Title of the work: Snow Maiden

Year of writing: 1873

Genre: play

Main characters: Snow Maiden- daughter of Frost and Spring, Lel- shepherd, Kupava- country girl Mizgir- merchant, groom Kupava, tsar Berendey.

Plot

The Snow Maiden is bored in the deep forest, she wants to go to people in their world. Therefore, her parents send her to the settlement. The beauty of the girl drives all the local guys crazy, and they quarreled with their girlfriends. Mizgir, who came to the wedding, leaves his bride and also takes care of the Snow Maiden. Kupava rushes into the river, but Lel saves her. Then the offended girl goes with a complaint to the king. The tsar is concerned about the state of affairs in the state and demands that one of the young men win the love of the Snow Maiden and call her his wife at a holiday dedicated to Yarila - the Sun. The Snow Maiden has a cold heart, but now she wants love and therefore turns to her mother for help. Spring gives her a wreath that allows her to feel like people. And, having met Mizgir, the Snow Maiden falls in love with him. At dawn, Mizgir announces to the king about his marriage to a girl. But at that moment the sun rises and under its hot rays the Snow Maiden melts. Mizgir, unable to withstand such a blow, rushes down from the cliff. All villagers celebrate Yarilin Day and weddings with their loved ones.

Conclusion (my opinion)

The author, by his arrangement of the Russian folk tale about the girl Snegurochka, wanted to show that only living real people can achieve happiness in this life, inventions adorn our lives, but the basis of human existence is work, as well as loyalty to the traditions and customs of their ancestors.

The action takes place in the country of the Berendeys in mythical times. The end of winter comes - the goblin hides in a hollow. Spring arrives on Krasnaya Gorka near Berendeyev Posad, the capital of Tsar Berendey, and birds return with it: cranes, swans - the retinue of Spring. The country of the Berendeys meets Spring with cold, and all because of Spring's flirtations with Frost, the old grandfather, Spring herself admits. They had a daughter - the Snow Maiden. Spring is afraid to quarrel with Frost for the sake of her daughter and is forced to endure everything. The “jealous” Sun itself is also angry. Therefore, Spring calls all the birds to warm themselves with a dance, as people themselves do in the cold. But the fun is just beginning - the choirs of birds and their dances - as a blizzard rises. Spring hides the birds in the bushes until the new morning and promises to warm them. Meanwhile, Frost comes out of the forest and reminds Spring that they have a common child. Each of the parents takes care of the Snow Maiden in their own way. Frost wants to hide her in the forest so that she lives among obedient animals in a forest tower. Spring wants a different future for her daughter: for her to live among people, among cheerful friends and children who play and dance until midnight. The peace meeting turns into a spor. Frost knows that the god of the Sun of the Berendeys, hot Yarilo, vowed to destroy the Snow Maiden. As soon as the fire of love is kindled in her heart, he will melt her. Spring does not believe. After a quarrel, Frost offers to give their daughter to be raised by a childless Bobyl in the suburb, where the guys are unlikely to pay attention to their Snow Maiden. Spring agrees.

Frost calls the Snow Maiden out of the forest and asks if she wants to live with people. The Snow Maiden admits that she has long yearned for girlish songs and round dances, that she likes the songs of the young shepherd Lel. This especially frightens the father, and he punishes the Snow Maiden more than anything in the world to beware of Lel, in whom the “scorching rays” of the Sun live. Parting with his daughter, Frost entrusts the care of her to his “leshutki” forest. And, finally, gives way to Spring. Folk festivities begin - seeing off Maslenitsa. The Berendeys greet the arrival of Spring with songs.

Bobyl went to the forest for firewood and sees the Snow Maiden dressed like a hawthorn. She wanted to stay with Bobyl with Bobyl's adopted daughter.

It is not easy for the Snow Maiden to live with Bobyl and Bobylikh: the named parents are angry that she, with her excessive bashfulness and modesty, discouraged all suitors and they fail to get rich with the help of a profitable marriage of their adopted daughter.

Lel comes to the Bobyls to wait, because they alone, for the money collected by other families, are ready to let him into the house. The rest are afraid that their wives and daughters will not resist Lel's charm. The Snow Maiden does not understand Lel's requests for a kiss for a song, for a flower gift. She picks off the flower with surprise and gives it to Lelya, but he, having sung a song and seeing other girls calling him, throws the already wilted flower of the Snow Maiden and runs away to new amusements. Many girls quarrel with guys who are inattentive to them because of their passion for the beauty of the Snow Maiden. Only Kupava, the daughter of the wealthy Slobozhan Murash, is affectionate towards the Snow Maiden. She informs her of her happiness: a wealthy merchant guest from the royal settlement Mizgir has engaged to her. Then Mizgir himself appears with two bags of gifts - a bride price for girls and boys. Kupava, together with Mizgir, approaches the Snow Maiden, who is spinning in front of the house, and calls her to last time lead girlish round dances. But when he saw the Snow Maiden, Mizgir fell passionately in love with her and rejected Kupava. He orders to carry his treasury to Bobyl's house. The Snow Maiden resists these changes, not wishing harm to Kupava, but the bribed Bobyl and Bobylikha force the Snow Maiden to even drive Lel away, which is demanded by Mizgir. The shocked Kupava asks Mizgir about the reasons for his betrayal and hears in response that the Snow Maiden won his heart with her modesty and bashfulness, and Kupava's courage now seems to him a harbinger of future betrayal. The offended Kupava asks for protection from the Berendeys and sends curses to Mizgir. She wants to drown herself, but Lel stops her, and she falls unconscious into his arms.

In the chambers of Tsar Berendey, a conversation takes place between him and his close associate Bermyata about the troubles in the kingdom: for fifteen years, Yarilo has been unkind to Berendey, winters are getting colder, springs are getting colder, and in some places there is snow in summer. Berendey is sure that Yarilo is angry with the Berendeys for cooling their hearts, for the “cold of feelings”. To quench the wrath of the Sun, Berendey decides to propitiate him with a sacrifice: on Yarilin's day, the next day, to tie as many grooms and brides as possible by marriage. However, Bermyata reports that because of some Snow Maiden who showed up in the settlement, all the girls quarreled with the guys and it is impossible to find brides and grooms for marriage. Then Kupava, abandoned by Mizgir, runs in and cries out all her grief to the king. The king orders to find Mizgir and summon the Berendeys for trial. Mizgir is brought in, and Berendey asks Bermyata how to punish him for cheating on his bride. Bermyata proposes to force Mizgir to marry Kupava. But Mizgir boldly objects that his bride is the Snow Maiden. Kupava also does not want to marry a traitor. The Berendeys do not have the death penalty, and Mizgir is sentenced to exile. Mizgir only asks the king to look at the Snow Maiden himself. Seeing the Snow Maiden who came with Bobyl and Bobylikh, the tsar is struck by her beauty and tenderness, wants to find a worthy husband for her: such a “sacrifice” will surely appease Yarila. The Snow Maiden admits that her heart does not know love. The king turns to his wife for advice. Elena the Beautiful says that the only one who can melt the heart of the Snow Maiden is Lel. Lel calls the Snow Maiden to twist wreaths until the morning sun and promises that by morning love will wake up in her heart. But Mizgir does not want to give in to the Snow Maiden and asks for permission to join the fight for the heart of the Snow Maiden. Berendey allows and is sure that at dawn the Berendey will gladly meet the Sun, which will accept their expiatory “sacrifice”. The people glorify the wisdom of their king Berendey.

At the evening dawn, girls and boys begin to dance, in the center - the Snow Maiden with Lel, Mizgir either appears or disappears in the forest. Delighted by Lel's singing, the tsar invites him to choose a girl who will reward him with a kiss. The Snow Maiden wants Lel to choose her, but Lel chooses Kupava. Other girls put up with their sweethearts, forgiving them past betrayals. Lel is looking for Kupava, who has gone home with her father, and meets the weeping Snow Maiden, but he does not feel sorry for her for these “jealous tears”, caused not by love, but by envy for Kupava. He tells her about secret lovemaking, which is more valuable than a public kiss, and only for true love is he ready to take her to meet the Sun in the morning. Lel recalls how he cried when the Snow Maiden had not previously answered his love, and goes to the guys, leaving the Snow Maiden to wait. And yet, in the heart of the Snow Maiden, it is not love that still lives, but only pride that Lel will lead her to meet Yarila.

But then Mizgir finds the Snow Maiden, he pours out his soul to her, full of burning, real male passion. He, who never prayed for love from girls, falls on his knees before her. But the Snow Maiden is afraid of his passion, and the threats to avenge the humiliation are also terrible. She also rejects the priceless pearl with which Mizgir tries to buy her love, and says that she will exchange her love for Lel's love. Then Mizgir wants to get the Snow Maiden by force. She calls Lelya, but “leshutki” come to her aid, whom Father Frost instructed to take care of her daughter. They take Mizgir into the forest, beckoning him with the ghost of the Snow Maiden, and he wanders all night in the forest, hoping to overtake the Snow Maiden-ghost.

Meanwhile, even the heart of the tsar's wife was melted by Lel's songs. But the shepherd deftly dodges both from Elena the Beautiful, leaving her in the care of Bermyata, and from the Snow Maiden, from whom he runs away when he sees Kupava. It was this kind of reckless and ardent love that his heart was waiting for, and he advises the Snow Maiden to “eavesdrop” on Kupavina’s hot speeches in order to learn to love. The Snow Maiden, in her last hope, runs to Mother Spring and asks her to teach her real feelings. On the last day, when Spring can fulfill her daughter's request, since the next day Yarilo and Summer come into their own, Spring, rising from the water of the lake, reminds the Snow Maiden of her father's warning. But the Snow Maiden is ready to give her life for a moment of true love. Her mother puts on her a magic wreath of flowers and herbs and promises that she will love the first young man she meets. The Snow Maiden meets Mizgir and responds to his passion. The immensely happy Mizgir does not believe in danger and considers the desire of the Snow Maiden to hide from Yarila's rays as an empty fear. He solemnly leads the bride to Yarilina Gora, where all the Berendeys have gathered. At the first rays of the sun, the Snow Maiden melts, blessing the love that brings death to her. It seems to Mizgir that the Snow Maiden deceived him, that the gods mocked him, and in despair he rushes from Yarilina Mountain into the lake. “The Snow Maiden’s sad death and the terrible death of Mizgir cannot disturb us,” says the tsar, and all the Berendeys hope that Yarila’s anger will now go out, that he will give the Berendeys strength, harvest, life.

Option 2

The end of the harsh and cold winter, which is replaced by the long-awaited spring with its warm rays of the sun and the first thawed patches in the forest, where the goblin hides in a hollow. Spring comes to Krasnaya Gorka, and the birds return. The country of Berendey meets Spring with cold, and all because of Spring's flirting with Frost. They had a daughter - the Snow Maiden. Spring is afraid to quarrel with Frost and endures everything for the sake of her daughter.

Spring calls all the birds to warm themselves with a dance, as people do in cold weather, but a blizzard rises with fun. Frost comes out of the forest and reminds Spring that the time has come to take care of the Snow Maiden. Frost wants to hide her in the forest so that she lives among obedient animals in a forest chamber. But Spring wants a different future for her daughter, so that she lives among people and cheerful friends who play and dance until midnight. The sun god of the Berendeys, hot Yarilo wants to destroy the Snow Maiden. As soon as the fire of love is kindled in her heart, he will melt her.

After a quarrel, Frost offers to give the Snow Maiden to be raised by a childless Bobyl in a suburb, where the guys are unlikely to pay attention to her. Spring agrees. The Snow Maiden admits that she has long yearned for girlish songs and round dances, she really likes the songs of the young shepherdess Lelya. This frightens the caring father very much, and he orders the Snow Maiden to beware of Lel, and entrusts the care of her to his forest leshutki. So spring has come into its own. The festivities began.

Once Bobyl went to the forest for firewood and saw the Snow Maiden dressed as a hawthorn. She agreed to stay in their house as an adopted daughter. The named parents are angry that she, with her bashfulness and modesty, has repulsed all the suitors, and they fail to get rich. Lel comes to the Bobyls. The Snow Maiden does not understand Lel's requests for a kiss for a song, and for a gift of a flower. Lel, having sung a song, saw other girls and ran to them. Girls quarrel with guys who are fond of the beauty of the Snow Maiden.

Only Kupava, the daughter of the rich merchant Murash, is affectionate towards the Snow Maiden. She shares her joyful news with the Snow Maiden, says that the wealthy merchant guest Mizgir has engaged to her. Here Mizgir appears with two bags of gifts - a bride price for girls and guys. Mizgir, seeing the Snow Maiden, passionately falls in love with her and orders to carry the treasury to Bobyl's house. The Snow Maiden does not wish harm to Kupava, she resists the change of Mizgir. Offended by grief, Kupava asks for protection from the Berendeys. Kupava decided to drown herself, but Lel stopped her.

For fifteen years, Yarilo has been unkind to the Berendeys. To quench the wrath of the sun, one must propitiate it with a sacrifice. But Bermyata report that because of the Snow Maiden, who appeared in the suburb, all the girls quarreled. Then the abandoned Kupava runs in and tells the king about her grief. Mizgir is sentenced to exile. Mizgir desperately fights for his rights. At the evening dawn, girls and boys lead round dances. Lel is looking for Kupava and meets the weeping Snow Maiden, but he does not feel sorry for her. The Snow Maiden rejects Mizgir's love, calling Lelya. Leshutki take Mizgir into the forest, beckoning him with the ghost of the Snow Maiden, where he wanders all night. The Snow Maiden asks for advice from the mother of spring, to teach her to love. The mother puts a magic wreath of flowers and herbs on the head of the Snow Maiden and promises that she will love the young man she meets. Happy Mizgir leads the Snow Maiden to the mountain where the Berendeys have gathered. The Snow Maiden melts at the first rays of the sun, blessing the love that brought her death. Mizgir, who thinks that the Snow Maiden has deceived him, in desperation rushes from the mountain into the lake. Now all the Berendeys hope that Yarila's anger will go out, because he gives strength, harvest and life.

Essay on literature on the topic: Summary of the Snow Maiden Ostrovsky A. N

Other writings:

1. The action takes place in the country of the Berendeys in mythical times. The end of winter comes - the goblin hides in a hollow. Spring arrives on Krasnaya Gorka near Berendeyev Posad, the capital of Tsar Berendey, and birds return with it: cranes, swans - the retinue of Spring. Cold meets Read More ......
2. The opera The Snow Maiden based on the plot of A. N. Ostrovsky's play is one of Rimsky Korsakov's favorite works. It was written unusually quickly, during the summer of 1880. The composer wrote about it this way:
3. Snow Maiden Characteristic literary hero The Snow Maiden is the heroine of the “spring fairy tale” by A. N. Ostrovsky “The Snow Maiden” (1873). The action of the play takes place in “the country of the Berendeys in prehistoric times”. The mythopoetic image of the Berendeev kingdom was inspired by oral folk art. This is an idyllic realm of peace and harmony. Love – Read More ......
4. The poetic fairy tale "The Snow Maiden" stands apart from a number of other works by Ostrovsky. In other plays, Ostrovsky paints gloomy pictures of the merchant environment, criticizes harsh morals and shows the whole tragedy of a lonely soul forced to exist in the conditions of a “dark kingdom”. The work “Snow Maiden” is an amazing Read More ......
5. The whole spring fairy tale by A. N. Ostrovsky “The Snow Maiden” is fanned with good romance. This play is the embodiment of the playwright's dream of a social future, of a peaceful life of the people, free from the power of arbitrariness and violence, that good must be done with one's own hands. It draws Read More ......
6. Two capacious artistic symbols reinforce the meaning of "Thunderstorm". The first is the title, powerful cataclysm that swept not only in nature, but also in the human community and broke the soul of the heroine, exhausted from an excess of unclaimed love. The second is the great river into which the unfortunate woman rushed, Read More ......
7. Two capacious artistic symbols reinforce the meaning of "Thunderstorm". The first is the title, powerful cataclysm that swept not only in nature, but also in the human community and broke the soul of the heroine, exhausted from an excess of unclaimed reserves of love. The second is the great river into which the unfortunate Read More ......
8. Thunderstorm First half of the 19th century Fictional Volga town Kalinov. Public garden on the high bank of the Volga. The local self-taught mechanic Kuligin talks with young people - Kudryash, the clerk of the rich merchant Diky, and the tradesman Shapkin - about the rude antics and tyranny of Diky. Then Read More appears ......

Folk tales occupy a rather serious place in the Russian ethnos. They express the aspirations, hopes, fears, and even simply pipe dreams of people. Most Russian fairy tales are permeated with kindness and faith in justice. Sometimes we are faced with the fact that a writer takes as a basis the plot of some folk tale and develops it in his own way. An example is the work of such a writer as Nikolai Ostrovsky. "The Snow Maiden", a summary of which is known to everyone since childhood, received a new and instructive round under the author's pen.

Frost and Spring Love

Let's take a closer look at what N. Ostrovsky writes about. "The Snow Maiden", a summary of which can be conveyed in a few sentences, is filled with a lot of instructive messages to readers. Imagine the ancient mythical land of the Berendeys. And then one day, an unprecedented event happened in her. Spring comes to Krasnaya Gorka near Berendeev Posad (the royal capital). Yes, not alone, but with all her magnificent retinue. Her retinue is noble - cranes and swans. However, the country of the Berendeys unkindly meets Spring (as it seems to her, the reason for this is their relationship with the old Frost). After all, the father of her daughter named Snegurochka is Frost.

Not only in the country of the Berendeys are dissatisfied with this course of things. The sun also expresses dissatisfaction, threatening to no longer warm the earth. Therefore, Spring, in order to somehow help the animals warm up, invites them to sing and dance. However, as soon as they begin to move, an angry cold blizzard immediately rises. Spring gathers all the birds and hides them in the bushes in the hope that the next day will bring the long-awaited warmth.

Father's warning

In addition, old Frost appears from the forest, reminding Spring of taking care of common child. He offers to hide the Snow Maiden in the depths of the forest, where a warm tower is located. Mother Spring also takes care in her own way - she wants her child to live among people, to enjoy life with them. The meeting turns into a fight. Frost knows that the god of the Sun, hot Yarilo, wants to destroy the Snow Maiden, making it so that when the fire of love ignites in her heart, she will simply melt. He tells all this to Spring. But she does not believe Moroz's arguments.

From the very beginning, we see the difference in the plots of the folk tale and the one that Ostrovsky wrote. "The Snow Maiden", a summary of the chapters of which we are considering, continues like this. After a long argument, the parents decided to give the girl to be raised by a childless Bobyl. Say, there are no guys there, which means that the heart of the Snow Maiden will be safe. The girl herself admits that she has long dreamed of living with people, singing songs and having fun round dances. In addition, it turns out that the Snow Maiden is not completely indifferent to the young shepherd Lelya. This especially alarmed Frost. He warns his daughter with all paternal severity to stay away from the shepherd, communication with which can ruin her.

Adoptive parents

The summary of the story “The Snow Maiden” (Ostrovsky perfectly describes the farewell to Shrovetide) will continue with the fact that the Berendeys rejoice at the arrival of Spring, meeting her with songs and dances. Bobyl meets in a dense thicket a beautiful, richly dressed girl who asks to be an adopted daughter. The life of the Snow Maiden is not easy. The thing is that, being too bashful, she, according to the Bobyls, discouraged all potential suitors. But they so wanted to get rich at the expense of the family in which they would take the girl in marriage.

Unexpectedly, the shepherd Lel comes to stay at the Bobyls. Nobody wanted to take a handsome and charming guy into their house, fearing that the master's daughters would not resist him. And what to take from the poor shepherd? A very unfavorable party. Therefore, fellow villagers collect money and give it to Lelya so that he can find a place to live somewhere, but not with them. Tempted by money, Bobyls let the young man into the house.

The inexperience of the Snow Maiden

How accurately and deeply Ostrovsky reveals his characters! "The Snow Maiden" is a play, the summary of which cannot convey the entire palette of characters. Let's look at the relationship between the handsome shepherd and the innocent, modest Snow Maiden. Despite the fact that she likes Lel's songs, and the guy himself, the girl's innate modesty clearly prevents young people from getting close.

Yes, and the shepherd was not entirely disinterested. He does not want to sing just for the pleasure of hearing. He asks for more material gifts. For example, kisses. But the Snow Maiden does not understand Lel's aspirations. She wholeheartedly gave the young man a flower for the song he performed. The shepherd, tired of explaining the obvious, threw him out and went to other girls who, in his opinion, could better appreciate talent and beauty.

Beauty is an object of envy and resentment

What else does Ostrovsky emphasize? The Snow Maiden (a brief summary of the tale cannot be left without some details) was written a long time ago, but even today we find many instructive moments. So, the Snow Maiden, despite her popularity among young people, cannot find girlfriends. After all, all the guys look at her, and the girls do not want to communicate with the daughter of Spring.

The only one who showed kindness to the Snow Maiden was Kupava, the daughter of a wealthy peasant. She is so frank with the girl that she shares her happiness - the wealthy merchant Mizgir from the royal settlement wooed her. Soon to be a wedding. After some time, the groom himself appears. He arrives with many gifts that he wants to present to Kupava's relatives and close people in honor of his marriage.

Kupava introduces the Snow Maiden to her lover and invites her to a bachelorette party arranged on the occasion of her imminent marriage. But Mizgir falls in love with the Snow Maiden at first sight, completely forgetting about Kupava. He officially announces to the girl about the termination of the engagement, arguing this with his unexpected love for the Snow Maiden. Kupava is so shocked that she decides to commit suicide by drowning herself in the river, but the shepherd Lel manages to save her. Of course, Kupava, like all the other girls in the village, harbored a grudge.

The disgrace of the god Yarila

Let's continue with the summary. The fairy tale "The Snow Maiden" (Ostrovsky built it on the basis of ancient folk beliefs) takes us to those times when people worshiped natural, natural gods. So, it seems to Tsar Berendey that recently the god Yarilo has been unkind to his kingdom. It warms a little, does not allow the crop to ripen, and in general rarely appears.

He tells about this to his close Bermyata. The king is sure that Yarilo is angry with his subjects for the lack of warmth of love in their hearts. As a bright and warm deity, this is unpleasant for him.

Berendey's plan: a summary

Ostrovsky N., whose “Snow Maiden” “exposes” all human passions, brings an angry Kupava to the royal chambers. She asks to punish the traitor. Justifying himself, Mizgir explained to the king that he no longer considers Kupava his bride, and does not want to marry without sincere love. After listening to the merchant, Bermyata, who had previously been silent, offered the king to force him to marry Kupava. However, the girl herself objected, declaring that she did not need such a traitor for nothing. Mizgir replied that from now on he considers Snegurochka his bride.

All this interferes with Berendey's plan, according to which his subjects need to conclude the maximum number of marriages. And the sooner the better. This should appease Yarila. Bermyata was skeptical about the royal plans, citing the fact that more and more suburban girls have been quarreling with their boyfriends lately. Those are subdued by the beauty of the Snow Maiden.

Acquaintance of the Tsar with the Snow Maiden

Enraged, Berendey sentences the merchant to exile from the country. Mizgir agrees with the punishment, but invites the king to take a look at the beauty himself, because of which there are so many conversations. Soon, the Bobyls, together with their adopted daughter, appeared before the king.

Berendey was amazed at the beauty and chastity of the Snow Maiden, immediately estimating that if he married her successfully, Yarilo would definitely be satisfied. However, here again the question of suitors arose. The heart of the Snow Maiden is cold, and she does not want to get married. Perplexed, Berendey asks his wife, Elena the Beautiful, for advice. The queen, having understood the situation, explained to her husband that only the shepherd Lel could melt the girl’s heart.

Magic Gift of Spring

It would seem that the denouement is not far off. But passions are only heating up. That is exactly what Ostrovsky thought. The Snow Maiden (a summary of the actions of this tale accurately conveys the libretto to Rimsky-Korsakov's opera) does not interest Lel. He is very passionate about Kupava, so much so that he wants to sing his songs only for her. Inviting the Snow Maiden to a night party, the shepherd is not at all going to give her his heart, hinting that the girl has already once failed to appreciate his aspirations. She does not understand carnal feelings, and Lel rejects the girl.

Mizgir also does not waste time and seeks to win his beloved. But the Snow Maiden is not interested in the wealth of the merchant either. The enraged Mizgir tries to take the girl by force, but the magical inhabitants of the forest protect the daughter of the old Frost. As Ostrovsky wrote, the Snow Maiden (a very brief content does not allow to fully reveal all the nuances of the plot) is under the tutelage of Leshy all the time.

In desperation, she asks Vesna to teach her about human love. The mother on the last day of her dominion (after all, Yarilo rises in the morning) cannot refuse her daughter. But she nevertheless recalled that these feelings are "like death." The Snow Maiden agrees to everything, just to know love. Spring puts a magic wreath on the girl's head: the first man her daughter meets will become her chosen one.

The destructive rays of the sun

The Snow Maiden meets Mizgir, to whom she gives her love. The merchant is happy and does not believe in the fears of the Snow Maiden about the first rays of the Sun. He solemnly brings the girl to Yarilina Gora, where all the Berendeys have gathered, and the king blesses all the couples who are going to get married.

Unfortunately, Ostrovsky ends the tale tragically. The Snow Maiden (the summary does not contain all the experiences of the girl) dies with the first rays of the sun. The merchant is so shocked that he rushes straight from the mountain into the pool, where he drowns. However, their death did not impress Tsar Berendey. He believes that Yarilo received great sacrifice and now their life in the kingdom will improve.

Ostrovsky's play The Snow Maiden, written in 1873, is based on a Russian folk tale. This is a poetic story stylized as Russian folklore, in which actors are the lower and higher Slavic deities: Spring, Yarilo, Frost, Leshy.

main characters

Freezing- a stern old man, the lord of cold and snowstorms.

Spring- a young beauty that brings warmth and joy.

Snow Maiden- the young daughter of Frost and Spring.

Lel- a carefree shepherd, able to charm anyone with his singing.

Mizgir- a young merchant, passionately in love with the Snow Maiden.

Other characters

Tsar Berendey- a kind and fair ruler of the magical kingdom.

Bobyl and Bobylikha- foster parents of the Snow Maiden.

Kupava- Snow Maiden's girlfriend, Mizgir's rejected bride.

Bermyata- the close boyar of the tsar.

Elena the beautiful- Bermyat's wife.

Yarilo- a powerful deity, the sun, which all Berendeys worship.

Prologue

The first phenomenon

“Spring-Red descends to the earth”, only the “gloomy country” meets her completely unhappily - the fields are covered with snow, and the streams are ice-bound.

Vesna admits that sixteen years ago she showed her "fickle disposition, changeable and whimsical", and seduced Frost. Now they have a common daughter - the beautiful Snegurochka.

The second phenomenon

At the meeting, Spring asks the old man to quickly go north, "to the Siberian tundra." Upon learning that Frost leaves her daughter in a deep forest, she protests - the grown-up Snow Maiden needs "fun and games until midnight, spring parties and burners."

Frost admits that his main opponent - Yarilo - "swore a terrible oath to destroy" him, and melt the Snow Maiden as soon as she truly loves.

The third phenomenon

The girl confesses to her parents that she has long dreamed of going to the forest with her friends to pick mushrooms and berries, to dance with them to the sonorous trills of the young shepherd Lel.

Frost leaves the kingdom of the Berendeys, and Spring enters into its rightful possessions.

The fourth phenomenon

To celebrate, the Berendeys burn an effigy of winter and celebrate Maslenitsa.

Bobyl and Bobylikha notice on the road a hawthorn "in a sheepskin coat, in boots, in mittens" - the Snow Maiden, who becomes their named daughter.

Act I

The first phenomenon

The inhabitants of the kingdom receive a decree - to gather everyone "in the abyss, in the game, in the disgrace" and worship the bright Yarila.

In the meantime, Bobyl and his wife are twisting - grooms go after the Snow Maiden in "hordes, herds", but the beauty does not like anyone. Old people dream of a well-fed life with their future son-in-law, but the Snow Maiden wants to marry only for love. She just doesn't know what love is.

The second phenomenon

The inhabitants of the settlement offer payment to Bobyl to give him shelter for the young shepherd Lel. Many of them are afraid that a young handsome guy can turn the heads of their wives and daughters, and Bobyl's Snegurochka is not at all like a Slobozhanka.

The third phenomenon

The Snow Maiden asks Lelya to sing a song for her. As payment, the shepherd asks for a kiss, but the girl does not agree. Then Lel is ready to take a flower as a payment.

The shepherd boy begins to sing, but other girls call him, and the guy without hesitation throws away the withered flower and runs away.

The fourth phenomenon

The Snow Maiden is offended by Lelya's indifference - "annoyance squeezes her chest." The girl is offended by her father for having created her so cold, and decides to take "a little warmth of the heart" from her mother Spring.

Fifth phenomenon

A friend of the Snow Maiden named Kupava shares her joy with her - she met a rich, handsome young man Mizgir. The girl is looking forward to the holiday, because "on Yarilin's day, at sunrise" the chosen one promised to take her as his wife before the king.

The sixth phenomenon

Seeing Mizgir in the distance, Kupava asks her girlfriends to hide her, and give her to her betrothed only for a large ransom. Girls cheerfully bargain with the groom, and he gives them rich gifts. Kupava calls the Snow Maiden "for the last time, for the last" to dance round dances together and sing songs.

The seventh phenomenon

Seeing the Snow Maiden, Mizgir falls in love with her without memory. For her sake, he is ready to leave his bride Kupava, and shower the beauty with “priceless gifts”. Bobyl and his wife persuade the Snow Maiden to be favorable to such an enviable groom.

The eighth phenomenon

The humiliated Kupava comes with friends to Bobyl's porch and demands an answer from Mizgir. The rich merchant explains that Snegurochka's modesty is "most dear to him". Kupava, on the other hand, “loved without looking back, hugged her with both hands,” and Mizgir considered the girl to be unnecessarily windy.

In desperation, Kupava decides to drown herself in the river, but Lel stops her in time. The Slobozhans advise her to turn to Tsar Berendey for help.

Act II

The first phenomenon

Tsar Berendey sits on his golden throne, and personally paints one of the pillars to the songs of the blind harpists. Two buffoons are jokingly arguing among themselves about what is depicted there.

The second phenomenon

The ruler worries that in the hearts of the Berendeys there is no former "ardor of love". He proposes on Yarilin Day to unite all the gathered girls and boys with a marriage union. To which Bermyata reports that “the brides quarreled to the point of a fight with the grooms”, and the reason for this is the impregnable beauty Snegurochka.

The third phenomenon

Kupava comes to the king and complains about the unworthy behavior of Mizgir, who has dishonored her in front of all the Slobozhans. Berendey orders a young man to be brought to him "for the court of the kings."

The fourth phenomenon

Berendey offers the young man to "make amends" and marry Kupava, but he does not agree - he loves only the Snow Maiden. Yes, and Kupava refuses such a marriage, because "offended, heartbroken."

Berendey wants to expel Mizgir from his kingdom forever, but he asks the tsar only to look at the Snow Maiden, and then pass the verdict.

Fifth phenomenon

The Snow Maiden appears in the royal chambers, and the tsar cannot take his eyes off her. Berendey does not believe that the heart of the Snow Maiden is still silent, and none of the young men could charm her.

The king turns to Elena the Beautiful for advice, and she says that “only one can inspire love in a girl” - the young shepherd Lel. Mizgir asks the tsar to give him another chance to win the love of the Snow Maiden.

Act Three

The first phenomenon

At the evening dawn, young men and women begin to dance. The king looks with tenderness at the fun, and advises to forget about all the problems, because "there is a time for caring."

Berendey invites Lelya to choose a girl who will reward him with a kiss. The Snow Maiden asks the shepherd to choose her, but he prefers Kupava to her. In tears, the Snow Maiden runs away.

The second phenomenon

The Snow Maiden accuses Lel of choosing Kupava and not her. The pride of the girl is wounded, because she is much more beautiful than her rival. Lel promises that next time he will definitely choose her.

The third phenomenon

The Snow Maiden is found by Mizgir and tells her about “how the heart aches, what longing the soul is sick with.” He scares the girl with his frenzied passion. For the consent of the Snow Maiden to become his wife, he is ready for anything. In fear, the beauty runs away.

The fourth phenomenon

With his charming singing, Lel drives crazy not only the Snow Maiden and Kupava, but also Elena the Beautiful. She confesses her love to the shepherd, but does not "light a fire in Lel's chest."

Fifth phenomenon

Elena the Beautiful is jealous of Lelya by her husband, the boyar Bermyata. However, the beauty reassures him by the fact that “the young men are all arrogantly heartless, but the husbands are both sweet and kind.”

The sixth phenomenon

The Snow Maiden finds Lelya and asks him for protection from the persistent Mizgir. However, the shepherd, seeing Kupava running, leaves under a plausible pretext.

The seventh phenomenon

Kupava confesses her love to Lelya, who "saved the girl's pride". The shepherd agrees to declare Kupava his wife as soon as the sun rises.

This conversation is heard by the Snow Maiden, and in anger calls Lel a traitor, and Kupava - a homemaker. The girl replies that for the Snow Maiden, love is just a game, fun, and the shepherd confesses that he “does not need childish love.”

act four

The first phenomenon

Mizgir follows the ghost of the Snow Maiden deep into the forest - this Leshy tried to protect Frost's daughter from a persistent admirer.

The second phenomenon

The Snow Maiden resorts to her mother and complains that she wants to "love - but she does not know the words of love at all." She is tired of being cold, and wants to open her heart to a strong feeling.

However, Spring reminds the Snow Maiden of "father's fears" - love will cause her death. The girl is ready to die, just to experience "love in an instant."

Spring puts on her daughter a magic wreath and says that she will love the first person she meets with all her heart.

The third phenomenon

The Snow Maiden meets Mizgir and confesses her love to him. He does not believe his luck and looks forward to the sunrise in order to announce his betrothed to Tsar Berendey.

The fourth phenomenon

At dawn, boys and girls sing songs. The king blesses marriage unions, wishes young people happiness and prosperity.

With the advent of bright sunlight, the Snow Maiden begins to melt. She is happy, because for the first time in her life "there is fire in the eyes ... and in the heart ... and in the blood all over the fire."

With grief, Mizgir throws himself into the lake, and Tsar Berendey says that the death of the lovers is not accidental, because "the sun knows whom to punish and pardon." Lel sings a laudatory song to Yarile.

Conclusion

Ostrovsky's work is built on the confrontation of opposites: Frost and Yaril, cold and heat, indifference and sensuality. main topic plays - life without love is meaningless.

A brief retelling of the "Snow Maiden" will be useful for reader's diary and in preparation for the lesson of literature.

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Retelling rating

Average rating: 4.2. Total ratings received: 668.

Year of writing: 1873 Genre: play

Main characters: The Snow Maiden is the daughter of Frost and Spring, Lel is a shepherd, Kupava is a village girl, the merchant Mizgir, Kupava's fiancé, the king of the Berendeys.

In this play, the playwright turned to Russian folk motifs. The main character is the same Snow Maiden, the daughter of Frost and Spring. She is beautiful and kind, but her heart does not know love. By her own will, she becomes the adopted daughter of poor and greedy people. She likes Lel, but he chooses the passionate Kupava. Her ex-fiance is in love with the Snow Maiden, seeks her reciprocity and ... death. Since the beloved Snow Maiden melts. And her fiancé kills himself.

The main idea. A play about how pride and jealousy can try to replace love, but fail before this feeling, in the spring, in life itself. The Snow Maiden gladly gives her life for a moment of love.

Read the summary of Ostrovsky's fairy tale Snegurochka

Fairy-tale parents have different views on raising their daughter. Frost believes that she is better off in the forest among birds and animals, but Spring believes that her daughter needs people. The parents decide to give the girl to a house on the outskirts of the village, where the guys will not confuse her heart. The Snow Maiden, already an adult girl, is also asked if she wants to be with people. She replies that the shepherd Lel's song attracts her especially. After instructing her to stay away from him, they let their daughter go.

The girl was adopted by residents from the outskirts - Bobyl and Bobylikhoy. Their hopes to get rich by giving their adopted daughter in marriage do not come true, since the Snow Maiden is too cold with the suitors. But one day Bobyl lets Lelya spend the night for money. He tries to seduce the girl, but, having not received a kiss from her, he runs away to more cheerful girls.

By the way, the Snow Maiden becomes a cause of contention in many couples, because the girls are jealous of their suitors for the cold beauty. Only Kupava was kind to the Snow Maiden, but until the time when her fiancé, who had already come to woo, fell in love with the ice maiden.

Foster parents force the Snow Maiden to accept rich gifts, although she does not want to offend her friend by stealing her fiancé. He dares to tell Kupava that he fell out of love because of her "excessive" passion, which seems to him a harbinger of the coming betrayal. The offended and abandoned girl tries to drown herself, but Lel saves her.

Kupava seeks protection from Tsar Berendey, asking if he can trust his word of honor. Of course, Vladyka replies that everything rests only on the human part. Then she denounces the deceiver, demands to punish him.

In order to repay the traitor and please the sun god (and on the advice of his beautiful wife Elena), Berendey declares a battle with Lel for the heart of the Snow Maiden. Lel sings so beautifully that he wins. He can kiss the Snow Maiden and, in general, anyone. And he rejects the cold girl, choosing Kupava.

It is Lel who explains to the Snow Maiden that she does not know love, but only pride, jealousy. However, true love will kill the Snow Maiden ... And yet, despite the warning of Mother Spring, the girl is ready to give her life for a moment of true love. As a result, Kupava's ex-fiance becomes her chosen one.

Immensely happy, he leads the new bride to the mountain to meet the holiday of the Sun with everyone, he does not believe in her fears. And there the Snow Maiden melts happy. And the deceived groom rushes down the hill.

The last lines say that his death should not be sad, because now Yarila has been sacrificed.

Picture or drawing Fairy tale Snow Maiden

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