The image of Yaroslavna in "The Lay of Igor's Host", an ancient Russian epic that has survived to this day

If we talk about the ancient Russian literature, the central place in it is given to the chronicle work "The Lay of Igor's Host" or simply "The Word ...". This is really a masterpiece that has managed to reach our days, opening the world to the unique culture of our ancestors in its pure form. The image of Yaroslavna in "The Lay of Igor's Host" is not the main one, but it can be safely called one of the best. But let's talk about everything in order.

The plot of the epic work

Before considering the image of Yaroslavna in the "Lay of Igor's Host", it is worthwhile to find out the entire plot of the work. It begins with an introduction, in which the author (he is unknown) praises the heroism of the history of his people. In short lines he mentions the legendary singer Boyan, and Trajan, and the epic heroes, and talks about the battles of the princes of the Russian land. There are also the responses of pagan beliefs: the author speaks about deities of the sun, winds, domestic cattle, which the ancestors of Rusichs worshiped.

The image of Yaroslavna in the "Lay of Igor's Campaign" will appear only in the third chapter, and before that the unknown poet tells of Igor - the Novgorod-Severus prince, who is going on a campaign against the Polovtsians. He encourages his troops and goes on a campaign, despite the strange signs given by fate. He neglects an eclipse that promises failure, and throws the army into battle. Inspired by the first good luck, he does not hurry to return, for which he brutally pays. When the main forces of the nomads arrived, the Russians were not ready. As a result, almost all of the prince's squad perishes, and the surviving warriors are taken prisoner.

The news of the tragedy quickly spreads across the Russian land, overtakes the young wife of Prince Igor in Putivl. The Grand Duke of Kiev collects all the rulers of the appanage principalities, urging them to unite and redeem Igor from captivity. The so-called golden word of Svyatoslav calls on Rusich to unite, because then they will become a thunderstorm for all. Then Igor's flight from captivity is described, the pursuit sent by nomads after him. But he successfully reached his native land and returned to his faithful wife.

The image of Yaroslavna in "The Lay of Igor's Host"

Yaroslavna is a young princess, Igor's wife. She stayed in Putivl to wait for her husband's return from the campaign. It was there that she was caught by the news of the tragedy that had happened to him, it was in the castle of this city that she introduced the reader to her "The Lay of Igor's Host". The image of Yaroslavna can not be briefly described, although the author only selected a few lines for the woman. But she appears before us, as if alive. She has a thin, vulnerable soul, a strong character, she is close to self-sacrifice. She does not think about herself and all her thoughts next to her beloved.

The image of Yaroslavna in "The Lay of Igor's Host" is not only a portrait of a loving wife who is ready to do anything to help her husband. She is ready to turn into a bird to wash his wounds, she turns to the forces of nature with reproach, why they allowed it. But she thinks not only about Igor, but also about his army, which shared the fate of his prince. Therefore, the image of Yaroslavna in "The Lay of Igor's Host" is a collected portrait of all Russian women whose husbands went to war with the enemy. This is the image of the guardian of the home, the family's birgini, because the husband will always return, since he is so much waiting.

In those few lines one can feel the great love of a woman, her compassion, her desire to be close to her chosen one, her deep sorrow and tenderness. Therefore, "Lamentations of Yaroslavna" has attracted writers and readers for so many years.

Other images in the "Word"

The main character of the work is Igor, who organized an unsuccessful campaign. This event was preceded by another campaign - a successful military campaign of Rusich by joint forces, in which many princes of Russia participated, except for Igor. Therefore, he appears as an envious person who thought of fame, and not about a good preparation for war. He is short-sighted, because he does not pay attention to bad sounds, he craves only glory and rewards.

Another image - Prince of Kiev Svyatoslav, in whose mouth the author puts the idea of unification. This is an actual problem of Russia at that time: feudal fragmentation took place , internecine wars for supreme power were taking place. Therefore, the country suffered from external enemies who tried to tear off the tidbit from it, and from the internal ones. Only together it was possible to rebuff the offenders, and this is what the author calls for.

Significance

This is a special work. "The Lay of Igor's Host", (the image of Yaroslavna, princes in particular) makes it possible to draw up a general picture of the life of Rus at the end of the 12th century, its life, its reality. Melodious, full of comparisons and epithets of the language of the work is a source of inspiration for creative people - poets, writers, artists. But the ancient author also presents a lesson to future generations, an old but forgotten truth: only together can we repulse the enemies, only together the people are invincible.

Especially the "Word" is also due to the fact that it can be called a folk epic with all the contradictions. For example, the author often refers to the image of nature and phenomena, Yaroslavna also speaks with the wind, the sun, the river, she does not pray to God, although the country has long been considered a Christian.

Instead of an afterword

It is a pity that such a work as "The Word" was lost in the original version. It's sad that we do not know the author of this literary masterpiece. But, fortunately, we have the opportunity to read it in translations and admire the depth of images, the sincerity of feelings and the urgency of the problem described almost a thousand years ago.