In one monastery near Moscow, parishioners, coming to service one morning, saw a briskly jumping lamb inside the monastery walls. The leadership of the monastery did not immediately pay attention to him, and then thought for a long time what to do with him now. Where did the lamb come from? It turned out that some native of the Caucasus, in connection with the fulfillment of prayer requests and following the tradition of his people, decided to donate a lamb to the monastery, for which he released it right inside the monastery. This was his thanksgiving sacrifice! But how different it turns out we all understand sacrifice and victimhood!
Knowing the text of the Gospel, we can propose a provocative question: did Christ Himself put which of the two sisters in first place? Of course, none of us is able to measure God's love. But the Lord’s immediate words seem to indicate that He singles out Mary, who, as stated in the Gospel, chose the good part (see: Luke 10:42). However, if we take a closer look at the lines of the Holy text, we will see the following: “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” (John 11: 5), - it was Martha who was mentioned first!
The fact is that Martha’s ministry is a selfless, sacrificial service to others in the image of Christ Himself, Who “came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
Only that love is real love, which is expressed in action. And being away from the suffering, without providing real help to the needy - in general, without taking the path of Martha - one can hardly talk about love and one’s inner desire for God.
But this is where questions arise: what is true sacrifice? How to understand sacrificial love? and what is a sacrifice anyway?
It turns out that we do not always give the same meaning to the concept of sacrifice. For example, one woman once said: “I don’t like my mother-in-law, I can’t be with her for a long time, but I bring her groceries and patiently sacrifice my time.” That is, love in in this case no, but a person takes something away from himself, forces himself to give it to another and calls such an attitude a sacrifice.
And it’s true, if we say that a sacrifice is only when you take away from yourself and voluntarily give to someone else something very significant for yourself, then, in this case, the victim may end up without love at all. Moreover, it turns out that in the minds of many people such sacrifice seems to compensate for the need for love. It’s as if you are paying off love with your cold-blooded sacrifice. Relatively such life position The Holy Scriptures contain uncompromising words: “If I give away all my possessions... but do not have love, it profits me nothing” (1 Cor. 13:3). Does this mean that sacrifice without love is not so pleasing to God and does not bring proper benefit to our soul? Indeed, in the Gospel, Christ nevertheless spoke about love as the main treasure of the heart, with which sacrifice must be inseparable: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, let you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13: 34-35). “This is My commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15: 12-13). That is, from the position of Christ’s commandments, love is a natural source of sacrifice, when you don’t feel sorry for giving your loved one something of your own. “Love... is kind” (1 Cor. 13:4), and it simply cannot be otherwise when there is love.
Of course, it is impossible to force love, and it is good that the woman mentioned above goes to her mother-in-law and helps her with something. The Holy Fathers say that even forcing ourselves to fulfill the commandments without compassion of heart is still useful for us. Because the soul acquires the skill of doing good, and over time the heart can respond. But in the mentioned case, it is more likely to be the fulfillment of a duty determined by family ties, and therefore deceptive peace of mind: “even though I don’t love, I sacrifice, which means I am fulfilling my due duty.”
Perhaps you will agree that if we love someone, then we do not mind giving him all the most precious things we have. Was it a pity to sacrifice the firstborn of your flocks to the Heavenly Father? Probably not a pity, for Abel loved God. Cain acted according to the principle: “It is on You, God, that it is not good for me,” for he treated the Almighty in an appropriate way. And, as the legend says, the smoke from Abel’s sacrifice immediately rose to the sky, while from Cain’s sacrifice it swirled below, spreading a stinking fume around itself. And when we bring to church something that is not a pity because it is not needed, this is not a sacrifice, but a pragmatic liberation from unnecessary things. When we give to others what is dear to us, so that out of natural feelings and disposition we would be sorry to part with it, but out of love we easily and joyfully give, this real victim.And the point is not at all in the quality of what was brought, as many people think, for God accepted the widow’s two pitiful mites, rejecting the rich offerings of the Pharisees, but the whole point is in the heart and feelings of the soul, in the attitude of our spirit towards God and our neighbors. Without love for Him, reverence and a desire for closeness with Him, a person makes his sacrifices in vain - why do God need them when He needs not soulless offerings, but the living hearts of people?
Therefore, when we say: “sacrificial love,” we mean: “sacrifice out of deep love.” Not languid self-giving and sacrifice of something of one’s own: money, strength, time, which causes in the soul only sorrow, annoyance and the struggle with one’s irritability, but rather a completely obvious, excluding any doubt, sacrifice of oneself, which naturally occurs with ardent, uncompromising love for to another.
Alas, a person who visits his neighbor in the hospital only to fulfill the commandment is a formalist who follows the letter of the law, but what he does does not find a response in his soul. God needs alive soul and a living attitude towards one’s neighbor, and not a cold, dead observance of decency and rules. Therefore, sacrifice, mercy, selfless help must come from compassion. And compassion is not necessarily even words and deeds, but it is, first of all, our inner attitude towards other people.
One day a four-year-old child, whose old neighbor had recently lost his wife, saw him sitting and crying. The child came into his yard, climbed onto his lap and sat with him for a long time. When his mother asked what he was saying to his neighbor, the boy replied: “Nothing. I just helped him cry." We often suffer from the fact that we do not see any compassion or empathy in our neighbors. Even a little empathy can work wonders.
“The Spiritual Meadow” tells how two brothers lived in the monastery of St. Theodosius, who swore an oath to each other not to be separated either in life or in death. In the monastery they were an example of piety for everyone. But one of them was subjected to carnal warfare and, unable to overcome it, said to the other: “I have decided to go into the world.” Not wanting to let him go alone, his brother went with him to the city. He who had been subjected to carnal warfare went into the house of a harlot, while the other brother stood outside, praying and suffering greatly in soul. The one who fell into fornication, leaving the house, said: “I can no longer return to the desert. You go there, and I will stay in the world.” And his brother decided to stay with the sinner in the world, so they both began to work for their livelihood. They hired themselves out to work on the construction of the monastery, which was being built by Abba Abraham. The one who fell into fornication received payment for two and every day went to the city, where he spent the money on debauchery. Meanwhile, the other fasted all these days, silently did his job and did not speak to anyone. The masters, seeing every day that he did not eat or drink and was focused on himself, reported everything to Saint Abraham. Abba Abraham called the worker to his cell and asked him: “Where are you from, brother, and what is your occupation?” He revealed everything to him, concluding: “For my brother’s sake, I endure all this, so that God can see my grief and save him.” “And the Lord gave you the soul of your brother!” - Having listened to everything, Abraham said. As soon as the Abba released the worker and he left the cell, his brother appeared in front of him. “Take me into the desert,” he exclaimed, “may my soul be saved!” And immediately they retired to a cave near Holy Jordan and shut themselves up there. Thus, through his own compassion and self-sacrifice, the brother acquired his brother’s soul for eternal life. A little time passed, and the sinful brother, having improved in spirit before God, died. And the other remained in the same cave, according to an oath, so that he himself would die there.
This is not just alms, which the rich generously gives from the abundance of his gifts, but heartfelt insight into the situation of another person, when you cannot help but help your neighbor and therefore do not think about yourself at that moment.
This is empathy for your neighbor when his problem becomes yours, and therefore you take on his grief to heal it. Christ showed such love to people, taking upon Himself the suffering for our sins, generously giving us eternal blessings.
Why do we rarely encounter sacrifice, mutual understanding and responsiveness?
Because the overwhelming majority of people strive for personal comfort in life, try to dig in and gain a foothold in some positions, naively thinking of building unshakable personal happiness on earth. Having achieved certain results - creating a family, raising children, achieving success at work - a person plunges into the euphoria of peace, fencing himself off from the troubles of the people around him. In order to feel those who suffer and mourn, one must reject deceptive self-forgetfulness. What is needed is internal movement, not stagnation, activity, not passive stay in the quiet backwater of your swamp. When a person enjoys sunbathing under the sun, he naturally has no time for freezing.
Hero M.Yu. Lermontov Pechorin admitted: “My love did not bring happiness to anyone, because I did not sacrifice anything for those I loved.” And a person does not sacrifice only when he loves himself more than others; and if he loves someone, then perhaps for the sake of his own pleasure, for himself, his selfish comfort, he loves as some kind of new thing, which may be useful for a while, but to which you yourself do not owe anything.
And yet, pointing to sacrificial love, Christianity thereby shows the bar that is quite difficult for each of us to reach.
One pious girl grew up without a mother and was raised by her grandmother. The girl married a seminary student, who soon became a priest. They lived happily, but one day my grandmother fell, was badly hurt, and then remained paralyzed. Children were born into the family one after another, the priest often served in the parish and had practically no opportunity to help his young wife, and she, poor, was forced to nurse not only the always screaming children, but also an elderly man who was bedridden. For another two whole years, the life of the young mother became almost unbearable: the grandmother turned out to have an oncological disease, so much so that she could no longer take relatively solid food, and she had to wipe all the food for her, and then feed the sufferer with a spoon, but she swallowed with with difficulty and spat out most of what was put into her mouth. Every two hours, including at night, the grandmother had to be turned from side to side to avoid bedsores. When my grandmother died, my mother, who was caring for her, sighed with relief: “That’s it, I buried my grandmother.”
Yes, she breathed a sigh of relief. But would anyone dare to say that she had no love or seemed to ignore loved one who became disabled? It’s just that sometimes it becomes so difficult, unbearably difficult for us that we perceive liberation from care, as if from a suffocating burden, as God’s mercy, and here there is no time for philosophical reasoning, no time for pathos about high feelings love. But Christ Himself, on the eve of the greatest suffering, accepted precisely out of sacrificial love for humanity, prayed with spiritual tremors: “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me” (Matthew 26:39).
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A genuine sacrifice, therefore, can also include a feat, an effort. very accurately said: “Love is joy, and the price of love is sacrifice. Love is life, and the price of love is death.”
In this regard, we will ask more complex issue: Are we always capable of sacrifice? And is every sacrifice feasible for us?
Alas, in the relationships of modern Christians one can notice such a picture from time to time. Understanding that one must live according to the Gospel commandments, a Christian agrees to help his neighbor in certain problems. Trying to participate in the life of his neighbor, he takes on the burden associated with caring for him. Feeling that the extent of these loads at a certain moment becomes unbearable for him, a Christian drives his dissatisfaction inside himself, thinking that he must endure, fulfilling the commandment.
Having pushed a little more, he still can’t stand it. There comes a moment when his dissatisfaction bursts out, and in a rather rude form: “You are not grateful to me,” “I have done so much for you, and you...” As a result, instead of fulfilling the commandment, we see the sin of bitterness, and previously close people break off relationships, clearly demonstrating the worldly principle: we see each other less - we love each other more.
Recklessly taking on overwhelming loads can lead to brutality. A burden taken too hard makes the heart indifferent, cold and hard. The result is not Christian sacrifice, which is equivalent to selfless love, which does not expect even an ordinary “thank you” for its good deed, but anger, which traumatically traumatizes the individual and introduces an imbalance in life.
We all carry our weaknesses within us. We can all break down in some situations, unable to control ourselves. The paradox of relationships is that instead of simple solution problems, participants in relationships sometimes follow the most difficult, roundabout path. Isn't it better to try to correct the situation at the very moment when you felt that you were not coping? Simply and clearly, without irritation, with humility, explain everything to your neighbor, without driving yourself to embitterment and without reproaching others with your unrequited sacrifice. It is better not to accept a burden that is too heavy for you, not to naively think of yourself as a great ascetic, capable of moving mountains and changing the lives of the people around you.
Expecting other people to adequately replenish your sacrifice completely devastates the soul. Resentment towards ingratitude knows no bounds and limits, and there is nothing inside anymore except thorns and thorns that sting the self. O offended.
It is strange and pathetic to hear from a Christian: “I have done so much for him, but he is ungrateful,” as if he had been deceived, destroying the expectation of return and profit. The truths of the Gospel are uncompromising: everything done in the expectation of gratitude is no longer good, but self-interest. And if Christ said: “When you give alms, let left hand your right one does not know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3), then how can we even remember what good we did to whom?
How important it is to understand that when we do good to other people, we do not seek to turn them into debtors, we do not try to put a yoke on their neck, which they must throw off over time by doing good to us in return. - not bank deposits that are returned to us with interest; mercy is a virtue that transforms the soul from within.
True love does not enslave others; on the contrary, it is capable of inspiring them to freely express themselves in goodness, manifestation not for the sake of accepted help, but because their soul also fell in love with goodness.
I remember how my friend from the seminary, now a priest, once said to someone begging on the street: “Thank you for accepting alms.” And he actually thought so, not expecting gratitude from anyone at all. By sacrificing something, we do not buy others; on the contrary, we rejoice that we have had the opportunity to do someone unselfishly good.
What else can be said about sacrifice is, perhaps, that outwardly identical actions can have completely different essences. For with outwardly identical actions, one person is filled with compassion and love, while the other is driven by prudence or the desire to assert himself. For example, isn’t it a great thing to give your blood to save your neighbors? But some donate blood for profit. And in the 1990s, in one military unit, soldiers agreed to donate blood in order to use the money to buy a VCR and watch vulgar films. People sacrifice material things in order to harm their immortal soul: they deny themselves everything in order to drink or take a dose of drugs once again. In the West, in one civilly married couple, a young man became infected with the immunodeficiency virus. His girlfriend decided to continue her carnal relationship with him out of love for him. She sacrifices herself and her health, but for what? In order to maximally prolong the carnal commonwealth, which they understand as happiness. How appropriate it is here to recall the comparison of St. Isaac the Syrian: “The dog that licks the saw drinks its own blood and, due to the sweetness of its blood, is not aware of harm to itself.”
So, the value of all our sacrifices and our very sacrifice is determined by the state of our soul, the content of the heart, its values and sacred things: whether the heart is filled with goodness and love or self-interest and formalism, it is not for nothing that the Holy Scripture says: “Keep your heart above all else, because that from it are the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23).
It's been four years since my mother died of cancer, and not a day has passed that I haven't thought about her. I still remember the days of her illness. Seeing your strong mother in such a vulnerable state is just terrible. I wanted to protect her; wanted to save her. In their last days Mom maintained her fortitude and took care of herself. And I didn’t expect anything else from her. She was the most strong man of everyone I've ever known.
When my mother died, I was simply numb. I continued to live ordinary life, but couldn’t fully come to terms with the fact that she wasn’t there. It was as if I was living, but my mind and heart decided to take a break from emotions and experiences. To this day, I still don't know if I can claim to have accepted the fact of her death. However, I realized that perhaps this is how it should be. Perhaps I shouldn't actually consider that it doesn't exist.
Grief has no time limit. Each of us experiences loss in our own way. And we cope with the death of loved ones in our own way. If it consoles you, then the emptiness that has formed in your soul did not just form there. It can be filled with love and memories of the one you lost.
And if these few years have taught me anything, it’s that death cannot be corrected and that love stronger than death. We ourselves choose whether to love those who have not been with us for a long time, or whether to leave them in our lives.
Here are 7 calming lessons I learned from losing my mom:
1. Selfless love is stronger than death
You cannot save people, you can only love them. From the first days, my mother taught me selfless love. She protected me, but I, having learned about her terrible diagnosis, could not protect her.
She was sick and weak, she slowly left us. Soon she had to go to another world and leave her family. Strong and loving mother was now confined to a hospital bed. She continued to smile at me through the pain and fear.
And although I could not save her, she had already saved me. She showed what it is selfless love. And that love is all we really need in life.
2. Death is just a “goodbye”, not a “goodbye”
When someone close to you dies, your relationship with him will never change. They will never die, but will always live in your heart, in your actions, thoughts, values and in your memory.
I am the daughter of the kindest, most wonderful and amazing mother a person could wish for, and I will always remain so. My mother taught me the most precious lesson: death can end a life, but it cannot end a relationship.
Even though she is not physically next to me, I know that she always is and will be my beautiful mommy. Those who love us never leave us.
3. Death is not the end
Sometimes our time in this world is measured very sparingly. This time is very precious, and when it unexpectedly ends earlier than we expected, we have to believe that something special is ahead. This is not the end. This is just the end of one chapter of many to come.
My most great hope and comfort came from my belief that the world had something even more wonderful in store for my mother. She has left her mark on this world, and it is time for her to go somewhere else and play her role there. Now she is in another world where she can work her magic in a different way.
4. When someone you love dies, you need to continue living.
My mother taught me that even though she is no longer with me, I must continue to live. She told me: “Don’t grieve for me for a long time. I had two wonderful children, a wonderful husband and a job to which I gave my all. So please feel proud and not sad.”
She told me that she wanted me to do great things, to leave my mark on this world. She wanted to leave, knowing that my dad, sister and I would continue to be happy and continue to live.
So I will continue to live life to the fullest, even despite my broken heart. After all, that’s what my mother wanted. It was easier for her to leave knowing that I would be happy.
5. Be grateful for the opportunity to love
You can't save people from death, but you can love them while they're here. Death teaches us that love is The best way appreciate and thank a person for being in this world.
When someone we love passes away, we understand and appreciate the gift of simply loving that person. And even when silent tears roll up to your throat, when you realize that you are unable to stop cancer, that you are unable to prolong the beating of your beloved heart, you need to remember how great luck it was to meet this person on your way. You need to realize how grateful you are for the opportunity to love this person.
6. Be there until the very end
Lie down next to them in the bed in the hospital room and hold their hand. Stay close until the very end. Hold your hand and don't let go. Say goodbye, but only for a while.
Even when they begin to slowly move away, you still feel deep mutual understanding and love, looking straight into their eyes. And when you say that you will always love them, and the hand falls from yours, you realize how beautiful love is.
7. Death is temporary, love is eternal
You will never, never, never be alone. Love is forever. We have a special place in our hearts for everyone we love. And they are with us wherever we go. This is the power of love. This is how she transcends death.
I hope one day you will come to terms with the death of a loved one and be able to look back on their life with pride and love rather than grief and hopelessness. Until then, seek peace in your heart, which understands that love wins any battle in the fight against death. Each of them.
Thank you, mom. I love you and am proud to be your daughter!
And the king asked Sir Urri how he felt.
Ah, my good and illustrious lord, I have never felt so full of strength.
Then perhaps you would like to compete in a tournament and show off your martial arts? - asked King Arthur.
Sir, if I had everything I needed for the fight, I wouldn't spend much time getting ready.
Then King Arthur assigned one hundred knights to go against another hundred, and the next morning they held a tournament, and the winner was awarded precious diamond. But not one of the formidable knights competed in that tournament, and, to put it briefly, Sir Urri and Sir Lavain distinguished themselves that time, for both of them crushed thirty knights that day.
After this, with the consent of all the kings and lords, Sir Urri and Sir Lavain were knighted Round Table. And Sir Lavain fell in love with the fair lady Phileloli, the sister of Sir Urri; and soon they were married with great joy, and King Arthur granted both knights large baronial estates.
And Sir Urry did not want to leave Sir Lancelot for anything, and he and Sir Lavain served him all his life. They were both revered by everyone at court as good knights and desirable comrades in arms. They have accomplished many great things military exploits, for they fought tirelessly and looked for opportunities to distinguish themselves. So they lived at Arthur's court with honor and joy for many years.
But day after day and night after night, Sir Agravaine, Sir Gawain's brother, watched Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot, wishing to condemn them both to shame and reproach.
Here I leave this tale and pass over the great books about Sir Lancelot and what glorious deeds he did in the days when he bore the name of the Knight of the Cart. For, as the French Book tells, Sir Lancelot, wishing to annoy those knights and ladies who reproached him with the fact that he rode in a cart, as if he were being taken to the gallows, wishing to annoy them all, Sir Lancelot then rode around in a cart for a whole year; for a whole year, after he killed, defending the honor of the queen, Sir Melegant, he never mounted a horse. But this year, as the French Book narrates, he fought more than forty fights.
Because I have missed the very essence of the story of the Knight of the Cart, I here leave the story of Sir Lancelot and proceed to the Death of Arthur, which Sir Agravaine caused. Next on the reverse side is “the most lamentable tale of the death of Arthur the Disinterested,” written by the gentleman Sir Thomas Malory, knight. Jesus, support him with Your mercy! Amen!
Book eight
The sad story of the death of Arthur the Disinterested
In May, when every heart is filled with juices and blossoms (for this time of year is caressing to the eye and pleasant to the senses, therefore men and women joyfully welcome the coming of summer with its new flowers, while winter with its harsh winds and cold forces cheerful men and women to hide home and sit by the fireplaces), that year in the month of May a great misfortune and discord occurred, which continued until best color chivalry was not destroyed and destroyed.
And all this was due to two ill-fated knights, Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred, who were Sir Gawain's brothers. For these knights - Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred - had long harbored a secret hatred of Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot, and they watched Sir Lancelot day and night. And one day, unfortunately, it happened, just when Sir Gawain and all his brothers were in the chambers of King Arthur, that Sir Agravaine spoke openly, without hiding, but in the hearing of all, thus:
I wonder how we are not all ashamed to see and know that Sir Lancelot lies with the queen every time and every night? We all know about this, and it is shame and disgrace for us to endure that such a glorious king as our King Arthur should be subjected to such dishonor.
Then Sir Gawain answered him and said:
My brother Sir Agravain, I ask and demand you, do not say such things in front of me again, for I am not at one with you.
God help us, said Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, and we do not wish to hear such talk either.
But I am at the same time with you! - said Sir Mordred.
“I believe this,” said Sir Gawain, “for you, sir, are always ready for any evil deed.” You should listen to me and not start anything, for I know well,” said Sir Gawain, “how it will all end.”
Let it end as it ends, answered Sir Agravain, I will reveal everything to the king!
My advice is, do not do this, - said Sir Gawain, - for if this results in enmity and discord between Sir Lancelot and us, know, my brother, that many kings and powerful barons will take the side of Sir Lancelot. And again, my brother Sir Agravain,” said Sir Gawain, “you must remember how many times Sir Launcelot saved the king and queen; and the best of us would have long ago died as cold corpses, if Sir Lancelot had not repeatedly shown himself to be the first among all the knights. And as for me,” said Sir Gawain, “I will never speak out against Sir Lancelot just because he delivered me from King Carados from the Tower of Tears, killing him and thereby saving my life. And in like manner, my brothers Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred, Sir Lancelot delivered you, and sixty-two other knights with you, from the captivity of Sir Tarquin. And therefore, brothers, I think that such noble and good deeds should not be forgotten.
“As you please,” answered Sir Agravaine, “but I no longer intend to hide it.”
And just at these words, King Arthur entered.
I beseech you, brother,” said Sir Gawain, “moderate your anger.”
Never! - said Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred.
So, have you made up your mind? - said Sir Gawain. “Then God bless you, for I don’t want to know or hear about it.”
And so do I,” said Sir Gaheris.
Nor I,” said Sir Gareth, “for I will never say a bad word about him who knighted me.”
And with that, the three of them left, indulging in deep sadness.
Alas! - said Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth, - this whole kingdom is lost, destroyed, and the noble brotherhood of the knights of the Round Table will be scattered.
And with that they left, and King Arthur began to ask what they were talking about.
My lord,” answered Sir Agravain, “I will tell you everything, for I cannot hide it any longer. I and my brother Sir Mordred have gone against our brother Sir Gawain, Sir Gaheris, and against Sir Gareth, and the thing in which we disagree, in short, is this: we all know that Sir Launcelot embraces your queen, and that for a long time, and we, as the sons of your sister, cannot tolerate this any longer. And we all know that you are greater than Sir Lancelot, for you are a king and you knighted him, and therefore we say that he is a traitor.
If this is all true,” said the king, “then, of course, he is a traitor.” But I do not intend to start such a case without clear evidence, for Sir Lancelot is a fearless knight, and everyone knows that he is the best knight of all of us, and unless he is caught red-handed, he will want to fight with the one who is talking about him such speeches, and I do not know a knight who would be able to fight with Sir Lancelot. And therefore, if what you say is true, let him be caught red-handed.
For, as the French Book says, the king was very ill at ease with all this talk against Sir Lancelot and the queen; for the king himself guessed about everything, but did not want to hear about it, for Sir Lancelot had done so much for him and for the queen that the king loved him very much.
My lord, said Sir Agravaine, go hunting to-morrow, and you will see that Sir Launcelot will not go with you. And closer to night you will need to send to the queen with the news that you will not return to spend the night and that your cooks be sent to you. And I can guarantee my life that this very night we will find him with the queen and deliver him to you, alive or dead.
“In every heroic deed, in every act of self-sacrifice, there is this conscious or unconscious belief in some posthumous meaning of life, which goes beyond the limits of personal existence...”
Evgeny Trubetskoy
“Old Woman Izergil” - one of the early romantic works Maxim Gorky. Consisting of 3 short stories, the story carries the idea of the meaning of life. Reflecting on this issue, the author cites 3 stories as examples: the legend of the proud and arrogant Larra, the story of the life of the old woman Izergil in her youth, and the legend of Danko. Old woman Izergil tells these three stories to the listener, thereby teaching and instructing him to live like her hero last story- Danko. The first two stories are opposed to the legend of Danko and carry the ideas of “life for all people and for oneself” and “life with people, but for oneself.” The legend itself teaches a person to “live with people and for people”, if possible, to sacrifice what is valuable for the sake of the people, without needing their gratitude.
The first story tells us about the selfish Larra, whose fate is to endlessly wander alone, without the possibility of escaping this by death: “He has no life, and death does not smile on him.
And there is no place for him among people... That’s how the man was struck for his pride!” His selfishness, pride and the way he looked down on people turned out to be a terrible punishment for him. This legend reveals the idea that “for everything a person takes, he pays with himself: with his mind and strength, sometimes with his life.” His lack of spirituality and arrogance towards people, selfishness crossed all boundaries. Having killed an innocent girl, he feels neither remorse for what he did nor a feeling of regret. And, as we know, she was punished for it.
The main opposition to Larra was Danko. On the one hand, he was like Larra - a proud, brave, strong man.
But on the other hand, he loved people. Despite their pitiful state, the fear of death, the doubt in which they even wanted to kill Danko, he loved them. He loved them so much that he was ready to give his life for them. Like everyone else, he could not escape the principle “man pays for everything himself.” He gives his life for the happiness of people. The torn out heart that lit the way to dark forest, has become a symbol of hope for a bright future. He - perfect image a humanist and a person with high spiritual values. Such a feat became happiness for himself: “...he cast a joyful glance at the free land and laughed proudly. And then he fell and died.”
But it was not only Larra who became the opposite of Danko. The people who were saved by him could not accept this sacrifice: they were so low. Intoxicated by the happiness of salvation, they did not notice the dead Danko. "Only one careful man noticed this and, fearing something, stepped on the proud heart with his foot...” What was this man afraid of? I believe that he was afraid to remember this incident. About how they showed cowardice; about how low they behaved towards their savior. And in order to bury these feelings in the past forever, they break the last piece of these memories - Danko’s burning heart. I am sure that Danko realized that the people would not praise him and would try to forget him. And despite this, he sacrifices for them. After all, spiritually he is above human vanity, above the desire to be glorified.
Effective preparation for the Unified State Exam (all subjects) -
“LOVE IS SELFLESS, SELF-SAFE,
NOT EXPECTING A REWARD."
(Love theme in the story “Garnet Bracelet”)
LOVE IS ALL POWERFUL: THERE IS NO WORRY ON EARTH -
HIGHER IS ITS PUNISHMENT, NOR HAPPINESS - HIGHER IS PLEASURE -
NIA TO SERVE HER.
V. SHAKESPEARE.
Purpose of the lesson: Show the writer’s skill in depicting the world of human feelings, reveal the idea and artistic features, the role of detail in a story, develop the ability to analyze the text of a work of art.
INTRODUCTION: To the sounds of music by G. Sviridov “Illustrations for the story A, S Pushkin “Blizzard”, the teacher reads a sonnet by W. Shakespeare by heart.
Her eyes are not like stars
You can't call your mouth coral,
The open skin of the shoulders is not snow-white,
And a strand curls like black wire.
With damask rose, scarlet or white,
You can't compare the shade of these cheeks,
And the body smells like the body smells,
Not like a violet's delicate petal.
You won't find perfect lines in it,
A special color on the forehead.
I don't know how the goddesses walk,
And the darling steps on the ground.
But still she will hardly give in to those
Who was slandered in comparisons of magnificent people.
TEACHER: These words belong to the great Shakespeare. And here is how Vs reflects on this feeling 500 years later. Christmas.
Love, love is a mysterious word,
Who could fully understand him?
Everything is always old or new,
Are you languor of spirit or grace?
Irreversible loss
Or endless enrichment?
Hot day, what a sunset
Or the night that devastated hearts?
Or maybe you're just a reminder
About what inevitably awaits us all?
And the eternal world cycle?
TEACHER: Love is one of the most sublime, noble and beautiful human feelings. Real love always selfless and selfless. What sayings about love have you found?
(Students read out the quotes they found, then the teacher asks them to write down the ones they like.)
TEACHER: Aristotle said about this about 2.5 thousand years ago: “To love means to wish for another what you consider to be good, and to wish, moreover, not for your own sake, but for the sake of the one you love, and try, if possible, to deliver it good."
It is this kind of love, amazing in beauty and strength, that is depicted in the story “The Garnet Bracelet,” written in 1910. The work is based on real fact - history the love of a modest official for a socialite, the mother of the writer Leonid Lyubimov.
(STUDENT'S MESSAGE ABOUT STORY PROTOTYPES. See "Planning" 11th grade p. 64.)
ANALYTICAL CONVERSATION OF A COMPARATIVE CHARACTER.
1.How Kuprin artistically transformed real story, heard by him in the family of a high-ranking official? For what purpose was it introduced? tragic ending Zheltkov's love?
2.What social barriers push Zheltkov’s love into the realm of unattainable dreams? Are they the only ones who make the hero’s happiness impossible?
3.Can we say that in “ Garnet bracelet“was the writer’s dream of an ideal, unearthly feeling expressed?
1.The story, consisting of 13 chapters, begins with landscape sketch. Read it. Why do you think the story opens with a landscape? Find artistic media, predetermining future tragedy. What does this detail indicate that the “life-loving inhabitants” flocked to the city?
COMPILATION OF A TABLE.
Terrible weather, quiet cloudless days
Dense fog, clear, sunny, warm
The siren roared, the ferocious hurricane the yellow stubble of the fields
The softened highway, the thick mud glistened with the mica sheen of the cobwebs
Muddy muslin of rain
Emptiness, bareness, trees obediently dropped yellow leaves
Which one then artistic technique used by the writer?
LITERARY DEVICE: CONTRASTITION.
B. What thoughts arise. feelings? What is the ideological and compositional role of this sketch?
CONCLUSION: A feeling of a fading world, the transience of life, the approach of death, which can be tragic.
2. The main character is Sheina Vera Nikolaevna, princess, wife of the leader of the nobility. Read the portrait of the heroine. Find details that help create a portrait of the prince. Faith. Find a description of the autumn garden and read it. Find repeated epithets in the description of the book. Faith and garden. Why book Doesn't Vera leave the dacha?
COMPILATION OF A TABLE.
LANDSCAPE KN. FAITH
Cold and arrogant cold proud face
The beauty of autumn flowers, the regal calm, the cold kindness
ness, practicality
A. What kind of associative series arises?
ASSOCIATIVE SERIES: Cold - arrogant - proud - arrogant - regal - aristocratic.
CONTINUATION OF THE CONVERSATION.
A. What can you say about the soul of the book? Faith? (she's cold)
B. Why does the description of the garden come after the description of feelings for your husband?
Q. Does Vera Nikolaevna suffer from “heart failure,” that is, is she heartless?
3. Find the episode of the book. Vera and her sister; highlight in it the heroine’s words about the sea, the forest. Find the episode in the finale - the garden's reaction to the heroine's tears. What is the ideological and compositional role of this comparison?
TABLE CONTINUATION
“ATTITUDE OF KN. FAITH IN NATURE"
SEA: “When I see the sea for the first time, it pleases and amazes me. Once I get used to it, I miss looking at it."
FOREST: (pine trees, mosses, fly agarics - comparison) “As if made of red velvet and embroidered with white beads”
For Vera Nikolaevna, the main thing is that the gaze seems to glide over the surface.
external. The landscape perceives sti. There is no desire to look closely, feel-
through material values. to worry.
Teacher’s question: Why does the surrounding beauty leave Vera Nikolaevna indifferent?
TABLE CONTINUATION
THE ABUNDANCE OF BEAUTY CREATES SATENESS, WHICH IS LIKELY TO APPEAR IN PEOPLE WITH COLD HEARTS.
CONCLUSION: Kuprin draws a parallel between the description of the autumn garden and the internal state of the heroine. Let us remember: “The trees calmed down and obediently dropped their yellow leaves.” The heroine is in the same indifferent state: she is strictly simple with everyone, coldly kind.”
CONTINUATION OF THE CONVERSATION.
Gifts for Vera Nikolaevna. What is their significance? How does Zheltkov’s gift look against this background? Read the description of the bracelet, find a semantic comparison. How is it (the bracelet) different from other gifts? Is there any symbolic meaning to this? Letter from Zheltkov to Vera Nikolaevna. Read. What characteristics can we give to the author? How can you relate to Zheltkov: sympathize, admire, pity or despise him as a weak-spirited person? An episode of Vera Nikolaevna's husband and brother visiting Zheltkov. Interior details. How do the participants in the scene behave (brother, Zheltkov, husband). Who wins the moral victory in this peculiar duel? Why? Find evidence that the hero is driven by that enormous feeling that can make a person either immensely happy or tragically unhappy.
COMPILATION OF A TABLE.
EXTERNAL INTERNAL (SOUL)
House, stairs, room.
Poverty.
2. Portrait. Purity, sincerity, ability to feel
3 Behavior during a conversation. Behind the external confusion, nervousness
There is a deep feeling hidden in the truth.
4. Last letter, music beauty, depth of soul.
CONCLUSION: A person who occupies a low position in society is capable of deep feelings and has a high soul.
Episode of Vera Nikolaevna's farewell to the deceased. (The room smelled of incense...) What does the heroine feel as she peers into the face of the one who passed away because of her? Her thoughts. Is this detail random? What do you think is the climax moment?
TEACHER'S WORD: The greatness of the experience a simple person is comprehended to the sounds of Beethoven's Sonata No. 2, as if bringing us shocks of pain and happiness, and unexpectedly displaces everything vain, petty from Vera Nikolaevna's soul and unexpectedly instills a reciprocal ennobling suffering.
MUSIC IS PLAYING. Against its background, the student reads the passage “Hallowed be thy name.”
FINAL CONVERSATION.
1. What mood will the ending of the story be filled with? What role does music play?
What do you think is the power of love? Did that same “great love that repeats itself once every thousand years” pass by Vera Nikolaevna? For which of the characters do you think this story became moral lesson, test of love? Is a different ending to the story possible?
TEACHER'S FINAL WORD.
A particular case is poeticized by Kuprin, brought to the level of general philosophical generalizations.... Love, according to Kuprin, “is always a tragedy, always a struggle, always joy and fear, resurrection and death.” The tragedy of love, the tragedy of life only emphasize their beauty.
Not in strength, not in dexterity, not in intelligence, not in talent,
Individuality is not expressed in creativity. But
HOMEWORK. Write a miniature essay or argument on the problem raised by the writer, according to the algorithm for the written answer of Part C within the framework of the Unified State Exam.