"A tale of Woe-Socastee": summary. "A tale of Woe-Socastee": analysis, characteristics of the protagonist

“a Tale of Woe-Socastee" - ancient work whose author remained unknown. It was about this literary memo will be discussed in the article. We will look at its summary, we present the analysis and analyze the image of the protagonist.

About

The history of the discovery of the novel is very unusual. Up to 1856, no one had heard of. “a Tale of Woe-Socastee”, the contents of which will be discussed below, was accidentally found by academician A. N. By pipesim when he studied the manuscripts of M. N. Pogodin, who collected folk tales and not only.

The Work was dated to the 17th century. It turned out to be a lot of new and unusual for ancient literature what is a hero without a name, the people's verse and language, with particular respect to the moral values and spiritual choice of the person.

“a Tale of Woe-Socastee”: short contents

The work Begins with the biblical story, namely the fall of Adam and eve. Thus, the author enters their story in the world in religious terms. Then compares the Lord, who, angry at people, pointed out to them the way to salvation, with parents who are raising their children, punish them.

Here comes the main character “Story” - well done. Parents are taught from childhood by his wits. They instruct my son never to go to feasts, not much to drink, beware of fools who ignore the temptresses, not to take other people's things, not to cheat, choosing friends, look at their credibility and dedication, not praise.

All the counsel and blessing of the parents are reduced to the following traditional way of life. To live well, you need to follow the precepts of their ancestors and not to cut ties with family and traditions.

How to live good?

The man from “the tale of Woe-Socastee” against the grain to follow the advice of their parents. He wants to live his mind. The author explains this by the desire of the hero that he was still young and stupid, not seen and not know life. It is the lack of life experience causes him to contradict her parents.

Guided only by their own free will, good for making new friends. One of them he was so close that he began to call brother. It is this “brother” and called a fellow to the nearest restaurant. Hero, listening to the sweet voice of a trusted friend, many drinks and gets drunk quickly. Booze ended up being done fell asleep in a tavern.

What turns credulity?

It was Hard for the good of “the tale of Woe-Socastee” the next morning. While the hero slept, he was robbed. “True friends" left him with only worn-out bast shoes (“lapotko-tapochki”) and rags (“gunka tavern”). Deceived, he wants to go to “friends”, but it is not allowed. No one wants to help good. The hero is ashamed, conscience could not allow him to return home to his parents, to his ‘kith”.

In the end, he decides to go to distant countries. In their wanderings, he accidentally falls into a town. There he wanders into a yard in which there is a feast. Getting to know new people, now done be “written doctrine”, that is, following the science parents. This behavior is very much to the owners. So the hero is invited to the table and begin to eat.

However, the fun was done at the feast. And after some time, he still recognized the new people that disobeyed his parents and now he was ashamed to return to him. He also asked Council how now to live and what to do on the wrong side. Good people recommended to live according to traditional laws, that is, to follow the precepts of his father and mother. Wisdom in the centuries-old experience of their ancestors.

Life on the advice of senior

Now it all becomes the good of “the tale of Woe-Socastee”. Appeared to him happiness through the understanding of the wisdom of the ancestors and obedience to father and mother. Now he lives skillfully, so quickly makes a fortune and finds himself a good wife. The case moves to the wedding. However, there are good spoils everything – he begins to brag to the guests with everything that have achieved. The author deplores this act of his character – a commendable words are always "rotten".

Boasting of the hero hears a Grief-Socastee and then decides to let the hero. From that moment everywhere it relentlessly follows the good. Incites to guzzle it all acquired property in pubs, because heaven only “naked, barefoot not being driven”. Good starts listening to the Grief-Locascio and goes to the pub, where he pulls all his money.

Just completely ruined the hero catches on and begins to think about how to get rid of his Intrusive companion. The first idea that comes to his mind, is the thought of suicide. But the young man fails to drown herself in the river. Hero is on the shore, where it awaits the Mountain-Locatie. Sweet words it forces the good to finally submit to his will.

The End

Nearing the end of the summary. “a Tale of Woe-Socastee”, in essence, a cautionary tale about how life itself punishes those who ignore the precepts of their elders. That is why the fellow was in such a difficult situation.

However, once again fate gives the hero the opportunity for salvation. And this time he is helped by kind people. Carriers across the river had heard the story of the boy, pitied him, warmed and fed. These same people forwarded it to the other side and goodbye, give advice – to go to the parents and ask their blessing.

However, once the hero is left alone, again there is a Mount-Socastee and begins his pursuit. To get rid of an unwanted companion, fellow turns into a Falcon. But Grief does not retreat and becomes the Falcon. The hero turns into a pigeon and an ego the satellite becomes a hawk; the man - wolf, the Mountain turns into a pack of hounds; hero becomes a feather, a Grief-Socastee turns into a scythe, well done will result in the fish, Sorrow pursues him with a net.

Finally, in desperation, the fellow returns to her human form. But here a Grief-Socastee next to him. Now it inspires the hero's thoughts about the robbery and murder that he was convicted and drowned or hanged.

Resisted for a Long time done, and then decided to go get a haircut in monks. Once the character crosses the door of the monastery, the Mountain behind him. He has no road beyond the gate of the Holy temple.

“a Tale of Woe-Socastee”: analysis and genre originality

In the 17th century were widespread small instructive narrative. They still had no clear genre characteristics, combining only the moral theme. The authors of these works appealed in search of a story to folk tales, ritual and lyric songs, jokes. It is to this species of ancient literature refers to “a Tale of Woe-Socastee" (a brief summary is proof of this).

These appliances for the First time the story moved away from medieval conventions in depicting people and events. Particular attention was paid to the individual, there are signs of psychologism in the image characters. The authors first introduced a few conflicts, including domestic, used ethnographic material, paid attention to the social actions of the characters.

Simultaneously, increased the folklore trend. For example, in “the Tale”, in addition to the national language, there are fairy-tale elements: good turns to animals, attempting to escape from Grief.

Folklore

“a Tale of Woe-Socastee” (the summary is a good example) is permeated with folk imagery and symbolism. The author himself constantly uses the techniques of folk-song language, uses the folk epithets and repetitions: “earth”, “daring", etc.

However, “Story...” has innovative elements of the literature of the 17th century. For example, the author is sympathetic to his hero. However, in the work there is no clear Chronicles, no specific places and geographical names are not marked and time. Even the hero remains nameless.

Pictures of home

“a Tale of Woe-Socastee” abounds with image of life of the people, that draws a full household background against which the actions unfold. Thus, the values of the world "Story..." becomes clear from the teachings of the parents of the boy, the gumption commercial people, moral teachings “good people” and household tips. Despite the fact that all this creates a picture of the moral values of the Russian people and its life, in the text there is no hint of the historical specificity of the events described. The reader is given no clues to understand what time the story unfolds.

Pictures of life are supplemented with additional ethnographic detail, although not very numerous: “tavern yard" description "fair feast”. Also referred to as garments: “Chery" (shoes), “gunka tavern”, “lapotko”, “expensive ports”.

The world, however, is portrayed using only folklore elements: “foreign country” no geographical names, “castle”, “hut”, “high tower" etc.

Pseudo-Socastee

First and foremost, a cautionary tale "a Tale of Woe-Socastee”. Grief came to work the very same force that punishes a man for unrighteous deeds, of his declining to even worse acts. In this way embodied the people's understanding of grief. In the folklore of the destiny of man is often presented in this way. That is, at its core, it contains an educational function.

In addition, in the folk songs of Grief is even credited with heroic traits(e.g., voice) that indicates the performance and protective functions. We can say that the Grief as the protector of the human soul. So, a Grief-Socastee forcing the young man to leave the monastery, renouncing the worldly life. However, to obtain deliverance from suffering, you must pass a certain test – not to yield to the persuasion of Grief and start to do even worse acts.

Character

The Main character “the tale of Woe-Socastee’ - well that has no name, which indicates the typicality of the character. He is not unique in its kind - of people like him in the people set. From the narrative it becomes clear that this is a forked character, tending to good deeds, then bad. However, the author is inclined to sympathize with his character, despite his sins.

Character ‘tale of Woe-Socastee” is endowed with a rich inner world, he is at a crossroads. The reader sees his inner world and mental anguish. Highly depicts the desperate fellow when Grief drove him to starvation and poverty. However, little faults of character for which he carries such a severe penalty, forcing the reader to sympathize with him.

Thus, the genre of domestic novels, which also includes this work had a great influence on the development of the entire Russian literature, thanks to the refusal from the canonical traditions and inclusion in the narrative of the new elements.