Prints from childhood make our life vibrant and colorful. Despite the presence of the media and the ubiquitous Internet, books continue to live on our shelves, brightening up leisure time.
Literature lessons
The transition from children's tales to more serious literature is done in the 5th grade. It is at this age that concepts such as genre and plot appear, they explain to us the hidden meaning of works, and try to teach us to read between the lines. Literature lessons are not always delightful, sometimes the opposite happens. Unfortunately, not all works included in the school curriculum resonate in the soul of the child. And this is not surprising, because we are all so different. The review of the book “Taras Bulba” according to the plan of the school curriculum consists in writing an essay on one of the proposed topics.
To read or not to read?
The work is studied in grade 7. According to teachers, it is aimed at nurturing the spirit of patriotism. It’s hard to disagree. Indeed, the work is written exclusively in the spirit of love for the motherland and hatred of enemies. But are our students ready for such developments? The review of Gogol’s book “Taras Bulba” (Grade 7) is suggestive. According to the children, it is rather boring to read a description of the steppes of Ukraine and Cossack customs. In addition, it is difficult for a child to compose a positive image of a Cossack from the scenes of unbridled drunkenness and violence described in the work, as well as to understand the attitude to the "Jews" and the motives of the Cossacks, who, obeying the will of Taras, go to rob and kill the Poles, burning everything in their path.
A review of the book “Taras Bulba” by one of the readers makes us think about the attitude of the main character to his sons. A child who reads a work in the 7th grade raises a quite logical question: “Why should I give my children to study for a long 9 years, and then send them to the Zaporizhzhya steppe, where the acquired knowledge is absolutely not needed? And how can you send your sons to certain death? ” Alas, the psyche of children is not ready to accept such works, not at this age ...
It's all about the colors
Literary style deserves special attention. Gogol’s language is so colorful that it simply immerses the reader in the atmosphere of the work. And this again is not always useful for the child's psyche, given the abundance of bloody scenes. The review of the book “Taras Bulba” can be quite negative. Nevertheless, Gogol skillfully conveys to the reader his love for the Motherland, the beauty of the Ukrainian steppes, and the atmosphere prevailing in the Sich.
When you read the descriptions of the Cossacks, then involuntarily you get used to each image. The Sich itself is well described: wooden buildings, a palisade, a cauldron in the central square. It seems that you saw this place with your own eyes.
History
The motive of the work itself may not be completely clear for a child of 12-13 years old, because in the 7th grade in the school subject "History" there is not a word about the Cossacks and the war with Poland. After many years of captivity, the lands of Little Russia, as Ukraine was called before, found their defenders in the person of the Zaporizhzhya Cossacks. For the sake of truth, it must be said that society in Sich has gathered motley.
All were united by a love of freedom and hatred of enemies. It is difficult to unambiguously characterize the people who inhabit Sich. The only thing that can be argued is that they were feared and fiercely hated by the Tatars and Poles.
To understand the work itself, you need to find out the motives that guide the characters, and for this you need to be aware of the events of those years. Studying the story separately from the history of that time is unacceptable. Despite this, the student is obliged to leave a review of the book “Taras Bulba”. The work is written on several topics. They offer a choice of characterizing one of the characters, comparing the characters, expressing their attitude to the events, telling about the role of the work in literature, about the spirit of patriotism, although it is unlikely that the children fully understand what they are writing about.
What the teacher will say
The study of such a seemingly simple and understandable work deserves a special approach. How the child perceives the story depends in many respects on the point of view of the teacher. Whatever critics and psychologists say, each teacher passes the work through himself, through his attitude to life, knowledge and experience. It is the teacher who conveys to the student his review of the book “Taras Bulba”. Grade 7 writes an essay, being not only impressed by what they read, but also listening to the emotions of the teacher.
From the top of past years
A completely different review of the book "Taras Bulba" gives a mature reader. Almost everyone is familiar with this work. Many readers, having matured, return to forgotten books in order to rethink them. Opinions can be divided into three categories: those who maintain neutrality, those who admire the work, and those who speak extremely negatively about the main character and the idea of the story. For the sake of truth, I must say that readers leave mostly positive feedback about the book “Taras Bulba”.
It seems we are familiar
First of all, we note the style of Gogol. The mastery with which the author introduces us to nature allows us not only to see all the beauty, but also to smell and hear the rustling. When you think about what you read, you begin to understand that such detailed descriptions are not accidental. They convey to us the emotional state of the heroes, their feelings. The same applies to the colorful descriptions of the Cossacks themselves, then we not only imagine the appearance, but also the character. It seems that you are familiar with the entire population of Sich, more than a battle went on with them shoulder to shoulder.
After reading the story, it is difficult to imagine that the Cossacks could look somehow different. At the mention of Taras, consciousness gives out the image of a two-meter-tall man with a tanned wrinkled face, 50-60 years old, with a long gray mustache and an invariable “horse-drawn man”. This person is very strong-willed, physically strong, but capable of the most sincere feelings.
The love of the protagonist for the motherland and faith in what you serve are worthy of admiration. Above all, he values the bonds of partnership, Christian faith and freedom. The review of the book “Taras Bulba” most often relates to the patriotism of the protagonist. Love for the Motherland replaces all other feelings - fear of death, pain from the loss of sons and comrades. The only feeling that is just as strong is hatred of enemies.
Hero image
Taras is an image that for many has become the embodiment of the Ukrainian Cossack. This is a man of his word, uncompromising, adhering to his principles, able to achieve his goal in any, not even the most honest way. It is enough to recall how Taras Cossacks incited to attack Poland. He needed to test his sons in action, and he came up with an excuse, found the right words, breathed into the army the belief that they were going on a holy cause. He was respected, and Bulba knew that the Cossacks would follow him wherever he ordered. A masquerade with dressing up in a Polish dress in order to penetrate the execution also shows the resourcefulness of Taras's mind. Although the presence of executions causes a double feeling. On the one hand, Taras secretly hopes for a miracle, for the fact that at the last moment his son will remain alive, on the other - it is important for him that Ostap die like a real Cossack, not betray either Sich or faith.
Betrayal in a work is punishable by death. Father cannot forgive Andria and accept his act. It’s scary for the old Cossack not that his son is in love with a Polish girl, but that he raised a weapon against his brothers. This is another tragic moment in the story, provoking, perhaps, the strongest emotions of the reader. A brief review of the book “Taras Bulba” very often refers to the very chapter in which the main character in the forest meets Andriy, who has changed clothes, and kills him.
Cradle
Gogol's tale is riddled with secret signs. Any, even the smallest detail necessarily has its own meaning. So, for example, the cradle of Taras. It would seem that this? Well, I’m lost, you can take another one. In fact, the cradle becomes that last straw, a loss with which it is impossible to reconcile. It is she who prevents Taras from escaping persecution. It is difficult for the reader to understand the feelings of the old Cossack. Having lost his sons and most of his comrades, he cannot reconcile himself with another loss. The search for the cradle ends with the capture of Bulba. However, he is not worried about himself. Taras is happy to watch the Cossacks sail in seagulls. And his last words were addressed to them with a call to return and take a walk as it should.