Nature in the "Tale of Igor's Campaign". Description of Russian nature in a poem

"The word about Igor's regiment" is, of course, one of the most significant works in all of Old Russian literature. The image of nature in the artistic system of the poem plays a very important role. In this article we will talk about it in detail.

Double function of nature

Nature in the "Tale of Igor's Campaign" is characterized by the fact that it performs a dual function. She, on the one hand, lives her own life. The creator of the poem describes the landscape that surrounds the heroes. On the other hand, it is a means of expressing author’s thoughts, his attitude to what is happening.

Nature is a living being.

When reading the description of nature in the "Word on Igor's Regiment", we understand that the author perceives the world around him poetically. He refers to her as a living being. The author endows nature with qualities that are characteristic of man. In his image, she reacts to events, perceives the surrounding world. In the “Tale of Igor’s Regiment,” nature is a separate hero. Since her image is a peculiar means by which the author expresses her thoughts, she is, as it were, a supporter and ally of the Russian troops. We see how nature "worries" for the people. When Igor was defeated, she mourns with this hero. The author writes that the tree bowed to the ground, that the grass dropped.

The union of man and nature

In the work of interest to us, the boundaries between man and nature are erased. People are often compared with animals and birds: cuckoo, raven, falcon, tour. It is difficult to name a work where changes in nature and events in people's lives would be so closely intertwined. And this unity strengthens the drama, the significance of what is happening. The union of man and nature, unfolded with great power in a work, is a poetic union. For the author, nature is an inexhaustible source of poetic means and a kind of musical accompaniment that gives the action a strong poetic sound.

Description of the second battle

The description of the second battle in the work “The Word of Igor’s Regiment” is an excerpt in which a detailed image of nature is presented. The author notes that “bloody dawns” appeared, that “black clouds” are coming from the sea, in which “blue lightning flutters”. He concludes: "Be to the great thunder!" Reading the "Word of Igor’s Regiment" (excerpt on the second battle), we feel the author’s emotional tension. We understand that defeat cannot be avoided. This point of view on current events is the result of the political views of the creator of the poem. And they consisted in the fact that the Russian troops could defeat the Polovtsians only by uniting. You cannot act alone.

Nature is the highest power

It should be noted that nature in the “Word on Igor’s Regiment” acts as a kind of higher power capable of predicting events and also managing them. For example, before Igor went on a campaign, she warned the Russian troops about the danger threatening them. The author writes: "The sun will defend him in a dark way."

How nature participates in what is happening

Not only to reflect events and warnings about danger, nature is used in the "Word on Igor's Regiment". She is in the work and an active participant in what is happening. With a request for help to nature turns Yaroslavna. In her, she sees her assistant and protector. Yaroslavna asks the "bright and bright" Sun, Dnieper and Wind to help Igor to escape from captivity. The princess, turning to them, is trying to dispel grief, find peace of mind. Crying Yaroslavna is a kind of spell addressed to the forces of nature. The princess encourages them to serve Igor, her "dear fret."

And nature in the "Word of Igor's Campaign" responds to this request. She actively helps her husband Yaroslavna to escape. Donets lays the prince with green grass on the banks, cherishes him on his own waves. He dresses Igor with warm mists, hiding under the canopy of trees. With the help of nature, the prince safely escapes. Woodpeckers show him the way, and nightingales sing songs to Igor. Thus, the Russian nature in the "Word on Igor's Regiment" helps the prince.

Donets, despite the defeat of the prince’s troops, justifies and glorifies this hero. When he returns from captivity, the author notes that "the sun shines in heaven."

Color symbolism

Symbolism of color plays an important role in the description of nature. It helps us to reveal its semantic meaning. The colors prevailing in the image of a landscape have a certain psychological burden. For the Middle Ages as a whole, the perception of color as a symbol is characteristic. In icon painting, this manifested itself very vividly, but in literature it was reflected. Black, for example, is used to portray tragic events. It symbolizes darkness, is a manifestation of the forces of evil. Blue is a heavenly color. In the works of ancient Russian literature, he personifies the higher forces.

Blue clouds and black lightning tell us that darkness is coming. They testify to the hopelessness of the situation of Prince Igor. Blue at the same time acts as a kind of sign from above. Suffering, blood symbolizes red. That is why the author uses it to describe nature during the battle and after it. Green symbolizes tranquility, and silver symbolizes joy and light. Therefore, the author uses them, depicting the escape of Prince Igor.

Expression of the author’s thoughts

The description of nature in the “Tale of Igor’s Regiment” helps the author to express poetically and vividly his political views, his thoughts. When Igor decides to hike arbitrarily, nature gives a negative assessment to this decision. She seemed to go over to the side of the enemy. During the escape of Igor, who is in a hurry to "bring his guilty head" to Prince Svyatoslav of Kiev, nature helps him. She joyfully greets him when he manages to get to Kiev.

One of the best works of Old Russian literature is "The Word of Igor's Campaign". The image of Russian nature presented in it testifies to the great artistic skill and talent of the author. The picture of the Polovtsian steppe, vividly depicted by him, is evidence that the work was created by its eyewitness, possibly even a participant in the campaign of Igor.