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Description of the highlanders in the story Prisoner of the Caucasus. "The Image of the Caucasian Prisoner in Russian Literature

The story of L. N. Tolstoy "Prisoner of the Caucasus" is reliable. It is based on real facts, because the author himself served in the Caucasian army and was an eyewitness to military events, he almost got captured, but his friend, the Chechen Sado, rescued him. LN Tolstoy wrote his story for children. His observations of the customs, customs and way of life of the peoples of the Caucasus make the work informative.

In his story, Tolstoy shows that the life and culture of different peoples is different. It depends on the natural conditions in which people live. So the Russians are accustomed to space, we have large villages and spacious houses. In the mountains, everything is different. The villages of the highlanders are small auls, "there are ten houses and their church with a turret." Houses are called sacks. They are not high, “the walls are smoothly smeared with clay”, there is almost no furniture, instead of it there are carpets and pillows. Around the houses grow gardens with cherry, apricot trees, stone fences.

Customs are strictly respected in the Caucasus: all people wear national clothes. Here you will not find European costumes, as in Russia. So men wear beshmets and ram's hats on their heads, and women wear trousers under a long shirt. From the clothes that Tolstoy describes her, one can understand that in the mountains, as in Russia, people live with different incomes. The clothes of richer men are beautifully decorated, and women wear jewelry made from captured Russian coins. Rich people have two pairs of shoes, and those who are poorer have only boots.

It is felt that the highlanders treat weapons with special respect: they are hung on the walls on the carpets in the house, and the men have a dagger attached to their belts.

Among themselves, the highlanders live amicably, sacredly observe the customs of faith, profess Islam. Every Muslim should visit Mecca during their lifetime. It's very honorable. Such a person is treated with great respect. “Whoever was in Mecca is called a haji and puts on a turban.”

L. N. Tolstoy describes in detail the Muslim burial rite. It also differs from Christian customs. “They wrapped the dead man in a cloth… They brought him to the pit. The pit was not dug simple, but dug under the ground, like a basement. They took the dead man under the armpits and under the straps, slipped him under the ground ... ”The deceased is commemorated for three days.

L. N. Tolstoy makes it clear that among the highlanders, as well as among people of any other nationalities, there are “good” and “bad”. Highlanders have different attitudes towards the infidel. Although children in the Caucasus are brought up from childhood in the spirit of hostility towards the Russians, they immediately feel Zhilin's kindness, and many adult residents of the village respect his skill. In the customs of the highlanders, listen to the opinion of the elders. So Tolstoy shows an old man who fiercely hates all Russians and demands their death.

Objectively describing the life and customs of the highlanders, L. N. Tolstoy in his story calls for respect for the traditions and culture of people of all nationalities. He argues that there are no "bad" and "good" peoples, there are "bad" and "good" people, regardless of how they look and where they live. LN Tolstoy condemns the war. He shows that it is not faith that makes people enemies, but war, which does not allow peoples to live in friendship and harmony.

Almost every classical writer of the 19th century wrote about the Caucasus. This region, engulfed in almost endless war (1817-1864), attracted authors with its beauty, rebelliousness and exoticism. L.N. Tolstoy was no exception and wrote a simple and vital story "Prisoner of the Caucasus".

L. N. Tolstoy, who became famous all over the world after the novels "War and Peace", "Anna Karenina" and others, in the 70s of the 19th century renounced his past work, because his worldview had changed. The writer developed his neo-Christian teaching, according to which he decided to remake himself by "simplifying" life and his future works. And earlier literary works were written incomprehensibly for the people, who were the measure of morality and the producer of all blessings.

Deciding to write in a new way, Tolstoy created the "ABC" (1871-1872) and "New ABC" (1874-1875), distinguished by simplicity, clarity and power of language. The first book also included The Prisoner of the Caucasus, based on the impressions of the author himself, who was almost captured by the highlanders in 1853. In 1872, the story was published in the Zarya magazine. The writer highly appreciated his work, ranking the "Prisoner of the Caucasus" as "an art that conveys the simplest everyday feelings, such that are accessible to all people of the whole world - the art of the world."

Essence of the story

A poor officer Zhilin, who serves in the Caucasus, is going home to see his mother and, possibly, get married. The road was dangerous, because the hero went along with the convoy, slowly dragging under the protection of the soldiers. Unable to bear the heat, stuffiness and slow movement, the rider rode forward. Directly towards the highlanders, who captured him together with his colleague Kostylin, who met him.

The heroes live in a barn, chained in stocks during the day. Zhilin makes toys for local children, which especially attracts Dina, the daughter of their "master". The girl takes pity on the craftsman, brings him cakes. Zhilin cannot hope for a ransom, he decides to escape through a tunnel. Taking Kostylin with him, he heads for freedom, but his comrade, clumsy and obese, ruined the whole plan, the prisoners were returned. Conditions became worse, they were transferred to the pit and the blocks were no longer removed for the night. With the help of Dina, Zhilin runs again, but his friend categorically refuses. The fugitive, in spite of his legs shackled with blocks, got to his own, and his friend was later ransomed.

Characteristics of the main characters

Zhilin is an officer from poor nobles, in life he is used to relying only on himself, he knows how to do everything with his own hands. The hero understands that no one will save him from captivity: his mother is too poor, he himself has not saved anything for his service. But he does not lose heart, but is seized with activity: he digs a tunnel, makes toys. He is observant, resourceful, persistent and patient - these are the qualities that helped him to free himself. The man is not devoid of nobility: he cannot leave his fellow worker, Kostylin. Although the latter abandoned him during the attack of the highlanders, because of him the first escape failed, Zhilin does not hold a grudge against his “cellmate”.
Kostylin is a noble and wealthy officer, he hopes for money and influence, therefore, in an extreme situation, he turns out to be incapable of anything. He is a pampered, weak in spirit and body, an inert person. Meanness is inherent in this hero, he left Zhilin to the mercy of fate both during the attack, and when he could not run because of his worn legs (the wound was not at all big), and when he did not run a second time (probably thinking about the hopelessness of the enterprise). That is why this coward rotted for a long time in a pit in a mountain village and was bought out barely alive.

the main idea

The work is really written simply and even its meaning lies on the surface. The main idea of the story “The Prisoner of the Caucasus” is that one should never give up in the face of difficulties, one must overcome them, and not wait for help from others, and no matter what conditions, a way out can always be found. At least try.

It would seem, who is more likely to escape from captivity: poor Zhilin or rich Kostylin? Of course, the latter. However, the first one has courage and willpower, so he does not wait for mercy, ransom, divine intervention, but simply acts as best he can. At the same time, he does not go over the heads, believing that the end justifies the means, he remains a person even in a difficult situation. The protagonist is close to the people, who, according to the author, still have decency and nobility in their souls, and not in their pedigree. That is why he conquered all hostile circumstances.

Subject

Many questions are raised in the story. The theme of friendship, sincere and real on the part of Zhilin and "friendship on occasion" from Kostylin. If the first defended the second as himself, then the latter threw his comrade to death.
The theme of the feat is also revealed in the story. The language and description of events are natural and everyday, because the work is for children, so Zhilin's exploits are described in a completely ordinary way, but in reality, who will protect his comrade in any situation? Who will be ready to give everything to be free? Who voluntarily refuses to disturb the old mother with a ransom that is too much for her? Of course, a real Hero. For him, a feat is a natural state, therefore he is not proud of it, but simply lives like that.
The theme of mercy and sympathy is revealed in the image of Dina. Unlike the "Prisoner of the Caucasus" A.S. Pushkin, heroine L.N. Tolstoy saved the prisoner not out of love, she was guided by higher feelings, she took pity on such a kind and skillful person, she was imbued with purely friendly sympathy and respect for him.

Issues

The Caucasian war lasted for almost half a century, many Russians died in it. And for what? L.N. Tolstoy raises the problem of a senseless and cruel war. It is beneficial only to the highest circles, ordinary people are completely unnecessary and alien. Zhilin, a native of the people, feels like a stranger in the mountain village, but does not feel hostility, because the mountaineers simply lived quietly until they were conquered and began to try to subjugate them. The author shows the positive nature of the "owner" Zhilin Abdullah, who likes the main character, and his compassionate and kind daughter Dina. They are not beasts, not monsters, they are the same as their opponents.
The problem of betrayal fully confronts Zhilin. Comrade Kostylin betrays him, because of him they are in captivity, because of him they did not immediately escape. The hero is a man with a broad soul, he generously forgives his colleague, realizing that not every person is capable of being strong.

What does the story teach?

The main lesson that the reader can take away from the "Prisoner of the Caucasus" is that you should never give up. Even if everyone is against you, even if it seems that there is no hope, then someday everything will change for the better if you direct all efforts to achieve your goal. And although, fortunately, few are familiar with such an extreme situation as Zhilin's, he should learn stamina from him.

Another important thing that the story teaches is that war and national strife are meaningless. These phenomena can be beneficial to immoral people in power, but a normal person should try not to allow this for himself, not to be a chauvinist and a nationalist, because, despite some differences in values and lifestyles, each of us always and everywhere strives for one - Tranquility, happiness and peace.

The story of L.N. Tolstoy, after almost 150 years, has not lost its relevance. It is written simply and clearly, but this does not at all affect its deep meaning. Therefore, this book is a must-read.

Afanasyeva Anastasia

This scientific work provides evidence that the story of L.N. Tolstoy's "Prisoner of the Caucasus" can be safely called the "book of life".

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Municipal educational institution

"Lyceum No. 4"

Section "My main books of life"

"Prisoner of the Caucasus" L. N. Tolstoy -

my main book of life

5th grade student

MOU "Lyceum No. 4", Saratov

Scientific adviser: Abakumenko S. V.,

Teacher of Russian language and literature

Saratov, 2010

Introduction ……………………………………………………………….2

Chapter I “The Prisoner of the Caucasus” by L. N. Tolstoy is a book of life……...3

"People's Thought" in the story "Prisoner of the Caucasus" ... ..3
Features of human relations in the story………4

Conclusion……………………………………………………………..7

Literature……………………………………………………………...8

APPENDIX………………………………………………..……….9

Introduction

In the history of Russian culture there are many names of outstanding figures, scientists, thinkers, artists, writers who make up the glory and pride of the nation. Among them, one of the most honorable places rightfully belongs to Leo Tolstoy, the great creator who created immortal images and characters that remain relevant today. This is also the image of the “Caucasian prisoner” – a man of high morality.

In general, in the 19th century, the Caucasus was an emblematic space of freedom, an unrestricted spiritual movement as opposed to the world of “civilization” fettered by conventions. We noticed that in Tolstoy's prose, the Caucasus began to acquire details of everyday life, details of relationships, and the little things of everyday life.

So, in the story “The Prisoner of the Caucasus”, Tolstoy wants to tell the main thing - the truth, the truth about a person and about this person’s place in society, and in a society alien to him, completely alien. This theme does not lose its relevance for several centuries now.

Goal of the work consist in tracking and explaining the reasons for the formation and development of the characters of the heroes of the story, their morality.

We have the following tasks:

1. to analyze the story of L. N. Tolstoy "Prisoner of the Caucasus";

2. highlight the distinctive features of each of the characters;

3. to determine what is the moral value of the "Prisoner of the Caucasus".

object research advocates the character of the hero as a carrier of morality, moral values.

Subject research becomes directly the artistic text itself - "Prisoner of the Caucasus".

Chapter 1

"Prisoner of the Caucasus" L. N. Tolstoy- the book of life

"People's Thought" in the story "Prisoner of the Caucasus"

"The Prisoner of the Caucasus" is the last work in the "Russian Book for Reading". In a letter to N. N. Strakhov, the writer called this story his best work, because, in his opinion, it was here that he managed to most naturally use the best artistic means of folk poetics.

Leo Tolstoy worked on it in 1872, stubbornly striving for simplicity, naturalness of the narrative, the work was written during the writer's sharp thoughts about life, the search for its meaning. Here, as in his great epic, the separation and enmity of people, "war" is opposed to what binds them together - "peace". And here there is its own “folk idea” - the assertion that ordinary people of different nationalities can find mutual understanding, because universal human moral values are the same - love for work, respect for a person, friendship, honesty, mutual assistance. And vice versa, evil, hostility, selfishness, self-interest are inherently anti-people and anti-human. Tolstoy is convinced that “the most beautiful thing in a person is love for people, which makes it possible to live a full life. Love is hindered by all sorts of social foundations, ossified national barriers, protected by the state and giving rise to false values: the desire for rank, wealth, career - all that seems familiar and normal to people. .

Therefore, Tolstoy addresses children who have not yet been "spoiled" by social and national abnormal relations. He wants to tell them the truth, to teach them to distinguish good from evil, to help them follow the good. He creates a work where the beautiful is clearly distinguished from the ugly, the work is extremely simple and clear, and at the same time deep and significant, like a parable. “Tolstoy is proud of this story. This is beautiful prose - calm, there are no decorations in it, and there is not even what is called psychological analysis. Human interests collide, and we sympathize with Zhilin - a good person, and what we know about him is enough for us, and he himself does not want to know much about himself " .

The plot of the story is simple and clear. The Russian officer Zhilin, who served in the Caucasus, where the war was going on at that time, goes on vacation and on the way is captured by the Tatars. He escapes from captivity, but unsuccessfully. The secondary escape succeeds. Zhilin, pursued by the Tatars, escapes and returns to the military unit. The content of the story is the impressions and experiences of the hero. This makes the story emotional and exciting. The life of the Tatars, the nature of the Caucasus are revealed by the author realistically, through the perception of Zhilin. Tatars in the view of Zhilin are divided into kind, warm-hearted and those who are offended by the Russians and take revenge on them for the murder of relatives and the ruin of auls (old Tatar). Customs, way of life, mores are depicted as the hero perceives them.

Features of human relations in the story

It must be said that Tolstoy's detailed, "everyday" description of events does not obscure the ugliness of human relations. There is no romantic intensity in his narrative.

Tolstoy's "Prisoner of the Caucasus" is a true story. Zhilin is captured by the Gentiles on completely legal grounds. He is an adversary, a warrior, according to the customs of the highlanders, he can be captured and ransomed for him. The character of the protagonist corresponds to the surname, he is strong, persistent, sinewy. He has golden hands, in captivity he helped the highlanders, repaired something, they even came to him for treatment. The author does not indicate the name, only that he is called Ivan, but that was the name of all Russian captives. Kostylin - as if on crutches, props. But pay attention: in fact, Tolstoy has one prisoner, as the title speaks eloquently, although there are two heroes in the story. Zhilin managed to escape from captivity, and Kostylin remained not only and not so much in Tatar captivity, but in captivity of his weakness, his selfishness.

Let us remember how helpless, how physically weak Kostylin turns out to be, how he only hopes for a ransom that his mother will send.

Zhilin, on the contrary, does not count on his mother, does not want to shift his difficulties onto her shoulders. He is included in the life of the Tatars, the aul, he is constantly doing something, he knows how to win over even his enemies - he is strong in spirit. It is this idea that the author wants to convey to the readers first of all.

The main device of the story is opposition; the prisoners Zhilin and Kostylin are shown in contrast. Even their appearance is depicted in contrast. Zhilin is outwardly energetic and mobile. "There was a master for every needlework" , “Although small in stature, but he was daring” , - emphasizes the author. And in the guise of Kostylin, L. Tolstoy brings to the fore unpleasant features: “a man is heavy, plump, sweaty” . Not only Zhilin and Kostylin are shown in contrast, but also the life, customs, and people of the village. Residents are depicted as Zhilin sees them. In the guise of an old Tatar, cruelty, hatred, malice are emphasized: “the nose is hooked like a hawk, and the eyes are gray, angry and there are no teeth - only two fangs” .

Kostylin - is in double captivity, as we said above. The writer, drawing this image, says that without getting out of the internal captivity, it is impossible to get out of the external captivity.

But L.N. Tolstoy - an artist and a man - wanted Kostylin to arouse in the reader not anger and contempt, but pity and compassion. The author has similar feelings for him, who sees every person as a person, and the main way to change life is in self-improvement, and not in revolutions. So in this story, the favorite thoughts of L. N. Tolstoy are affirmed, his knowledge of human psychology and the ability to depict the inner world, experience are manifested; the ability to clearly and simply draw a portrait of a hero, a landscape, an environment in which the heroes live.

The image of the Tatar girl Dina evokes the warmest sympathy. In Dean, traits of sincerity and spontaneity are noticed. She squatted down, began to turn the stone: “Yes, the little hands are thin, like twigs, there is nothing to be strong. Threw a stone, cried " . This little girl, obviously deprived of affection, constantly left unattended, reached out to the kind, paternal attitude towards her Zhilin.

“The Prisoner of the Caucasus” is a realistic work in which the life of the highlanders is vividly and vividly described, the nature of the Caucasus is depicted. It is written in accessible language, close to fabulous. The story is told from the point of view of the narrator.

By the time the story was written, Tolstoy finally affirmed the need to learn from the people of their morality, their views on the world, simplicity and wisdom, the ability to "take root" in any situation, survive in any situation, without grumbling and without shifting their troubles onto other people's shoulders. The writer at that time was completely occupied with public education, he wrote the ABC for peasant children, all the literary texts in which are simple, entertaining, instructive. "Prisoner of the Caucasus" is published in the 4th book of "Russian Children's Books for Reading", that is, the story was written by Tolstoy specifically for children, and therefore it is so instructive.

Also, we conducted a survey among 5-7 classes (60 people) of our lyceum. The results of the survey are presented in the appendix.

Conclusion

So, reading the story "Prisoner of the Caucasus" captivates the reader. Everyone sympathizes with Zhilin, despise Kostylin, admire Dina. The emotionality of perception, the ability to empathize, up to identifying yourself with your favorite characters, faith in the reality of what is happening in the story - these are the features of the perception of a literary work, but the reader must also develop, enrich perception, learn to penetrate the thoughts of the writer, experience aesthetic pleasure from reading. The moral issues of the story are noteworthy in order to realize Tolstoy's ideal of a beautiful person.

In the story “The Prisoner of the Caucasus”, L. Tolstoy solves the following problem: can people live in peace and friendship, what separates them and what connects them, is it possible to overcome the eternal enmity of people with each other? This leads to the second problem: are there qualities in a person that make it possible for people to unite? Which people have these qualities, and which do not, and why?

Both of these problems are not only quite accessible to readers, but are also deeply relevant, because relationships of friendship and comradeship occupy an ever greater place in life.

Literature

Afanasyeva T.M., Tolstoy and childhood, M., 1978
Bulanov A.M., Philosophical and ethical searches in Russian literature of the 2nd half of the 19th century, M., 1991
Voinova N.M., Russian literature of the XIX century, M., 2004
Lomukov K.N. L. Tolstoy. Essay on life and creativity, M., 1984.
Tolstoy Lev Nikolaevich//Short literary encyclopedia.-vol.7.-M., 1972.
Khrapchenko M.B., Tolstoy as an artist, M., 2000
Shklovsky V. Leo Tolstoy.-M., 1963 - (ZhZL).

APPLICATION

Are you familiar with the story of L. N. Tolstoy "Prisoner of the Caucasus"?

“Yes, I am familiar” - 54 people.

“I heard something” - 5 people.

“Difficult to answer” – 1 person.

Do you remember who the main character of the story is?

“Yes, I remember” - 54 people.

“Difficult to answer” – 6 people.

What, in your opinion, character traits does the main character, Zhilin, have?

"Courage, Courage" - 45 people.

"Honesty, devotion, gratitude" - 31 people.

"Caring, benevolence" - 22 people.

"Caution, foresight" - 14 people.

In your opinion, is the image of the protagonist a "national character"?

“Yes, I think” – 48 people.

“Rather no than yes” - 8 people.

“No, this is not a “people's character” - 4 people.

Do you consider the story "Prisoner of the Caucasus" a kind of book of life?

“Yes, I think” – 40 people.

“Rather no than yes” – 16 people.

"No" - 4 people.

Zhuravlev V.P., Korovina V.Ya., Korovin V.I. Literature. Grade 5 In 2 parts. Part 1. Enlightenment, 2007

Love for the Caucasus and a deep interest in the peculiarities of the life of the highlanders are reflected in many works of L.N. Tolstoy. At the same time, there is not a single line in them where he would distort the image of the Chechens, their mentality. While in the Caucasus, Tolstoy studied the Kumyk language, the most common among Muslim highlanders, and recorded Chechen songs, and learned to ride. Among the highlanders, he finds many wonderful, courageous and selfless, simple and close to nature people.

Tolstoy paid much attention to the folklore and ethnography of the peoples of the Caucasus. Their life, customs, history, folk art and language are captured by Tolstoy in many details and with amazing artistic accuracy.

So, in the story “The Prisoner of the Caucasus”, Tolstoy perfectly described the daily life of the highlanders, the images of men and women, the life, customs and some rituals of the highlanders, their clothes, household items, relationships and characteristic features. Through the lips of officer Zhilin, who was captured by the highlanders, the writer tells us very interesting details of the peaceful life of the mountain village: “... to the right is a Tatar saklya, two trees near it. A black dog lies on the threshold, a goat walks with kids - they twitch their tails. ... a young Tatar woman comes from under the mountain, in a colored shirt, with a belt, in trousers and boots, her head is covered with a caftan, and on her head is a large tin jug of water. He walks, trembles in his back, bends over, and by the hand the Tatar girl leads a shaved man, in one shirt.

In this story, Tolstoy describes in detail the images of some mountaineers, their clothes and characteristic features: “... yesterday's Tatar with a red beard, in a beshmet (outerwear) in silk, a silver dagger on a belt, in shoes on his bare feet. On his head is a high hat, mutton, black, twisted back ... another, smaller, blackish. The eyes are black, light, ruddy. The beard is small, trimmed, his face is cheerful, everyone laughs. The blackish one is dressed even better: a silk blue beshmet, with a galunchik (patch, braid - gold or silver). The dagger on the belt is large, silver, the shoes are red, morocco, also trimmed with silver. And on thin shoes there are other, thick shoes. The hat is high, white lamb. ... blackish - fast, lively, so all on springs and walks, went straight to Zhilin, squatted down, bared his teeth, patted him on the shoulder, began to mutter something often, often in his own way, winks with his eyes, clicks his tongue " .

And here is a description of another highlander: “He was small in stature, he had a white towel wrapped around his hat. The beard and mustache are trimmed, white as fluff; and the face is wrinkled and red as a brick; the nose is hooked like a hawk's, and the eyes are grey, angry and there are no teeth - only two fangs. He used to walk in his turban, propping himself up with a crutch, like a wolf looking around. As Zhilina sees, she will snore and turn away.

Magnificently Tolstoy described the image of a Chechen girl, her appearance and clothes: “A girl came running, thin, thin, about thirteen years old and her face looked like a black one. Apparently a daughter. Her eyes are also black, bright and her face is beautiful. Dressed in a long, blue shirt with wide sleeves and no belt. On the floors, on the chest and on the sleeves it is trimmed with red. Pants and shoes are on the legs, and others are on the shoes, with high heels, on the neck are monisto (a necklace of beads, coins or colored stones), all from Russian fifty dollars. The head is uncovered, the braid is black, and there is a ribbon in the braid, and badges and a silver ruble are hung on the ribbon ... she brought a tin jug. She served water, squatted herself, all bent so that the shoulders below the knees were gone. She sees, she opened her eyes, looks at Zhilin, how he drinks, - like what kind of animal.

In his works, Tolstoy introduces the reader to the images of Chechen women, shows their characteristic features, clothes, behavior and place in a mountain family: “One wife was Sado, the same not young, thin woman who laid pillows. The other was a very young girl in red trousers and a green beshmet, with a curtain of silver coins covering her entire chest. At the end of her not long, but thick, stiff black braid, lying between the shoulders of her thin back, was hung a silver ruble; the same black, currant eyes, like those of his father and brother, gleamed merrily in the young face, which tried to be stern. She did not look at the guests, but it was clear that she felt their presence. Sado's wife carried a low round table on which were tea, pilgishi, pancakes in butter, cheese, churek - thinly rolled bread - and honey. The girl was carrying a basin, kumgan and a towel. Sado and Hadji Murad were silent all the time while the women, moving quietly in their red soleless dudes, were setting what they had brought in front of the guests.

In the Caucasus, Tolstoy was shocked by the beauty of nature, the unusualness of people, their way of life, way of life, habits, songs. The writer's diaries and letters record his observations of the life of Chechens and Cossacks. He sought to understand the mores, customs and spirituality of the local peoples, to make his own judgment. Tolstoy was the first to acquaint the Russian reader with the internal content of the dwelling of the highlanders, describing in detail the internal state and decoration of the hut, as if examining it with his own eyes from the inside. We read about this in the story “Prisoner of the Caucasus”: “The upper room is good, the walls are smoothly smeared with clay. In the front wall, motley down jackets are laid, expensive carpets hang on the sides, guns, pistols, checkers are on the carpets - everything is in silver. In one wall there is a small stove flush with the floor. The floor is earthen, clean as a current, and the entire front corner is covered with felts; carpets on felts, and down pillows on carpets.

Then, the writer acquaints the reader with how the owner of the sakli receives guests, what treats them, how the guests eat, how this habitual and time-established custom of receiving and treating guests by the highlanders ends: “And Tatars sit on carpets in the same shoes: black, red and three guests. Behind everyone's backs are feather pillows, and in front of them on a round plank are millet pancakes, and cow's butter is fluffed in a cup, and Tatar beer - booze, in a jug. They eat with their hands, and their hands are all in oil. The Tatars ate pancakes, a Tatar woman came in a shirt the same as the girl, and in trousers; the head is covered with a scarf. She took away butter, pancakes, served a good pelvis and a jug with a narrow spout. The Tatars began to wash their hands, then they folded their hands, sat on their knees, blew in all directions and read prayers.

During the years of service in the Caucasus, Tolstoy paid much attention to the collection and promotion of folk art of the Cossacks and highlanders, the publication of Chechen folklore. He listened with excitement and wrote down Cossack and Chechen songs, watched the festive round dances of the highlanders. All this inspired and fascinated Tolstoy. In fact, it was he who became the first collector of Chechen folklore.

In 1852 Tolstoy recorded two Chechen folk songs (according to his Chechen acquaintances Sado Misirbiev and Balta Isaev). He later used these records in his works. In the story "Hadji Murad" Tolstoy introduced two Chechen songs: "The earth will dry up on my grave" and "You, hot bullet, carry death with you." “Everything was quiet. Suddenly, strange sounds of a mournful song were heard from the side of the Chechens:

“The earth will dry up on my grave - and you will forget me, my dear mother! The cemetery will grow with grave grass, the grass will drown out your grief, my old father. Tears will dry up in the eyes of the sister, and grief will fly away from her heart. But you will not forget, my elder brother, until you avenge my death. You will not forget me, and my second brother, until you lie next to me.

The content of the second song: “You are hot, bullet, and you bring death. But weren't you my faithful slave? The earth is black, you will cover me, but didn't I trample you with a horse? You are cold, death, but I was your master. The earth will take my body, the sky will take my soul. Tolstoy liked these songs. They are still sung in Chechnya to this day. The protagonist of the story "Hadji Murad" always listened to these songs with his eyes closed, and when they ended in a drawn out, fading note, he always said in Russian: "A good song, a smart song."

Tolstoy's interest in mountain song was deep and constant. He admired the power of feelings contained in mountain folklore. Tolstoy used the folk songs of the highlanders to convey the psychological state of the heroes in the tragic moments of their lives. Another song was especially touching, the content of which reflected the realities of that wartime. Her words were translated into Russian like this: “Well done drove the sheep from the village to the mountains, the Russians came, lit the village, killed all the men. All the women were taken prisoner. Well done came from the mountains: where there was an aul, there is an empty place. No mother, no brothers, no home; one tree is left. The young man sat down under a tree and wept. One, like you, one remained, and the good fellow sang: Ay, give! Yes-la-lai!

With such a mournful, soul-grabbing refrain, the Chechens sing a song and in Tolstoy's story "Hadji Murad": "Ai! Give! Yes-la-lai! “The Chechens knew that they could not leave, and to get rid of the temptation to flee, they tied themselves with belts, knee to knee, prepared their guns and sang their death song.” So the national motif and folk song organically merged into the fabric of the writer's story.

About the influence of the Caucasus on his life and work, Tolstoy wrote in 1859: “It was both painful and good time. Never, neither before nor after, have I reached such a lofty thought as at that time ... And everything that I found then will forever remain my conviction.

Tolstoy's reflections on the fate of the highlanders and, in general, about a person engaged in "an unjust and bad deed - war" formed the basis of the entire Caucasian cycle of his work. It was in the Caucasian works that Tolstoy's view of life, war and peace, which are opposed, took shape. War is condemned by the writer because it is destruction, death, separation of people, their enmity with each other, with the beauty of the whole "God's world".

From all the trials of military life, Tolstoy made the conviction: "My goal is good." He draws attention to the fact that if earlier many military men saw romance in the Caucasian War, an opportunity to distinguish themselves, then over time, being on military campaigns, they saw its everyday side, cruelty and worthlessness. “What nonsense and confusion,” thought Olenin, the hero of the story “The Cossacks,” a man killed another and is happy, satisfied, as if he had done the most wonderful thing. Doesn’t anything tell him that there is no reason for great joy here ”

In the story “The Raid”, he describes the amazingly tragic consequences of the raid of the Russian troops on the aul of the mountaineers: through the eyes of a boy, was brought dead to the mosque on a horse covered with a cloak. He was stabbed in the back with a bayonet. A fine-looking woman with loose hair, in a shirt torn at her chest, stood over her son and scratched her face to the blood and howled incessantly. Sado, with a pickaxe and a shovel, left with his family to dig a grave for his son. The old grandfather was sitting by the wall of a ruined sakli, sternly sharpening his stick. He has just returned from his bee house. The two piles of hay that were there were burned, the apricot and cherry trees planted and groomed by the old man were broken and burned, most importantly, all the hives with bees were burned. The howling of women was heard in all the houses and in the square, where two more bodies were brought. Small children roared along with their mothers. Roared and hungry cattle, which had nothing to give.

The old owners gathered in the square and, squatting, discussed their situation. Nobody spoke about hatred of Russians. The feeling experienced by all Chechens, young and old, was stronger than hatred. It was not hatred, but the non-recognition of these Russian dogs by people and such disgust, disgust and bewilderment at the ridiculous cruelty of these creatures that the desire to exterminate them, like the desire to exterminate rats, poisonous spiders and wolves, was the same natural feeling as the feeling of self-preservation. The old people prayed and unanimously decided to send ambassadors to Shamil, asking him for help, and immediately set about restoring what had been broken.

Strikingly detailed, in detail, Tolstoy described the sad, touching ritual of the funeral of a mountaineer killed in battle: A mullah came, the old men gathered, tied their hats with towels, took off their shoes, sat down on their heels in a row in front of the dead. Mullah in front, three old men in turbans in a row in the back, and Tatars behind them. They sat down, looked down and were silent. They were silent for a long time. Mulla: God! The dead lies on the grass - does not move, and they sit as if dead. Not one moves. Then the mullah read a prayer, everyone stood up, lifted the dead man in his arms, carried him. Brought to the pit; the pit was not dug simple, but dug under the ground, like a basement. They took the dead man under the armpits and under the caps (under the knees), bent him over, lowered the little one, slipped the seat under the ground, tucked his hands on his stomach. The Nogai brought green reeds, filled the pit with reeds, quickly covered it with earth, leveled it, and put a stone upright in the head of the dead man. They trampled down the ground, sat down again in a row in front of the grave. They were silent for a long time. Allah! They sighed and stood up. The red-haired man handed out money to the old people, then got up, took a whip, hit himself three times on the forehead and went home. In the morning, the redhead, the brother of the buried, slaughtered a mare outside the village. She was chopped up and dragged into the hut. And the whole village gathered to the redhead to commemorate the dead man. For three days they ate mare, drank buza.

In 1896 Tolstoy began to write the story Hadji Murad. Its main character is Hadji Murad, a real historical person, famous for his bravery Naib Shamil. In 1851, he went over to the side of the Russians, then tried to flee to the mountains to save his family, who remained in the hands of Shamil, but was overtaken and killed.

Work on the story continued intermittently until 1904. Published in 1912. The origin of the idea is indicated by the writer in his notebook and diary on July 18-19, 1896: "Tatar on the road"; “Yesterday I was walking along the pre-war black earth fallow. Until the eye takes a look, nothing but black earth - not a single green grass. And now, on the edge of a dusty, gray road, a Tatar bush (burr), three shoots: one is broken, and a white, polluted flower hangs; the other is broken and spattered with mud, black, the stalk is broken and polluted; the third shoot sticks out to the side, also black with dust, but still alive and reddening in the middle. Reminds me of Hadji Murad. I would like to write. Defends life to the last, and one among the whole field, somehow, but defended it.

The first sketch is called Burr; then “Gazavat” appeared; very soon the final - "Hadji Murad". Rebelliousness, the ability to defend freedom of action and life always fascinated Tolstoy. With particular force, this worldview was embodied in the story "Hadji Murad". This work is a whole novel from the reign of Emperor Nicholas I and the Caucasian War, which lasted almost 50 years. The hero of the story is opposed to power in general - both the Russian emperor and the all-powerful Imam Shamil.

Tolstoy was captivated by the energy and strength of life of Hadji Murad, the ability to defend his life to the last. In the image of Hadji Murad, in addition to courage, love of freedom and pride, Tolstoy especially emphasized simplicity, almost childish sincerity. In this work, the writer tells the reader about the rather simple clothes of Hadji Murad, which testified to the simplicity of its owner and at the same time about his modesty and self-respect, which only strengthened the significance of the personality of this mountaineer among the people around him. Hadji Murad knows his worth and does not try to somehow declare it. Here is how Tolstoy wrote about him: “Hadji Murad was dressed in a long white Circassian coat, on a brown beshmet with a thin silver lace on the collar. On his feet were black leggings and the same dudes, like gloves, tight-fitting feet, on his shaved head - a hat with a turban.

Tolstoy describes the appearance of Imam Shamil in a completely different way, who appears before the people as a kind of simple and close person to him, like all of them. In reality, the power of the imam is concentrated in his environment, which ensures the greatness of Shamil in the eyes of the people. Here is how Tolstoy describes the arrival of the imam in the village of the highlanders: “Shamil rode on an Arab white horse ... The decoration of the horse was the simplest, without decorations of gold and silver: finely crafted, with a path in the middle, a red belt bridle, metal, cups, stirrups and red saddlecloth, visible from under the saddle. The imam was wearing a fur coat covered with brown cloth with black fur visible near the neck and sleeves, pulled together on a thin and long camp by a black belt with a dagger. On his head was a high, flat-topped hat with a black tassel, entwined with a white turban, from which the end descended behind the neck. The soles of the feet were in green boots, and the calves were covered with black leggings trimmed with a simple lace. ... there was nothing shiny, gold or silver on the imam, and his tall, straight, powerful figure, in clothes without decorations, surrounded by murids with gold and silver decorations on clothes and weapons, produced the very impression of greatness that he desired and knew how to produce among the people. His pale face, bordered by a trimmed red beard, with constantly narrowed small eyes, was, like a stone, completely motionless.

The foregoing allows us to conclude that the Caucasian works of Leo Tolstoy are an excellent source for a correct understanding of some aspects of the Caucasian war, for a correct understanding of the Caucasian highlanders, their history and cultural characteristics. The importance and objectivity of information about this people lies in the fact that they were handed over to us by the great Russian writer, who personally observed the events and characters of people described by him. And at present, relations between the peoples living in the Caucasus remain complex. Tolstoy saw in the character and peculiarities of the life of the highlanders exactly what makes it possible even now to find the right solutions to interethnic relations and exclude possible conflicts.

http://rvb.ru/tolstoy/01text/vol_10/01text/0243.htm
Same place;
Same place;
Tolstoy L.N. "Prisoner of the Caucasus", chapter 2 //
Tolstoy L.N. "Prisoner of the Caucasus", chapter 4 // http://rvb.ru/tolstoy/01text/vol_10/01text/0243.htm
Tolstoy L.N. "Hadji Murad", chapter 1 // http://az.lib.ru/t/tolstoj_lew_nikolaewich/text_0250.shtml
Tolstoy L.N. "Hadji Murad", chapter 10 // http://az.lib.ru/t/tolstoj_lew_nikolaewich/text_0250.shtml
Tolstoy L.N. "Hadji Murad", chapter 19 //

the life of the highlanders in the story of the Caucasian prisoner and got the best answer

Answer from BratKa[guru]
In the Caucasian captive, there were specifically Chechens.
The prisoners were taken for ransom. This is a tradition. They still steal people for ransom.
They have such a popular pastime.

Answer from Crocus[guru]
Prisoner of the Caucasus.
In 1896, the First World War began. Kutuzov attacked Egypt, where at that time the feudal lord Socrates ruled. The war was not shaky, not sluggish: there were not enough guns and finally there was no gunpowder. Kutuzov had 10 horses and two donkeys in the army, and they fought on them. Abreks lived in the Caucasus at that time. They had a large knife behind their belt, and cartridges on their chests. They were very angry and also wanted to fight. And so they crawled into the camp to Kutuzov and dragged off the first soldier they came across. It turned out to be Pecherin, who served as a cook. They pushed him into a sack and dragged him to the shore of the Terek. He was kicking and swearing great there, but he couldn’t do anything, they dragged him and threw him into the pit, in which Mtsyri was already sitting, like a black lightning. A day later, two more poor fellows were thrown there - Zhilin and Kostylin, who walked along the road and did not touch anyone. But on the other hand, they had a donkey, so the abreks coveted it. They were given one bowl of lentils and one spoonful for all. But Mtsyri was the strongest of all and he ate everything in one minute, leaving nothing to others. Lermontov fell in love with him for this and wrote the poem "Mtsyri". The next day they were all dragged to be hanged. And when they had already thrown ropes on them, at that time a tiger burst into the yard and ate the executioner. The rest all fled in all directions, and Robin Hood freed the captives and gave them a sack of potatoes and 2 kopecks for vodka. Zhilin dressed in a woman's dress and went through the bazaar, wherever his eyes looked. All the dogs looked after him and yelped at him, but he strove for his home, because for a long time he did not eat fried potatoes with sausage, and in the jail they did not give him - he did not deserve it. He swam across the Amazon River and came to his aunt Pelageya, his sister-in-law's maternal cousin. There he put on Ukrainian trousers and no one recognized him, and who needs him? At this time, Kutuzov instructed Suvorov to crawl across the Alps with his army and attack the abreks. They did just that, crawled over, tore all their pants, but kicked all the Chechens and Georgians in the neck. Kutuzov was a great commander. Once he again crawled through the Alps and a stone flew right into his eye. So he became one-eyed. But all the same, I saw better than anyone and was the first to see Napoleon crawling across the border. He wanted to crawl to Moscow to steal paintings from the Louvre and bring them to his home. But Kutuzov mounted his horse and galloped against Napoleon's army. They met on Lake Peipus and the battle began. The Napoleons were dressed in iron pants and the ice fell through and everyone drowned. And Kutuzov came to Moscow and set it on fire so that it would not go to the Roman legionnaires, who came from the rear on a wooden horse. For this, Kutuzov was awarded the Order of Glory and given social rations, they also erected a monument directly with a horse on the main square. Kutuzov and Napoleon fell in love with the same princess, her name was Penelope. They took turns taking her around the cities and showing her the sights, but she preferred Suvorov and went to live with him in America, where she died in 1936 without giving birth to a child. And then Moscow was built again, and now she is again waiting for her Kutuzov, but she just can’t wait, because there are no more fools. And no, there is no trial!

Answer from ruslan arstanov[newbie]
The events of this story by Leo Tolstoy take place in the Caucasus during the bloody, aggressive war under Nicholas I, who sent Russian troops to conquer the Caucasian lands. The plot of the story is simple and clear. The Russian officer Zhilin, who served in the Caucasus, where the war was going on at that time, goes on vacation and on the way is captured by the Tatars. Together with him, officer Kostylin, a cowardly and cowardly man, was also captured. Zhilin escapes from captivity, but unsuccessfully. The secondary escape succeeds. Zhilin, pursued by the Tatars, escapes and returns to the military unit. The content of the story is the impressions and experiences of the hero. This makes the story emotional and exciting. The life of the Tatars, the nature of the Caucasus are revealed by the author realistically, through the perception of Zhilin. Tatars in the view of Zhilin are divided into kind, warm-hearted and those who are offended by the Russians and take revenge on them for the murder of relatives and the ruin of auls (old Tatar). Customs, way of life, mores are depicted as the hero perceives them.
Tolstoy carefully wrote out the characters of both heroes, clearly showed how differently they behave in the same circumstances. Zhilin is a modest Russian officer, "although not great in stature, but daring." He is courageous, bold, straightforward and humane. In his hands, every business is argued, he knows how to fix watches and sculpt clay toys for Dina. Zhilin is opposed by a contrasting character - fellow officer Kostylin. This is a heavy, fat, indecisive and cowardly person. At a difficult moment, when the Tatars attacked the officers along the way, Kostylin leaves his comrade and gallops to the fortress. Having met Kostylin in captivity, Zhilin does not leave his comrade, and during the flight from captivity he even carries him on his back when Kostylin's legs hurt. Zhilin shows will, courage, resourcefulness. Kostylin is selfish and extremely passive.
The image of the Tatar girl Dina is remarkable. She is charming, kind, childishly naive. For Zhilin, she feels a sense of compassion and love. Dina stealthily runs to the pit where he is sitting, brings him milk, cakes, and finally arranges an escape. Zhilin is a bright representative of the Russian people, who are characterized by stamina, breadth of soul, peacefulness.
The writer clearly sympathizes with the main character. Yes, and his last name is suitable: wiry, strong - that's what they say about a hardy person. With all his work, Tolstoy urges the reader to respect the customs and traditions of people of all nationalities. The writer claims that there are no “good” and “bad” nationalities, but there are good and bad people, and it doesn’t matter at all what color their eyes, hair and skin are…
The story ends with a touching meeting between Zhilin and the Cossacks and soldiers. The story is distinguished by the features of the historical-everyday and adventure genre. It equally actively affects both the feelings and the consciousness of the reader-child. After all, the work depicts military events. The image of a courageous hero is drawn, a girl heroine acts among the characters. The story excites children with a sharp plot, energetically developing events. It is accessible to them with its figurative language, lively dialogue. "Prisoner of the Caucasus" is a highly artistic, truly Russian story.

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