Once upon a time there lived a gudgeon. Encyclopedia of fairy-tale heroes: "The Wise Minnow"
Once upon a time there lived an “enlightened, moderately liberal” minnow. Smart parents, dying, bequeathed to him to live, looking at both. The gudgeon realized that he was in danger of trouble from everywhere: from big fish, from the minnow neighbors, from a man (his own father was once almost boiled in the ear). The gudgeon built a hole for himself, where no one except him could fit, swam out at night for food, and during the day “trembled” in the hole, did not get enough sleep, was malnourished, but did his best to protect his life. The minnow has a dream about winning ticket at 200 thousand. Crayfish and pike lie in wait for him, but he avoids death.
The gudgeon has no family: “he would like to live on his own.” “And the wise gudgeon lived in this way for more than a hundred years. Everything was trembling, everything was trembling. He has no friends, no relatives; neither he is to anyone, nor anyone is to him. He doesn’t play cards, doesn’t drink wine, doesn’t smoke tobacco, doesn’t chase hot girls - he just trembles and thinks only one thing: “Thank God! seems to be alive! Even pikes praise the gudgeon for its calm behavior, hoping that it will relax and they will eat it. The gudgeon does not succumb to any provocation.
The gudgeon lived for a hundred years. Reflecting on the pike’s words, he understands that if everyone lived like him, the minnows would disappear (you can’t live in a hole and not in your native element; you need to eat normally, have a family, communicate with your neighbors). The life he leads contributes to degeneration. He belongs to the “useless minnows”. “They give no one warmth or cold, no one receives honor or dishonor, no glory or infamy... they live, take up space for nothing and eat food.” The gudgeon decides once in its life to crawl out of its hole and swim normally along the river, but gets scared. Even when dying, the gudgeon trembles. No one cares about him, no one asks his advice on how to live a hundred years, no one calls him wise, but rather a “dumb” and “hateful.” In the end, the gudgeon disappears to God knows where: after all, even the pikes don’t need it, sick, dying, and even wise.
Fairy tale intended for adults " The wise minnow" upon careful analysis demonstrates typical features creativity M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin. The writer was a master of subtle irony. Within the chosen style, the author draws very characteristic images, helping himself using grotesque techniques and exaggerating the figures of the main characters.
Literary criticism of the Soviet school sought to look for features of class confrontation and social struggle in the Russian classics of the imperial period. The same fate befell the tale of the wise minnow - in the main character they diligently looked for the features of a despicable petty official, trembling with fear, instead of devoting his life to the class struggle.
However, most Russian writers were not so worried about revolutionary ideas, How many moral problems society.
Genre and meaning of the fairy tale title
The fairy tale genre has long been attractive to fiction writers. It is interesting because, within the framework of allegory, one can allow oneself to draw any parallels with objective reality and real figures of contemporaries, without skimping on epithets, but at the same time without annoying anyone.
A typical fairy tale genre involves the participation of animals in the plot, endowed with intelligence, agility, and human manner of communication and behavior. IN in this case The work, with its phantasmagorical nature, fits well into the plot of the fairy tale.
The work begins characteristically - once upon a time. But at the same time, it is called a fairy tale for adults, because the author, in allegorical language, invites the reader to think about a problem that is not at all childish - about how to live one’s life so that before death one does not regret its meaninglessness.
The title fully corresponds to the genre in which the work is written. The gudgeon is not called smart, not wise, not intellectual, but precisely “wise”, in best traditions fairy tale genre (just remember Vasilisa the Wise).
But already in this title itself one can discern the sad irony of the author. It immediately sets the reader up to think about whether it is fair to call the main character wise.
Main characters
In the fairy tale, the most striking portrait is the image of the wisest minnow. The author not only characterizes his general level of development - the “mind chamber” tells the background to the formation of his character traits.
He describes in detail the motives of the main character’s actions, his thoughts, mental turmoil and doubts shortly before his death.
The gudgeon son is not stupid, he is thoughtful, and even prone to liberal ideas. Moreover, he is such a cowardly individual that he is ready to fight even with his instincts in order to save his life. He agrees to live always hungry, without creating his own family, without communicating with his relatives, and practically without seeing sunlight.
Therefore, the son heeded his father’s main teaching and, having lost his parents, decided to take all available measures to never risk his life. Everything he subsequently did was aimed at realizing his plans.
As a result, it was not life itself in its entirety, but precisely the preservation of life that gained highest value, has become an end in itself. And for the sake of this idea, the gudgeon sacrificed absolutely everything, for which, in fact, he was born.
The gudgeon father is the second hero of the fairy tale. He, deserving of the author’s positive characterization, lived ordinary life, had a family and children, took moderate risks, but had the imprudence to scare his son for life with the story of how he almost got hit in the ear.
The reader's main picture of his personality is formed mainly through the account of this dramatic incident, told in the first person.
Brief summary of Saltykov-Shchedrin’s fairy tale “The Wise Minnow”
Gudgeon, the son of good and caring parents, left alone after their death, rethought his life. The future scared him.
He saw that he was weak and defenseless, and water world around him is full of dangers. To save its life, the gudgeon began to dig a hole for itself to hide from the main threats.
During the day he did not get out of it, he only walked at night, which is why over time he almost went blind. If there was danger outside, he preferred to stay hungry so as not to take risks. Because of his fear, the gudgeon abandoned a full life, communication and procreation.
So he lived in his hole for more than a hundred years, trembling with fear and considering himself wise, because he turned out to be so prudent. At the same time, the other inhabitants of the reservoir did not share his opinion of themselves, considering him a fool and a dunce who lived as a hermit in order to preserve his worthless life.
Sometimes he had a dream in which he won two hundred thousand rubles, stopped trembling and became so big and respected that he himself began to swallow pike. However, in reality he does not strive to become rich and influential, these are just secret dreams embodied in dreams.
However, before his death, the gudgeon comes to mind about a wasted life. Analyzing the years he has lived, thinking that he has never consoled, pleased, or warmed anyone, he realizes that if other gudgeons led the same useless life as he did, the gudgeon race would quickly be extinguished.
He dies the same way he lived - unnoticed by others. According to the author, he disappeared and died as a result natural death or was eaten - no one is interested, not even the author.
What does the fairy tale “The Wise Minnow” teach?
The author, using allegorical language, tries to make the reader rethink the most important philosophical theme- about the meaning of life.
It is precisely what a person spends his life on that will ultimately become the main criterion of his wisdom.
With the help of the grotesque image of a minnow, Saltykov-Shchedrin tries to convey this idea to the reader, to warn the younger generation against the wrong choice of their path, and invites the older generation to think about a worthy ending to their life’s journey.
The story is not new. The Gospel parable about the man who buried his talent in the ground is precisely about this. It gives the very first and most important moral lesson about this theme. Subsequently, the problem was repeatedly raised in the literature little man- “a trembling creature”, and his place in society.
But with all this, a fair portion of the generation of Saltykov-Shchedrin’s contemporaries are familiar with literary heritage ancestors, educated, and moderately liberal, did not draw the necessary conclusions, therefore, in their multitude, they were just such minnows, having no civic position, no social responsibility, no desire for a positive transformation of society, entrenched in their own little world and trembling with fear of those in power.
It is curious that society itself also considers such individuals to be ballast - uninteresting, stupid and meaningless. The inhabitants of the reservoir spoke extremely unflatteringly about the gudgeon, despite the fact that he lived without disturbing anyone, without offending anyone and without making enemies.
The end of the main character's life is very significant - he did not die, he was not eaten. He disappeared. The author chose this ending to once again emphasize the ephemeral nature of the minnow’s existence.
The main moral of the fairy tale is this: if during life a person did not strive to do good and be needed, then no one will notice his death, because his existence had no meaning.
In any case, before his death, the main character regrets precisely this, asking himself questions - to whom did he do a good deed, who can remember him with warmth? And he doesn’t find a consoling answer.
Best quotes from the fairy tale “The Wise Minnow”
Saltykov-Shchedrin, “The Wise Minnow”, let’s start the analysis of the fairy tale with the personality of the writer.
Mikhail Evgrafovich was born in 1826 (January) in the Tver province. On his father's side he belonged to a very old and rich family of nobles, and on his mother's side he belonged to the class of merchants. Saltykov-Shchedrin successfully graduated and then took up the post of official in the military department. Unfortunately, the service interested him very little.
In 1847, its first literary works- “Entangled Case” and “Contradictions”. Despite this, it was only in 1856 that people started talking about him seriously as a writer. At this time he began to publish his “Provincial Sketches”.
The writer tried to open the readers' eyes to the lawlessness happening in the country, to ignorance, stupidity, and bureaucracy.
Let's take a closer look at the cycle of fairy tales written by the writer in 1869. This was a kind of synthesis of Saltykov-Shchedrin’s ideological and creative quest, a certain result.
Mikhail Evgrafovich could not fully expose all the vices of society and the failure of management due to the censorship that existed at that time. That is why the writer chose the form of a fairy tale. So he was able to sharply criticize the existing order without fear of prohibitions.
The fairy tale “The Wise Minnow,” which we are analyzing, is quite rich in artistic terms. The author resorts to the use of grotesque, antithesis, and hyperbole. An important role is also played by these techniques that helped to hide true meaning what is written.
The fairy tale appeared in 1883, it is famous to this day, it has even become a textbook. Its plot is known to everyone: there lived a gudgeon who was completely ordinary. His only difference was cowardice, which was so strong that the gudgeon decided to spend his entire life in a hole without sticking his head out of there. There he sat, afraid of every rustle, every shadow. This is how his life passed, no family, no friends. The question arises: what kind of life is this? What good has he done in his life? Nothing. Lived, trembled, died.
That's the whole story, but it's just the surface.
Analysis of the fairy tale “The Wise Minnow” implies a deeper study of its meaning.
Saltykov-Shchedrin depicts the morals of contemporary bourgeois Russia. In fact, a minnow does not mean a fish, but a cowardly man in the street who fears and trembles only for his own skin. The writer set himself the task of combining the features of both fish and humans.
The fairy tale depicts philistine alienation and self-isolation. The author is offended and bitter for the Russian people.
Reading the works of Saltykov-Shchedrin is not very easy, which is why not everyone was able to comprehend the true intent of his fairy tales. Unfortunately, the level of thinking and development modern people not quite up to par.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the thoughts expressed by the writer are relevant to this day.
Read the fairy tale “The Wise Minnow” again, analyze it based on what you have now learned. Look deeper into the intention of the works, try to read between the lines, then you will be able to analyze not only the fairy tale “The Wise Minnow” yourself, but also all works of art.
The fairy tale The Wise Minnow (originally “minnow”) reveals life philosophy a philistine and a coward who was considered wise, but his whole life turned out to be worthless. The tale is intended for adult readers. It will interest older schoolchildren with its witty title and unusual plot.
Fairy tale The Wise Minnow read
The gudgeon had smart and careful parents; they managed to avoid all dangers and were proud of the fact that they lived to a ripe old age. And the son, remembering all his father’s warnings and thinking carefully, decided to arrange his life in such a way as to avoid all dangers. He lived in such a way that no one noticed him, did not hang out with anyone, did not invite anyone to visit. The gudgeon trembled all day. And he had to go hungry, because during the day he was afraid to lean out of his hole. I only swam out at night to get some exercise. He hollowed out a hole for himself so that only he could fit in it. He did not marry and did not have children, fearing unnecessary problems. The gudgeon considered himself smart, because he managed to live for more than a hundred years and died a natural death. He only lived - he trembled and died - he trembled. No one called the old, useless and forgotten gudgeon wise. Many, on the contrary, considered him a fool. When the time came for him to die, he realized the worthlessness and uselessness of his life. And the gudgeon died a natural death. What predator would think of swallowing an old, sick minnow? You can read the fairy tale online on our website.
Analysis of the fairy tale The Wise Minnow
In an ironic tale, the author reveals a very topical topic for any society - the topic of a person’s life position. Main character- cowardly, always trembling, lived a miserable and insignificant life. He did not know any joys, because the fear of death prevented him from living fully. The wisdom of the coward consisted in cowardly flight from life. What does the fairy tale The Wise Minnow teach? Be active life position, live a full life, without fear of making mistakes or stumbles. And remember that you only live once: not later, but now.
Moral of the story: The Wise Minnow
Every person should live his life with dignity, leaving behind good deeds or good memories. In youth it is very important to choose the right one life path and set the right priorities to live a meaningful and beautiful life- this is the main idea fairy tales.
Proverbs, sayings and fairy tale expressions
- Life is different.
- He's crazy.
- Life is given for good deeds.
Satirical tale “The Wise Minnow” (“ The wise minnow") was written in 1882 - 1883. The work was included in the cycle “Fairy Tales for Children of considerable age" In Saltykov-Shchedrin’s fairy tale “The Wise Minnow” people laugh cowardly people who live their whole lives in fear, having never done anything useful.
Main characters
The wise minnow- “enlightened, moderate liberal”, lived more than a hundred years in fear and loneliness.
Father and mother of the gudgeon
“Once upon a time there was a minnow. Both his father and mother were smart." Dying, the old minnow taught his son to “look both ways.” The wise minnow understood that there were dangers lurking around him - a large fish could swallow him, a crayfish could be cut with his claws, a water flea could torment him. The minnow was especially afraid of people - his father once almost hit him in the ear.
Therefore, the minnow hollowed out a hole for itself, into which only he could get. At night, when everyone was sleeping, he went out for a walk, and during the day, “he sat in the hole and trembled.” He didn't sleep enough, didn't eat enough, but avoided danger.
Once a gudgeon dreamed that he had won two hundred thousand, but when he woke up, he discovered that half his head had “sticked out” from the hole. Almost every day danger awaited him at the hole and, having avoided another, he exclaimed with relief: “Thank you, Lord, he’s alive!” "
Fearing everything in the world, the minnow did not marry and had no children. He believed that before, “the pikes were kinder and the perches didn’t bother with us small fry,” so his father could still afford a family, and he “would just have to live on his own.”
The wise minnow lived in this way for more than a hundred years. He had neither friends nor relatives. “He doesn’t play cards, doesn’t drink wine, doesn’t smoke tobacco, doesn’t chase red girls.” The pikes had already begun to praise him, hoping that the minnow would listen to them and get out of the hole.
“How many years have passed since the hundred years is unknown, only the wise minnow began to die.” Reflecting on own life, the gudgeon understands that he is “useless” and if everyone lived like this, then “the entire gudgeon family would have died out long ago.” He decided to crawl out of the hole and “swim like a goldeneye all over the river,” but again he got scared and trembled.
Fish swam past his hole, but no one was interested in how he lived to be a hundred years old. And no one called him wise - only a “dumb,” “a fool and a disgrace.”
The gudgeon falls into oblivion and then again he had an old dream about how he won two hundred thousand, and even “grew by a whole half a larshin and swallows the pike himself.” In a dream, a minnow accidentally fell out of a hole and suddenly disappeared. Perhaps the pike swallowed him, but “most likely he himself died, because what sweetness is it for a pike to swallow a sick, dying gudgeon, and a wise one at that?” .
Conclusion
In the fairy tale “The Wise Piskar” Saltykov-Shchedrin reflected contemporary social phenomenon, common among the intelligentsia, who were concerned only with their own survival. Despite the fact that the work was written more than a hundred years ago, it does not lose its relevance today.
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