Ivan Kotlyarevsky, "Aeneid": a story of writing and a brief summary

Modern Ukrainian language, perhaps, would not exist if it were not for Ivan Kotlyarevsky, who wrote an amazing humorous poem "Aeneid." Thanks to this work, the living language of the Ukrainian people was finally transferred to book pages. However, this not only attracted the readers of "Aeneid", but also a cheerful exciting storyline and bright, well-written characters.

Ivan Kotlyarevsky: short biography

Ivan Petrovich Kotlyarevsky was born in Poltava, in the family of a clerical official, in September 1769.

When the young man turned eleven, he was sent to study in a theological seminary. After school, Ivan Kotlyarevsky, to earn his living, gave private lessons to the offspring of the local small nobility. A little later he got a seat in the Poltava office and worked there for about four years.

During the Russo-Turkish War, Kotlyarevsky actively participated in the siege of Izmail and even was awarded an honorary order. After the end of the war he retired and returned to Poltava.

When Ivan Petrovich was over thirty, he received the post of superintendent in one of the Poltava educational institutions for children from impoverished aristocratic families, who could not pay for their studies in their decent schools.

During the French-Russian War of 1812, Kotlyarevsky actively participated in the defense of Poltava, having obtained permission to organize a Cossack regiment by the forces of local youth.

After the war I got carried away by the theater. In 1816 he began to direct the free theater of Poltava. Because of the lack of a worthy repertoire, he started writing. So from under his pen came two plays: "Natalka Poltavka" and "Moskal-Charivnik."

At the age of 69 Kotlyarevsky died. He was buried in Poltava.

History of writing "Aeneids"

Even during military service, Ivan Petrovich had an idea to write a poem about the Cossacks. Knowing well the classical literature, and also having a talent for perfectly rhyming, decided on the basis of the plot of the "Aeneid" of the ancient Roman poet Virgil to create his own work Kotlyarevsky.

"Aeneid" Virgil a few years earlier had already been translated into Russian in a fairly free style by the Russian writer Nikolai Osipov, which inspired Kotlyarevsky. However, Ivan Petrovich turned the main character of Aeneas into a Cossack, and wrote the poem in a conventional conversational speech, which nobody in Ukraine before him did.

In 1798, the first three parts of the poem were published in St. Petersburg. "Aeneid" Kotlyarevsky instantly gained popularity: not only her story, but also the piquant humor, to which the poet generously provided his work, attracted readers. In addition, written in Ukrainian, it was exotic for the Russian-speaking population of the country.

The whole poem was published only after the death of the poet, in 1842. It is noteworthy that the last three parts in style and humor differ from the first, they feel a certain "maturation" of Kotlyarevsky.

"Aeneid": a brief summary of the first, second and third parts

In the first part, the brave Cossack Aeneas after the destruction of his native Troy, on the advice of his mother, the goddess Venus (his late father once helped her win a dispute with other goddesses), goes with the Trojans to new lands to establish his kingdom there. However, Juno, the hating family of Aeneas (she was among the losers of Venus, the goddesses), is trying to repair the hero all sorts of dirty tricks. But Venus, having pressed the father of Zeus, learns that Aeneu is destined for a great destiny - he will become the founder of the great kingdom.

Meanwhile, Aeneas and his companions arrive in Carthage, where the brave Cossack falls in love with the queen of Dido. In her arms, the hero forgets everything: about the sad past, and about the great future. Then Zeus sends Mercury to him, which forces Aeneas to leave her beloved. Dido does not endure such betrayal, commits suicide.

In the second part of Juno, cunning makes Trojan women burn ships, while men feast on Sicily. However, the gods send rain at the request of Aeneas, and some of the ships remain intact. Soon in a dream to Aeneu comes his late father Anhiz and asked to visit him in hell.

In the third part of Aeneas after a long search and with the help of Sibylla finds the way to hell. Having looked at the horrors of the underworld and met the souls of the deceased countrymen there, as well as Dido and his father, the hero with expensive gifts and prophetic prophecies is again on his way.

The summary of the fourth, fifth and sixth parts of the "Aeneid" (written much later)

In the fourth part, Aeneas sails to the island of King Latin. Here he starts a friendship with him, and he plans to give his beautiful daughter Lavinia for a nice new neighbor. However, the former girlfriend of the girl - King Turn - with the help of the ubiquitous Juno begins a war against Latin. Meanwhile, the insidious goddess is cunningly adjusting Latin's wife against the Trojans, and they are all preparing for war.

In the fifth part, Venus persuades the blacksmith Vulcan to make an excellent weapon for Aeneas. To win the war, the Trojans are asking for help from the neighboring people. Juno warns Turn about the time of the beginning of the Aeneas attack. And two Trojan warriors - Niz and Euryal - make their way secretly into the enemy camp and kill many enemies, while they themselves perish. Soon Trojans manage to turn Turn into flight.

In the last part of the poem Zeus learns of the tricks of all the gods and forbids them to interfere in the fate of Aeneas. However, Juno, having come to his wife Zeus, drank and put him to sleep. And then with the help of cunning saved from the death of Turn. Aeneas agrees with Turn and Latin about an honest duel, which must determine the outcome of the war. Juno does his best to destroy Aeneas, but Zeus catches her and forbids interfering, adding that after the death, Aeneas will be with them on Olympus. Aeneas honestly defeats Turn and after some hesitation kills him.

Characters of the Aeneid

The main character of the poem is the son of Venus and the king of Troy Anhiza - Aeneas. He is a brave Cossack, brave, resolute and skillful warrior, but human weaknesses are not alien to him. So, Aeneas does not mind drinking and taking a walk with friends. He is also a fan of female beauty. Having tightened the novel with the queen Dido, Aeneas forgets everything. But later easily throws it on the orders of the gods. Despite all its shortcomings, when necessary, Aeneas is able to show both diplomacy and resourcefulness. It is around this hero that the whole poem "Aeneid" is built.

The characters in the poem are not so bright. So, in the image of Didona the classical woman is embodied. She is intelligent, cheerful and hardworking, but, being a widow, she dreams of a strong man's shoulder. Having captured Aeneas heart, the queen began to behave like a wife in comedies: she was jealous and swore with him.

The kings of Latin and Turn have opposite characters. The first is greedy and cowardly, tries to avoid war by all means. The second, on the contrary, is bold, pompous and arrogant. Because of this pomposity, it can easily be used by Juno.

Of particular interest is the character of the wife Latina - the queen of Amata. A woman like Turn is just as proud and pompous. But at the same time she is incredibly smart and cunning. However, like Didona, falling in love, begins to commit stupidity.

Noteworthy are the characters of two Trojan cossacks - Nisa and Euryal. Having sacrificed their lives, they destroyed many enemies. It is possible that when creating these images he used his memories of the Russian-Turkish war Kotlyarevsky.

"Aeneid" is inconceivable without the main heroes-gods. The first of their hosts is the supreme goddess Olympus Juno - the main opponent of Aeneas. She hates with all her heart the main character, dreaming of his lime. To achieve its goal, Juno is ready for anything and does not even stop before the direct prohibition of her husband. However, despite all her tricks, the prophecy about Enya comes true.

Another heroine, the goddess of the Aeneid, is Venus. Being rather dissolute, the goddess behaves like a real caring mother. She goes to all lengths to help her Aeneas: she opposes Juno, seduces Vulcan, and even sometimes argues with Zeus.

Zeus in the "Aeneid" is depicted as a traditional chief - he likes to drink and relax. Despite all his warnings, the goddess seldom listens to him, trying to get by his detour through bribes and connections.

Translation of "Aeneid" into Russian

Today there is a lot of controversy about the language in which the "Aeneid" of Kotlyarevsky was written. So, some mistakenly believe that Ivan Petrovich first wrote his poem in Russian, and later made a translation. "Aeneid", however, was actually written in Ukrainian (Little Russian, as they said at the time), however, since he did not yet have a separate alphabet, the author used Russian letters.

But a full translation of the "Aeneid" by Kotlyarevsky into Russian was made by I. Brazhnin.

By the way, do not confuse the work of Osipov and the one that Kotlyarevsky wrote. "Aeneid" in each of the authors is a separate, independent work. However, when writing and Osipov, and Kotlyarevsky used as a primary source of the poem of Virgil.

Years passed, many words, phenomena, things and events mentioned in the "Aeneid", lost their relevance, and even completely faded into oblivion, that is why modern readers do not understand everything from what Kotlyarevsky described in his poem. "Aeneid" now seems to them just a fun poem with ancient curses. But at the same time it still remains a beloved by all Ukrainians, and not only by them.