37. Alyosha is looking for a publisher Life in exile was difficult, had to save on everything. Alyosha was worried that he was still unable to provide for his family, he was gloomy and wrote poetry less and less. Poetry requires inspiration, and he inexorably lost it. But prose was also difficult for him. a little

We - my brother Alyosha and I We rarely walked past the church to the square at the Nikitsky Gate, where the shops began. The first was a toy store. The door is hung with funny dolls - "diapers", similar to mummies with painted hair and. two cross-shaped blue stripes

Alyosha Popovich, the son of the Rostov priest Levonty, is the youngest of the three famous Russian heroes. As is often the case with younger characters, he is the sharpest on the tongue, dexterous, daring and crafty, and this is primarily his strength.

Russian warrior-traveler, hero Alyosha Popovich became famous for his exploits for the benefit of the fatherland and the prince. The ruler did not ask his heroes for anything, and this is fundamentally important for epics: their heroes themselves offered their services to the state and chose their enemies themselves. Moreover, in the story of Alyosha Popovich and Tugarin the Serpent, the hero not only acts independently, but also allows himself to tease the Kyiv prince. All this makes the character of this hero voluminous and humane.

Alyosha's fight with Tugarin Zmey became the most striking and memorable feat. In it, he fully showed his characteristic love of life, ingenuity, cunning and even audacity. A duel with a snake is an archetypal plot present in the epics of many peoples. Tugarin demonstrates his involvement in the fire element when he threatens to suffocate the hero with smoke and sparks. According to researchers, in Russia this vagrant plot over time, it was rethought based on the results of quite real battles with nomads. This brings Tugarin from the bylina closer to the collective image of the Polovtsian Khan. The main thing is that he is fundamentally different from the Russians: he does not observe etiquette, does not pray to God and looks like a dog.

Wit and daring are the main tool of Alyosha Popovich in this story. Watching how Tugarin settled down at the prince's table in his own way, the hero sarcastically teases him from behind the stove, which provokes a duel. So it turns out that Tugarin, in addition to remarkable strength, has a secret weapon - a flying horse with paper wings. The faith of the hero turns out to be stronger: with his prayer, he causes rain, from which the wings get wet, and the outcome of the battle is decided by the ingenuity and dexterity of Alyosha Popovich. It is important that the intervention of the divine higher powers not only does not reduce the dignity of the winner: on the contrary, in folk art this emphasizes the significance of his feat.

In the three-dimensional mosaic, the confrontation between the heroes is presented at the color level: the restrained gamut of Alyosha Popovich's costume is contrasted with the bright colors of his opponent's clothes, expressed primarily by the combination of deep blue lapis lazuli of his pants and the amazingly bright rhodonite of quilted armor. It is worth taking a closer look at the wings of Tugarin the Serpent: the finest carving turns them into almost fluttering paper membranes.

From the collection of folk songs by Kirsha Danilov

Alyosha's prayers are profitable to Christ.

The Lord God gives a cloud with a hail of rain,

Soaked Tugarin's paper wings,

Tugarin falls like a dog on damp ground.

Ekim Ivanovich came,

Alyosha Popovich said

What Tugarin saw on damp ground.

And soon Alyosha will be cut,

I sat on a good horse,

I took one sharp saber

And he went to Tugarin Zmeevich.

And Tugarin Zmeevich saw Alyosha Popovich,

“Goy thou, Alyosha Popovich, young!

Do you want me to burn you with fire?

Do you want, Alyosha, I’ll stop with a horse

Ali you, Alyosha, I will stab with a spear?

Alyosha Popovich, young, told him:

“Goy you are, Tugarin Zmeevich young!

You fought with me about the great pledge -

Fight, fight one on one,

And behind you there is no estimate force

At me, Alyosha Popovich.

Tugarin will look back at himself,

Vtapory Alyosha jumped up,

He chopped off his head

And the head fell on the damp ground, like a beer cauldron.

The epic image of heroes is a feature of the Russian epic. The exploits of Alyosha Popovich and Dobrynya Nikitich are described in many legends and reflect a whole layer of the worldview of the period of Kievan Rus. In this article, we will deal with who the heroes are, and also find out what some of these knights are famous for.

Epic heroes

The epics mention such words as "bogatyr" and "hero". Let's take a look at their origin.

Researchers have not yet come to a single agreement, so there are several versions. The hero has similar sounding analogues in the Proto-Aryan language ("lucky"), in Mongolian ("Bagadur" - "dared-hearted, brave rider").

Vityaz, presumably, comes from the verb "to beat", that is, it means "warrior". According to the second version, this is the word "Viking" modified in the Slavic manner.

Bogatyrs are divided by researchers according to two classifications.

The first singles out the elders, younger and heroes of Kievan Rus. The first include knights, personifying forces hostile to man. These are Svyatogor, Mikula Selyaninovich, Polkan, Ivan Kolyvanovich, Samson and some others.

The younger ones already have human form, without the ability to change shape, unlike the elders. These include Nightingale, Churila, Duke.

The basis of epics about the Kyiv heroes are the exploits of Alyosha Popovich and Dobrynya Nikitich. Ilya Muromets, Mikhailo Potok, Ivan Gostiny son and others are also mentioned.

The second classification is based on periods - pre-Tatar period, Tatar and Moscow. In it, these same knights are arranged in a slightly different order.

Who is Dobrynya Nikitich?

The life and exploits of Dobrynya Nikitich are described in many epics. He belongs to the period of Kievan Rus and is depicted as a serving knight under Prince Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko.

It is believed that he took the daughter of Mikula Selyaninovich Nastasya as his wife.

It is noteworthy that among all the heroes of this era, he is in the closest relationship with princely family. He performs not only military assignments, but also diplomatic missions, and also collects and delivers tribute.

In addition, Dobrynya often performs tasks that other knights refuse.

In terms of popularity, he is in second place, after Ilya Muromets, and is often portrayed as his companion.

Judging by the legends, Dobrynya early discovered in himself a "heroic silushka". Next, we will get acquainted with his merits, but the most prominent are the three exploits of Dobrynya Nikitich. The battle with the Serpent, the battle with Danube Ivanovich and help in obtaining a bride for Prince Vladimir.

Origin of the image

Researchers of Russian epics are inclined to believe that this image is collective. However, many argue that it is based on several prototypes of real historical figures.

The main argument in favor of the high-ranking of this hero is "knowledge", which is mentioned more than once in songs. With this word, our ancestors denoted courtesy, the ability to find mutual language, diplomatic gift.

Judging by the epics, his father is the Ryazan governor Nikita. However, researchers of the Slavic epic believe that the prototype of Dobrynya was the uncle of the prince, the brother of his mother Malusha. This governor was called the same as the epic hero.

One of the facts that can prove the plausibility of the version is as follows: the annals indicate the forced baptism of the Novgorodians, in some epics this moment correlates with the time when Dobrynya Nikitich lived.

Fight with the Serpent Gorynych

The first feat of Dobrynya Nikitich has a plot similar to many legends ancient world. The battle with the dragon, the serpent, the fundamental evil takes place in the myths of different peoples.

So, what do we know from epics?

Feeling the awakening power, Dobrynya began to "walk around the field." One day he told his mother that he wanted to go to the Pochaina River. According to legend, she had unusual property. It had two streams that moved in opposite sides and slaughtered anyone who tried to swim across.

There the hero meets the Serpent Gorynych. A battle ensues, and after the victory of the knight, the monster promises never again to attack the Russian land and not to plunder the villages. But according to the classical canons of the genre, the Serpent immediately violates given word. He kidnaps his daughter Kyiv prince Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko.

Having received magical things from his mother (chain mail, a treasure sword, a mighty war horse), the hero finds the lair of a snake. There, he is confronted by younger dragons, whom he easily defeats.

The battle with Gorynych dragged on for three days. When the forces were already leaving the knight, he heard a voice from heaven, who said that he needed to hold out for another three hours. Having survived the battle, Dobrynya defeated the monster, but almost drowned in his blood. He was saved because the earth parted and absorbed everything.

Fight with Danube Ivanovich

This epic shows the confrontation between Kyiv and neighboring tribes. The Danube is a tragic image in the Russian epic. Once this hero served Lithuanian prince, but, falling into disfavor, he left for Russia. In the legend about the marriage of the bride for Vladimir, it is also said that the Danube also takes away her sister Nastasya, for whom she once had feelings.

But at the wedding, the heroes began to compete in archery, and the Danube accidentally killed Nastasya. When he learns that she was pregnant, he rushes to his saber. Legend has it that from his blood formed

The epic about the battle of this Lithuanian with Dobrynya tells about the events that occurred before the marriage. The plot is as follows. The Kyiv hero was driving across the field and saw a velvet tent, on which there was an inscription that anyone who approaches him will die.

Dobrynya got angry, drank wine from the tent and destroyed it. He himself fell asleep in this place. The returned Danube decided to punish the offender. He woke the knight, and they fought for several days. At first, they cut down all the weapons, then they fought hand-to-hand.

According to one version, Ilya Muromets, who was passing by, reconciled them, according to another, they went to court to Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko. The prince, after listening to both, justified Dobrynya and put the Danube in the cellar because he threatened his knight.

Who is Alyosha Popovich?

Next most popular epic hero is Alyosha, the son of a priest. Levontiy, a priest from Rostov, is considered his father, although sometimes he is called Fedor.
The story of Alyosha Popovich is mentioned in two epics, where he is the main character. In the rest, he is a minor participant or is mentioned in passing.

If you do not take into account the two legends about his exploits, basically this knight is contradictory, and often negative character. Many researchers draw parallels between him and Volga Svyatoslavich.

Thus, the characterization of Alyosha Popovich, which emerges from the legends, does not quite correspond to the image of the "hero of the Russian land."

The only epic in which this lame and no different great power warrior shown in positive role, is a legend about his battle with Tugarin. We will talk about it further.

Alyosha and Tugarin

An epic similar in content is about the battle of this knight with Skim the Beast. In fact, it reproduces exactly all the main points of the legend about the victory over Tugarin.

The plot of the legend is as follows. Alyosha arrives with his skillful and agile servant Ekim in Kyiv to Vladimir. Here, at a feast, he meets Tugarin, who "lays his head on the chest of the princess." Seeing the gluttony and greed of the snake, Alyosha begins to ridicule him. At first, he compares the warrior with his father's dog, which choked on a bone from greed and died, later - with a cow.

Offended, Tugarin throws a knife at him, but Ekim catches him on the fly. Further, Alyosha calls the enemy to battle "in the open field".

Judging by the epic, he wins with God's help and with the use of cunning.
At first, Tugarin flew on "paper wings", but Alyosha prayed in the temple and it began to rain. After the kite fell, the knight rode up to him and said: "Why did you bring such a big force with you?"

When Tugarin turned around to see what the hero had in mind, the latter cut off his head. This scene shows the character of Alyosha Popovich: the warrior often achieved his goal not by force, but by cunning. In some ways, his image is similar to the image of Odysseus in Homer.

What are the researchers saying?

If we consider the exploits of Alyosha Popovich, summary which can be found in many collections of epics, we will see some features of the image.

On the one hand, researchers are inclined to believe that Alexander Popovich from Rostov was the historical prototype of the hero. Boyar, who was in the service of Prince Vsevolod, and later - his son Konstantin.

After Yuri sits on the throne in 1281, Alexander leaves for Kyiv to Mstislav and dies in the battle on the Kalka.

Studying the exploits of Alyosha Popovich (summary or full text epics), you can see his arrogant and contemptuous attitude towards Prince Vladimir and the Kyiv nobility.

Often he calls them "brothers", and in these legends extramarital affairs of heroes with boyar, princely and voivodship wives are often depicted.

This suggests that the exploits of Alyosha Popovich and Dobrynya Nikitich are described in different periods time. When they meet in the same epic, this only indicates a later origin of the legend.

The image of heroes in culture

The characterization of Alyosha Popovich, Dobrynya Nikitich, Ilya Muromets and many other heroes inspires many writers, artists, composers and directors.
For example, Alyosha is depicted in the paintings of Vasnetsov, Vereshchagin, Vasiliev. He is mentioned in the ballad of Tolstoy A.K.

Modern cartoon creators also use this epic image.

Speaking of Dobryn Nikitich, to everything mentioned above, it is worth adding that an island in the Nordenskiöld archipelago, a mountain in the Kuril ridge and several ships are named after him.

• Composition based on the painting "Heroes" by Vasnetsov. History of creation and description

Alesha Popovich - hero, folklore character of Russian legends and epics. The youngest of the three most famous heroes, is mentioned after Ilya Muromets and Dobrynya Nikitich.

Alyosha is not so much a strong character as more cunning. It is not strength that distinguishes him, but other qualities, sharpness, prowess, resourcefulness. Alyosha Popovich has a dual character, sometimes he is ready to deceive even his named brother Dobrynya, encroaching on his marital rights (Alyosha spreads a false rumor about the death of Dobrynya in order to marry his wife Nastasya Nikulishna) The jokes of the hero are sometimes not only cheerful, but also insidious, even evil; his comrades-heroes from time to time express their censure and condemnation to him. In general, the image of Alyosha is characterized by inconsistency and duality.

From the glorious Rostov, red city,
like two clear falcon flew out
Two mighty heroes went out,
What's by name
Aleshenka Popovich, young
And with the young Ekim Ivanovich.

Walking in an open field, the heroes run into a stone that points to three roads: one to Murom, the other to Chernigov, the third to Kyiv. Alyosha offers:

We'd better go to the city to Kyiv,
To affectionate Prince Vladimir.

So another hero, from the distant Rostov land, is included in the Kyiv heroism. In many epics, he is mentioned after Ilya Muromets and Dobrynya Nikitich. His main feat is a duel with Tugarin.
In some versions, Tugarin is called Zmeevich and is depicted as a monster:

Is he, Tugarin, three fathoms high,
Between the shoulders oblique sazhen,
Between the eyes of a red-hot arrow,
The horse under him is like a fierce beast,
From hailisch the flame blazes,
There is smoke from the ears.

This is clearly a mythological character, but, which is typical for epics, he acts in an environment historical Kyiv. He acts like a foreign invader. Vladimir with Princess Apraksia, with princes and boyars meet him with honor - they are powerless to resist him. It is carried by twelve servants on a gilded board. When they brought a white swan, Tutarin swallowed it whole. The only one who watches Tugarin without any respect and fear is Alyosha.

He sits on the stove and scoffs:
We have. uncle had an old dog,
Yes, the dog is willing to go to feasts,
Yes, and the dog choked on a bone,
Yes, you, Tugarin, will have the same death.

Enraged by these words, Tugarin throws a damask knife at Alyosha, but Alyosha was "grasping" and managed to grab the knife. Following this, a duel takes place between them - already in an open field. Tugarin is surrounded by fiery snakes. His horse has wings, and in some versions Tugarin himself has wings behind his shoulders, however, for some reason they are paper. Alyosha first of all prays to God to bring rain that would soak his wings. And so it happens, and Tugarin cannot rise into the sky, and on earth his strength is no longer the same. Alyosha resorts to trickery - he makes Tugarin turn back (“What kind of force are you carrying with you?”) And instantly strikes. He returns to Kyiv, holding the head of Tugarin on the tip of a spear. In the epics recorded in the XVIII-XIX centuries, there are details that put Prince Vladimir and especially Princess Apraksia in a very unfavorable light. Vladimir looks completely helpless and cowardly, Tugarin humiliates him, and he silently endures everything. And for Princess Tugarin - "dear friend", and she scolds the hero for separating her from him. We do not dare to assert that these same motives in the texts of epics of an earlier time were expressed just as clearly. In the character of the epic Alyosha Popovich there is heroic courage, and youthful recklessness, and cunning, harshness of actions and statements.
In Russia, they believed that the hero Alyosha actually lived. Under the name of "brave" Alexander (Olesh) Popovich, he is mentioned in the annals as a historical person. He comes from Rostov, successfully fights with various opponents, participates in princely civil strife and dies along with other "brave" in the battle on the Kalka River, being in the service of the Kyiv prince Mstislav Stary.

Alyosha Popovich is a legendary Russian hero and warrior, who, as the youngest, is one of the three famous ancient Russian epic heroes. The image of this hero is more folklore and collective than real, but this character, according to historians, had his own real prototype, who lived approximately in the 13th century on the territory of Kievan Rus. By different versions it could even be several people: the son of an Orthodox Rostov priest Leonty, a resident of the city of Piryatin in the Poltava region, and famous hero Alexander-horobr (Olesha), famous historical and public figure who lived in the 12th-13th centuries in Rostov.

The image of a hero - an epic hero

(Illustration of the hero-warrior Alyosha Popovich)

In the famous painting by the artist Vasnetsov "Bogatyrs" ( approx. fragment on the first image), written at the beginning of the 19th century, he is presented as a young warrior, in age he is much younger than the rest of the heroes, with a slightly sly and mysterious smile. As a weapon, he has a bow and a quiver of arrows, and a harp is tied near the saddle, which testifies to his cheerful disposition and the lyricism of his character. In the epics, even first of all, it was not his strength as a warrior (sometimes his lameness was even emphasized as a kind of weakness), but his daring, dexterity, ingenuity, cunning, acumen and resourcefulness. Alyosha is also fearless and strong, like other Russian heroes, but in his battles with enemies he tries to defeat them not with strength and power, but with intelligence, cunning and frankly reckless courage.

In general, the image of this hero is characterized by a certain duality, because along with his positive aspects, also the Russian people rewarded him with not very flattering traits of character, such as boastfulness and arrogance of his exploits, cunning and resourcefulness, the ability for evil and sometimes insidious jokes, which were condemned and condemned by his older comrades in military affairs. Also weaknesses the nature of this epic character are envy and pride. However, despite all his shortcomings, this is a deeply religious and devout person (probably, the upbringing of the father of the clergyman affected).

Famous exploits of the youngest of the heroes

Main occupation legendary hero there was a service with the Kyiv prince in the role of the defender of the Russian people from enemies Kyiv state. We attribute the main feat to this legendary hero is his victory over Tugarin, who really existed in life Polovtsian Khan Tugorkan. In epics, this character is portrayed as a kind of mythical monster, sometimes with the prefix Serpent or Zmeevich, which makes it more awesome and mysterious. He comes to Kyiv as a foreign invader, Grand Duke Vladimir and his entourage are unable to resist him and accept him as a dear guest. Alyosha Popovich alone does not bow his head before him, treats him without respect and fear, challenges him to a duel and wins a difficult battle, Again, according to the epic version, not with the help of strength and valor, but using natural ingenuity and cunning. The character of this epic hero is distinguished not only by courage and daring, but also by unbridled youthful recklessness, adventurism, sharpness of statements and some thoughtlessness of actions. The battle with the Polovtsian Khan Tugorkan turned into victory and glory for Alyosha, later folk storytellers created their own mythological version this event, in which the khan was turned into a snake-like monster, defeated by Russian ingenuity, cunning, and, of course, courage.

The famous hero was seen in many internecine conflicts and battles of that time, he died in May 1223 on the Kalka River as a participant historical battle united forces of the Slavs and Polovtsy against the Mongol-Tatar army.