The work “Mtsyri” is one of the artistic peaks of the entire creative heritage of M. Yu. Lermontov. This poem is the fruit of long and active work. A passion for the Caucasus, as well as a desire to describe situations in which the courageous character of the main character could be most fully revealed, all this led the great Russian poet to write the work “Mtsyri”. Can its main character be called romantic? And if so, why?
General characteristics of a romantic hero
In order to answer these questions and describe Mtsyri as a romantic hero, we will consider the main criteria by which literary character may be classified in this category. Romanticism, as you know, is a literary movement that arose in early XIX century. This trend presupposes the presence of an exceptional hero in certain circumstances. A romantic character is characterized by loneliness, disappointment in generally accepted ideals, tragedy, and also rebellion. This hero enters into open confrontation with the circumstances in which he finds himself, with the people around him. He strives for a certain ideal, but acutely feels the duality of existence. The romantic hero protests against generally accepted rules.
The main idea that the poet develops in the work is courage and protest, which in itself presupposes the presence of such a character as romantic hero. "Mtsyri" does not contain a love motive. It is reflected only in brief episode, Where main character meets a Georgian woman near a mountain stream. However, the main character, having managed to overcome the call of his young heart, makes a choice in favor of freedom. For the sake of this ideal, he gives up personal happiness, which also characterizes Mtsyri as a romantic.
Character's main values
His desire for freedom and love for his homeland merge into one fiery passion. For Mtsyri, the monastery, within whose walls he spent so much time, turns out to be like a prison. The cells seem stuffy. The monk guards seem cowardly and pathetic, and he himself sees himself as a prisoner and slave. Here the reader observes a motive of protest against established rules, which also characterizes Mtsyri as a romantic hero. He has an irresistible desire to find out “for freedom or prison we were born into this world,” the emergence of which is provoked by a passionate impulse to become free.
Will for the main character is real bliss. It is precisely because of his sincere love for his homeland that Mtsyri is ready to fight for it. The work does not fully reveal the hero's motives. However, they are noticeable in indirect hints. The main character remembers his father and his friends as valiant warriors. It is not for nothing that he dreams of battles in which he wins. Despite the fact that on its own life path Mtsyri has never set foot on the battlefield; in his spirit he is a warrior.
Pride and courage
The main character did not show his tears to anyone. He only cries during his escape, but only because no one sees it. The will of the protagonist is strengthened during his stay in the monastery. It is no coincidence that a stormy night was chosen for the escape - this detail also characterizes Mtsyri as a romantic hero. What struck fear into the hearts of the monks became attractive to him. Mtsyri's soul was filled with a feeling of brotherhood with the thunderstorm. IN to the greatest extent The courage of the protagonist was manifested in his fight with the leopard. But death did not frighten him, because he knew that a return to his previous way of life would be a continuation of his previous suffering. Tragic ending The work suggests that death did not weaken the spirit of the protagonist and his love of freedom. The words of the old monk do not provoke him to repentance.
Nature and character description of Mtsyri
Lermontov introduced a description of the Caucasian landscape into the poem in order to more fully reveal the image of the main character. He despises his surroundings, feels a family connection only with nature, which also characterizes Mtsyri as a romantic hero. 8th grade is the time when schoolchildren usually study this work of literature. At this age, the poem will be very interesting for students, because in it they will get acquainted with one of the most freedom-loving romantic characters in all Russian literature.
Imprisoned within the walls of the monastery, the main character compares himself to a leaf that has grown between damp slabs. And having broken free, he can raise his head along with wildflowers during sunrise. Mtsyri is similar fairy tale hero- he learns the mysteries of the chirping of birds, the dispute between the flow of water and stone, the heavy thought of separated rocks, eager to meet again, becomes clear to him.
Romantic character of Mtsyri
Why is Mtsyri a romantic hero, what exactly are the features that make him belong to this category? Firstly, he rebels against the established system - the monastery in which he happened to live. Secondly, Mtsyri has a clearly expressed individuality. The reader has the opportunity to observe an exceptional hero in the most extraordinary circumstances. There is a conflict between him and society - this is also a feature of a romantic hero. Mtsyri is disappointed in the conditions in which he lived; with all his soul he strives for the ideal. And Georgia becomes such a perfect world for him. Hot blood representative mountain people very well suited for creating the image of a romantic hero.
The hero of the poem and freedom
Mtsyri spends three days in freedom, but there are trials along the way. He has to endure thirst and hunger, feelings of fear and impulses of love. And the most important event at this time is the fight with the wild leopard. The strong spirit of the romantic hero in the poem “Mtsyri” allows him to overcome the weakness of his body and defeat the beast. The difficulties that befell Mtsyri symbolize the obstacles that every person faces on the path of life. The main character experiences many feelings. This is a feeling of unity with nature, with its colors and sounds, and the tenderness of love sadness.
Getting to know the character of the main character as the work progresses
Mtsyri - Lermontov's romantic hero, thirsting for happiness and freedom, strives to be with those people whom he can call kindred in spirit. The great Russian poet describes the rebellious soul of a man endowed with a powerful temperament. The reader is presented with a hero who is doomed to a slave existence inside the walls of the monastery, completely alien to his passionate nature. At the beginning of the work, the poet only makes hints about the character traits of the young man. He lifts the veil little by little, introducing the reader over and over again to the qualities of the main character. Describing the child’s illness, the poet only emphasizes his ability to cope with difficulties, pride, distrust and strong spirit, inherited from great-grandfathers. The character of the main character is most fully revealed during confession.
Mtsyri's excited monologue introduces the listener into the world of his secret aspirations and gives an explanation of the reasons for his escape. After all, the prisoner was obsessed with the desire to gain freedom and experience life. He wanted to live in a world where people are free, like birds. The boy wanted to know about real life, to find again what was lost motherland. He was attracted by a world that was completely inaccessible within the monastery walls.
A thirst for life that is stronger than circumstances
All this allows the hero to understand that life is beautiful and unique in all its diversity. At first glance, it may seem that Mtsyri remained defeated, failed in his struggle with the circumstances and the difficulties that life presented to him. However, the main character was strong enough to defy these obstacles. And this means a spiritual victory for him. For Lermontov's compatriots, who spent their lives in passive contemplation, Mtsyri became the ideal of a desperate struggle for high spiritual values.
Romanticism and realism in the work
Mtsyri is the romantic hero of Lermontov's poem, who is full of the most fiery passions. Despite this, the great Russian poet introduces some features of realism into his work. On the one hand, Lermontov creates a deeply psychological confessional poem in which the main character reveals his soul. IN in this regard the work continues the traditions of romanticism. On the other hand, the introduction is characterized by precise and sparse speech, characteristic of realism (“Once upon a time, a Russian general ...”). And this romantic poem is evidence of the growth of realistic motifs in the poet’s work.
So, we answered the question of whether Mtsyri can be called a romantic hero. As for the poem itself, it belongs to the genre of romanticism, but also contains elements of realism. The image of Mtsyri is deeply tragic. After all, those who dare to confront reality are most often defeated. It is impossible to change the surrounding reality alone. The solution for such a hero is death. This is the only way he gets rid of the conflict.
- a work written by Lermontov. It introduces us to the young novice Mtsyri, who was imprisoned within the walls of the monastery against his will. This monastery became captivity for the freedom-loving resident of Georgia.
Mtsyri romantic hero essay
Expanding the topic, one should answer in general about who exactly in the literature of the turn of the 19th century could be considered a romantic hero. This is a man with unusual fate, a person with sincere and high feelings, who could be a rebel against the prevailing circumstances. This is a person endowed best qualities human character, a person with a bright soul.
What features of a romantic hero are inherent in Mtsyri and why is Mtsyri a romantic hero?
Getting acquainted with the work and its hero, who finds himself in a world alien to him, in a world of obedience and prohibitions while the guy’s soul demands freedom, we are every time convinced that Mtsyri is the hero - a romantic. He is endowed with determination, courage, courage. There are no or very few romantic moments in the work itself. For example, we see only one meeting of the hero with an unfamiliar girl, when his heart began to beat faster. The poem is still written in the spirit of romanticism, and Mtsyri is the romantic hero of the poem, who could not live in captivity and fled from the monastery. I escaped and only in freedom saw all the beauty of the world around me and was able to breathe deeply. Some three days of wandering seemed to him like eternity and paradise. The meeting with the leopard, where the young man faced the animal in a duel, did not frighten him, because it was outside the monastery that he found the freedom he desired.
It is a pity that Mtsyri could not find his way home, and after three days of wandering he again found himself within the walls of the monastery. It's a shame that our hero dies. But I am glad that he was able to achieve his goal, and his death was only the final release from prison. Mtsyri became free forever.
At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, a romantic tradition developed in Russia, replacing classicism. If the previous literary movement focused on the development of society and sought to describe the ideal world order, then for romanticism something completely different becomes important. In the works of the romantics, man comes first, his inner world, aspirations and sensations. Romantic writers firmly believe that every person is unique and of primary value, so they focus their attention on the depiction of feelings and experiences. This is how a romantic hero appears, for whose portrayal quite clear literary canons are soon formed.
The first rule of romanticism is literary direction becomes the image of an unusual hero in unusual conditions. As a rule, romantic writers choose an atypical setting for their works: a forest, mountains, desert, or some other old castle. IN mysterious place placed an unusual hero who has all the best human qualities: He is handsome, proud and noble. He is better than the people around him and at the same time arouses their hostility. From here follows the second condition: the opposition of the hero and society, the hero and surrounding reality. The romantic hero is always in opposition, since he clearly sees the imperfection of the world and, due to his moral purity, does not want to come to terms with it. This is what the romantic conflict is built on. Another required condition for the literature of romanticism, this is a detailed description of the hero’s thoughts. For this, the form of a diary, lyrical monologue or confession is chosen.
A classic example of a romantic hero in the works of Russian writers can be the heroes of the works of M. Lermontov. These are Pechorin and Arbenin, Demon and Mtsyri... Let's consider Mtsyri as a romantic hero.
Mtsyri as a romantic hero
In his works Lermontov took into account creative experience Byron, former long years his idol, which is why we can talk about Lermontov’s heroes as Byronic heroes. The Byronic hero is a romantic hero highest quality, a rebel hero with a fiery nature. No circumstances can break him. These qualities especially attracted Lermontov, and it is them that he writes out in his heroes with special care. Such is the romantic hero Mtsyri, who can be called the ideal of a romantic hero.
We learn about Mtsyri’s life, or rather about its key moments, first-hand, since Lermontov chose the form of confession for the poem. This is one of the most popular genres of romanticism, since confession allows you to reveal depths human soul, making the story both emotional and sincere. The hero is placed in unusual place: to a monastery in the Caucasus, and the Caucasus for Russian people then seemed like a very exotic land, a center of freedom and free-thinking. The features of the romantic hero of “Mtsyri” can already be seen in how little the reader is told about the hero’s previous life - just a few meager phrases about his childhood. His life in the monastery is shrouded in mystery, so characteristic of romantic works. Little Mtsyri was captured by a Russian general and brought to the monastery, where he grew up - that’s what the reader knows. But Mtsyri himself is not an ordinary monk, he has a completely different character, he is a rebel by nature. He was never able to forget his homeland and abandon it; he longs for real life and is ready to pay any price for it.
Was it easy for Mtsyri to decide to escape from the quiet existence in his cell? It is obvious that the monks who cured and raised Mtsyri did not wish him harm. But their world cannot become Mtsyri, since it was created for another life. And in her name he is ready to take risks. In accordance with the romantic tradition, life in the monastery and life outside it are contrasted here, with the first symbolizing lack of freedom and constraint human personality, the second one is ideal life. It is precisely this that Mtsyri, born for freedom, strives for. His escape is a rebellion against tradition; it is significant that it takes place on a stormy, stormy night, when monks are supposed to pray, fearing the “wrath of God.” For Mtsyri, the thunderstorm evokes delight, a desire to become related to the rebellious elements: “I’m like a brother...”. The hero's sincerity overcomes his ostentatious monastic humility - Mtsyri finds himself free.
Tragedy of Mtsyri
The romantic hero is almost always doomed to defeat in the fight against the world, since this fight is unequal. His dreams, as a rule, do not come true, and his life ends early. In this, the romantic hero of Lermontov’s poem “Mtsyri” turns out to be an exception: he still managed to fulfill part of his dream and breathe in the air of freedom. Another thing is that, as the epigraph to the poem tells us, he “tasted little honey,” and freedom was given to him for only three days - but the more vividly they will experience this time. Mtsyri is happy with his merging with nature. Here, memories of his family, his native village and a happy childhood return to him. Here his blood awakens, the blood of the warlike highlanders, and he turns out to be capable of feats. During the battle with the leopard, Mtsyri appears before the reader as a brave warrior, fully aware of his strength and able to use it. He's beautiful, just like wild nature around: he is her part and her child.
But Lermontov could not rightfully be called a great romantic poet if he had turned his poem into a happy fairy tale. Mtsyri is defeated by circumstances, he is wounded and again brought to his cell. Freedom only beckoned him, but his main dream: to return to his homeland, to the distant, free Caucasus, did not come true. And, if you think about it, it was not feasible at all, because no one was waiting for him there. Mtsyri’s loved ones were long dead, the house was destroyed, and in his own home he would have turned out to be exactly the same stranger as in the monastery. This is where true romantic tragedy manifests itself: the hero is completely excluded from this world and is equally alien to everyone in it. Happiness may await him only beyond the limits of life, but Mtsyri does not want to give up. He would willingly exchange “Paradise and Eternity” for a few minutes at home. He dies unbroken and his last gaze is turned to the Caucasus.
The image of Mtsyri is the image of a romantic hero, with deep tragic story, which rightfully enjoys the love of many generations of readers. “...You see what a fiery soul, what a mighty spirit, what a gigantic nature this Mtsyri has!” - this is how the critic Belinsky spoke about him, and the critic’s words really fully characterize the hero. Years go by and change literary movements, the romantic tradition is a thing of the past, but the image of Mtsyri still inspires deeds and awakens love for the most valuable: life and homeland.
The given image of the romantic hero of the poem and a description of his features will be useful to 8th grade students when searching for materials for an essay on the topic “Mtsyri as a romantic hero of Lermontov’s poem”
Work test
Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov, a famous Russian poet, is one of the most prominent representatives of the romanticism movement in literature. His works are often dedicated to feelings of despair and spiritual bondage, which are caused by the severity of earthly life and the inability to live freely.
Lermontov was always attracted by the power of the elements human spirit and the desire to remain yourself, despite circumstances and trials. Romantic poem"Mtsyri" is also dedicated to this topic. The poet gives romantic image The main character has that burning despair and that thirst for free will and life, which gives the poem an atmosphere of gloomy despair and hopelessness.
The image of Mtsyri in the poem
Mtsyri's life is hard and unbearable - he is imprisoned in a monastery, and desperately longs to return to his homeland and enjoy its vastness and fresh air. He endures being in captivity extremely hard, and decides to escape, despite the fact that this could lead to his death.
The mental anguish is unbearable, and Mtsyri understands that it is better to die than to live like this further. Lermontov raises the theme of the Caucasus, which is characteristic of Russian literature of that period. The wild and beautiful nature of this region corresponds to the people who live in it - they are freedom-loving people, strong and brave.
This is how Mtsyri is presented, who values, first of all, his freedom and his ideals, and does not resign himself to reality. And the majestic and impressive nature of the Caucasus emphasizes the romantic mood of the poem and the character traits of the main character Mtsyri.
Contrasting dreams and reality
The description of nature speaks of romantic ideal and the desire to become spiritually richer, about the passion that exists in the human soul and which leads the hero into a world that seems ideal and real to him. The hero Mtsyri himself represents a contrast to the whole world, so he is not like other people; real ardent feelings live in his soul, which imprisonment does not allow him to endure.
He strives to experience something exceptional, and is ready to see it in the world around him. He is lonely in his soul, because he feels isolated from other people. Mtsyri is the concentration of will, courage and true passion. Lermontov created his hero this way because he wanted to emphasize the contrast between dreams and reality.
His hero escapes from the monastery, and after going through many trials, he never reaches his home. He dies, but it is important how exactly Mtsyri passes away - happy and peaceful. Mtsyri thanks fate for those wonderful moments that she gave him in nature, and understands that for the sake of these moments it was worth taking the risk - leaving the monastery and meeting death with dignity.
The tragic end of the poem is a triumph of the inner freedom of the protagonist, who, despite death and obstacles, feels truly happy. His desire for freedom is main lesson, which Lermontov wants to present to readers, the poet points out that it is for this that it is worth living and overcoming difficulties.
This internal landmark of Mtsyri is a symbol of the meaning of human life. And his rebellious nature, which is revealed in longing for his homeland, suggests that in life it is worth looking for something exceptional and unusual, and something that will fill human existence true emotional feelings.
At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, a romantic tradition developed in Russia, replacing classicism. If the previous literary movement focused on the development of society and sought to describe the ideal world order, then for romanticism something completely different becomes important. In the works of the romantics, man, his inner world, aspirations and feelings come first. Romantic writers firmly believe that every person is unique and of primary value, so they focus their attention on the depiction of feelings and experiences. This is how a romantic hero appears, for whose portrayal quite clear literary canons are soon formed.
The first rule of romanticism as a literary movement is the depiction of an unusual hero in unusual conditions. As a rule, romantic writers choose an atypical setting for their works: a forest, mountains, desert, or some ancient castle. An unusual hero is placed in a mysterious place, possessing all the best human qualities: he is handsome, proud and noble. He is better than the people around him and at the same time arouses their hostility. From here follows the second condition: the opposition of the hero and society, the hero and the surrounding reality. The romantic hero is always in opposition, since he clearly sees the imperfection of the world and, due to his moral purity, does not want to come to terms with it. This is what the romantic conflict is built on. Another prerequisite for the literature of romanticism is a detailed description of the hero’s thoughts. For this, the form of a diary, lyrical monologue or confession is chosen.
A classic example of a romantic hero in the works of Russian writers can be the heroes of the works of M. Lermontov. These are Pechorin and Arbenin, Demon and Mtsyri... Let's consider Mtsyri as a romantic hero.
Mtsyri as a romantic hero
In his works, Lermontov took into account the creative experience of Byron, who was his idol for many years, which is why we can talk about Lermontov’s heroes as Byronic heroes. The Byronic hero is a romantic hero of the highest quality, a rebel hero with a fiery nature. No circumstances can break him. These qualities especially attracted Lermontov, and it is them that he writes out in his heroes with special care. Such is the romantic hero Mtsyri, who can be called the ideal of a romantic hero.
We learn about Mtsyri’s life, or rather about its key moments, first-hand, since Lermontov chose the form of confession for the poem. This is one of the most popular genres of romanticism, since confession allows you to open the depths of the human soul, making the story both emotional and sincere. The hero is placed in an unusual place: in a monastery in the Caucasus, and the Caucasus for Russian people then seemed like a very exotic land, a center of freedom and free-thinking. The features of the romantic hero of “Mtsyri” can already be seen in how little the reader is told about the hero’s previous life - just a few meager phrases about his childhood. His life in the monastery is shrouded in mystery, so characteristic of romantic works. Little Mtsyri was captured by a Russian general and brought to the monastery, where he grew up - that’s what the reader knows. But Mtsyri himself is not an ordinary monk, he has a completely different character, he is a rebel by nature. He was never able to forget his homeland and abandon it; he longs for real life and is ready to pay any price for it.
Was it easy for Mtsyri to decide to escape from the quiet existence in his cell? It is obvious that the monks who cured and raised Mtsyri did not wish him harm. But their world cannot become Mtsyri, since it was created for another life. And in her name he is ready to take risks. In accordance with the romantic tradition, life in the monastery and life outside it are contrasted here, with the first symbolizing the lack of freedom and constraint of the human personality, while the second is an ideal life. It is precisely this that Mtsyri, born for freedom, strives for. His escape is a rebellion against tradition; it is significant that it takes place on a stormy, stormy night, when monks are supposed to pray, fearing the “wrath of God.” For Mtsyri, the thunderstorm evokes delight, a desire to become related to the rebellious elements: “I’m like a brother...”. The hero's sincerity overcomes his ostentatious monastic humility - Mtsyri finds himself free.
Tragedy of Mtsyri
The romantic hero is almost always doomed to defeat in the fight against the world, since this fight is unequal. His dreams, as a rule, do not come true, and his life ends early. In this, the romantic hero of Lermontov’s poem “Mtsyri” turns out to be an exception: he still managed to fulfill part of his dream and breathe in the air of freedom. Another thing is that, as the epigraph to the poem tells us, he “tasted little honey,” and freedom was given to him for only three days - but the more vividly they will experience this time. Mtsyri is happy with his merging with nature. Here, memories of his family, his native village and a happy childhood return to him. Here his blood awakens, the blood of the warlike highlanders, and he turns out to be capable of feats. During the battle with the leopard, Mtsyri appears before the reader as a brave warrior, fully aware of his strength and able to use it. He is beautiful, just like the wild nature around him: he is part of it and its child.
But Lermontov could not rightfully be called a great romantic poet if he had turned his poem into a happy fairy tale. Mtsyri is defeated by circumstances, he is wounded and again brought to his cell. Freedom only beckoned him, but his main dream: to return to his homeland, to the distant, free Caucasus, did not come true. And, if you think about it, it was not feasible at all, because no one was waiting for him there. Mtsyri’s loved ones were long dead, the house was destroyed, and in his own home he would have turned out to be exactly the same stranger as in the monastery. This is where true romantic tragedy manifests itself: the hero is completely excluded from this world and is equally alien to everyone in it. Happiness may await him only beyond the limits of life, but Mtsyri does not want to give up. He would willingly exchange “Paradise and Eternity” for a few minutes at home. He dies unbroken and his last gaze is turned to the Caucasus.
The image of Mtsyri is the image of a romantic hero with a deeply tragic story, who rightfully enjoys the love of many generations of readers. “...You see what a fiery soul, what a mighty spirit, what a gigantic nature this Mtsyri has!” - this is how the critic Belinsky spoke about him, and the critic’s words really fully characterize the hero. Years go by, literary trends change, the romantic tradition is a thing of the past, but the image of Mtsyri still inspires heroic deeds and awakens love for what is most valuable: life and homeland.
The given image of the romantic hero of the poem and a description of his features will be useful to 8th grade students when searching for materials for an essay on the topic “Mtsyri as a romantic hero of Lermontov’s poem”
Work test