Project in the preparatory group “Heroes of the Russian Land”project (preparatory group)

What are "epics"?

While studying the concept of “epics” on the Internet, I found that epics are Russian folk songs that tell about the heroic deeds of courageous heroes. They often describe heroic events and exploits in which the people took part. The word “epic” means “old times,” that is, something that happened far in the past. The epic as a literary genre is not subject to reliable accuracy.

Epics tell about invincible Russian heroes - and this is also true. Glorifying the heroes, the defenders of the Motherland, the epics called for heroic deeds for the glory of the fatherland, raised the spirit of the people in difficult years of trials, and instilled in their youth love for their native land and hatred for their enemies. The example of invincible heroes instills courage in people, strengthens the sense of duty and honor. There is not a single epic where the hero, a warrior, did not defeat the enemy.

There were a large number of heroes in Rus'. Some were more famous, others less famous. Some were made into films and series of cartoons, while others I only read about in books, and even then in very small stories. I decided to explore the life of three heroes. Two little-known ones, such as Mikula Seljaninovich and Churilo Plenkovic. And one powerful hero about whom legends were made - Ilya Muromets.

They were separated by centuries - Mikula Selyaninovich lived in the 9th century, Ilya Muromets in the 12th century, and Churilo Plenkovich in the 15th century. But when legends are passed down from one generation to another for centuries, they acquire new details, famous characters begin to perform new feats, and time frames gradually blur and shift.

WARRIOR

The image of a female hero is unusual for Russian epics. On the one hand, life in Ancient Rus' inevitably required both strength and ingenuity from the fair sex. On the other hand, the society was rather patriarchal. Therefore, heroic battles and brave deeds were considered more the lot of men than women. However, either as an inheritance from the once existing matriarchal communities, or as a sign of respect for the Russian Maryas and Vasilises, in the Slavic epic you can find several bright heroines who travel around the world to gain military strength for themselves.

Moreover, they have such heroic power that even great warriors do not always manage to cope with them. One of the most striking examples is Nastasya Mikulishna.

Bogatyrs. Who are they?

The epics have preserved for us sketches and stories about the lives of heroes, seemingly fantastic people, but behind these slightly exaggerated characters there are sometimes real people who once lived in Ancient Rus' and won such honor that people began to compose legends about them. It was in the epics that I learned that the warriors of Ancient Rus' were called, in a word, Bogatyr.

The hero is an epic warrior of the Middle Ages, he is also a knight, he is also a warrior. The word “bogatyr” was previously considered Russian. It was assumed that it came from the word "god", through the derivatives of the word "rich", and that it meant a person gifted from above with wonderful supernatural powers and miracles.

But this assumption is not justified by chronicle data. If the word “hero” were of Russian origin, then it would have been used already in ancient Russian chronicles. But instead of it, other words are used in the same sense as the word “hero”: “daring man”, “rezvets”, “brave”[1].

Only in later chronicles does the word “hero” appear, and here it comes, most likely, from the epic epic, from the part of it that depicts the struggle of daredevil heroes with nomads. So, the word “hero”, apparently, was borrowed by our brave men from the Turkic-Mongol nomads, with whom they fought for centuries. According to some data, it becomes clear that this word was finally adopted by the Russians since the era of the Tatar yoke.

In Kievan Rus, the later term “hero” corresponded in meaning to the term “brave”, “brave”, “khorobor”, “khorober”. Originally this word was equivalent to the word "warrior"; then it received a connotation that gave it the meaning of a brave warrior, hero, hero.

You can not only read (learn) about heroes in books, but also see them in paintings.

I met some of them. The most famous heroes today are considered to be those depicted in his painting “Bogatyrs” by V.M. Vasnetsov. This is Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich, Alyosha Popovich.

Mikula Selyaninovich

While reading the book of epics, I really liked the hero Mikula Selyaninovich. Although he is not as famous as Ilya Muromets, he had such courage, courage and great love for his homeland.

Mikula, in addition to being a hero, was also a plowman. Only two epics about Mikula Selyaninovich have survived - “Volga and Mikula Selyaninovich” and “Svyatogor and Mikula Selyaninovich”. Mikula is an ancient and mighty hero. Mikula Selyaninovich is a plowman and peasant, he is the personification of invincible peasant strength. It is impossible to defeat him because his family loves Mother Cheese Earth.

Mikula Selyaninovich possesses two magical objects: a plow and a bag. No one can lift both of these objects. The warriors from Volga’s squad are trying to pull out the plow that Mikula forgot in the ground, but they cannot do it. And the hero himself pulls it out with one hand. But his saddle bag is the most iconic, exemplary, sacred image of his attributes. Even the mightiest of the heroes, Svyatogor, cannot lift the bag that Mikula dropped.

Raising his bag with one hand, Mikula Selyaninovich explains to Svyatogor that his bag contains earthly cravings. I believe that Mikula Selyaninovich is the very personification of the Earth in human form, its masculine principle. Even Mikula’s patronymic, Selyaninovich, says that he did not have a father, he is the son of the peasantry, the son of the people. P.I. Melnikov, a Russian realist writer of the 19th century, a researcher of Russian epics, associated the image of Mikula Selyaninovich with St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. He believed that the holiday of St. Nicholas of the Spring, which is celebrated on May 9, was Mikulin's day.

One can cite as an example the veneration of the Rattled Thunder, which later turned into the honoring of Ilya the Thunderer, and the veneration of Volos - St. Blaise. One of the proofs is the fact that the Greeks did not have a spring holiday of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. That is, the Russians timed it to coincide with Mother’s Day of the Holy Land, May 10. They revered her son Mikula, who, most of all the Russian heroes, was loved by peasants and farmers.

I couldn’t find any exact facts about whether Mikula Selyaninovich was a real person or not. Most likely, the answer to this question should be positive, since Mikula is an epic character, and epics, as you know, reflect historical facts of the distant past, during the time of the great princes. Since there is evidence that famous heroes (Ilya Muromsky, for example) really lived in their time, then Mikula Selyaninovich, in my opinion, must have lived in ancient times and performed feats.

Ilya Muromets

The main character of the Russian epic epic. As the eldest in age, in most stories he leads a squad of Russian heroes. Together with Dobrynya Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich, he is part of the so-called heroic triad.

Ilya Muromets accomplishes many feats; stories associated with him often form an epic cycle. Ilya’s main qualities are strength, courage, wisdom, sobriety, life experience, prudence. The indestructible power of Ilya Muromets and his military skill should warn those who are planning to go to war against Kyiv. He usually defeats enemies alone.

The names mentioned in the epics - Kiev, Chernigov, Bryansk forests, Moroveysk, the Smorodina River (not far from Karachev), the village of Devyatidubye located in the same places (which gave the name to the nine oak trees on which the Nightingale the Robber sat) and the village of the nightingale Perevoz - allow us to say, that Ilya Muromets was born in northeastern Rus'. From the epics you can trace Ilya’s entire life path.

He was born in the village of Karacharovo, located near Murom, into a peasant family. After birth, he could not walk and sat for thirty years and three years. Only after his miraculous healing by the passing Kalikas does Ilya gain “great strength” and get off the stove. Kaliki perform three miracles: they heal Ilya, endow him with unprecedented heroic strength and help him receive a heroic horse and a treasure sword. The Kaliki predict that Ilya must perform heroic feats and that “death is not written in his family.”

When the Kaliki leave, Ilya goes to his father’s field and clears it of “stumps and roots.” Having received the blessing of his parents, Ilya goes to Kyiv. From this day his heroic life begins. On the way, Ilya meets Svyatogor, they compete in strength, Svyatogor wins. The heroes fraternize. Then Svyatogor dies, but manages to transfer his power to Ilya. Only after this does Ilya become a real hero.

He continues his journey to Kyiv and on the way defeats the Nightingale the Robber. Then Ilya accomplishes other feats: he protects Chernigov from enemies, builds a bridge across the Smorodina River. Arriving in Kyiv, Ilya comes to the princely palace. Having shown the Nightingale to the prince, he makes him whistle like a nightingale and kills him. The hero remains in Kyiv, receives an honorable place at the princely table, but refuses, because he believes that his place is with the warriors.

Further stories describe how Ilya reconciles Dobrynya and Danube, who had quarreled, and helps Alyosha Popovich and Duke Stepanovich. In Kyiv - according to other stories in Constantinople - Ilya performs other feats: he defeats Idolishche, protects the city from the soldiers of Tsar Kalin.

The image of Ilya Muromets is associated with the biblical Elijah the Prophet. After death, Ilya Muromets becomes Saint Ilya.

For me, Ilya Muromets is my favorite hero. He is an example of the fact that you need to believe in the best and that healing from bodily ailments is possible.

So who is Ilya Muromets, is this a real character? A lot of controversy raises the question of where Ilya Muromets comes from. Of course, the city of Murom retains primacy, because many epics begin with the words: “From that city from Murom, or from that village from Karacharovo...” But in other texts, Ilya is often called Muravlenin or Murovlin. According to the candidate of geographical sciences Sergei Khvedchen, the birthplace of the hero is not Murom at all, but the ancient city of Moroviysk, Chernigov principality.

The village of Morovsk still exists in the Chernigov region. As proof, the scientist cites the words of epics, which say how Ilya listens to Matins in his hometown, and Vespers in Kyiv. From Murom to Kyiv - about one and a half thousand kilometers, while from Morovsk - only about 90. There is also an opinion that Ilya could have received the nickname “Muromets” because he came from the Finno-Ugric tribe of Murom, who lived at the confluence of the Oka and the Volga and gradually assimilated by the Eastern Slavs. Many historians say that this is a real person. “Perhaps his prototype was the famous strongman Chobitko in the 12th century; he was born around 1188 in Murom. Having been seriously wounded in battle, Chobotok decided to leave military affairs and took monasticism, and with it a new name - Ilya.

In 1643, the Russian Orthodox Church canonized him as a saint under the name of Reverend Ilya Muromets. Particles of holy relics were taken from the place of his burial, which are now kept in Murom.” In the village of Karacharovo, a memorial plaque was installed on a house standing on the site of the hero’s former home, and a part of his relics is kept in the village church. In the courtyard of the Murom Museum, as an illustration of the exploits of Ilya Muromets, lies a huge oak stump. According to legend, the hero uprooted such oak trees and threw them into the Oka River.

There is one of the most irrefutable proofs of the reality of Ilya Muromets - his tomb in the famous Anthony Cave of the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery, located next to the tombs of the first Russian chronicler Nestor, the first Russian icon painter Alimpiy and many other very real historical figures of Kievan Rus, its ascetics and great martyrs.

Churilo Plenkovic

Curilo Plenkovic is an ambiguous character. He is not like other heroes. At the beginning of the story about his adventures, I really didn’t like him. The hero differs from other representatives in his beauty and panache. This boasting and narcissism does not fit in with the images of heroes.

Churila Plenkovic is an epic hero, an extraordinary handsome man, aware of the degree of influence his outstanding appearance has on women. He is not famous for his heroic deeds, like the famous Russian heroes, he does not perform feats to save the fatherland or any person. The story about him comes down to love adventures. There are only three epics about Churil, although they are told in different versions, and a misconception is created that there are more of them.

Researchers have still not come to a consensus on the origin of the name Churila. Some argue that this is a derivative of Dzhurilo or Tsyurilo, and Academician Veselovsky is inclined to believe that this is how the old Russian name Kirill was distorted. The hero's middle name is also difficult. Plenkovic is the son of Plenka. But the fact is that at first there was no father in the epics, only the son’s patronymic name sounded. Researchers believe that it arose from the characteristics of the hero himself. Schap - dandy, shchap - flaunt.

And Churila’s patronymic was initially Shchaplenkovich, that is, Shchegolevich. Then it transformed into Plenkovich, and then in the eyes of the people the image of the hero’s father was formed. His wealth, which amazed Prince Vladimir and his squad; warriors of the hero who dared not only to take away prey from hunters and fishermen with impunity, but also to beat them; the large number of his army, which Vladimir was afraid of at the very beginning of their acquaintance, speaks volumes about Churil as a native of the northern lands of Rus'.

These are principalities that separated from Kyiv, which became independent, superior to Kyiv in strength and wealth, but without that power. The opinion was expressed that the epics about Churil Plenkovich are the result of Novgorod folk art. The insignificant role of the Kyiv prince, who was sincerely afraid of the hero’s squad, mistaking it for the Golden Horde, who could not protect his subjects from robberies, suggests that Churila is a Novgorodian. It was there that the princes could behave in this way. Not every family was allowed to own the kind of wealth that Churila and his father owned.

Significant capital, rich courtyards, numerous servants - this is also characteristic of the Novgorod princes. The description of his appearance takes up most of the narrative. The hero does not perform any feats for the glory of the Fatherland, he does not crush enemies, and does not protect the weak. He is proud and enjoys his beauty.

A dandy - this inoffensive but eloquent characteristic runs through all the epics about him. He appreciates his beauty, takes care of his appearance, attire, and surroundings. Consider the fact that the hero forces his servant to carry a “sunflower” behind him, that is, a sun umbrella, so as not to spoil the color of his skin. The hero turned out to be harmless and somehow funny. In my opinion, he does not look like a hero at all and is not worthy to bear such a title.

Conclusion

A Russian hero in the traditional view is not just a person with unique physical strength. This is the ideal image of a defender of the Fatherland. He is characterized by qualities that even in those days went beyond the norm: self-sacrifice, renunciation of personal life for the good of his people. The example of invincible heroes instills courage in people, strengthens the sense of duty and honor.

Bylinas are heroic folk songs about the exploits of strong, mighty defenders of the Russian land. There is not a single epic where the hero, a warrior, did not defeat the enemy. And isn’t it true that the glorious Russians, despite temporary defeats, always turned out to be winners? Neither the Pechenegs, nor the Cumans, nor the Mongol-Tatars could conquer Rus'!

Bogatyrs are not the imagination of the storyteller; indeed, there lived people who became the prototypes of fairy-tale heroes.

Most likely, real personalities served only as images for the people to create epic heroes. The rumor about their exploits was passed from mouth to mouth and gradually became intertwined with ancient legends, other historical events and fairy tales.

Reading epics, I found many historically reliable signs. For example, the ancient weapons of warriors: a sword, shield, spear, helmet, chain mail - the hero also has all this.

The epics are so reliable that, based on the descriptions of the epics, scientists restored the ancient appearance of buildings and described the life of their ancestors.

And strong, mighty heroes in glorious Rus'! Don't allow enemies to gallop across our Earth! Do not trample their horses on the Russian Land. Do not eclipse our red sun for them! Rus' stands a century - it does not waver! And it will stand for centuries without moving!

While studying the question of the existence of heroes, I realized that such people lived. They had enormous mental strength and physical strength. For me, the hero is a role model. Like any boy, I want to become strong and courageous. I also try to study well, because I believe that a modern hero should not only be strong, but also smart!

Until now, the images of Russian heroes fascinate, you admire them and strive to be at least a little like them. Cartoons made about heroes are interesting and modern, despite the fact that many centuries have passed since the heroes lived.

Bibliography

1. Anikin V.P. Russian heroic epic. M., 1999.
2. Bazanov V. From folklore to folk books. M., 2000.
3. Kalugin V.I. Byliny. – M.: Sovremennik, 1986.
4. Kapitsa F. S. Secrets of the Slavic gods. M., 2008.
5. Kravtsov N. I, Lazutin S. G. Russian oral folk art. M., 2001.
6. Kruglova Yu. G. Bylins. – M.: Education, 1993.
7. Putilov N.B. Bogatyrskaya outpost. M., 2000.
8. Rybakov B. Russian epics. M., 2005.
9. Selivanova F. M. Epics. – M.: Modern Russia, 1988.
10. Chlenov A. M. In the footsteps of Dobrynya. M., 1994.
11. Yudin Yu.I. Heroic epics (poetic art). M., 2005.

Annex 1

Appendix 2

Appendix 3

Russian heroes of ancient Rus' and our times

Appendix 4

Appendix 5

Appendix 6

Appendix 7

Appendix 8

Appendix 9

Appendix 10. Questioning classmates on the topic “Do you know Russian heroes?”

Do you know the names of Russian heroes?

1. yes - 15 people — 56%
2. no - 12 people — 44%

Which of the heroes was portrayed by Viktor Vasnetsov in the painting “Three Bogatyrs”? a) Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich, Alyosha Popovich; b) Mikulo Selyaninovich, Churilo Plenkovich; c) Ilya Muromets, Churilo Plenkovich;

Which of the heroes is an example for you? a) Ilya Muromets; b) Alyosha Popovich; c) Dobrynya Nikitich.

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