The Caucasus, with its pristine beauty, has repeatedly attracted Russian poets, but, perhaps, the theme of the beauty of southern nature was most clearly manifested in the works of Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov. Having visited the outskirts of Pyatigorsk for the first time at the age of ten, he was forever intoxicated by the majestic beauty of Mount Mashuk, at the foot of which he died before reaching the full 28 years of age.

When Lermontov was traveling along the Georgian Military Road in 1837, studying local tales and legends, in Mtskheta he came across a lonely monk, an old monastery servant, “beri” in Georgian. He told the poet his story about how once, as a highlander, at the age of seven he was captured by the Russian general Ermolov, but due to illness he was left within the walls of the monastery, where the boy grew up.

At first he could not get used to life in the monastery; he repeatedly tried to escape to the mountains, but almost died during one such attempt. Having been cured, he became attached to the old monk, and remained in the monastery, having been ordained.

The hero's story made a huge impression on Lermontov: he decided to write a poem about it, but replaced the hero's original name "beri", which means "monk", with Mtsyri- that is, “non-serving monk.” However, this word in Georgian also meant “alien”, “stranger”, a lonely person without relatives and friends.

This is how a romantic poem appeared, the main character of which was a young man who not only challenged his previous existence, but also lost his life because of it. The plot of the poem simple: the captive boy was raised in a Georgian monastery and is already preparing to become a monk. But during a terrible storm he found himself outside the walls of his eternal abode. He disappeared for three days, but when he was found on the fourth day weak and almost dying and transferred again to the monastery, he could not live as before and died.

In fact, the entire poem is a confession in which the boy tells what happened to him in these three days. However, one cannot dare to call Mtsyri’s monologue a confession: the young man’s passionate story is not at all imbued with a feeling of repentance, and the hero does not intend to talk about the sinfulness of his thoughts and beg forgiveness for them from the Almighty. Rather, it is more reminiscent of a sermon, because while defending his right to freedom and the happiness associated with it, Mtsyri denies the foundations of religious morality: “stuffy cells and prayers”, "dark walls", in which the hero grew up - “a child at heart, a monk by destiny”.

He understands that he was deprived of everything: his fatherland, home, friends, relatives - in a word, everything that ordinary people who grew up outside the walls of the monastery have. He challenged fate and, on a stormy night, dared to escape without a shudder. Mtsyri is fearless and even in the face of death says:

The grave doesn't scare me...

Such fearlessness is born of the strength of his desires. The desire for freedom is prompted by the proud ridge of the Caucasus mountains, conducting a conversation with the sky. Need "to go to one's native country" exacerbated by loneliness, desire “at least for a moment press the burning chest” to my dear breast. The three days Mtsyri spent in freedom transformed him. During this short period of life, he learned the happiness of love, the price of human life, and the feeling of freedom. Now he has the strength to enter into an argument with the old man who came to listen to confession.

Obviously, the central part of the poem was supposed to represent some kind of dispute: on the one hand, the monk’s humility, rejection of earthly joys and hope in a mythical other life, and on the other, the thirst for struggle, the desire for freedom, protest against church slavery, rebellion against the orders sanctified in the name of God.

But there is no argument, because only Mtsyri speaks. He constantly turns to his interlocutor, encourages him to answer questions, but he doesn’t seem to listen to him, because at that moment he is able to hear only what is going on in his soul. The young man is so full of discoveries that he is unable to express all his feelings. There, behind the wall, the world opened up for Mtsyri as a web of trials. The delight of an embrace with a thunderstorm is replaced by silence, in which the cry of a jackal and the rustling of a snake can be heard. But the hero is devoid of fear of nature, because at this moment he is himself a part of nature.

Not by chance the climax of the poem becomes a fight with a leopard. Alone against a predator, unarmed, Mtsyri turns out to be stronger than the beast, because he is controlled not just by the instinct of self-preservation - the meeting with the leopard inspires the hero. He gives all his strength, wins, but in his soul he recognizes the strength of the defeated beast:

He faced death face to face
As a fighter should in battle! ...

Returning to the monastery destroys Mtsyri’s faith that he will find the path to freedom and homeland. He names his desires "a dream game, a disease of the mind". And the loss of faith calls the hero to death. This idea is where the tragedy of the author’s perception lies: Lermontov was sure that heroes devoted to freedom die in the struggle for it, since they cannot live without it.

This is the main sign of a romantic hero - without freedom he dies. Therefore, such a romantic hero is called exceptional, but he acts according to the same formula romanticism, in exceptional circumstances. Exceptionalism is also manifested in the fact that Mtsyri, before his death, blames only himself for his inability to achieve the desired freedom for himself. But the thought of heavenly paradise, which he could receive if he parted with his idea, does not appeal to him:

Alas! - for a few minutes
Between steep and dark rocks
Where did I play as a child?
I would change heaven and eternity...

Mtsyri dies unknown, but not defeated. His name, even after a century and a half, delights millions of admirers of the talent of Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov.

In the article we will talk about the analysis of “Mtsyri”. This is a work that is studied in school. It is very useful for children, as it allows them to look at many things from a different perspective. In the article we will analyze history and try to draw conclusions.

History of creation

Before we talk about the analysis of “Mtsyri”, let’s talk about the history of its creation. The author's idea appeared back in 1831. Then 17-year-old Lermontov thought a lot about the fate of his friend the monk, who was languishing in the monastery. The young creator was also influenced by the impressions he received after visiting the Caucasus and becoming acquainted with its folklore. By the way, he visited there for the first time in early childhood with his grandmother. Traveling along the roads of the Caucasus, Lermontov met an old man.

He lived in a monastery and told his story. The monk told how he was captured as a child and had to live in a monastery. He attempted to escape more than once, as he was a highlander and wanted to return to his interesting life. However, these attempts ended in failure, and he returned to the walls of the monastery. Finally, he became very ill, grew old, but became painfully attached to one monk. Thus, he decided to lead a quieter life and come to terms with his fate. Lermontov heard this story and decided to remember it, just modify it a little.

Please note that the date on the poem is 1839. This means that it was in this year that the author completed his work. A year later it was published. By the way, the draft version was called “Beri”, which means “monk” in Georgian. But “mtsyri” means “novice”. We also note that the analysis of the work “Mtsyri”, which will be presented below, conveys not only the superficial outline of the story, but also its deep meaning. The theme of such a person’s struggle with circumstances is Lermontov’s favorite. He valued this work very much and read it out loud more than once.

Creative method and genre

Let us note that the genre of the poem was Lermontov’s favorite. In total, he wrote about thirty poems, of which he published only three. These works of the author were complex in nature, often representing the ideals of the heroes and the lyrical worldview. Thus, Lermontov painted a psychological portrait of a personality not just from a distance and from the outside, but in the very thick of all events. By the way, let's not forget that in the 30s the main object of the image was a person who faces the world and the romantic conflicts that arise. Considering all the characteristic features of the poem we are describing, you can see that it also has lyrical notes.

Peculiarities

An analysis of Lermontov's poem “Mtsyri” shows a real contradiction between harsh reality and ideals. To do this, the author uses symbolic images and confessional narration.

Let's consider the image of Mtsyri himself. He has a solid character and romantic traits. Thanks to confession, we can understand his inner world and psychology. Note that the epigraph is the key to understanding this work. Lermontov cited a phrase from a biblical legend, where a son violated his father’s prohibition not to eat until the evening.

Subject

An analysis of the poem “Mtsyri” by Lermontov shows that there is a lot of common sense and imagery here. Definitions and interpretations are very diverse, but they are all rational. Moreover, each of them expresses some part of Lermontov’s plan.

We are considering the story of a man who dies from the thirst for life in a monastery that is contrary to him. By the way, in this work Lermontov expressed his attitude towards the war in the Caucasus and the fate of many young people. Thus, we understand that the poem is not just figurative - it directly concerns the author’s contemporaries. At the same time, he very harmoniously combines the image of the Motherland and Freedom into a single whole. The main character is ready to give up all benefits for the sake of his native land. The desire to leave the walls of the monastery and break free dooms the martyr to loneliness. He has to make difficult choices, and he cannot reconcile the two principles within himself. All the topics that were touched upon in the work in one way or another characterize M. Lermontov himself.

Idea

An analysis of the poem “Mtsyri” shows that it is full of rebellious pathos. In all speeches and monologues one can hear the voice of a person who feels his own fortitude and confidence. According to some critics, Mtsyri is an ideal for M. Lermontov himself.

However, in the modern world, the philosophical meaning of the poem is manifested much more clearly, rather than rebellious pathos. Monastic society is far from the highlander, it is alien to him. That is why he wants to return to his cultural environment, which is close to him, but breaking ties with the monks is not so easy. A work of art consists of a person’s struggle for his will. The hero is ready to do anything in the fight for freedom, his ideals and loyalty, even if defeat is coming.

Nature of the conflict

The analysis of Lermontov’s “Mtsyri” is focused exclusively on the romantic aspect. The conflict between the protagonist and the monks is not just a story, it is a deep internal problem. That is why the author very often uses images of wind, earth, birds, animals. In addition, invisible forces even appear that express fate itself. The author's contemporaries noted that his hero was gripped by some unimaginable force, a passion that forced him to act against the accepted orders in society.

This is a very close and characteristic motif in M. Yu. Lermontov’s work, which consists in the struggle between the inner world and cruel reality. We watch how the highlander dreams of freedom, of escape, and what plans he makes for the future. But the tragedy of the protagonist lies in the fact that he rushes between the strength of spirit and the weakness of the body.

Plot and composition

What else can be said about the analysis of Lermontov’s “Mtsyri”? In short, it is based on a romantic story. However, the image of the monastery does not at all symbolize Lermontov’s protest against faith. However, the author believed that true faith does not require walls, black clothes and meager food. To do this, it is enough to be human and live following your heart.

It should be noted that the poem consists of 26 chapters. In some of them, the main character is not only the hero himself, but also the narrator.

The psychology of the hero is revealed to the maximum in the form of confession, which allows you to feel all his feelings. Before this there is a short author’s digression, which allows the reader to pay attention to the historical background of the events described. The plot begins with a scene of escape from the monastery during a thunderstorm. Then we see a fight with a leopard, which is the climax. At the same time, the compositional structure is closed, since the action begins and ends in the monastery. Thus, the author focused on the fate of fate.

Artistic originality

Analysis of the poem “Mtsyri” allows us to reveal the image of a rebel hero who is not prone to half-tones and half-measures. Such characters are very deep and complex, they require special psychological study. Despite this, the mountaineer’s personality is integral and free, he is not at the mercy of any fears or thoughts. But at the same time, for Lermontov, “Mtsyri” was rather a symbol in which he embodied his ideas about what a person and his path should be. We are watching a man who, at any opportunity, is ready to start fighting and defend his interests, even if in the end he only gets a sip of freedom.

An analysis of Lermontov’s “Mtsyri” makes it possible to understand that in fact the author and the hero are very close, and the epigraph is the author’s revelation. The poem delights, as it amazingly combines the voices of the hero and the author, as well as the beautiful Caucasian nature. Poetic images, the most important of which is a thunderstorm, help a correct understanding of history. It expresses not just a natural phenomenon, but the real punishment of God.

An analysis of Lermontov's poem shows that the author enjoys using the means of artistic expression. His favorite technique is comparison. Thanks to him, he emphasizes the image of a highlander, comparing him with reeds or mountains. Also, thanks to the comparison, we can understand the dreaminess of the main character. This artistic technique allows you to feel how close he is to nature and how far from the human world.

Meaning

We carried out the analysis of “Mtsyri” in order to understand the significance of this work. At the same time, it must be said that Lermontov is the largest representative of not only Russian, but also world romanticism. Almost all of his works are defined by romantic pathos. He continued the best traditions of the authors who preceded him. He revealed his poetic talent to the maximum in the poem “Mtsyri”. Analysis of the work allowed us to see that the author himself has high ideals to which he strives. We also note that this poem inspired many generations of creative people.

Summing up the article, I would like to say that analyzing a poem is an interesting, fascinating process that makes you think about eternal values ​​and the value of the individual himself, regardless of the circumstances. Not every person is capable of such fortitude, and it is probably very difficult to acquire this ability; you have to be born that way. However, this is still an unfair statement, since sometimes life allows a person to free himself from unnecessary things and show his will.

“...What a fiery soul, what a mighty spirit, what a gigantic nature this Mtsyri has! This is our poet’s favorite ideal, this is the reflection in poetry of the shadow of his own personality. In everything that Mtsyri says, he breathes with his own spirit, amazes him with his own power...” - this is how the famous Russian critic Belinsky spoke about the poem “Mtsyri”. This work by Lermontov is considered one of the most successful in his work, and is loved by more than one generation of readers. To understand this work more deeply, let’s analyze Lermontov’s “Mtsyri”.

History of creation

The story of the creation of the poem in itself can be a plot for a romantic work, because Lermontov met his hero in the Caucasus. Traveling along the Georgian Military Road in 1837, the poet met an old monk there. He told his life story: captivity, youth in a monastery and frequent attempts to escape. During one of these attempts, the young man got lost in the mountains and almost died, after which he decided to stay in the monastery and take monastic vows. Lermontov listened to this story in fascination. After all, even at the age of 17, he dreamed of writing a poem about a young monk, and now his hero is standing in front of him!

The poem was originally called "Beri", Georgian for "monk". Then Lermontov changed this name to “Mtsyri”, thereby introducing additional meaning, because “Mtsyri” is translated both as “novice” and “stranger”.

Theme and idea of ​​the work

The theme of “Mtsyri” can be defined as a story about the escape of a young novice from the monastery. The work examines in detail the hero's rebellion against everyday life in the monastery and the subsequent death, and also reveals a number of other topics and problems. These are problems of freedom and the struggle for freedom, misunderstanding by others, love for homeland and family.

The pathos of the poem is romantic, here there is a poetic call to fight, and the feat is idealized.

The idea of ​​the poem is ambiguous. At first, critics spoke of “Mtsyri” as a revolutionary poem. Her idea in this case was to always, even in conditions of inevitable defeat, remain faithful to the ideal of freedom and not lose heart. Mtsyri becomes a kind of ideal for revolutionaries: a proud, independent young man who gave his life for his dream of freedom. In addition, Mtsyri is not just eager to be free, he wants to return to his people and, quite possibly, fight with them. “There is only one homeland” - this, later crossed out, epigraph to the manuscript “Mtsyri” fully reflects the author’s attitude to the problem of love for the homeland and the struggle for its freedom, raised in the poem.

Lermontov himself repeatedly spoke about the work “Mtsyri” as a work in which his ideas of freedom were most fully embodied. “Mtsyri” becomes his final work, incorporating other works with similar ideas: “Boyar Orsha”, “Confession”. Their heroes also strive to leave the monastery for freedom, but fail. Without finishing these poems, Lermontov uses lines from them in “Mtsyri”.

However, in modern criticism, when analyzing the poem “Mtsyri” by Lermontov, a rethinking of its idea occurs. It is now considered in a broader, philosophical sense. At the same time, the monastery serves as an image of the world as a prison of the human spirit, from which one cannot easily escape. And having run away, Mtsyri does not find happiness: he has nowhere to return, and the natural world has long become alien to him. The monastic world, symbolizing the world of secular society, poisoned him. “To find out whether we were born into this world for freedom or prison,” is what is important for Lermontov, who is thinking about the fate of his generation. And it is in “Mtsyri” that the answer to the reproach of “Borodino” is heard. Yes, the current generation is not heroes, not heroes, but it, like Mtsyri, was poisoned by prison. Love for nature, for a girl, a desire for battle and daring fun (the episode with the leopard) - all this is not alien to the main character. Had he grown up in different conditions, he would have been an outstanding person: “I could have been in the land of my fathers / Not one of the last daredevils.” The work conveys, on the one hand, the idea of ​​the complexity of the struggle for freedom, and on the other hand, the love of life and will is affirmed as the highest human values.

Genre of the work, composition and nature of the conflict

The work “Mtsyri” belongs to Lermontov’s most favorite genre - the poem. Unlike lyrics, the poem acts as a lyric-epic genre, thanks to which it is possible to characterize the hero through his actions and create his image in more detail. The lyricism of the work is manifested in its plot: the image of Mtsyri’s internal experiences is brought to the fore. The nature of the conflict is romantic, it consists in the internal contradiction of Mtsyri’s desire for freedom and his life spent in captivity. It is easy to understand that the hero’s way of thinking is close to the author. Accordingly, the type of narration in “Mtsyri” is subjective and lyrical, and the work can confidently be called a romantic poem. The poem also has features that are unique to it: most of it is written in the form of a confession. The poem consists of 26 chapters and has a circular composition: the action begins and ends in the monastery. The climactic moment can be called the duel with the leopard - it is at this moment that Mtsyri’s rebellious character is fully revealed.

The work contains a very small number of heroes. This is Mtsyri himself and his teacher-monk, who listened to the confession.

Artistic media

A description of the poem “Mtsyri” will be incomplete without considering the artistic means used in it. “Mtsyri” by Lermontov is one of the most figurative works and, accordingly, the volume of artistic expression used is very large. These are, first of all, epithets (dark walls, sweet names, wild youth, lush fields, dark rocks). Also in the poem there are a huge number of comparisons (people are free, like eagles; she, like a worm, lived in me; hugging, like two sisters; I myself, like a beast, was alien to people / and crawled and hid like a snake), metaphors (fight boiled, death will heal them forever), personifications (sleepy flowers died). All paths serve one purpose: they help create a poetic picture of the world surrounding Mtsyri and emphasize the depth of his experiences and their strength.

The poetic organization of the poem also deserves attention. It is written in 4-foot yam with an exclusively masculine paired rhyme (aabb). Because of this, the verse sounds especially clear and courageous, according to critics - like the blows of a sword. Anaphora is often used, and rhetorical questions and exclamations are no less frequent. It is they who give the poem a memorable passion and help to portray Mtsyri as an active, passionate, life-loving hero.

Conclusion

Having given a detailed description of the poem “Mtsyri”, we can confidently call this work one of Lermontov’s most significant creations, which clearly displays his talent. “Mtsyri” served as an inspiration for many paintings, as well as for composers. “Mtsyri” is a beautiful, timeless hymn to the human spirit and freedom.

Work test

Filchenkova Natalya

The student used additional material to write the essay. The essay contains many quotes from the text; one’s own conclusions are drawn from the points of the plan. The image of Mtsyri is fully revealed.

Download:

Preview:

Composition

What is the meaning of Mtsyri’s life?

(based on the poem “Mtsyri” by M.Yu. Lermontov)

Plan

I. What is the meaning of the poem "Mtsyri"?

II. What is the meaning of Mtsyri’s life?

1).Life of Mtsyri in the monastery.

A). What views does monk Mtsyri reject?

B). What did Mtsyri strive for?

IN). Why did he call the monastery a prison?

2).Mtsyri's life in freedom.

A).Communication with nature.

B).Mtsyri’s memories of his father’s house.

IN). What does it mean to live for Mtsyri?

G). Meeting with a beautiful Georgian woman.

D). Fight for life.

E). What is the tragedy of Mtsyri?

AND). Did Mtsyri repent before his death of his

Aspirations and actions?

III. Conclusion.

1).V.G. Belinsky about Mtsyri.

2).My attitude towards Mtsyri.

M.Yu Lermontov's poem “Mtsyri” is directed against religious morality and monastic bondage. The meaning of the poem is to glorify will, courage, struggle, dedication, in a word, all those qualities that are inherent in the hero.

The main character of the poem is a young man who lived his childhood years in captivity. His name is Mtsyri. During confession, he argues with the monk and tells him:

Let the beautiful light now

I hate you: you are weak, you are gray,

And you have lost the habit of desires.

What kind of need? You lived, old man!

From these lines we see how great Mtsyri’s love for life is. But what follows:

I lived little and lived in captivity.

Such two lives in one,

But only full of anxiety,

I would trade it if I could.

We can conclude: all of Mtsyri’s aspirations were directed towards one bright dream - towards freedom, towards that beautiful dream for which he gave his life. He asks the old man:

...you saved me from death -

For what? Gloomy and lonely

A leaf torn off by a thunderstorm,

I grew up in dark walls

A child at heart, a monk at heart.

Mtsyri assures the old monk that no force can subjugate the will and feelings of a freedom-loving mountaineer. There is no way to force him to renounce the world, which attracts him to itself with its wonderful mysteries of nature. The life of a slave for a little Caucasian is like a prison. He could not come to terms with cruel captivity, separation from his homeland, and therefore he was driven by a passion for his native land, but he never thought about revenge on the people who separated him from his native Georgia. Dreaming of his homeland, he was alone among people, and this is the worst thing for a person, especially for a child.

And so, when Mtsyri runs away from the monastery and is left alone with nature, it seems to him that he understands the voices of birds, guesses the thoughts of dark rocks, hears an argument between a pile of stones and a mountain stream, in a word, he understands nature and its feelings. Not finding like-minded people among people, he communicates with nature. And it seems to him that she understands him. Describing nature, the poet wants the reader to imagine picturesque pictures of the Caucasus.

God's garden was blooming all around me;

Rainbow plants outfit

Kept traces of heavenly tears,

And the curls of the vines

Weaving, showing off between the trees

Transparent green leaves.

While observing the beautiful landscapes, Mtsyri heard an unknown voice that told him that his home was located in these parts. And gradually the pictures of his childhood years passed before him more and more clearly. He imagined either his father in combat clothes, or his young sisters bending over his cradle, or living pictures of his native village. And the more he imagined all this, the stronger his desire to return home grew.

Living for Mtsyri means being free and independent. He admits that his life without these three days would be darker than the powerless old age of a monk.

Tell me what's between these walls

Could you give me in return

That friendship is short, but alive,

Between a stormy heart and a thunderstorm?

Mtsyri is happy because he could experience happy moments of connection with nature. Mtsyri is fascinated by the beauty of the beautiful Georgian woman. From all these unknown feelings he loses consciousness. Waking up, the young man sees the girl moving away from the stream and compares her to a slender poplar. And he wanted even more to go to that unknown country.

In the fight against the leopard, Mtsyri shows courage and dedication. After all, he fought not only for his life, but also for his freedom, that is, for his dream. He discovers in himself such qualities as resourcefulness, ingenuity, and the extraordinary strength of a mountaineer, which he inherited. He is confident that, if not for the hand of fate, he “might not have been one of the last daredevils in the land of his fathers.”

Having defeated the leopard, forgetting about the pain, he goes towards his dream. But... shock again. The young man realizes that he has lost his direction and returns to the monastery. Is it really for this that he fought with the leopard, for this he wandered through the thorny thickets? Really, after his dream was almost fulfilled, should he return to the monastery? When he heard the ringing of bells, it seemed to him that this ringing was coming out of his chest, as if someone was striking his heart with an iron. And then the hero realized the terrible truth: he would never return to his homeland. What could be more terrible than this thought for Mtsyri?

The young man compares himself to a prison flower, which was transplanted into the neighborhood of roses, where he died from daylight. But even before his death, Mtsyri asks to be buried in the garden in a place from which the Caucasus is visible. We see that the young highlander has not repented of his dreams and aspirations and is faithful to his dream. Having gone through such a difficult and overwhelming path, Mtsyri does not want to change his views. This is the tragedy of the freedom-loving young man: after living his real life for three days in freedom, he again ends up in a monastery and ... dies, because he cannot live in captivity after taking a breath of the air of freedom.

V.G. Belinsky, reviewing the poem “Mtsyri,” spoke of its hero: “What a fiery soul, what a mighty spirit, what a gigantic nature this Mtsyri has! In everything that Mtsyri says, he breathes his own spirit, amazes him with his own power ... "

Mtsyri attracted me with his courage, boldness, and perseverance. In the most difficult moments of his life, he does not submit to fate and goes towards his dream.