of students in pair work: development of respect for each other.
Equipment: PC; multimedia projector; multimedia presentation for the lesson.
Lesson structure:
organizational stage.
Knowledge update.
Statement of the educational task.
Assimilation of new knowledge and primary consolidation.
Phys. minute.
Consolidation of the studied material.
Reflection of activity (summarizing the lesson).
Information about homework (commenting), grading for the lesson.
During the classes
Lesson stage
Welcome speech of the teacher:
Good afternoon guys. Outside the window is the last day of September. It will rain soon, a cold autumn wind will blow. But we won't get upset. In any situation, you need to be able to find something good, positive. Imagine: it's raining outside the window, and you sit comfortably in your favorite chair and read ... for our lesson, N.V. Gogol's story "Taras Bulba". Together with the heroes you experience, overcome all obstacles and do not notice how time goes by...
Take your seats. I see that you are in a good mood, and I hope that we will work very amicably and actively today. I don't even doubt it
D/Z check
2. Conversation on the questions:
1) What goal did the writer set for himself when he decided to write about the heroic past of the country?
(N.V. Gogol, showing the historical past of the country, displays a patriot as the main character of his work.)
2) How does N.V. Gogol's story "Taras Bulba" begin? (From the arrival of the sons of Taras Bulba from the Kyiv bursa, where Ostap and Andriy studied.)
3) How do Taras Bulba and his wife meet their sons? (Taras Bulba immediately tests the strength of his children; and the mother is simply glad to see her sons alive and well.)
What influences the formation of personality, its worldview?
(Family, social environment in which a person lives)
What is important for T. Bulba and his sons? (Native land, comrades-in-arms)
Based on the topic of the lesson, formulate its main goal. What are we going to find out today?
That's right, we must deepen our knowledge of the historical basis of Gogol's story, find out what the military partnership of the Zaporizhzhya Sich is like.
Working with the textbook:1) think about who or what you created yourhistorical story N. V. Gogol. Prepare a detailed answer with quotes from the textbook article.
Message 2. The historical basis of the storyN. V. Gogol "Taras Bulba" . The story of N.V. Gogol "Taras Bulba" reflects the main events of the 16th century: in Ukraine at that time, Polish gentry - "pans" became large landowners€ who introduced Polish laws in their lands and planted "their faith" -Catholicism . The bulk of the population of Ukraine professed Orthodoxy and did not want to convert to Catholicism: apostasy has always been considered a terrible sin by the Russian people. In addition, the arrival of Polish lords on Ukrainian lands€ was accompanied by deteriorationlife of the people: the best plots of land, which had belonged to their families from time immemorial, were taken from the peasants, many were simply driven off their land or resettled on unsuitable for agriculture, infertile lands. Large taxes were imposed on free peasants in order to force them to sell their land to a large landowner."Quiet" expansion of foreign territory began 1 : everything Ukrainian, everything national was persecuted, the language, way of life and customs of the Polish people were planted. Some Ukrainian landlords adopted the customs and way of life of the Poles, but the people resisted desperately, resisted as best they could.Polonization (Poland in Latin sounds likeRegulations ) and, if possible, waged an open struggle against the new masters and the new faith. In order to somehow "pull" the Ukrainian people, Polish and Ukrainian landlords under the leadership of the Roman Catholicchurches came up with a "unia" - an "agreement" between Orthodox and Catholics, in fact a new version of the Christian religion -unity . Many church rites in Uniatism outwardly resembled the ritual side of Orthodoxy, but in factUniatism was and remains an offshoot of the Roman Catholic Church with its dogmas and ideas about how a Christian should live. Against encroachment on faith and moralthe foundations of their people and Ukrainians acted in the XVI-XVII centuries, against the same fight against the "damned pan€ mi", "la€ hami" fictional character Taras Bulba. The story of N.V. Gogol describes the Zaporizhzhya Sich - a real historical object that arose in Ukraine in the Middle Ages: often the peasants of the WestThe central and central regions of Ukraine, fleeing the Polish oppression, went east, many settled in the lower reaches of the Dnieper. Here, at the Dnieper rapids, on the island of Khortitsa, a large fortified camp of Cossacks and runaway peasants from Great Russia arose. Zaporizhzhya Cossacks usually surrounded their camps with fences - fences made of cut down trees, pointed upwards. From the Ukrainian word sich, (in Russian - notch), the largest camp on Khortitsa got its name - Zaporizhzhya Sich.
Cossacks - the name is conditional, since there was no permanent population in the Zaporizhian Sich: as a rule, in the spring the bulk of the Cossacks gathered in the Sich, united in chickens - a kind of detachment that lived in one hut (kurén - hut) , elected her kurenno ataman. For better management of such a combined population, the kurens were united in camps, or kosh, which were headed by kosh chieftains. All the affairs of the Sich were decided at a general meeting - a council. Many Cossacks were engaged in cattle breeding, hunting or various crafts, less often - agriculture. More often they went on long trips to Poland or the Crimea, to Turkish cities or Tatar settlements on the Black Sea coast. It is not worth idealizing the Cossacks: their campaigns were
predatory, in the spirit of the Middle Ages.
Compilation of a comparative table
Comparative features
Ostap
Andriy
1) Appearance, portrait
“...two burly fellows, who still looked frowningly, like recently graduated seminarians. Their strong, healthy faces were covered with the first fluff of hair that a razor had not yet touched.
2) Attitude towards learning
“... in the first year (from the Kyiv bursa) he still fled. They returned him, flogged him terribly and put him behind a book. Four times he buried his primer in the ground, and four times, tearing it inhumanly, they bought him a new one. Taras Bulba threatened to leave his son in the monastery servants if he did not learn all the sciences, only after that Ostap began to study.
“He studied more willingly and without strain... He was more resourceful than his brother...”
Comparative features
Ostap
Andriy
3) Character
“Ostap was always considered one of the best
comrades .... never, in any case did not betray his comrades ... was harsh to other motives, except for war and rampant revelry ... was straightforwardwith equals ... had kindness ... "
"Andriy had feelings
somewhat livelier and somehow more developed ... more often he was the leader of a rather dangerous enterprise and sometimes, with the help of his inventive mind, he knew how to evade punishment. He had a heavy and strong character.4) Youth
sky dreams
He dreamed of becoming a real Cossack and going to the Zaporizhzhya Sich.
On the one hand, seething with a thirst for achievement,
but sometimes he liked to dream and wander into
loneliness through the streets of Kyiv.
5) Behavior during
combat
“Ostap seemed to be
the battle path and the difficult
knowledge to make military affairs". Ostap fought the battle in cold blood, "could to measure out all the danger", in it "could not but be noticeable tendencies of the future leader."
“Andriy was completely immersed in the charming
the music of bullets and swords. He didn't know that
this means to think over, or calculate, or measure in advance one’s own and others’
strength."
6) Attitude towards partnership
Until the last minute
remained a true friend throughout his life.
Betrayed by comrades seeing hunger, poverty,
the sufferings of the people of the city besieged by the Cossacks, the misfortunes of the beloved Pole.
- Vocabulary work.
Lexical analysis of the words taken out in footnotes is carried out.
Consolidation of the studied material
Discourse on Chapter I.- What picture does Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol paint for us at the beginning of his story?- Why do you think the writer begins the work with a replica of the main character - Taras Bulba? Why is there no usualusexposure - a story about who Taras Bulba and his sons are, where did they live and what did they do?- Is it possible to immediately determine in which century the described events take place? Why do you think?- How do the sons of Taras Bulba appear before us from the first lines? What can you tell about them? Describe the sons of Taras Bulba.- Why are the names of the sons of Taras not named at the beginning of the first chapter? What does it say?(The head of the house and family is Taras Bulba; it is he who evaluates his sons, trying to understand what they really are. The main character of the story is Taras Bulba, and the sons are either “continuations of him”, complementing his appearance as a folk hero, Ostap, or opposed to him - Andriy, beingtype of antihero .). - Is it possible to draw conclusions from this dialogue about the characters of old Taras and his eldest son? What exactly?- Why did Taras provoke his son to a fistfight? What did he need it for?- How does Taras' wife feel about this fight? Why?- - Whose view of an unusual meeting do you like better? Why? Justify your answer.- How does the youngest son of Taras behave during the meeting? Why does Taras Bulba call him "mazu€ nchik"?- What can you say about the views on life and the male type of behavior in the society of the protagonist?- What human qualities did Taras Bulba especially appreciate?(Physical strength, dexterity, courage, the ability to stand up for oneself and for the common cause.)- What future did he outline for his sons? Why?(Taras is proud of his sons as glorious future warriors.)- Why did the old Ukrainian landowner Taras Bulba send his sons to study in Kyiv? Is he educated himself? Support your answer with quotes from the text.(It has become fashionable among Ukrainian landowners to educate their children (of course, only their sons), but patriotic fathers sentsent their sons not to Europe, but to Kyiv, the capital of the Ukrainian state and the center of Orthodoxy.)- What does Gogol tell about the female share at the very beginning of his work?- Why does Taras not consider the feelings of his wife?(Stubbornness prevents him from feeling sorry for his wife and delaying his departure to the Sich.)- Describe the decoration of the hut of Taras Bulba. Whose view of the world reflects this decoration? Do you feel the presence of a woman here? If yes, what exactly?- Find in the textauthor's description Taras Bulba. Highlight quotes that characterize it.(Taras is “one of the native colonels”, “created for abusive alarm ...”, “did not succumb to Polish influence”, “loved a simple life”,“considered himself the legitimate defender of the people,” etc.)- Why is the description of the Ukrainian night given in Chapter I?- Does this description convey the inner state of the character - the mother of Ostap and Andriy? Explain why. You can learn how to characterize a character according to the plan:Characterization of the character. You can learn how to characterize a character byplan:1) portrait;2) clothes;3) behavior;4) speech;5) character traits;6) the attitude of the author to the character.In addition, each item of the plan must befilled with quotations from the text - first chapter I, completetopics for all other chapters.
Today in class I learned ___________
It was interesting to me __________
Well done guys, thank you for the active work in the lesson.
Grading
Gogol's work on "Taras Bulba" was preceded by a thorough, in-depth study of historical sources. Among them are Beauplan's "Description of Ukraine", Myshetsky's "History of the Zaporozhye Cossacks", handwritten lists of Ukrainian chronicles - Samovydets, Velichko, Grabyanka, etc.
But these sources did not fully satisfy Gogol. He lacked a lot in them: first of all, characteristic everyday details, living signs of the time, a true understanding of the past era. Special historical studies and chronicles seemed to the writer too dry, sluggish and, in fact, did little to help the artist to comprehend the spirit of folk life, characters, and the psychology of people. In 1834, in a letter to I. Sreznevsky, he wittily noted that these chronicles, which were created not in the hot pursuit of events, but "when memory gave way to oblivion," remind him of "the owner who nailed the castle to his stable when the horses were already stolen" (X, 299).
Among the sources that helped Gogol in his work on "Taras Bulba" was another, most important: Ukrainian folk songs, especially historical songs and thoughts.
Gogol considered the Ukrainian folk song to be a treasure trove for the historian and poet who wished to "explore the spirit of the past century" and comprehend "the history of the people." Gogol drew historical information from annalistic and scientific sources, the factual details he needed regarding the specific events of the Duma, and the songs gave him something much more significant. They helped the writer to understand the soul of the people, their national character, living signs of their way of life. He extracts plot motifs from a folk song, sometimes even whole episodes. For example, the dramatic story about Mosiah Shila, who was captured by the Turks and then deceived them and rescued all his comrades from enemy captivity, was inspired by Gogol by the well-known Ukrainian thought about Samoil Kishka. Yes, and the image of Andriy was created under the undoubted influence of Ukrainian thoughts about the apostate Teterenko and the traitor Savva Chal.
Gogol takes a lot in folk poetry, but he takes it as a writer, sensitive and receptive to its artistic structure, with his own attitude to reality, to the material. The poetics of the folk song had a huge impact on the entire artistic and visual system of "Taras Bulba", on the language of the story.
A vivid pictorial epithet, a colorful comparison, a characteristic rhythmic repetition - all these techniques enhanced the pasted sound of the story's style. "Am I not worthy of eternal complaints? Is not the mother who gave birth to me into the world unhappy? Isn't it a bitter fate for me? Are you not my fierce executioner, my ferocious fate?" (II, 105). Or: "Curls, curls he saw, long, long curls, and a chest like a river swan, and a snowy neck, and shoulders, and everything that was created for crazy kisses" (II, 143). The unusually emotional, lyrical coloring of the phrase, as well as all its other artistic features, creates a feeling of organic closeness of the manner of Gogol's narration to the style of a folk song.
"Taras Bulba" has. a large and complex creative history. It was first published in 1835 in the Mirgorod collection. In 1842, in the second volume of his "Works," Gogol placed "Taras Bulba" in a new, radically altered edition. Work on this work continued intermittently for nine years: from 1833 to 1842. Between the first and second editions of "Taras Bulba" a number of intermediate editions of some chapters were written.
Historical and folklore foundations of the story.Lesson topic: Historical and folklore foundations of the story.
Lesson Objectives:
1) educational: to form an idea of Gogol among students, to find the main idea of \u200b\u200bthe story, to reveal the historical conditions that developed the harsh and powerful character of Taras Bulba and his contemporaries;
2) developing: development of analytical thinking, the ability to give a reasoned answer to the teacher's question; formation of skills in the analysis of an epic work;
3) nurturing: education of love for the Fatherland.
Lesson type: introductory lesson
Intra-subject communications: with Russian history of the 17th century.
Equipment: multimedia presentation
Methods and techniques of work: reproductive method (teacher's word, oral survey), heuristic method (frontal survey, analytical conversation)
. DURING THE CLASSES:
I. Organizing moment (2min)
II. Explaining new material (15 min)
teacher's word
The mighty Zaporozhian Sich soon became a kind of outpost on the southern and southeastern borders of Ukraine. On their light "seagulls", the Cossacks boldly crossed the sea and "sharpal" the shores of the Ottoman Empire and twice approached its capital - Istanbul. They kept the Tatars and Turks at bay, who had previously plundered Ukrainian lands with impunity.
The chronicler Grabyanka cites a curious saying of the “Turkish soltan”: “When the surrounding pansties rise up against me, I sleep on my ears, and I only hear about the Cossacks” .
The history of Ukraine at the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century is marked by many powerful uprisings that brought forward such prominent figures as Hetman Kosinskiy, Nalivaiko, Loboda, Gunya, Ostranitsa.
The last name attracted Gogol's special attention. OSTRITSA is mentioned in "Taras Bulba". He led the "countless Cossack force" of eight twelve thousand regiments, under the banner of which stood those who arrived from the lower reaches of the Dnieper to its upper reaches. And in this mighty rati, writes Gogol, Taras Bulba led the most selective regiment. Opage was to become the hero of Gogol's unfinished historical novel Hetman.
A remarkable period of the national liberation struggle of Ukraine was connected with the name of Ostrany. Several powerful blows that Ostrazhina inflicted on Nikolai Pototsky were one of the most terrible defeats suffered by the Poles from the Cossacks to Bogdan Khmelnitsky. Fearing complete defeat, the nobility spoke of the peace, which they themselves subsequently violated by treacherously killing Hetman Ostranitsa and his entourage.
The fight continued. The Sich did not lay down their arms. It remained, in Gogol's clear word, "a willful Republic", from which "will and Cossacks poured over the whole Ukraine."
“Combining generosity and disinterestedness with a cunning and sharp mind, the Cossacks passionately love freedom; they prefer death to slavery, and in order to defend their independence they often rebel against their oppressors - the Poles; in Ukraine, seven or eight years do not pass without a riot,- so wrote a foreign observer who lived more than seventeen years in Ukraine, in the Polish service, as a senior artillery capital and royal engineer, a Frenchman by nationality, Guillaume le Vasseur de Beauplan. Far from being an impartial witness, he managed to correctly notice the intensity of the struggle waged by the Ukrainian people against their oppressors.
THE IMAGE OF THIS FIGHT WAS THE BASIS FOR "TARAS BULBA".
Questions:
What historical events formed the basis of the story?
When do the events described in the story take place?
What is the role of the author's extended historical digression?
Find in the first chapter the features of historical time, recreated by the author on the basis of documentary sources. ( Students read an excerpt from the words "... a difficult 15th century on a nomadic corner of Russia ..." to the words "In a word, the Russian character here received a mighty, wide scope, a hefty appearance")
What vocabulary does the author use to convey the atmosphere of the time and the situation that determine the fate of the Russian people? (Verbal sequences are used: was devastated, burned, enveloped in flames, etc.; epithets: primitive Russia, indomitable, wide, etc.)
Pay attention to unfamiliar words, determine their meanings: union, council, magnate, gentry, senate, cornet, armored man, kuren, ataman, esaul, zhupan, retinue, kazakin, etc.
Why, in your opinion, does the author allow a widespread distraction on a historical topic? ( It is important for the writer to emphasize that the struggle of the Cossacks is for national independence, for the establishment of the Orthodox Church, against the fact that men, women, and children are taken captive and sold into slavery.)
Is there a similarity between Taras Bulba and the heroes of epics? How do they manifest themselves? Where do you see the differences?
Find fragments in the text where Taras and other Cossacks are depicted as epic heroes, where their historical belonging to their time and place is emphasized.
The main feature of a work of art on a historical theme is that the author organically combines in it a story about events that actually took place, with literary devices and author's fiction. In this regard, the story of N.V. Gogol "Taras Bulba" is somewhat unusual in this regard: historical events are not specified in it, moreover, when reading, it is sometimes quite difficult to determine at what time the actions unfold - in the 15th, 16th or 17th century. In addition, none of the heroes is a historical person, including Taras himself. Despite this, since the appearance of the work, it has been considered an epic story, sometimes called a novel. What is the strength and scale of "Taras Bulba"?
History of the creation of the story
The writer's appeal to the theme of the Cossacks was not accidental. A native of the Poltava province, from childhood he had heard a lot about the heroic deed of the people during the struggle against numerous external invaders. Later, when Gogol had already begun to write, such brave and devoted people as Taras Bulba were of particular interest to him. There were many of them in the Sich. Often, former serfs became Cossacks - they found a home and comrades here.
N.V. Gogol studied many sources devoted to this issue, including manuscripts of Ukrainian chronicles, historical studies of Beauplan and Myshetsky. Not satisfied with what he read (in his opinion, they contained meager information, which was not enough to understand the soul of the people), Gogol turned to folklore. Historical songs and thoughts dedicated to national heroes told about the peculiarities of the characters, customs and life of the Cossacks. They gave the writer excellent "live" material, which became an excellent addition to scientific sources, and some storylines in a revised form entered the story.
The historical basis of the story
"Taras Bulba" is a book about free people who inhabited the territory of the Dnieper region in the 16-17th centuries. Their center was the Zaporizhzhya Sich - its name is due to the fact that it was fortified on all sides by a fence of fallen trees - notches. It had its own way of life and management. Subjected to frequent attacks by the Poles, Turks, Lithuanians, the Cossacks had a very strong, well-trained army. They spent most of their time in battles and military campaigns, and the trophies obtained became the main means of subsistence. It is no coincidence that the description of Taras Bulba and the room in the house where his wife lived alone includes numerous signs of the host's camp life.
The year 1596 became fatal for the Ukrainian people, who at that time were under the rule of Lithuanians and Poles. The Commonwealth adopted a union about the unification under the authority of the Pope of Rome of two Christian religions: Orthodox and Catholic. The decision made further complicated the difficult relations between the Poles and the Cossacks, which resulted in open military confrontations. Gogol devoted his story to this period.
Image of the Zaporozhian Sich
The main school for the education of persistent, courageous warriors was a special way of life and management, and experienced Cossacks, who more than once showed their prowess in battle, became teachers. One of them was Colonel Taras Bulba. His biography is a story about the formation of a true patriot, for whom the interests and freedom of the fatherland are above all else.
Zaporizhzhya Sich resembled a large republic based on the principles of humanism and equality. Koshevoy was chosen by general decision, usually from among the most deserving. During the battle, the Cossacks had to obey him unconditionally, but in peacetime it was his duty to take care of the Cossacks.
In the Sich, everything was arranged to ensure the life and military campaigns of its inhabitants: all kinds of workshops and forges worked, and cattle were bred. Ostap and Andriy will see all this when Taras Bulba brings them here.
The history of the short existence of the Zaporozhye Republic showed a new way of organizing people's lives, based on brotherhood, unity and freedom, and not on the oppression of the weak by the strong.
The main school for the Cossack - military brotherhood
How the formation of young warriors took place can be judged by the example of the sons of Taras, Ostap and Andriy. They graduated from the bursa, after which their path lay in Zaporozhye. The father meets his sons after a long separation not with hugs and kisses, but with a test of their strength and dexterity on his fists.
The life of Taras Bulba was unpretentious, as evidenced by the feast in honor of the arrival of his sons (“bring ... the whole ram, the goat ... and more burners” - with these words the old Cossack addresses his wife) and sleep in the open, under the open sky.
Ostap and Andriy did not even stay at home for a day, when they set off for the Sich, where the best camaraderie in the world and glorious deeds for their homeland and religion awaited them. Their father was convinced that only participation in military battles could become a real school for them.
Cossacks
Approaching the Sich, Taras and his sons saw a Cossack sleeping picturesquely in the middle of the road. He sprawled out like a lion and was admired by all. Wide trousers like the sea, a proudly thrown forelock (it was certainly left on a shaved head), a good horse - this is what a real Cossack looked like. It is no coincidence that the protagonist of the story appeals to his sons with an appeal to immediately change their “demonic” clothes (they came from the bursa in it) to another one worthy of a Cossack. And they really immediately changed in morocco boots, wide trousers, scarlet Cossacks and mutton hats. The image was complemented by a Turkish pistol and a sharp saber. Admiration and pride were caused by the good fellows sitting on glorious stallions from the father.
The historical basis of the story "Taras Bulba" obliged the author to treat the Cossacks impartially. With all due respect to them and their valor, Gogol truthfully says that sometimes their behavior caused condemnation and misunderstanding. This referred to the riotous and drunken life that they led in between battles, excessive cruelty (for the murder of the criminal they buried him in the grave along with the victim alive) and a low cultural level.
The power of camaraderie
The main advantage of the Cossacks was that at the moment of danger they could quickly mobilize and act as a single army against the enemy. Their selflessness, partisanism, courage and devotion to the common cause had no boundaries. In the story, Taras Bulba himself proved this more than once. The biography of other prominent warriors, including the experienced Tovkach, Kukubenko, Pavel Gubenko, Mosiy Shilo and the young Ostap, also emphasizes this.
Bulba said well about the unity and main purpose of the Cossacks in his speech on the eve of the decisive battle: “There are no ties holier than camaraderie!” His speech is an expression of great wisdom and holy faith that he and his brethren are defending a just cause. At a difficult moment, the words of Taras encourage the Cossacks, remind them of their sacred duty to protect their comrades, always remember the Orthodox faith and devotion to the motherland. The most terrible thing for a Cossack was betrayal: this was not forgiven to anyone. Taras kills his own son, having learned that because of his love for a beautiful Polish woman, he preferred personal interests to public ones. So the bonds of brotherhood were more important than blood. The fact that this fact corresponded to reality is evidenced by the historical basis of the story.
Taras Bulba is the best representative of the Cossacks
A colonel with a stern character, who went through a glorious military path. A glorious ataman and comrade who could support with an encouraging word and give good advice in difficult times. He had a burning hatred for the enemy who encroached on the Orthodox faith, and did not spare his own life for the sake of saving his homeland and his brothers in arms. Accustomed to a free life, he was content with a clean field and was absolutely unpretentious in everyday life. This is how Gogol portrays the main character. He spent his whole life in battles and always found himself in the most dangerous place. Weapons, a smoking pipe and the glorious horse of Taras Bulba were his main wealth. At the same time, he could joke and joke, he was satisfied with life. 
The hero, disappointed in his youngest son, felt great pride in Ostap. Risking his life, Bulba came to the place of execution to see him for the last time. And when Ostap, who endured deathly torments, called him at the last minute, he expressed his pride, approval and support not only to his son, but to his comrade-in-spirit, comrade-in-arms with one word that made the whole square shudder. Until the end of his life, Taras will grieve for his son and avenge his death. The experience will add to him cruelty and hatred for the enemy, but will not break his will and fortitude.
The story does not contain the usual description of Taras Bulba for the hero, since this is not so important. The main thing is that he has such qualities, thanks to which it was possible to survive in that cruel time.
Hyperbolization of Taras in the execution scene
The characterization of the hero is supplemented by a description of his death, which is largely absurd. The hero is captured, as he bends down to pick up the fallen pipe - even he does not want to give it to the damned enemy. Here Taras resembles a folk hero: a dozen or three people could hardly defeat him.
In the last scene, the author does not describe the pain from the fire that the hero experienced, but his anxiety for the fate of his brothers floating down the river. At the moment of death, he behaves with dignity, remaining true to the main principles of fellowship. Most importantly, he was sure that he had not lived his life in vain. This is what a real Cossack was like.
The significance of the work today
The historical basis of the story "Taras Bulba" is the liberation struggle of the people against the invaders who encroached on their country and faith. Thanks to such strong-willed people as Taras Bulba, his son and comrades, it was possible to defend independence and freedom more than once.
The work of N.V. Gogol and his heroes have become a model of masculinity and patriotism for many, so it will never lose its relevance and significance.
“Here were those,” writes Gogol in Taras Bulba, “who hitherto considered a chervonets to be wealth.” The poor man, yesterday's slave, became here not only the master of his fate, but also a person who was responsible for the fate of the entire people. And the way of life, and the administrative structure, and the nature of the relationship between people - everything was unusual and peculiar in the Sich. It was an armed camp. There lived people young and old, but without families. In between military campaigns, they were sometimes engaged in agriculture, and most often in hunting and fishing. Severe discipline reigned here, especially in the campaign. Each community (kuren) was headed by an elected kuren ataman, who was subordinate to the elected chief of the Kosh, or community, the kosh ataman. Such was the administrative structure of the Sich. The Zaporizhzhya army consisted of regiments, in turn subdivided into hundreds and tens.
In the XIV century Ukraine was captured by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The continuously growing Polish gentry, for their part, tried not only to tear Ukraine away, but also to enslave Lithuania at the same time. With fire and sword the gentry tried to conquer and Polish the Ukrainian people. Everywhere in Ukraine, the Polish administration was planted. It grossly violated the national dignity of the people, insulted their religious beliefs, culture and customs. Polish gentry flooded Ukraine, "like a black gloom," according to a folk song. In 1588, the so-called "land cadastre" was introduced, which secured the right to own land only for the gentry and took away this right from the peasants. Huge possessions of Polish magnates were formed in Ukraine. They seized the lands along with the people who lived on them. The peasants fiercely resisted the panshchina and fled to the south of Ukraine, to the Zaporozhye region, which in the 16th century became the center of the Cossack freemen. Here, in the lower reaches of the Dnieper, flocked all those who "have not become accustomed to slave service." This is how the Cossacks arose. Gogol beautifully said: "He was knocked out of the people's chest by the flint of troubles." Contempt for wealth, courage, will, indomitable energy, love of freedom, patriotism - these are the character traits of these people.
