Veresaev's story "Competition" as a reflection of Hellenic culture. Formation of research skills in the process of studying a work

A very kind and instructive fairy tale “Competition” was written by Vikenty Veresaev, no longer in his youth. It is dedicated to the eternal theme of world art - beauty. The author gives his reader, both a very young person and an already mature adult, a moral lesson in how to relate to beauty, and shows what beauty is for a person.

The story is based on the story of a competition between two artists of different generations. They were given time to paint a picture depicting the beauty of a woman. One of them is Twice Crowned, universally recognized master, Teacher. The second is his student Unicorn. The winner was entitled to a generous reward and the title of Thrice Crowned.

The teacher, and not only him, but also the townspeople were sure that only he could cope with such a task. Twice - the Crowned One chose the path of searching for incredible beauty, “impressed in a female image,” and traveled halfway around the world until he found his ideal. The main thing for him was ideal female forms and a beautiful face.

By the time the competition was announced, the unicorn had a beloved Zorka, whose beauty seemed ideal to him, and he put her portrait on public display.

And then the moment came when the people gathered in the square were ready to evaluate the proposed works. The portrait of the “radiant Violet Crowned One” shocked the public; people had never seen such beauty before. But this beauty plunged them into depression: the men suddenly saw all the imperfections of their wives, and thought with horror how they could live with such ugly women.

The portrait of Zorka caused laughter at first; the girl had a completely ordinary appearance, which, of course, paled in comparison with the previous portrait. The unicorn was almost stoned, but suddenly the audience saw Zorka’s eyes, the light of love and kindness coming from them. Everyone suddenly saw what the artist in love also saw: the girl was glowing from within, and this inner light of hers illuminated the faces of those present. Their faces became beautiful. And the husbands calmed down, they realized that they live with beautiful women, and beauty is with them and in them...

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In the fairy tale “Competition” by V. Veresaev, the views of different people on beauty are compared. After reading this work, you can see the amazing connection between a person’s inner world and art. The Twice-Crown saw the highest beauty only in appearance. He believed that a beautiful woman is one whose figure is slender, and Read More......
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Summary of the Veresaev Competition

Vikenty Veresaev

Competition

When the competition was announced, no one in the city doubted that only Twice-Crown - a world-famous artist, the pride of the city - was capable of completing the task. And only he himself felt some fear in his soul: he knew the strength of the young Unicorn, his student.

Heralds walked around the city and, in their usual loud voices, proclaimed at the crossroads the resolution of the people's assembly: to appoint a competition for a painting depicting the beauty of a woman; This picture, of enormous size, will be erected in the central niche of the portico on the Square of Beauty, so that everyone passing from afar can see the picture and tirelessly praise the creator for the joy he has given to the world.

Exactly one year later, in the month of grapes, the paintings should be exhibited to the public. Whose picture turns out to be worthy of decorating the best square of the great city, he will be rewarded more generously than the kings once awarded: a triple laurel wreath will adorn his head, and the winner will be named - Thrice-Crown.

So the heralds called out at the crossroads and markets of the city, and the Twice-Crown, in a traveling hat and with a knapsack over his shoulders, with a dogwood stick in his hand and with gold in his belt, was already leaving the city. His gray beard moved in the wind, his large, always melancholy eyes looked up at the mountains, where a rocky road rose between the vineyards.

He went to search the world for the highest Beauty, imprinted in a female image.

At the hut behind the fence, a black-haired young man was chopping brushwood on the stump of a hornbeam with an ax. He saw the traveler, straightened up, brushed his curls from his tanned face and joyfully flashed his teeth and the whites of his eyes.

- Teacher, rejoice! – he cheerfully greeted the traveler.

- Rejoice, my son! - answered the Twice-Crown and recognized the Unicorn, his beloved student.

– You are going on a long journey, teacher. You have a hat on your head and a knapsack on your shoulders, and your sandals are made of heavy buffalo leather. Where are you going? Come under my roof, my father, and we will drink a mug of good wine with you, so that I can wish you a happy journey.

And with great haste the Twice-Crown answered:

- Willingly, my son!

The unicorn slammed his shiny ax into the stump and shouted, exulting:

- Zorka! Hurry here! Bring us the best wine, cheese, grapes!.. Great joy descends on our house: my teacher is coming to me!

They sat down in front of the hut, in the shade of the vines, hanging their black clusters above their heads. Looking at the great one with timid reverence, Zorka placed a jug of wine and wooden plates with cheese, grapes and bread on the table.

And the Unicorn asked:

-Where are you going, teacher?

The Twice-Crown put down his mug and looked at him in surprise.

“Have you not heard what the heralds have been shouting about for three days in the squares and crossroads of the city?”

- Heard.

– And... are you thinking of entering the competition?

- Yes teacher. I know that I will have to fight with you, but such a fight cannot be offensive to you. I know that the struggle will be difficult, but he is not an artist who would be afraid of it.

- I thought so. I also know that the struggle ahead is difficult and it will not be easy to defeat you. When are you going on the road?

- How to where? To look for that highest Beauty that must be somewhere. To look for it, no matter who it is invested in - whether in a proud princess, in a wild shepherdess, in a brave fisherman, or in a quiet daughter of a winegrower.

The unicorn grinned carefree.

- I already found her.

The Twice-Crown's heart began to beat with slow, strong tremors, his chest became short of air, and his gray head began to tremble. He asked carefully, not hoping to get a truthful answer:

- Where did you find her?

- And here she is!

And the Unicorn pointed to Zorka, his beloved. His gaze was straight, and there was no guile in it.

The Twice-Crown looked at him in amazement.

The old man's head stopped shaking and his heart beat evenly. And the feeling of a teacher began to speak in him.

- My son! Your beloved is sweet, I don't argue. Happy is the one whose neck these slender golden arms hug, to whose chest these lovely breasts press. But think: is this the beauty that should bring the world before it?

- Yes, exactly the same one. There is not and cannot be any beauty in the world higher than the beauty of my golden Dawn,” the Unicorn said enthusiastically.

And the Twice-Married One was filled with doubt for a moment: had his eye deceived him, had he overlooked something in this girl, standing downcast in the hot shadow of the vines? He looked at her carefully and searchingly. An ordinary girl, the likes of which you can meet dozens of everywhere. A wide face, slightly askew eyes, slightly sparsely spaced teeth. The eyes are cute, big, but there’s nothing special about them... How blind are lovers!

A jubilant laugh began to beat in the teacher’s chest, but his face remained serious. He stood up and, hiding his guile, said:

- Maybe you are right. Blessed are you that you have found so close what I have to look for so far and for a long time... Rejoice! And rejoice, happy one among maidens!

When the Twice-Crown stepped out onto the road, he sighed with relief and calm: the only dangerous rival himself, in his love blindness, removed himself from his path. The old man's back straightened, and, shortening the path, he walked briskly up the mountain along the white stones of the bed of a dry mountain stream.

Twice-Crown moved from city to city, from village to village, swam from island to island. Not knowing fatigue, he searched for the maiden in whom nature had invested her best beauty. He searched in vineyards and fishermen's huts, in temples and bazaars, in the villas of noble gentlemen, in the palaces of eastern kings. His glorious name opened all doors for him and made him a welcome guest everywhere. But nowhere did he find the one he was looking for.

Once, in the month of the winds, across the sea, he saw an eastern princess riding on mules at the city gates and stopped and for a minute looked greedily at her sparkling beauty.

And he thought hesitantly:

- Maybe she is?

But now he overcame himself, turned away and resolutely walked on.

– May be? So it’s not her... True beauty is like a firefly, he said to himself. – When you look for fireflies in the forest at night, it often happens: suddenly you stop, “stop!” Looks like a firefly! It seems?... Don't stop, move on. This is a pebble or an anemone flower turning white in the dark, this is a piece of moonlight that has fallen into a thicket on a withered leaf. When a firefly shines with its clear light, piercing the darkness, then you don’t question yourself, then you say directly and confidently: it’s him!

Month after month passed. The equinoctial storms died down at sea and the leaves fell from the oak trees. The sun began to go lower and deeper, looking deeper into the windows of the huts. Foggy shadows crawled across the waves of the cooling sea. The mountains put white caps on their heads, an icy wind drove dry, rustling snow through the valleys. And again the sun began to rise higher. Before the morning dawn, the heavenly Sagittarius ran out from behind the mountains and aimed an arrow at the curved back of the sparkling Scorpio. It was more warm.

When the competition was announced, no one in the city doubted that only the Twice-Crown - a world-famous artist, the pride of the city - was capable of completing the task. And only he himself felt some fear in his soul: he knew the strength of the young Unicorn, his student.

Exactly one year later, in the month of grapes, the paintings should be exhibited to the public. Whose picture is worthy of decorating the best square of the great city will be rewarded more generously than the kings once awarded: a triple laurel wreath will decorate his head, and the winner will be called Thrice-Crown.

He went to search the world for the highest Beauty, captured by the creator in a female form.

Teacher, rejoice! - he cheerfully greeted the traveler.

Rejoice, my son! - answered the Twice-Crown and recognized the Unicorn, his beloved student.

You are going on a long journey, teacher. You have a hat on your head and a knapsack on your shoulders, and your sandals are made of heavy buffalo leather. Where are you going? Come under my roof, my father, and we will drink a mug of good wine with you, so that I can wish you a happy journey.

And with great haste the Twice-Crown answered:

Willingly, my son!

The unicorn slammed his shiny ax into the stump and shouted, exulting:

Zorka! Hurry here! Bring us the best wine, cheese, grapes!.. Great joy descends on our house: my teacher is coming to me!

And the Unicorn asked:

Where are you going, teacher?

The Twice-Crown put down his mug and looked at him in surprise.

Haven't you heard what the heralds have been shouting about for three days in the squares and crossroads of the city?

And... are you thinking about competing?

Yes teacher. I know that I will have to fight with you, but such a fight cannot be offensive to you. I know that the struggle will be difficult, but he is not an artist who would be afraid of it.

I thought so. I also know that the struggle ahead is difficult and it will not be easy to defeat you. When are you going on the road?

How to where? To look for that highest Beauty that must be somewhere. To look for it, no matter who it is invested in - whether in a proud princess, in a wild shepherdess, in a brave fisherman, or in a quiet daughter of a winegrower.

The unicorn grinned carefree.

I've already found her.

The Twice-Crown's heart began to beat with slow, strong tremors, his chest became short of air, and his gray head began to tremble. He asked carefully, not hoping to get a truthful answer:

Where did you find her?

And here she is!

And the Unicorn pointed to Zorka, his beloved. His gaze was straight, and there was no guile in it.

The Twice-Crown looked at him in amazement.

The old man's head stopped shaking and his heart beat evenly. And the feeling of a teacher began to speak in him.

My son! Your beloved is sweet, I don't argue. Happy is the one whose neck these slender golden arms hug, to whose chest these lovely breasts press. But think about whether this beauty is the one that should bring the world before itself.

Yes, exactly the same one. There is no beauty in the world and cannot be higher than the beauty of my golden Dawn,” the Unicorn said enthusiastically.

And the Twice-Married One was filled with doubt for a moment: had his experienced eye deceived him, had he overlooked something in this girl, standing downcast in the hot shadow of the vines? He looked at her carefully and searchingly. An ordinary girl, the likes of which you can meet dozens of everywhere. A wide face, slightly askew eyes, slightly sparsely spaced teeth. The eyes are cute, big, but there’s nothing special about them... How blind are lovers!

A jubilant laugh began to beat in the teacher’s chest, but his face remained serious. He stood up and, hiding his guile, said:

Maybe you are right. Blessed are you that you have found so close what I have to look for so far and for a long time... Rejoice! And rejoice, happy one among maidens!

When the Twice-Crown stepped out onto the road, he sighed with relief and calm: the only dangerous rival himself, in his love blindness, removed himself from his path. The old man's back straightened, and, shortening the path, he cheerfully walked up the mountain along the white stones of the bed of a dried up mountain stream.

Once, in the month of the winds, across the sea, he saw an eastern princess riding on mules at the city gates and stopped and for a minute looked greedily at her sparkling beauty.

And he thought hesitantly:

"Maybe she is?"

But now he overcame himself, turned away and resolutely walked on.

- May be? So, it’s not her... True beauty is like a firefly, he said to himself. - When you look for fireflies in the forest at night, it often happens: you suddenly stop - “Stop!” Looks like a firefly! It seems?.. Don't stop, move on. This is a pebble or an anemone flower turning white in the dark, this is a piece of moonlight that has fallen into a thicket on a withered leaf. When a firefly lights up with its clear light, piercing the darkness, then you don’t ask yourself, then you say directly and confidently: it’s him!

And the Twice-Married One wandered.

It was the month of violets. The traveler settled down for the night on the sandy shore of the bay. He drank wine from a flask, ate a piece of stale barley bread with sheep’s cheese, made himself a bed: he raised a raised bed of sea sand for his head, spread out his hair cloak and bowed his head on the bed.

There was fatigue in the body, despair in the soul. Never, never, it seemed to him, would he find what he was looking for. He won’t find it because he’s not able to find it.

A warm wind blew from the midday side, from the mountains, and it was all saturated with the smell of violets. There, on mountain passes, forest glades are covered with continuous carpets of violets. This evening he walked along the path along these passes and admired everything around him and inhaled the chaste smells of early spring. And now, when twilight had covered the mountains, when the smell of violets was wafting in the warm wind from afar, it seemed to him that everything there was more beautiful, more mysterious and deeper than he had been able to see up close. And if he goes there, and again beauty will move away, and again it will be good, but not the same... What kind of witchcraft is this in world beauty, that it always eludes man, is always inaccessible and incomprehensible and does not fit entirely into any form of nature?

The kind and instructive fairy tale by V. Veresaev “Competition” is dedicated to one of the eternal themes of world art - beauty. It seems that the writer makes readers think about the question of true beauty, that which not only pleases the eye, but also fills the human soul with light and love.

Like most fairy tales, "The Contest" teaches a significant moral lesson not only to young readers, but to many adults as well. Reflections on human beauty are illustrated through the story of two artists who take part in a competition. Their task is to depict the highest beauty captured in the female image.

The plot of the "Competition" and analysis of the work

The two main characters of the fairy tale “The Competition” depict completely different beauty - and first of all, it becomes clear that beauty largely depends on a person’s perception. But it’s not for nothing that Veresaev creates a plot that includes a competition between two different images of female beauty.

With the help of the eloquent contrast between the paintings of the Twice-Crown and his disciple the Unicorn, Veresaev shows the true perception of beauty. For the artist Twice-Married, the highest beauty lies in appearance - and the woman depicted in his painting impresses with her beautiful, impeccable appearance.

And the artist Unicorn paints a picture of his beloved Zorka, who is not distinguished by her impressive appearance - her face is too wide, her eyes are not set well, and her teeth are sparsely set. And when the Twice-Crown finds out that his student Unicorn is painting a picture of the inconspicuous Dawn, he decides that he has already won the competition - and reflects on how love blinds people.

But the paintings are appreciated by the public, which is represented mainly by ordinary people. And most men, looking at the picture of Violet Crowned, feel melancholy because they compare her with their wives - and cannot believe that they love such simple women.

When the cover falls from the painting of the Unicorn, the crowd at first hums in bewilderment and disappointment, but after a short time falls silent. People note the sincerity of Zorka’s simplicity, the bewitching sparkle of her eyes, they see that her appearance glows with beauty and supreme love, despite physical inconsistencies.

Zorka’s natural beauty penetrates their souls, and then it becomes clear that the greatness of true beauty can only be appreciated by the heart and soul, and not by the eyes and mind.

Moral lesson of a fairy tale

Thus, Veresaev reveals the theme of the correct view of human beauty, which cannot lie in the correct shape of the eyes and the subtlety of the figure, no, the readers themselves understand that it was the Unicorn who depicted true beauty - after all, his loving heart saw it in Zorka.

Veresaev shows that external beauty is not internal beauty, without which a person cannot be beautiful and happy. And sometimes it is enough just to open your heart and carefully look around to see the deep, true beauty of a person.

A competition was announced in the city; it was necessary to draw a woman of unearthly beauty, worthy of universal worship. The winner of the competition will be crowned with three laurel wreaths and receive the highest title - Thrice-Crown. Residents of the city were sure that this title would be given to the famous artist, famous throughout the world - Twice-Crown. And only he himself doubted a little, because he had a worthy opponent - his own student, the Unicorn. The paintings were to be exhibited in public court exactly one year later.

The famous artist immediately set out on a journey to search for the highest ideal of beauty contained in the female body. Outside the city, the painter saw a young man chopping brushwood; it turned out to be his student. Having greeted the teacher, the young man invited him into the house to drink wine and have a snack before the long journey. The teacher accepted the invitation and tried to find out from his student when he was going to go look for unearthly beauty. But the young artist answered his teacher that he had already found his ideal of beauty, and this was his beloved Zorka. The old artist was amazed at the blindness of his talented student. Zorka was a simple girl, not at all beautiful. Having gone further, he was convinced that now victory would be his, since his opponent was now no longer dangerous to him.

Days passed after days, many months had already passed, and the Twice-Married still could not find a girl who would captivate him with her beauty. But one day, waking up at dawn, he suddenly saw a lovely girl coming down from the hills, looking at her, he realized that his search was over, and he had found the ideal.

A year has passed. A lot of people gathered in the square; in front of them stood two huge canvases hung with fabric. The crowd of people looked with reverence at their idol, the Twice-Crown, laughing at the young Unicorn. People suggested that the young artist leave immediately, so as not to be embarrassed in front of the great talent of the illustrious elder, but the young man confidently and calmly looked at the crowd.

And then the fabric fell from the canvas of the great artist, and the inhabitants of the city froze before the divine beauty that blinded their eyes. It was impossible to take your eyes off this unearthly beauty, but turning away from the picture, people suddenly saw all the shortcomings of their halves, and they became afraid of such injustice. The fabric fell from the painting of the Unicorn, and caused laughter among the crowd, because the artist’s canvas depicted the well-known Dawn. The crowd was ready to throw stones at the Unicorn, but a miracle happened: in a simple, inconspicuous girl, people suddenly saw the calm and sincere beauty of a woman, depicted by a loving person, and suddenly they suddenly realized that there is real beauty. The title of Thrice-Crown was unanimously awarded to the young artist.

True beauty lies within a person.

Veresaev's story "Competition" as a reflection of Hellenic culture. Formation of research skills in the process of studying a work

Other writings:

The plot of the "Competition" and analysis of the work

Moral lesson of a fairy tale

Picture or drawing Competition

Other retellings for the reader's diary