The thought “Death of Yermak”, the analysis of which is given in this article, is one of the most famous and popular works of the Russian poet of the XIX century Kondraty Ryleev. It is dedicated to several personalities significant for Russian history, as well as important events that have had an impact on the course of our history. In this article, we will recap the summary of this poem and analyze it.
Summary
Analysis of "Ermak's Death" will help you to understand in detail what the author wanted to say, for which he wrote his work. This thought was included in the collection of the poet, which he devoted to personalities and events that are significant for our history. In the poem "The Death of Yermak" Kondraty Ryleyev tells about the death of the famous chieftain of the Cossack army. He played an important role in the conquest of the Siberian Khanate, expanding the borders of the Russian state to the east.
A brief analysis of this work will help us to make a qualitative analysis of Ryleyev’s Duma “Death of Ermak”. It begins with the fact that the defeated Kuchum Khan flees from the battlefield, but the eastern ruler does not despair, dreaming to still find a way to destroy Yermak’s squad. One summer August night, he decides to attack the Cossack camp, which is located near the Irtysh River.
Ryleyev vividly describes the raging nature that night: a storm broke out, heavy rain falls, thunders thunder, and lightnings sparkle, of terrible force, the wind literally knocks people down.
Meeting with Ermak
On such a night, all Cossacks sleep, except for Yermak himself. At this time, he was sitting on the banks of the Irtysh River in deep thought. His thoughts are preoccupied with memories of past feats accomplished by him, as well as the search for the washed away life. Ermak is trying to understand why all this was done.
Indeed, many of his associates who went to conquer Siberia are in the past ordinary robbers who were threatened with hard labor or the death penalty. Having gone east with him, they, in fact, extract gold and jewelry, raiding with the approval of Ivan the Terrible. Therefore, according to Ermak, their past crimes are washed away by their own and enemy blood, we can assume that they are rehabilitated for them.
For the analysis of Ryleyev’s Duma “The Death of Yermak”, it is important that the main character himself considers the main thing in their life that they do not spare themselves for the glory of the Fatherland. He does the same. They are so fearless that they are not afraid of death, this is their key merit to the country. Therefore, now that they have atoned for their sins, it turns out that it was not in vain that they lived life in this world. It was precisely such thoughts that occupied Yermak when he was sitting on the very shore, not even suspecting that mortal danger hung over him. Near death is not only him, but also his comrades.
Fight with the Cossacks
When, finally, Yermak falls asleep on a rainy night with his squad, Khan Kuchum prepares to attack the Cossacks. Their shuttles are fighting on the banks of the Irtysh, and at this time the warriors of the khan neatly make their way to the Cossack camp. Tatars are ready to join the battle.
For the Ermak Cossacks, everything happened so suddenly that none of them even managed to draw a sword. Almost everyone was killed instantly, struck by the suddenness of this attack. For them there was only one way to salvation - to retreat towards the raging Irtysh.
In an attempt to get to the rescue shuttle, Yermak himself dies. He managed to run to the river, but could not reach the boat because of the heavy armor presented to him by the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible. They deprived him of his last strength to fight the elements.
Historical context
Analysis of Ryleyev’s poem "The Death of Yermak" must begin with the fact that the work was written in 1821. Over time, it became a popular song among the people, containing an attractive poetic liberty.
Of course, the fiction itself lacks fiction. In fact, the development of Siberia by Ermak was one of the most important events in Russian history of that time. The colonization of Siberia undertaken by Ivan the Terrible played a decisive role in expanding the borders of the Russian state.
True, much remains unknown to historians: the exact dates of the campaign and even the biography of Yermak himself. He was probably about 40-50 years old during a trip to Siberia. This conclusion can be drawn from the stories of elderly Cossacks. They argue that when they first entered the service, Yermak was already the leader of the stanitsnikov and had the rank of chieftain. To reach such a rank in the Cossack environment was possible in about 25 years.
King's gift
We continue the analysis of Ryleyev’s poem "The Death of Yermak." The most striking episode is the death of the protagonist due to the armor that the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible gave him. Interestingly, Ryleyev did not invent this myth himself. It was based on chronicles in which the Cossacks were presented in an inappropriate light. In particular, one of the compilers of the annals claimed that during the last night battle, the Cossacks rushed to their boats, loaded with booty, leaving their chieftain on the shore.
Now about the armor. In reality, Ivan the Terrible did not give Yermak a carapace. According to documents, the tsar paid only money and cloth to the Cossacks. Yermak and other chieftains were handed more gold coins. In addition, during the campaigns, the soldiers put on heavy shells just before the battle. Therefore, Ermak could not sleep in him, and putting on him during a sudden attack of the Tatars simply would not have had enough time.
The birth of a legend
In the analysis of the thought “Death of Yermak,” it is important that the work is largely based on folk legends.
Most likely, in the detachment of Cossacks, which was actually attacked by the Tatars, there were no more than a hundred people. They stopped for the night on the banks of the Irtysh, and by night a storm broke out. The noise of the August rain drowned out all the sounds, so it was so easy for the attackers to get to the Cossack camp itself.
The Tatars have long been watching their movements, wanting revenge, finally seized the moment. Those of the Cossacks who survived after this attack did not like to recall this episode.
Duma Analysis
In this lyrical work, Ryleyev reflects on the duty of every citizen to his Fatherland, which should also be given to those who are engaged in frankly dishonest affairs. This is important to consider when analyzing the poem "The Death of Yermak." The poet brings his vision of courage and patriotism. Also in this poem, the idea of fate, the predestination of everything that happens, clearly sounds.
Do not forget that Ryleyev was a Decembrist poet. So the analysis of “Ermak's Death” needs to be done without forgetting about it, then you can interpret his lines in this way: the duty to the Motherland and the monarch did not mean the same thing to him. The king was the embodiment of imprisonment, because it was because of the armor that Ermak died as a result. And the Cossacks are fighting not for the freedom and well-being of their land, but because of the king’s desire to seize new lands and expand the boundaries of their possessions.
Such an analysis of "Ermak's Death" should help you figure out what this work is really about.