We need an analysis of chapter 23 of Mtsyri. Brief conclusions Lermontov

Writers of the 19th century were always drawn to the Caucasus - they were attracted by nature and the enchanting atmosphere of the Caucasus, but Lermontov was perhaps more impressed by the Caucasus than others. Perhaps his stay in the south as a child, when he was treated with Caucasian waters and air, played a role in this. Lermontov was captivated by the mountains, rivers and way of life of the proud mountaineers, and becoming a poet, he wrote a lot about the Caucasus. Lermontov's most popular poem about the Caucasus was "Mtsyri", which we will now analyze.

The storyline of the poem

In 1837, the poet went to Georgia to learn more about local customs and tales. While there, Lermontov met one of the sons of a highlander, who had long ago been captured by the Russians. Now this man was old and was a monk in an old monastery. But the interesting story is how he got there and became a monk. It turns out that while the Russians, led by General Ermolov, were leading the boy, they were attacked by an illness, so the general decided to release the captive son of a highlander, and there was a monastery nearby. The boy remained to live at the monastery and spent his entire life within its walls.

The monk told Lermontov that he did not like life in the monastery, he made several attempts to escape, and once his escape almost cost him his life, so when he returned, the young man took orders and resigned himself to his fate.

This story is very important when analyzing Lermontov’s “Mtsyri”, because it was the story that the poet took as the basis for the work. Initially, the poem was called “Beri”, since this is how the word “monk” is translated in Georgian, but the second name took root - “Mtsyri”, which is also suitable in meaning.

Brief analysis of "Mtsyri"

In Lermontov's poem, the hero Mtsyri is a romantic character. This boy becomes a recluse in a monastery by force, and now he faces a difficult fate. The way Mtsyri is described is perfect for the classic image of a romantic hero. While still very young, Mtsyri was different from his peers and did not get along with them. The reason is that he has different interests, he is more mature, he is more serious. Once in the monastery, the boy longs for freedom, the walls choke him and he wants to escape to another world, to look for another life. Mtsyri understands that there is the best, and this best must be achieved.

It turns out that when analyzing “Mtsyri”, we clearly see that Lermontov in his poem implemented the basic principles related to romanticism - an exceptional hero and the exceptional circumstances in which he found himself, and also an image of two worlds. Moreover, the manifestation of romanticism is visible at any level of the poem.

For example, the nature of the Caucasus is shown in the vein of romanticism - the reader will not encounter gray, ordinary and everyday pictures. On the contrary, the vivid presentation of the southern mountains, rushing rivers and impenetrable thickets inspires a great impression. Mtsyri makes his way through obstacles untouched by the hand of man, nature, when the wind rages and wild jackals howl. River water is like a fairy tale, clean and transparent.

Other analysis details

Based on the text of the poem, we can highlight some more important details of the analysis of "Mtsyri". Lermontov wrote a magnificent poem with a surprisingly subtle style, expressive and beautiful from the point of view of the plot. How is rhyme structured in the poem? Let's take into account that the poetic meter that the author used is iambic, the poem is rhymed in pairs.

When you do an independent analysis of "Mtsyri", try to take completed episodes and find means of expression in them, because the poem is filled with epithets, metaphors, comparisons, etc.

Although “Mtsyri” is often called a confession, and in part it is so, nevertheless, the main character does not pour out his whole soul, sharing his sins and regretting them. Rather, he blames others for his suffering; the monk is to blame for the fact that the hero drags out such a life.

Judging by the ending of the poem, Lermontov uses a ending that is characteristic of himself, because it is not common for his romantic characters to become happy. After the fight with the leopard, wounded, the main character returns to the monastery - he is deprived of freedom, his dream did not come true, his faith is destroyed. He does not see or know any other happiness. Lermontov clearly shows what thirst for life and freedom a person can experience, what passions of the soul he can endure.

“...What a fiery soul, what a mighty spirit, what a gigantic nature this Mtsyri has! This is our poet’s favorite ideal, this is the reflection in poetry of the shadow of his own personality. In everything that Mtsyri says, he breathes with his own spirit, amazes him with his own power...” - this is how the famous Russian critic Belinsky spoke about the poem “Mtsyri”. This work by Lermontov is considered one of the most successful in his work, and is loved by more than one generation of readers. To understand this work more deeply, let’s analyze Lermontov’s “Mtsyri”.

History of creation

The story of the creation of the poem in itself can be a plot for a romantic work, because Lermontov met his hero in the Caucasus. Traveling along the Georgian Military Road in 1837, the poet met an old monk there. He told his life story: captivity, youth in a monastery and frequent attempts to escape. During one of these attempts, the young man got lost in the mountains and almost died, after which he decided to stay in the monastery and take monastic vows. Lermontov listened to this story in fascination. After all, even at the age of 17, he dreamed of writing a poem about a young monk, and now his hero is standing in front of him!

The poem was originally called "Beri", Georgian for "monk". Then Lermontov changed this name to “Mtsyri”, thereby introducing additional meaning, because “Mtsyri” is translated both as “novice” and “stranger”.

Theme and idea of ​​the work

The theme of “Mtsyri” can be defined as a story about the escape of a young novice from the monastery. The work examines in detail the hero's rebellion against everyday life in the monastery and the subsequent death, and also reveals a number of other topics and problems. These are problems of freedom and the struggle for freedom, misunderstanding by others, love for homeland and family.

The pathos of the poem is romantic, here there is a poetic call to fight, and the feat is idealized.

The idea of ​​the poem is ambiguous. At first, critics spoke of “Mtsyri” as a revolutionary poem. Her idea in this case was to always, even in conditions of inevitable defeat, remain faithful to the ideal of freedom and not lose heart. Mtsyri becomes a kind of ideal for revolutionaries: a proud, independent young man who gave his life for his dream of freedom. In addition, Mtsyri is not just eager to be free, he wants to return to his people and, quite possibly, fight with them. “There is only one homeland” - this, later crossed out, epigraph to the manuscript “Mtsyri” fully reflects the author’s attitude to the problem of love for the homeland and the struggle for its freedom, raised in the poem.

Lermontov himself repeatedly spoke about the work “Mtsyri” as a work in which his ideas of freedom were most fully embodied. “Mtsyri” becomes his final work, incorporating other works with similar ideas: “Boyarin Orsha”, “Confession”. Their heroes also strive to leave the monastery for freedom, but fail. Without finishing these poems, Lermontov uses lines from them in “Mtsyri”.

However, in modern criticism, when analyzing the poem “Mtsyri” by Lermontov, a rethinking of its idea occurs. It is now considered in a broader, philosophical sense. At the same time, the monastery serves as an image of the world as a prison of the human spirit, from which one cannot easily escape. And having run away, Mtsyri does not find happiness: he has nowhere to return, and the natural world has long become alien to him. The monastic world, symbolizing the world of secular society, poisoned him. “To find out whether we were born into this world for freedom or prison,” is what is important for Lermontov, who is thinking about the fate of his generation. And it is in “Mtsyri” that the answer to the reproach of “Borodino” is heard. Yes, the current generation is not heroes, not heroes, but it, like Mtsyri, was poisoned by prison. Love for nature, for a girl, a desire for battle and daring fun (the episode with the leopard) - all this is not alien to the main character. Had he grown up in different conditions, he would have been an outstanding person: “I could have been in the land of my fathers / Not one of the last daredevils.” The work conveys, on the one hand, the idea of ​​the complexity of the struggle for freedom, and on the other hand, the love of life and will is affirmed as the highest human values.

Genre of the work, composition and nature of the conflict

The work “Mtsyri” belongs to Lermontov’s most favorite genre - the poem. Unlike lyrics, the poem acts as a lyric-epic genre, thanks to which it is possible to characterize the hero through his actions and create his image in more detail. The lyricism of the work is manifested in its plot: the image of Mtsyri’s internal experiences is brought to the fore. The nature of the conflict is romantic, it consists in the internal contradiction of Mtsyri’s desire for freedom and his life spent in captivity. It is easy to understand that the hero’s way of thinking is close to the author. Accordingly, the type of narration in “Mtsyri” is subjective and lyrical, and the work can confidently be called a romantic poem. The poem also has features that are unique to it: most of it is written in the form of a confession. The poem consists of 26 chapters and has a circular composition: the action begins and ends in the monastery. The climactic moment can be called the duel with the leopard - it is at this moment that Mtsyri’s rebellious character is fully revealed.

The work contains a very small number of heroes. This is Mtsyri himself and his teacher-monk, who listened to the confession.

Artistic media

A description of the poem “Mtsyri” will be incomplete without considering the artistic means used in it. “Mtsyri” by Lermontov is one of the most figurative works and, accordingly, the volume of artistic expression used is very large. These are, first of all, epithets (gloomy walls, sweet names, wild youth, lush fields, dark rocks). Also in the poem there are a huge number of comparisons (people are free, like eagles; she, like a worm, lived in me; hugging, like two sisters; I myself, like a beast, was alien to people / and crawled and hid like a snake), metaphors (fight boiled, death will heal them forever), personifications (sleepy flowers died). All paths serve one purpose: they help create a poetic picture of the world surrounding Mtsyri and emphasize the depth of his experiences and their strength.

The poetic organization of the poem also deserves attention. It is written in 4-foot yam with an exclusively masculine paired rhyme (aabb). Because of this, the verse sounds especially clear and courageous, according to critics - like the blows of a sword. Anaphora is often used, and rhetorical questions and exclamations are no less frequent. It is they who give the poem a memorable passion and help to portray Mtsyri as an active, passionate, life-loving hero.

Conclusion

Having given a detailed description of the poem “Mtsyri”, we can confidently call this work one of Lermontov’s most significant creations, which clearly displays his talent. “Mtsyri” served as an inspiration for many paintings, as well as for composers. “Mtsyri” is a beautiful, timeless hymn to the human spirit and freedom.

Work test

Attracted many Russian writers of the 19th century, but it made the greatest impression on Lermontov. While still a child, he ended up in the south of Russia, where he underwent treatment. He saw mighty rivers and became acquainted with the life of the mountaineers. Since then, the theme of the Caucasus has become one of the poet’s favorites. The landscapes of the Caucasus are mesmerizing: majestic mountains reaching to the skies, deep abysses descending to the bowels of the earth. Mikhail Yuryevich reflected all this in his painting. However, numerous trips to the south of Russia bore fruit not only in the form of paintings, but also in the form of works. Lermontov's most famous poem about the life of the Caucasus is "Mtsyri".

The basis of the plot of the poem

An analysis of "Mtsyri" as a romantic poem cannot be carried out without knowing the history of the creation of the work. In 1837, Lermontov traveled around Georgia, he studied local legends and traditions. In one of the monasteries he met an old monk who told the story of his life. Once upon a time he, the son of a highlander, was captured by the Russian general Ermolov. The illness caught the travelers on the road, Ermolov had to leave the boy in the monastery, where he grew up. According to the old monk’s story, at first he could not get used to life in captivity, he even tried to escape to the mountains several times, and once almost died. Having returned, he decided to be ordained and stay in the monastery forever.

This story made a great impression on the poet. Lermontov decided to write a poem, which he initially called "beri", which means "monk" in Georgian. And then he replaced the name with a word that has several meanings in the Georgian language - “Mtsyri”.

Formal analysis. Mtsyri as a romantic hero

“Mtsyri” translated from Georgian means a young man who is still preparing to become a monk, however, the local population also calls this a person who has arrived from another country. So, the main character of the poem "Mtsyri" is a boy who ends up in a monastery not of his own free will. Mtsyri's description fully corresponds to the classic romantic hero. Since childhood, he stands out from his peers, with whom he does not get along. He is more serious, their games are not interesting to him. Consequently, the character of Mtsyri also refers us to the image of a romantic character. In the monastery, Mtsyri feels like a prisoner, he feels stuffy in the damp cells. Mtsyri wants to escape from this life; the world that is located outside the monastery seems ideal to the hero. So, in this poem two basic principles of romanticism are realized: the depiction of an exceptional hero in exceptional circumstances and the principle of two worlds. Romanticism is embodied at all levels of the work. Thus, the depiction of the nature of the Caucasus fully corresponds to the canons of this direction. After all, on the pages of the poem there are no ordinary pictures; in Lermontov we find the majestic Caucasus Mountains, rocks, raging rivers and dense thickets. The hero, wandering in the wild, hears the howl of jackals, he listens to the sound of the wind, which also seems somehow fabulous, the water in the rivers is so transparent that fish can be seen, and their movement can even be heard.

Plan "Mtsyri" in chapters. Brief retelling

Chapter 1 Introduction. Lermontov begins by describing the scene of action. “...Where, merging, they make noise, Embracing like two sisters, the Jets of Aragva and Kura.”

Chapters 3-7. In these five chapters, Mtsyri, wounded, pronounces his confession. He tells the monk that all his life he felt like a prisoner, even accuses him of having once saved him from death. After all, this act did not bring anything good: the child was doomed to loneliness (“a leaf torn off by a thunderstorm”).

Chapter 8 Already in the 8th chapter, the story begins about how the hero was free. Here Mtsyri told how he was free, how he felt unity with nature (“..caught lightning with his hands”)

Chapters 9-11. Mtsyri, who had never before seen all the beauty of nature in close proximity, delighted, tells the old monk what he saw: birds swimming in the clear water of mountain rivers, singing birds, lush vegetation.

Chapter 12-13. The hero meets a young Georgian woman. He is captivated by the sound of her singing. He saw her go to her sakla, and sadness flowed in his soul. After all, he did not know his family, he did not know what home meant.

14-15. Mtsyri got lost. Even in the midst of free, raging nature, he did not feel at home. Therefore, the hero cries, which he never did as a child.

Chapter 16 It is key to understanding the author’s ideological intent. Here the hero meets a leopard. The battle with the animal is described in the three subsequent chapters.

The last 8 chapters are the feelings of the hero. The monk again complains about his fate, again remembers the day spent in freedom.

The heroes of the poem “Mtsyri”: an old monk, a Georgian woman, Mtsyri and a leopard. All the action is concentrated around the main image. After all, in essence, the poem is his confession.

How to analyze a poem?

Of course, the analysis of “Mtsyri” must be carried out based on the text. After all, this work is poetic, and therefore syllable and rhyme must be taken into account. The poem is dominated by pairs. The work is written in iambic poetic meter.

To correctly analyze “Mtsyri” you need to take a small excerpt, for example, 2-3 chapters. So that the episode is complete. Already in this passage, look for means of expressiveness (epithets, metaphors, metonymies, comparisons, etc.): Lermontov’s text abounds in them, and quotes confirm this. “Mtsyri” is a very beautiful text, it provides fertile ground for study.

Why does Lermontov choose the form of confession?

In general, Mtsyri’s story bears little resemblance to confession in the literal sense of the word. The hero reveals his soul, but he does not talk about its dark sides, does not repent of any sins he has committed. On the contrary, he continually tries to blame the monk for dooming him to suffering. The chapter-by-chapter plan of “Mtsyri” shows that approximately in the middle of the poem there should have been some kind of dispute with the monk, who abandoned earthly goods and resigned himself to a poor life devoid of joys, but this does not work out, because the reader hears only the voice of Mtsyri. This form allows the author to most fully reveal Mtsyri’s character and show his features.

The meaning of the ending of the poem

So, at the very end of the poem Mtsyri dies. However, he is not afraid of death; even on the verge of death, he continues to regret the life he has lived (“The grave does not frighten me…”). Of course, such fearlessness of Mtsyri arouses sympathy among his creator. After all, it is dictated by a strong desire to experience true life and freedom. Being in nature, the hero felt like a part of it; he was not afraid of jackals or the dark. In the fight with the leopard, he showed all his frantic strength, because he turned out to be stronger. The leopard, as the personification of the forces of nature, dies at the hands of the hero. Why does Mtsyri die? Was it only from the wounds the beast inflicted on him? There is a deeper thought in the death of Mtsyri. After all, the wounded hero had to return to the monastery, therefore his dreams of freedom were destroyed, he could no longer hope, having lost faith, he dies. The description of Mtsyri at the time of his death is very tragic.

The pessimistic ending of the play is very characteristic of Lermontov's work. His romantic hero never finds happiness. Therefore, Mikhail Yuryevich’s work can be called pessimistic. However, this idea is contradicted by the fact that Lermontov himself had a great thirst for life, a thirst for movement and passions, which he transfers to his characters.

1. Introduction. One of the central themes of M. Yu. Lermontov’s work is the opposition between a proud, independent individual and the crowd.

This theme is developed in detail in a number of the poet’s works. These include the poem "Mtsyri", where the opposition is intensified with the help of national and religious differences.

2. History of creation. In 1837, Lermontov traveled along the Georgian Military Road, collecting local legends and tales, which he later used when writing the poem “The Demon.” In Mtskheta, he met a lonely monk who told the poet the story of his life.

The monk was captured by Russian troops as a child. General Ermolov left him in the monastery. The child turned out to be a real mountaineer, with a violent and rebellious character. He repeatedly tried to escape.

During his next escape, the boy fell seriously ill. Miraculously avoiding death, he resigned himself and remained in the monastery forever. This story formed the basis of the poem "Mtsyri" (1839).

3. The meaning of the name. Translated from Georgian, “mtsyri” means “novice in a monastery.”

4. Genre. The poem, in the form of presentation, is a lyrical monologue of the main character.

5. Theme. The central theme of the work is the unyielding will of a heroic personality. The main character of the poem cannot withstand the monotony of monastic life. His broad nature is too cramped in this environment. Vague childhood memories, strengthened by an instinctive craving for their native land, force the Mtsyri to accomplish a real feat.

Mtsyri's daring and bold escape apparently ended in vain. But in three days in freedom, he lived his whole life, which he was deprived of by Russian captivity and imprisonment in a monastery. The spiritual significance of the Mtsyri’s act is of great value. Dying, he does not regret anything, because he has known the sweet taste of freedom.

6. Issues. Lermontov had great respect for Caucasian customs and traditions. Contrary to public opinion, which considers the mountaineers to be savages and robbers, the poet saw in them people who were able to retain their natural desire for freedom. A civilized society imposes a huge number of rules and restrictions on itself and declares them the highest achievement of humanity.

The complete opposite of such a society is the peoples of the Caucasus. A child with mother's milk absorbs a free and independent spirit. In order to spiritually subjugate a captive child, he is placed in a monastery. But the imposed “chains” only strengthen the boy’s craving for freedom. In the passionate monologue of the dying mtsyri, another problem is revealed. As a rule, people take monastic vows voluntarily and in adulthood. They managed to live “in the world,” experienced joy, felt love, and endured suffering.

The main character rightly reproaches the old monk for having lost the habit of desires. The boy was imprisoned in a monastery at a very early age. He was forcibly deprived of all the wealth of the surrounding world, which he can only judge from vague memories and rare conversations between monks. In despair, Mtsyri exclaims that not only did he not know his father and mother, but he even “didn’t find... the graves” of his loved ones.

Mtsyri decides to escape under the influence of the call of his heart. The first time he is free, he feels in his native element. The fugitive greedily observes and experiences an incredible variety of colors, sounds, and smells, presenting a sharp contrast to the dreary life of the monastery. But first the intoxication of freedom gives way to a serious problem: the Mtsyri are completely unfamiliar with this vast world. He cannot find his way to his native land.

The fugitive's final triumph is his brutal fight with a leopard. Lermontov used Caucasian folklore when writing this scene. Mtsyri defeats the wild beast, but receives serious wounds. Exhausted, he accidentally wanders to the monastery. The unsuccessful escape and death of the main character reflect the change in Lermontov's views in the late period of his work. The circumstances of his own life and the state of society during the period of the Nicholas reaction lead the poet to disappointment in his youthful ideals.

At the end of his life, Lermontov comes to the conclusion that the heroic personality is doomed to loneliness and misunderstanding, which will most likely lead her to a senseless and useless death. Mtsyri was born for great deeds, but he did not have the opportunity to adequately use his powers. The escape and fight with the leopard show what kind of willpower was hidden in an ordinary Caucasian child.

7. Heroes. The main character is the dying narrator Mtsyri.

8. Plot and composition. As already noted, the plot is based on the story of an old monk. But in reality, the fugitive survived and resigned himself. Such an inglorious end did not suit Lermontov, so he does not describe the further fate of the mtsyri. At the beginning, the “gray-haired old man” is mentioned, but it is not clear who he means

9. What does the author teach? Despite the disappointment of the last years of his life, Lermontov was convinced that every person should strive for freedom. Strong independent individuals are the main driver of history. Most often they will be subjected to ridicule and insults from the stupid crowd, but someday their descendants will truly appreciate their selfless life.

In 1837, M. Yu. Lermontov, heading into exile in the Caucasus, met a lonely monk in Mtskheta. He told the poet an amazing story of his life. As a child, the monk was captured by Russian troops and placed in a monastery. The boy could not come to terms with his situation for a long time and tried to escape several times. After the last attempt, he fell dangerously ill and only miraculously survived. This prompted him to submit to his fate and remain in the monastery forever.

Lermontov really liked the monk's story. In “Confession” and “Boyar Orsha” he had already developed a lyrical monologue for a romantic hero. Taking some fragments from these works, he wrote the poem “Mtsyri”. According to A.P. Muravyov, the work was completed in Tsarskoe Selo. The author's manuscript contains the date of completion of the work - August 5, 1839.

Meaning of the name

Translated from Georgian, “mtsyri” means a novice at a monastery.

The main theme of the work

The main theme of the work is the desire for freedom.

Suffering from loneliness and misunderstanding, Lermontov was very impressed by the desire of the Caucasian peoples for freedom. The story of the lonely monk once again confirmed his high opinion of the innate independence of the highlanders.

Mtsyri was captured at a very early age. Despite this, the child felt only one “fiery passion” - to escape from the cramped monastery walls into the “wonderful world of anxiety and battles.” A love of freedom and space raged in his blood.

Growing up, Mtsyri became more and more aware of his inferiority. He was forcibly torn away not only from his family and friends, but even from the graves of his ancestors. In a “foreign land,” the young highlander felt like a “slave and an orphan.”

The humble monks surrounding Mtsyri voluntarily renounced the living world. His reproaches to his interlocutor are quite fair. The old man lived for many years, he knew hatred and love, he saw and felt a lot. Having become completely fed up with life, he can live peacefully in a monastery, suppressing all desires. Mtsyri did not even have time to enjoy the beauty of the world.

Having escaped from captivity, Mtsyri was stunned and literally intoxicated with freedom. The picture of vast nature that opened up to him awakened in his soul memories of his native aul. Instead of monotonous “stuffy cells and prayers,” forgotten colors and sounds arose in the mind of the young monk.

The three days Mtsyri spent in freedom became the happiest time of his life. He was finally able to appreciate his strength and youth, which were no longer held back by anything. His chance meeting with a young Georgian woman awakened vague hopes of love.

Mtsyri's tragedy was that this whole wonderful world was completely unfamiliar to him. Trying to find the way to his native place, he got lost. The desperation of the fugitive is very vividly described: “gnawing the damp breast of the earth.”

The culmination of Mtsyri's free life is his fantastic fight with a leopard. The young man doesn’t even think about the danger. He himself feels like a “beast of the steppe” that has no place among people in a foreign land. A deadly fierce battle ends in victory for a person.

However, another smile of fate awaits the wounded Mtsyri. Having completely lost his way, he again goes out to the monastery and hears “the ringing of a distant bell.” Mtsyri understands that he will never get to his homeland. He is no longer afraid of inevitable death from his wounds. The fugitive's gradual departure from life is accompanied by a soothing, painful delirium.

Mtsyri does not feel gratitude to the old man who found and saved him. Rescue and return to the monastery will never replace the breath of freedom he received. Mtsyri had already come to terms with death, but became even more bitter against life imprisonment. The prisoner dreams of one thing - to meet his last moments in the garden, where a “cool breeze” from the Caucasus can fly.

Issues

The central problem of the work is the difficult choice between life in slavery and death in freedom.

The freedom-loving Mtsyri solves this problem unambiguously. Above all, he values ​​a free life, which he judges only on the basis of vague memories. Mtsyri boldly faces any danger. For him, being captured and returning to the monastery looks much more terrible than a fight with a wild animal.

Another problem that was relevant throughout the 19th century and became aggravated again at the end of the 20th century is the resistance of the peoples of the Caucasus to Russian rule. The image of Mtsyri is a vivid symbol of the innate desire of the mountaineers for independence.

Composition

The poem is a monologue of the main character, which is preceded by a short introduction by the author.

What the author teaches

During his first exile, Lermontov did not have the opportunity to take part in hostilities. Without feeling personal hostility, he was very respectful of the peoples of the Caucasus. Studying local folklore, the poet appreciated the freedom-loving traditions of the highlanders. The image of the unfortunate captive Mtsyri evokes pity and compassion.