Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin is one of the most famous Russian writers of the mid-19th century. His works are written in the form of fairy tales, but their essence is far from so simple, and the meaning does not lie on the surface, as in ordinary children's counterparts.
About the work of the author
Studying the work of Saltykov-Shchedrin, one can hardly find at least one children's fairy tale in it. In his writings, the author often uses such a literary device as the grotesque. The essence of the reception is a strong exaggeration, bringing to the point of absurdity both the images of the characters and the events that happen to them. Therefore, the works of Saltykov-Shchedrin may seem creepy and too cruel even to an adult, not to mention children.
One of the most famous works of Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin is the fairy tale "Selfless Hare". In it, as in all his creations, a deep meaning is laid. But before you begin the analysis of the Saltykov-Shchedrin fairy tale "The Selfless Hare", you need to remember its plot.
Plot
The tale begins with the main character, the hare, running past the wolf’s house. The wolf calls out to the hare, calls him to him, however, he does not stop, but adds more to the move. Then the wolf catches up with him and blames the fact that the hare did not obey the first time. Forest predator leaves him near the bush and says that he will eat in 5 days.
And the hare ran to his bride. Here he sits, counts the time to death and sees that the bride’s brother hurries to him. The brother tells how the bride is sick, and this conversation is heard by a wolf and a she-wolf. They go out into the street and report that they will release the hare to the intended one to say goodbye. But with the condition that he returns to eat in a day. And the future relative will remain with them for the time being and, if not returned, will be eaten. If the hare comes back, then perhaps they will be pardoned.
The hare runs to the bride and runs quickly enough. He tells her and her family his story. I don’t want to return, but the word is given, and the hare never breaks the word. Therefore, having said goodbye to the bride, the hare runs back.
He runs, and on his way there are different obstacles, and he feels that he does not have time in time. From this thought he fights off with all his might and only adds to the move. He gave his word. In the end, the hare barely manages to save the bride’s brother. And the wolf tells them that until they eat them, let them sit under the bush. Maybe when he has mercy.
Analysis
In order to give a complete picture of the work, you need to analyze the tale "Selfless Hare" according to the plan:
- Characteristic era.
- Features of the author.
- Characters.
- Symbolism and imagery.
The structure is not universal, but it allows you to build the necessary logic. Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin, whose analysis of the fairy tale “The Selfless Hare” is necessary to carry out, often wrote works on topical topics. So, in the XIX century the topic of dissatisfaction with the tsarist government and oppression by the government was very relevant. This must be taken into account when analyzing the Saltykov-Shchedrin fairy tale "The Selfless Hare".
Different strata of society reacted differently to power. Someone supported and tried to join, someone, on the contrary, tried with all his might to change the current situation. However, most people were enveloped in blind fear, and they could do nothing but obey. This is what Saltykov-Shchedrin wanted to convey. Analysis of the fairy tale "The Selfless Hare" should begin with the goal of showing that the hare symbolizes the very last type of people.
People are different: smart, stupid, courageous, cowardly. However, all this does not matter if they do not have the strength to repulse the oppressor. In the image of a hare, the wolf makes fun of a noble intelligentsia, which shows its honesty and devotion to the one who oppresses them.
Speaking about the image of the hare, which Saltykov-Shchedrin described, the analysis of the tale "Selfless Hare" should explain the motivation of the protagonist. The word hare is an honest word. He could not break it. However, this leads to the fact that the life of a hare collapses, because he shows his best qualities in relation to the wolf, who initially acted cruelly with him.
The hare is not guilty of anything. He just ran to the bride, and the wolf arbitrarily decided to leave him under the bush. Nevertheless, the hare steps over itself to keep this word. This leads to the fact that the whole family of hares remains unhappy: the brother did not manage to show courage and escape from the wolf, the hare could not help but return in order not to break his word, and the bride was left alone.
Output
Saltykov-Shchedrin, whose analysis of the fairy tale “The Selfless Hare” was not so simple, described the reality of his time in his grotesque manner. Indeed, there were a lot of such hare people in the 19th century, and this problem of unrequited obedience greatly impeded the development of Russia as a state.
Finally
So, it was an analysis of the fairy tale "Selfless Hare" (Saltykov-Shchedrin), according to a plan that can be used to analyze other works. As you can see, a seemingly simple fairy tale turned out to be a bright caricature of the people of that time, and its meaning lies deep inside. In order to understand the work of the author, you need to remember that he never writes anything for nothing. Every detail in the plot is needed so that the reader understands the deep meaning that is inherent in the work. This is what is interesting for the tales of Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin.