"Taras Bulba": genre of work and features

The work "Taras Bulba", the genre of which is the subject of this review, is one of the most famous works of the famous writer N. Gogol. The book was published in 1842 (however, before that, it underwent significant editorial revision). The story takes place in the first half of the 17th century, among the Zaporozhye Cossacks.

Historical realities

The work "Taras Bulba", whose genre, as a rule, is defined as a historical story, has some references to specific historical facts of the struggle of the Ukrainian people against the Poles.

So, it is considered that the prototype of the main character was one of the supporters of B. Khmelnitsky, who also had several sons. Working on the manuscript, the writer carefully studied historical sources, in particular, those works that were devoted to Zaporozhye Cossacks.

Features

Some researchers see the features of the historical novel in the story "Taras Bulba". The genre of the work, however, is not so difficult to define due to the fact that it is quite complex both in terms of design and in the plot.

In the book, despite its small volume, there are features of epic literature: this can be seen from the description of scenes of folk life, nature, life of Cossacks. In some places, the author resorts to an exalted and even somewhat solemn speech, which resembles ancient Old Russian legends. This differs from the story in the usual sense of the word book "Taras Bulba". The genre of the composition is very similar to the great historical prose, because in it history serves not just as a background of action, but is part of the plot itself.

The image of the hero in the context of the historical background

The focus of Gogol's attention is the liberation movement of the Zaporozhye Cossacks, who with arms in their hands oppose the Poles. The protagonist is the spokesman of the national spirit. Therefore, the writer paid so much attention to his character. This character turned out to be so convincing and reliable that it seemed to come off the pages of ancient chronicles and chronicles. According to the famous literary critic V. Belinsky, this hero became the personification of all the best features of the common people of the epoch in question, which once again brings this work closer to a major historical novel.

Features of the plot

When studying at the school lessons of this work among students, known difficulties can raise the question of which genre ("Taras Bulba" is an epic in spirit narration) from this book.

A small volume and a condensed plot give grounds to say that this is a story. However, the story told by the author develops on a very epic background of the national liberation movement, which captures large masses of the people. In this context, the writer reveals large-scale events of the past, which cover a wide layer of historical facts. Gogol in his hero embodied the whole social strata that were drawn into the war with Poland, and the tragedy that occurred with the main actors is the personification of the drama of the whole people of the time under consideration.

Idea

The question of which genre of the work "Taras Bulba", allows you to disclose the idea of the author. Gogol sought to show his characters in the context of history. Characters are inseparable from the events that occur, they form a single whole with them. Therefore, actors can not be imagined in a different entourage, in a different setting, except in the 17th century. The main idea, which runs through the whole work, is the idea of deep patriotism and love for the Motherland. The writer shows it through the behavior of the characters, their speech, as well as actions during the war.

These features give the product a similarity to the historical epic. In the story, the main stage of the action is the wide steppe open spaces, which, in their description, resemble ancient Russian tales and songs about the heroes. The very language of the book is very similar to the epic syllable. Therefore, when it comes to the genre of the work "Taras Bulba", it is always necessary to make a reservation that it is not an ordinary story in the usual sense of the word. When answering this question, one always needs to make a reservation that the work is very close in spirit to the people's historical epic.