“Taras Bulba” is a story that is part of the Mirgorod cycle written by N.V. Gogol. The prototype of the Cossack was the ataman Okhrim Makukha, who was born in Starodub and was an associate of B. Khmelnitsky himself. He had sons, one of whom, like Andriy in Gogol's work, became a traitor.

Brief retelling of "Taras Bulba": 1-2 chapters

Brothers Andriy and Ostap returned home after studying at the Kyiv Academy. The eldest son of Taras did not like his father's mockery of their outfit. He immediately got into a fistfight with him. A mother ran out into the yard and rushed to hug her sons. Father was impatient to see Andriy and Ostap in battle. Departure for the Sich Taras Bulba appointed a week later. True, after drinking vodka, he decided to go there in the morning. The brothers changed into Cossack clothes early, took their weapons and were ready to leave. Taras recalled his youth on the way. Ostap dreamed only of war and feasts. Andriy was as brave and strong as his brother, but at the same time more sensitive. He constantly recalled the Polish lady whom he had met in Kyiv. One day, gaping on the street, Andriy almost fell under the wheels of a panorama rattletrap. He fell right into the dirt on his face, and when he got up, he saw that a girl was watching him from the window. The next night, he snuck into the room of a dazzlingly beautiful young Polish woman.
At first she was frightened, and then she saw that the student himself was very embarrassed. The Tartar maid imperceptibly took him out of the house. Finally, the Cossacks drove up to the banks of the Dnieper and crossed by ferry to the island.

Brief retelling of "Taras Bulba": 3-4 chapters

The Cossacks rested during the armistice: they walked, drank. They were served by craftsmen of different nationalities (fed, sheathed), since they themselves could only fight and have fun. Taras introduced Andriy and Ostap to the ataman and comrades-in-arms. The young men were amazed by the customs. There were no military occupations as such, but theft and murder were punished in the most severe way. Since the sons of Taras were distinguished by their prowess in any business, they immediately became noticeable among the youth. However, the old Cossack was tired of the wild life, he dreamed of war. The ataman prompted Taras how to raise the Cossacks to fight without the crime of an oath (to keep peace).

Brief retelling of "Taras Bulba": 5-6 chapters

And one day, skinned Cossacks appeared in the Sich and told what they suffered from the Poles, who mock the Orthodox faith. The Cossacks were angry and at the Rada decided to go on a campaign. A day and a half later they arrived in Dubno. According to rumors, there were many rich people and the treasury. Residents of the city, including women, began to defend themselves. The Cossacks set up a camp around Dubno, planning to starve it out. From idleness, the Cossacks got drunk and almost all fell asleep. Andriy was sober and slept soundly. The maid of the same lady came to him (she was just in Dubno and noticed a guy from the city wall) and asked for food for her. The Cossack took a sack of bread and followed the Tatar woman through a secret underground passage. Andriy saw that people really began to die of hunger. But the lady said that help would come to them in the morning. Andriy stayed in the city.

Brief retelling of "Taras Bulba": 7-8 chapters

In the morning, the Polish army actually arrived. In a hot battle, the Poles whipped and captured many Cossacks, but could not stand the onslaught and hid in the city. Taras Bulba noticed that Andriy was missing. At the same time, from the Cossack, who escaped from the Tatar captivity, it became known about a new trouble. The Basurmans seized many Cossacks and stole the treasury of the Sich. Kurennoy ataman Kukubenko proposed to split up. Those whose relatives ended up with the Tatars went to liberate them, and the rest decided to fight with the Poles. Taras stayed near Dubno, because he thought that Andriy was there.

Brief summary. Gogol. "Taras Bulba": chapters 9-10

Encouraged by Bulba's speech, the Cossacks went into battle. After its completion, the gates of the city opened, and Andriy flew out at the head of the hussar regiment. Beating the Cossacks, he cleared the way for the Poles. Taras asked his comrades to lure Andrii into the forest. The young man at the sight of his father lost all his fighting fuse. When Andriy arrived in the forest on horseback, Taras ordered him to dismount and come closer. He obeyed like a child. Bulba shot his son. The last thing the young man's lips whispered was the name of the Pole. Taras did not even allow Ostap to bury his traitor brother. Help came to the Poles. Ostap was taken prisoner. Taras was seriously wounded. Tovkach carried him from the battlefield.

"Taras Bulba": very brief retelling 11-12 chapters

The old Cossack recovered and came to the city just at the moment when the Cossacks were being led to execution. Among them was Ostap. Bulba saw what tortures his son was subjected to. When Ostap, before he was to be burned alive, looked for at least one familiar face in the crowd and called his father, Taras answered. The Poles rushed to look for the old Bulba, but he was gone. Taras' revenge was cruel. With his regiment, he burned eighteen towns to the ground. 2000 chervonets were promised for his head. But he was elusive. And when Pototsky's troops surrounded his regiment near the Dniester River, Taras dropped his pipe into the grass. He did not want the Poles to get it, and he stopped to look for her. Here the Poles seized him. The Poles set fire to a living Cossack, having first chained it to a tree. In the last minutes Taras thought about his comrades. From the high bank he saw the Poles catching up with them. He shouted to the Cossacks to run to the river and get into canoes. They obeyed and thus escaped the chase. The mighty body of the Cossack was engulfed in flames. The departing Cossacks spoke of their ataman.

Retelling plan

1. Taras Bulba meets his sons, who have arrived from Bursa.
2. The next morning they leave for the Zaporizhzhya Sich.
3. Thoughts of heroes during the road.
4. Customs and mores of the Zaporizhzhya Cossacks.
5. Cossacks go on a campaign.
6. Cossacks besiege the Polish city of Dubno.
7. Andriy goes on a date with a lady in a besieged city.
8. Andriy's betrayal.
9. Terrible battle near the walls of the city. Taras notices Andriy's absence during the fight.
10. The Cossack army is divided. Half goes to the Sich to rescue the comrades captured by the Tatars, the other half remains near the city of Dubno to rescue the prisoners here.
11. Fight near the city of Dubno. Taras Bulba kills his son Andriy.
12. Taras is rescued from a fierce battle. Ostap remains in captivity.
13. Taras, having recovered from his wounds, goes to Warsaw to look for Ostap.
14. Taras is present at the execution of his son Ostap.
15. Taras Bulba avenges the death of his son.
16. Death of Taras Bulba.

retelling
Chapter I

Taras meets with his sons Ostap and Andriy, who came home from Kyiv, where they studied at the bursa (theological school). The father admires his sons, jokingly, offers the elder (Ostap) to fight with his fists. And the father and son, instead of greeting, began to cuff each other in the sides, and in the lower back, and in the chest. The younger son stood silently and watched, for which he received a reproach from his father.

Taras is going to send his sons to Zaporozhye: “There is a school for you; there you will only gain wisdom.” The mother was sad that only a week the children would be at home. Taras yelled at his wife and ordered her to set the table and treat her sons. Bulba led his sons into the room (there is a description of the decoration of the rooms, typical for Little Russian houses). For dinner, Bulba invited all the centurions and the entire regimental rank. Taras introduced his sons to them. When the guests sat down at the table, Taras began to make fun of his sons, asking if they were punished in the bursa? Ostap restrainedly replied to his father that all this was already in the past, now he was ready to personally show what kind of thing a Cossack saber was. Taras approved the words of his son and immediately said that he and his sons would leave for the Sich. The poor mother looked at her sons with sorrow in her eyes: she was about to be separated from her children soon.

The following tells about the origin (“one of the indigenous, old colonels”) and the character of Taras: he was distinguished by a rough straightforwardness of temper, loved simple life Kozakov, considered himself the legitimate defender of Orthodoxy. Before leaving for the Sich, Taras transferred his power to Yesaul Tovkach.

When they went to bed, the mother sat for a long time at the head of her sons: she combed their young, carelessly disheveled curls with a comb and cried. Like any woman of that daring century, she saw her husband two or three days a year, endured insults, even beatings. All her love turned into one maternal feeling in her. Mother was afraid that at the very first battle the Tatar would cut off their heads, and she would not know ... Sobbing, she looked into their eyes and dreamed that suddenly in the morning Bulba would change her mind and not go to the Sich.

Waking up early in the morning, Taras Bulba woke up his sons and began to hurry his wife. After breakfast with the whole family, they sat down in front of a long journey. The mother, hugging her sons, blessed them.

Saddled horses stood at the porch. Bulba jumped on his Devil... The tears of his mother touched the young Cossacks, and they, hiding from their father, brushed away their tears. Having traveled quite a distance, the brothers looked back: only two chimneys were visible from afar... Farewell to childhood and games...

Chapter II

The three riders rode in silence. Taras thought about the past, remembering his young years, and imagined the upcoming meeting with the Cossacks. Sons remembered something else. At the age of twelve they were sent to Kyiv Academy. Ostap - the eldest son - ran away from the academy in the first year. He was returned, flogged and put back behind the book. Four times he buried the primer in the ground, for which he was hewn four times, and again the primer was bought for him. Only his father's promise to keep Ostap in the monastery for twenty years reassured him. Ostap did not show much diligence in his studies, but he was a good comrade, a straightforward person, his mother's tears touched him to the core.

Andriy was more developed, he studied more willingly. He was heavy and strong in character. Andriy knew how to evade punishment, but just like his brother, he was "seething with a thirst for achievement." He liked to roam the streets of Kyiv. Once he was almost run over by a cart of some Polish pan, Andriy managed to jump aside and fell into the mud. From the windows of a neighboring house, a laughing girl watched him. After questioning the servants, Andriy found out that it was the daughter of the voivode who had come for a while. The next night, Andriy snuck into the beauty's house. By morning, the maid took Andrii out into the garden, and through the fence he got out into the street. And now, in the steppe, he recalled this meeting with the beautiful Polish woman.

Taras, waking up from his reverie, began to cheer up his sons and said that they would soon be there.

The steppe, life and customs of the Cossacks, their customs and traditions are described. After a three-day journey, Taras and his sons reached the Dnieper, where the Sich was then. At the entrance they were stunned by fifty Kuznetsk hammers striking twenty-five forges dug in the ground. Meeting Taras with familiar Cossacks.

Chapter III

About a week Taras lived with his sons in the Setch. Ostap and Andriy did little military training.

The whole Sich was a kind of uninterrupted feast, a holiday that had lost its beginning. Some were engaged in crafts, others kept shops and traded; but most of them walked from morning until evening. Ostap and Andria were surprised that the death of the people came to the Sich in their presence, and no one asked who they were, where they came from ... The Sich consisted of more than sixty kurens, which looked like separate republics. Everything was in the hands of the kuren ataman: money, clothes, food, fuel. They gave him money to save. Having plunged into this rampant sea, Ostap and Andriy quickly forgot both their father's house, and the bursa, and everything that had previously worried their souls.

But the Sechi lived according to very strict laws. If a Cossack stole something, he was tied to a pillory and a club was placed near it, and everyone passing by was obliged to strike until he was beaten to death. The debtor, who did not return the money on time, was tied to a cannon and kept like that until one of the comrades paid the debt for him. A terrible execution was appointed for murder: they dug a hole, lowered a living murderer into it and placed a coffin with the murdered one on top of it, and then both were covered with earth.

Both young Cossacks were soon in good standing with the Cossacks. They were distinguished by their young prowess, luck in everything, they shot accurately at the target, swam across the Dnieper against the current. But Taras was not satisfied with this idle life, he thought about how to raise the Sich to a brave enterprise, where the knight could roam properly.

Chapter IV

Taras Bulba confer with the clever and cunning Cossack, the chosen Koshov, about how to incite the Cossacks to some business. An hour later all the Cossacks were alerted. Several people swam to the opposite bank of the Dnieper and took out weapons and money hidden in the reeds. Others began to inspect the canoes, to prepare them for the journey.

At this time, a large ferry began to moor to the shore. To the question of the Koschevoi, with what the Cossacks had come, a broad-shouldered Cossack of about fifty replied that it was in trouble. The old Cossack explained that the holy churches had been taken away. The colonels gave everything to the Poles.

The Cossacks who had gathered on the shore were noisily discussing what they had heard: everyone was excited - both heavy-minded and strong men ... Now everyone wanted to go on a campaign - old and young. It was decided to go straight to Poland and take revenge on her for all the evil, the disgrace of the faith and glory of the Cossacks, to collect booty from the cities, to set fire to the villages. Everything suddenly changed around. The Cossacks began to prepare for the campaign: there were sounds of trial shooting, the clanging of sabers, the creak of turning wagons. In a small village church, the priest served a prayer service, sprinkled everyone with holy water, everyone kissed the cross. When the camp set off, the Cossacks looked back, and each of them said goodbye to the Sich.

Chapter V

Soon the entire Polish southwest became the prey of fear. Rumors circulated that the Cossacks had appeared. Everything that could escape, escaped, fled ... Everyone knew how difficult it was to deal with the crowd, known as the Zaporozhye army.

And Taras was pleased to see that both of his sons were among the first. Looking at Ostap, he thought that in time he would be a good colonel, who would put even a dad in his belt.

Taras marveled at the resourcefulness and the youngest son, Andriy. But Taras was afraid that Andriy would not fall into the hands of the enemy.

The army decided to go straight to the city of Dubno. In a day and a half, the Cossacks reached the walls of the city, where, according to rumors, there was a lot of treasury, rich inhabitants. The inhabitants of the city decided to die on the thresholds of houses, but not to let the enemy in. The city was surrounded by a high earthen rampart, in the city there was a well-armed garrison. The Cossacks climbed the rampart, but were met with strong buckshot. All the inhabitants (even women and children) stood in a heap on an earthen rampart. The Cossacks did not like to deal with fortresses and, on the orders of the koshevoi, retreated and surrounded the city. The Cossacks, just as in the Setch, began to play leapfrog, exchange booty, smoke cradles ... The young Cossacks did not like this kind of life. Andriy was visibly bored. Taras reassured his son: “Be patient with the Cossack, you will be the chieftain!” The Tarasov regiment arrived in time. All the Cossacks numbered more than four thousand.

On the night before the siege of the city, Ostap went about his business, and Andriy could not sleep. Gogol describes the June night, the sleeping Cossacks.

Suddenly Andriy felt that someone was bending down in front of him. He grabbed his gun: “Who are you? If the spirit is unclean, get out of sight, if a living person, at the wrong time started a joke, I’ll kill with one sight. Andrii began to peer and recognized the woman as a servant of a Polish lady. The Tatar woman told Andriy that the pannochka was in the city, that she had not eaten anything for the second day, since the food had run out in the city, and the inhabitants were eating only land. From the city rampart, the lady saw Andriy among the Cossacks and sent her maid to him. If he remembers, then let him come to her himself, and if he forgot, then at least a piece of bread would be given to her sick mother.

Various feelings awoke in the chest of the young Cossack. He decided to go to the city. Began to look for bread, porridge. But there was no porridge in the cauldrons. Then, from under Ostap's head, he pulled out a bag of white bread, which he got in battle, and set off in a secret way after the Tatar to the city.

Chapter VI

Making his way through the streets of the city, Andriy was amazed at what terrible victims the famine led to. He asked if there were no cattle left in the city? The maid said that everyone overate, you won’t even find a mouse in the city. When asked why the city was not being surrendered, the Tatar woman replied that the governor was ordered to keep it, to wait for reinforcements. The Tatar woman brought Andrii into the room where the lady was sitting. Then she brought in already sliced ​​bread on a golden platter and placed it in front of the panna.

The beauty looked at her, at the bread, and then at Andrii... She took a piece of bread and brought it to her mouth. As soon as she took a bite, the Tatar woman said that she should not eat anymore, the bread after a long hunger "would be poisonous." Pannochka obeyed and put the bread on the dish. Andriy began to ask the beauty why she was so sad. In answer she said, That he could not love her, that his duty and covenant forbade it, for they were enemies. Andriy objected: he has no one - no comrades, no homeland. “My fatherland is you! This is my homeland! .. And everything that is, I will sell, give, ruin for such a homeland! Andriy said. Suddenly, their conversation is interrupted by a maid: the Poles have entered the city, they are saved.

And the young Cossack died! Lost for the entire Cossack chivalry. And Taras will curse his son.

Chapter VII

Noise and movement took place in the Zaporozhye camp. At first no one could understand what had happened. Then they found out that the entire Pereyaslavsky kuren was dead drunk, so half of the Cossacks were killed, and the other half were bandaged. While other kurens were waking up from the noise, the Polish army was leaving for the gates of the city. After the incident, the koshevoi gave the order to gather everyone. He began to scold the Cossacks, accusing them of drunkenness. The Cossacks, feeling guilty, stood with bowed heads. In response to the evil words of the ataman Kukubenko objected that there was no sin in this, that the Cossacks got drunk. After all, for a day they were idle, and there was no fasting. But they will show how to attack innocent people, they will beat the perfidious Poles so that they won’t even take them home. The Cossacks liked the speech of the kuren ataman. Koshevoy ordered to divide into three detachments and wait for the exit of the Polish army from them in front of the three gates of the city. Strictly ordered each ataman to look over his hut, and whoever has a shortage, let them replenish the remnants of Pereyaslavsky.

The atamans each went to their own hut. Taras suddenly found out that Andriy was not there. Did the Poles take him prisoner? But Andriy was not such as to surrender. Thinking Taras walked in front of the regiment. He led his regiment into an ambush and hid with him behind the forest. And the Cossacks - foot and horseback, acted on three roads to three gates. The movement of the Cossacks was heard in the city. All poured into the shaft. The colonel began to shout for the Cossacks to hand over their weapons, and ordered the captured Cossacks to be paraded. Cossacks tied with ropes were led out to the rampart, in front of them was the ataman Khlib. The ataman was ashamed for this shame, for one night his head turned gray from experiences.

From the shaft they began to shoot with buckshot. The gates opened, the army marched out. Koshevoy ordered the Cossacks to attack, not to allow the Poles to line up. The Cossacks struck suddenly, shot down and mixed the enemies into a heap. At detailed description battle, the author pays special attention to the behavior of Ostap. Taras heard that Ostap was appointed ataman of the Umans. The old Cossack rejoiced, began to thank the Umans for the honor shown to his son.

The Cossacks again retreated, preparing to go to the camps, when Poles appeared on the rampart, but already in tattered coats ... The Cossacks settled down to rest after a hard battle. Some began to sprinkle the wounds with earth, others, who were fresher, picked up the bodies of the dead and buried them.

Chapter VIII

Early in the morning, the awakened Cossacks gathered in circles. The news came from the Sich that the Tatars, during the absence of the Cossacks, attacked her and robbed, beat and took everyone prisoner and went straight to Perekop. In such cases, the Cossacks immediately chased the kidnappers, trying to overtake them on the road and recapture the prisoners. If this could not be done, then the prisoners could find themselves in the bazaars of Asia Minor, in Smyrna, on the Cretan island ... The Cossacks began to demand that the Council be convened. Koshevoy decided to follow the Tatar robbers. The Cossacks supported his decision. But Taras Bulba did not like such words. The old Cossack thought for a moment and said: “No, your advice is wrong, koshevoi! - he said. - ... Have you forgotten that ours, captured by the Poles, remain in captivity? Taras, with his bright speech, began to convince the Cossacks to stay and free their comrades taken prisoner by the Poles. The Cossacks became thoughtful. The oldest Cossack in the entire army, Kasyan Bovdyug, stepped forward. He said that both Koschevoi and Taras were each right in their own way. He offered to make a choice: to whom the comrades captured by the Tatars are dear, let them go to liberate them, and whoever wants, let them stay here and liberate another group of comrades. Koshevoy will go with one half of the army, and the other will choose a chieftain. And Taras Bulba can be such an ataman, because there is no equal to him in valor.

The Cossacks thanked the wise Cossack for the right decision. When the Cossacks divided into two groups, Koshevoy walked between the rows and told them to say goodbye and kiss each other. With the onset of night, a group of Cossacks, led by Koshev, set off. Another group remained near the city of Dubno with ataman Taras Bulba.

Chapter IX

In the city, no one knew that half of the Cossacks set out in pursuit of the Tatars.

Koshevoy's words came true that the supplies in the city would not be enough for a long time. Several times the troops tried to make a sortie for food, but were killed by the Cossacks. The colonels were preparing to give battle. Taras guessed this, watching the traffic and noise in the city. He ordered the Cossacks to prepare for defense. And when everything was done, Taras delivered a speech to the Cossacks. The ataman urged his comrades to lay down their heads if necessary, but not to surrender Russian lands to the enemies and to free their comrades from captivity. This speech touched all the Cossacks, reached the very heart of everyone.

The enemy army was coming out of the city. The fat colonel was giving orders. They began to closely attack the Cossack camps. Letting a rifle shot, the Cossacks began to shoot at the enemy. Superiority in battle was on the side of the Cossacks. But shots were fired from cannons, and many Cossacks were wounded. Taras ordered the Nezamaikovsky and Steblikivsky kurens to mount their horses. But the Cossacks did not have time to do this, because cannons were fired from the city. More than half of the Nezamaikovsky kuren was gone. This angered the Cossacks, they went to the guns. During the battle, Taras encouraged his comrades several times with the words: “What, gentlemen? There is life in the old dog yet; the Cossack force is still strong; the Cossacks are not bending yet?”

The author describes how heroically and steadfastly the Cossacks accepted death. Already only three kuren chieftains survived, but the Cossacks again rushed into battle. Taras waved his handkerchief to Ostap, who was in ambush. Ostap hit the cavalry. So the victory was close. But suddenly a hussar regiment flew out of the gates of the city, the beauty of all cavalry regiments. Among the enemy soldiers, Taras recognized his son Andriy. Old Taras stopped and looked at how he cleared the road in front of him, dispersed, chopped and poured blows to the right and left. Taras ordered the Cossacks to lure Andrii to the forest. Thirty of the fastest Cossacks rushed to fulfill the order of the ataman. Taras, grabbing the reins of Andrii's horse, stopped him. Andriy was frightened when he saw his father. Taras ordered his son to get off his horse, stand and not move. Then, taking a step back, he took the gun from his shoulder and fired. The son-killer gazed for a long time at the lifeless corpse. Ostap drove up and asked his father: “Did you kill him, father?” Taras nodded his head. I felt sorry for Brother Ostatsu, and he immediately said: "Let's betray the father, honestly to the earth." "They will bury him without us!" Taras answered. Taras thought for two minutes what to do with the body of his youngest son. Suddenly they brought him the news that a fresh force had arrived to help the Poles. "On horseback, Ostap!" said Taras, hurrying to catch the Cossacks. Before they had time to leave the forest, the enemy force surrounded the forest from all sides. Six Poles attacked Ostap. Taras, fighting off the enemy, looked ahead, at Ostap. But suddenly, like a heavy stone, Taras himself was enough. And he collapsed, like a cut oak, to the ground. And mist covered his eyes.

Chapter X

Taras woke up in a strange room and saw Tovkach in front of him. Taras began to ask where he was. Tovkach said that they managed to take him out of the forest, cut down, and for two weeks now he has been taking Taras to Ukraine. Taras remembered that Ostap had been seized and tied up in front of his eyes and that he was being held captive by the Poles. Grief seized the old Cossack. He again fell into unconsciousness from the fever. His faithful comrade Tovkach rode without rest for days and nights, and brought him, insensible, to the Zaporozhian Sich. There he treated him with herbs and lotions. A month and a half later, Taras got to his feet. Nothing familiar to Taras remained in the Sich, all his old comrades died. No matter how hard the Cossacks tried to cheer him up, they failed. He looked sternly and indifferently at everything, and his face expressed inextinguishable grief, and quietly, bowing his head, he said: “My son! Ostap is mine!

The old Cossack suffered for a long time. And he decided to go and find out what happened to Ostap: is he alive? in grave? or is it not already in the grave itself? A week later, Taras ended up in the city of Uman. He drove up to one of the houses where the Jews lived. He went into the house to talk to Yankel. Yankel was praying in his room, when he suddenly saw Taras, for whose head the Poles promised two thousand chervonets, but he suppressed his greed for gold and listened to Taras. Taras reminded the Jew of his service done to save his life, and asked him to help him now. Yankel said that in Warsaw he would be recognized and arrested. Taras promised him five thousand gold pieces if he would take him to Warsaw. Yankel offered to take a brick to Warsaw, and Taras with this cart.

Chapter XI

Yankel found out that Ostap was in the city dungeon, and he hoped, although it was very difficult, to arrange a meeting with his son for Taras. Yankel left Taras in the house of his acquaintances, while he himself went with two other Jews to arrange business.

Taras felt uneasy. His soul was in a feverish state. He spent the whole day in this state, neither eating nor drinking... When they returned, the Jews began to explain to Taras that they could not do anything. Tomorrow all prisoners will be executed. And if he wants, tomorrow at dawn he can be taken to the square. Taras agreed. At night, with the help of the Jews, he made his way into the dungeon. But he could not meet his son. Then he went to the square where the execution was to take place. A lot of people gathered in the square. Suddenly, there were shouts in the crowd: “They are leading! Lead! Cossacks!..” Ostap walked ahead of them all.

Taras, standing in the crowd, did not utter a word. He watched and listened to the speech of his eldest son, with which he addressed his Cossack brothers. Ostap urged the Cossacks to steadfastly accept death.

The author then describes the execution. Ostap endured all the savage torments steadfastly and courageously. Neither a scream nor a groan was heard even when they began to interrupt the bones on his arms and legs ... Taras stood in the crowd, bowing his head and proudly raising his eyes, saying approvingly: "Good, son, good!" When Ostap was led to the last mortal agony, he exclaimed in mental weakness:

- Father! Where are you? Do you hear?

— I hear! rang out in the middle of the silence.

Part of the military horsemen rushed to look for Taras. But his trace was gone.

Chapter XII

Taras gathered an army and advocated the liberation of Ukraine from foreign invaders. He walked all over Poland with his regiment, burned eighteen towns, about forty churches, and was already approaching the city of Krakow. He beat every gentry a lot, plundered the richest and best castles: “This is for you, enemy Poles, a wake for Ostap!” Taras said. And Taras sent such commemorations for his son in every village, until the Polish authorities saw that Taras's actions were more than ordinary robbery. And so Pototsky was instructed with five regiments to catch Taras by all means.

For six days the Cossacks fled from persecution, but Pototsky managed to overtake the army of Taras at the very Dniester. Description of the battle in which Taras was taken prisoner. Thirty people hung on his arms and legs. With the hetman's permission, the enemies came up with a terrible execution for him: to burn him alive in full view of everyone.

They pulled him to a tree trunk with iron chains, nailed his hands with a nail, and raising him higher so that he could be seen from everywhere, they began to build a fire under the tree. But Taras did not think about his own death. He watched the Cossacks firing back, and was very happy to see how several Cossacks managed to swim across the Dniester. The fire rose above the fire, seized his legs and spread flames over the wood...

But can there be such fires, torments and such a force in the world that would overpower the Russian force!

(read about 5 minutes) Taras Bulba is an elderly Cossack, the father of two sons. His children, Ostap and Andriy, studied at the Kyiv Academy. After graduation, they returned to their home. Young people, strong, strong and healthy, look embarrassed: the father chuckles at their clothes. But Ostap, the eldest son, does not intend to tolerate such an attitude. Taras and his son are seriously fighting. Mother, a kind old woman, reassures her husband. He is glad that Ostap turned out to be a real Cossack. Taras Bulba wants to test his youngest son, but Andriy is already in his mother's arms.

The old Cossack convenes regiments and centurions to say: he intends to send his children to the Zaporozhian Sich. Indeed, for a real Cossack there is no more useful science than the Sich! He wants to personally introduce the children to his friends. The mother has a hard time: the time has come to part with her beloved sons, who have just arrived home. The mother spends the night sitting over the sleeping Ostap and Andriy, and in the morning she cannot tear herself away from them, but still finds the strength to bless the children.

Taras Bulba and his children are riding. Everyone thinks about his own, everyone is silent. Taras remembers his wild youth, tears are shown in his eyes. Ostap, who has become stern and firm during his studies, cannot indifferently recall farewell to his mother: he has a kind heart by nature. Andriy remembers not only his mother and home, but also a beautiful Polish girl. The Cossack met her shortly before leaving Kyiv. Desperate Andriy made his way into the bedroom of the Polish woman through the chimney. So that no one would see him, the young woman hid her guest. When the threat had passed, the Polish maid took Andriy out into the street. Then he saw the beautiful lady in the church. How not to remember such meetings!

The road turns out to be long, but after arriving at the place, the sons of Taras plunge into a wild life: the Cossacks gain combat experience only during battles, and on their free days they drink and have fun. Taras Bulba does not approve of this, because valiant prowess should not be spent on empty entertainment. The old Cossack thinks of how to distract the Cossacks, and persuades them to choose a new kosher. He decides to go to Poland.

After some time, throughout the south-west of Poland, people are seized with fear of the Cossacks. The Cossacks, including Ostap and Andriy, mature in battle. One of the first cities on the way is Dubno. It has a rich treasury. The inhabitants of the city and the garrison resist the Cossacks, but the Cossacks besiege the fortress. They burn houses, ruin crops. Taras Bulba asks young people to wait: hot fights will begin soon.

One night, Andriy, awakened by a beautiful Polish maid, learns that the lady is in Dubno. Her mother is dying and the young woman begs for help. Her lover with several bags of bread goes to the city and, having met with a lady, renounces his family and homeland. Now his Fatherland is a beautiful Polish woman. Meanwhile, Poles appear in the city. They kill and capture the Cossacks, and the survivors decide to continue the siege. Taras Bulba learns about his son's betrayal. The Sich is also going through difficult times: those who remained in Zaporozhye were attacked by the Tatars. Half of the fighters have to return. Taras becomes the head of the siege army. He speaks of the strength of comradeship, and this speech inspires the Cossacks.

The Polish army learns that the enemy has weakened and decides to attack. Andriy is among the Poles. The Cossacks, having received an order from Taras Bulba, lure him to the forest. Father kills Andriy, who, even in the face of death, remembers only the pannochka. The Poles defeat the Cossacks, the eldest son of Taras Bulba is captured. Taras is wounded and brought to the Zaporozhian Sich. But, barely recovering, the old Cossack turns to the Jew Yankel. Through bribery and threats, he forces him to secretly send him to Warsaw. Taras Bulba hopes to redeem Ostap. Hopes are not destined to come true: the son is being tortured in the square. Only one exclamation breaks out of his chest - an appeal to the father. The father responds from the crowd and quickly disappears.

More than a hundred thousand Cossacks rise up against Poland. Ataman Taras and his regiment are among them. He does not spare anyone, he takes revenge for Ostap. Hetman of Poland defeated. He vows never to go against the Cossacks. Colonel Bulba is not satisfied with such a world: the forgiven Poles will certainly not keep their word. And the old Cossack turns out to be right: the next attack of the Poles ends with the defeat of the Cossacks. Meanwhile, Bulba's regiment mercilessly destroys the Poles. After many unsuccessful attempts, the regiments of the hetman overtake Taras Bulba. The battle continues for four days. The Cossacks who are still alive leave the chase, but the colonel stops to find the lost cradle. The Poles take him prisoner, tie him to a tree and burn him. Dying, Taras shows the Cossacks the way to the river. At the last moment of his life, he sees how the old comrades leave the chase, and thinks about their future victories.

The shortest content of the story "Taras Bulba" is a sure help in preparing for the lesson. Students read this voluminous work in the summer, but they do not always remember all the main events described by N.V. Gogol. In order to quickly restore the read text in memory, we recommend that you refer to the educational materials "Literaguru".

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Gogol's story "Taras Bulba" is part of the cycle "Mirgorod". There are two editions - 1835, and 1842. Gogol was against the publication of the second version without agreeing with him on certain points. However, the story was still published without copyright corrections.

The events in the book "Taras Bulba" unfold around the 17th century. Interestingly, the author himself often mentions the 15th century, thus emphasizing the fantastic nature of the story. In the work, two narrative planes can be conventionally distinguished: on one plane, the life of the Zaporizhzhya Cossacks and their campaign against Poland is described, and on the other, a dramatic story about the glorious Cossack Taras Bulba and his two sons.

For a deeper understanding of the story "Taras Bulba" summary chapters are listed below.

main characters

Taras Bulba- main character. Dear Cossack in the Setch, a good warrior. The main values ​​for him are the Christian faith and the Fatherland.

Ostap- the eldest son of Bulba, graduated from the seminary. In battles, he showed himself as a prudent and brave Cossack, able to analyze the situation and make the right decisions. A worthy son of his father.

Andriy- the youngest son of Bulba. He subtly feels the surrounding world and nature, is able to see beauty in minor details, nevertheless, in battles he was distinguished by courage and a non-standard approach.

Other characters

Yankel- a Jew, looking for his own benefit in everything. Taras Bulba turned to him for help.

Pannochka- the daughter of a Polish pan, beloved Andria.

Tatar- Pannochka's maid, who informed Andriy about the underground passage in Dubno and about the terrible famine in the city.

Chapter 1

Bulba meets his sons - Ostap and Andriy, who returned from Kyiv after graduating from the seminary. The father kindly plays a joke on them appearance, but Ostap doesn't like it. Instead of a greeting, a small brawl between father and son begins, ending as suddenly as it began.

Taras decides to send his sons to the Sich, so that they become real fellows and brave Cossacks, and studying at the academy, books and motherly care will only spoil and pamper them. The mother does not agree with this decision, but what can she do but resignedly agree. Such is her share - to serve her husband and wait for him from campaigns for months. On the occasion of the arrival of Ostap and Andriy Bulba, he called together all the centurions who approved the idea of ​​sending their sons to the Sich. Inspired by the strength and excitement of the upcoming trip, Taras decides to go with his sons.

The old mother did not sleep - she hugged her sons, dreaming only that the night would not end. It was very difficult for her to part with them. Until recently, she hoped that her husband would change his mind or decide to leave a week later. But Taras Bulba was stubborn and unshakable.

When the sons left, the mother rushed to them with ease and speed, not characteristic of her years. She could not stop her relatives - the Cossacks took her away twice.

Chapter 2

The riders rode in silence. Taras thought about his youth, which was full of adventures, about his fellow Cossacks, about how he would show off his sons to them. Ostap and Andriy were busy with other thoughts. When they were twelve years old, they were sent to study at the Kyiv Academy. Ostap tried to escape several times, buried his primer, but each time they returned him back and bought a new book, until, finally, his father threatened to send him to a monastery for disobedience. From that moment on, Ostap became much more diligent, and soon became on a par with the best students.

Andriy studied more willingly, without making any special efforts. He was more inventive and was often the instigator of some kind of adventure. He managed to avoid punishment thanks to the flexibility of the mind. Andriy's soul was open to other feelings as well. Once he saw a beautiful Polish woman and fell in love at first sight. Andriy was fascinated by her beauty and femininity. The next night, the young man decided to sneak into her chambers. At first, the panna was frightened, but later she laughed merrily, putting various decorations on Andriy. A Tatar, a servant of a Polish panna, helped Andriy out of the house as soon as there was a knock on the door.

Travelers galloped across the endless expanses of the steppe, which became more and more beautiful. Everything here seemed to breathe freedom. Soon they arrived on the island of Khortytsya. Ostap and Andriy rode into the Sich with a kind of fear and pleasure. On the island, life went on as usual: the Cossacks walked, danced, mended clothes, staged fights.

Chapter 3

The Sich was a "continuous feast". There were also artisans, and merchants with merchants, but most of them walked from morning to evening. On Khortitsa there were those who never studied or left the academy, but there were also learned Cossacks, there were fugitive officers and partisans. All these people were united by faith in Christ and love for their native land.

Ostap and Andriy quickly became imbued with the atmosphere that reigned there and merged into that environment. The father did not like this - he wanted his sons to be tempered in battles, so he was thinking about how to raise the Sich to such an event. This leads to a quarrel with the koshevoi, who does not want to start a war. Taras Bulba is not accustomed to not being the way he wants: he planned to take revenge on the koshevoi. He persuades his comrades to get the others drunk so that they overthrow the koshevoi. Bulba's plan works - Kirdyaga, an old but wise Cossack, Taras Bulba's comrade-in-arms, is chosen as the new kosher.

Chapter 4

Taras Bulba communicates with the new Koschevoi about a military campaign. However, he, being a reasonable person, says: “Let the people gather, but only by my own desire, I will not force anyone.” But in fact, under such a permission is hidden a desire to absolve themselves of responsibility for violating peace between states. A ferry arrives on the island with Cossacks who managed to escape. They bring disappointing news: priests (Catholic priests) ride carts harnessing Christians in them, Jews from priestly robes sew outfits for themselves, and people are not allowed to celebrate without the approval of the Jews. Christian holidays. Such lawlessness angered the Cossacks - no one had the right to insult their faith and people like that! Both old and young are ready to defend their Fatherland, fight with the Poles for the disgrace of the faith and collect booty from the captured villages.

The Cossacks made a noise, shouting: “Hang all the Jews! Let the Jews not sew skirts out of priestly robes!” These words had a huge impact on the crowd, which immediately rushed to catch the Jews. But one of them, Yankel, says that he knew the late brother of Taras Bulba. Bulba saves Yankel's life and allows him to go with the Cossacks to Poland.

Chapter 5

The earth is full of rumors about the military glory of the Cossacks and about their new conquests. The Cossacks moved at night and rested during the day. Taras Bulba proudly looks at his sons who have matured in battles. Ostap, it seemed, was destined to be a warrior. He showed himself as a brave warrior with an analytical mind. Andrii was attracted more by the romantic side of the journey: chivalrous exploits and battles with a sword. He acted according to the dictates of his heart, without resorting to special reflections, and sometimes he managed to accomplish what no experienced Cossack could have done!

The army came to the city of Dubno. The Cossacks were about to climb onto the rampart, but from there stones, arrows, barrels, sandbags and pots of boiling water rained down on them. The Cossacks quickly realized that the siege was not their forte, and decided to starve the city out. They trampled all the fields on horseback, destroyed the crops in the gardens, and then settled down in kurens. Ostap and Andriy do not like such a life, but their father encourages them: “be patient with the Cossack - you will become an ataman!”

Yesaul brings icons to Ostap and Andriy and a blessing from the old mother. Andriy misses her, but does not want to return, even though he feels stuffiness squeezing his heart. At night, he admires the sky and the stars.
Tired of the day, the warriors fell asleep. Everyone except Andriy. He wandered around the kuren, looking at the rich nature. Suddenly he accidentally notices a certain figure. The stranger turns out to be a woman, in whom Andriy recognizes a Tatar who serves the same lady with whom he was in love. The Tatar woman tells the young man about a terrible famine, about a lady who has not eaten anything for many days. It turns out that the lady saw Andriy among the soldiers and immediately remembered him. She told the maid to find Andriy and ask him to pass some bread, and if he does not agree, then let him come just like that. Andriy immediately begins to search for supplies, but the Cossacks even ate the porridge cooked with excess. Then the young Cossack carefully pulls out a bag of groceries from under Ostap, on which he slept. Ostap wakes up only for a moment and immediately falls asleep again. Andriy quietly sneaks along the hut to the Tatar woman, who promised to lead him to the city through an underground passage.

Andria calls out to his father, warning that women will not bring him to good. Kozak stood neither alive nor dead, afraid to move, but Bulba quickly fell asleep.

Chapter 6

Andriy goes through an underground passage, gets into a Catholic monastery, finding the priests praying. Zaporozhets is amazed by the beauty and decoration of the cathedral, he is fascinated by the play of light in stained glass windows. The music impressed him the most.

A Cossack with a Tatar go out into the city. It starts to light up. Andriy sees a woman with a child, who died in the throes of hunger. A man, distraught with hunger, appears on the street, begging for bread. Andriy fulfills the request, but the man, having barely swallowed a piece, dies - his stomach has not received food for too long. The Tatar woman admits that all life in the city has already been eaten, but the governor ordered not to give up - not today, two Polish regiments will arrive tomorrow.

The maid and Andriy enter the house. Where the young man sees his beloved. Pannochka became different: “she was a charming windy girl; this one is a beauty ... in all her developed beauty. Andriy and the Polish woman cannot see enough of each other, the young man wanted to utter everything that was in his soul, but could not. Meanwhile, the Tatar cut bread and brought it - the panna began to eat, but Andriy warned her that it was better to eat in parts, otherwise you could die. And neither a word nor a painter's pen could express how the Polish woman looked at the Cossack. The feelings that seized the young man at that moment were so strong that Andriy renounces both his father, and his faith, and his Fatherland - he will do everything to serve the young panna.

A Tatar woman appears in the room with good news: the Poles have entered the city and are carrying captured Cossacks. Andriy kisses the lady.

Chapter 7

The Cossacks decide to attack Dubno, to avenge their captured comrades. Yankel tells Taras Bulba that he saw Andrii in the city. The Kozak changed his outfit, they gave him a good horse, and he himself shines like a coin. Taras Bulba was dumbfounded by what he heard, but still cannot believe it. Then Yankel informs about the upcoming wedding of Andriy with the pan's daughter, when Andriy with the Polish army will drive the Cossacks from Dubno. Bulba is angry with the Jew, suspecting him of lying.

The next morning it turns out that many Cossacks were killed when they were sleeping; from Pereyaslavsky kuren, several dozen soldiers were taken prisoner. The battle between the Cossacks and the Polish army begins. The Cossacks are trying to break the enemy regiment into pieces - it will be easier to win this way.

One of the kuren chieftains is killed in battle. Ostap avenges a Cossack killed in battle. For his bravery, the Cossacks choose him as atamans (instead of the killed Cossack). And immediately Ostap is given the opportunity to consolidate the glory of a wise leader: as soon as he ordered to retreat from the walls of the city, to stay as far away from them as possible, all kinds of objects rained down from there, and many got it.

The battle is over. The Cossacks buried the Cossacks, and the bodies of the Poles were tied to wild horses so that the dead dragged along the ground, along mounds, ditches and ravines. Taras Bulba pondered why his youngest son was not among the soldiers. He is ready to take cruel revenge on the lady, because of which Andriy renounced everything that was dear to him. But what is Taras Bulba preparing for a new day?

Chapter 8

The Cossacks say goodbye to each other, raise toasts to the faith and the Sich. So that the enemy would not see a decline in the Cossack army, it was decided to attack at night.

Chapter 9

Due to incorrect calculations, the city again lacks food. The military leader hears rumors about the Cossacks who went to take revenge on the Tatars, preparations for the battle begin.
The Poles admire the fighting skills of the Cossacks, but the Cossacks still suffer heavy losses - guns were brought out against them. The Cossacks do not give up, Bulba encourages them with the words "there is still gunpowder in the flasks." Bulba sees his youngest son: Andriy is riding a black argamak as part of a Polish cavalry regiment. Bulba went mad with anger, seeing how Andriy cuts everyone - both his own and others. Bulba catches up with the young man, who, at the sight of his father, sharply loses his fighting spirit. Andriy obediently dismounts from his horse. Before his death, the Cossack did not say the name of his mother or fatherland, but the name of his beloved Pole. The father kills his son with a shot, saying the phrase that has become famous: "I gave birth to you, I will kill you!" .

The eldest son of Taras Bulba becomes an unwitting witness to the murder, but there is no time to grieve or understand: Polish soldiers attack Ostap. Broken, but still alive, Ostap is captured by the Poles.

The Cossack army is thinning greatly, Taras Bulba falls from his horse.

Chapter 10

Bulba is alive, the Cossack Tovkach is taking him to the Zaporozhian Sich. After a month and a half, Bulba was able to recover from his wounds. Everything is new in the Sich, the old Cossacks are gone, and those who left to fight the Tatars did not return. Severe, indifferent was Taras Bulba, did not participate in parties and general fun, he was weighed down by thoughts about his eldest son. Bulba asks Yankel to take him to Warsaw, despite the fact that Bulba's head was given a reward of two thousand reds. Taking a reward for the service, Yankel hides the Cossack at the bottom of the wagon, laying the top with a brick.

Chapter 11

Bulba asks the Jews to release his son from the dungeon - but it's too late, because the execution is scheduled for the next day. You can only see him at dawn. Taras agrees. Yankel disguises the Cossack in foreign clothes, both enter the prison, where Yankel flatters the guards. But Taras Bulba, offended by the remark of one of them, reveals his incognito.
Bulba demands to be taken to the place of his son's execution.

The Cossacks went to the execution with "quiet pride", Ostap Bulbenko was in front. Before his death, deprived of any hope of an answer, Ostap shouts into the crowd: “Father, where are you now: Can you hear me?” . And they answered him: “I hear!”

Chapter 12

The whole Sich has gathered under the leadership of Taras Bulba, the Cossacks are coming to Poland. Bulba became more cruel, and hatred for the Poles only intensified. With his Cossacks, he reached Krakow, leaving behind 18 burnt cities. Hetman Potocki was assigned to capture Taras Bulba, which led to a bloody battle that lasted 4 days. The victory was close, but Taras Bulba was captured when he was looking for a lost cradle in the grass. They burned him at the stake.

The Cossacks managed to escape, sailing in boats, they spoke and praised their chieftain - the indispensable Taras Bulba.

Conclusion

The themes and problems raised in the work "Taras Bulba" will be relevant at all times. The story itself is fantastic, and the images are collective. Gogol successfully combines a light language of writing, colorful characters, an adventure plot with a finely written psychologism. His characters are remembered and forever remain in memory. Reading "Taras Bulba" in abbreviated form, you can get information about the plot and plot, but stunningly beautiful descriptions of nature, monologues, saturated with the spirit of freedom and Cossack prowess, will only be in the original work. In general, the story was warmly received by critics, although some points were condemned (for example, the assessment of the Poles and Jews).

Despite the above brief retelling of Gogol's Taras Bulba, we strongly recommend that you read the full text of the work.

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Gogol "Taras Bulba", chapter 2 - summary

The children of Bulba are a stern, hard Ostap and dexterous, greedy for feminine beauty Andriy - did not resemble each other. Ostap thought only of military glory, and while still studying in Kyiv, Andriy burned with a passionate love for a Polish woman he accidentally saw - the daughter of a Kovno governor. Once he even made his way to her house through the chimney.

Gogol "Taras Bulba", chapter 3 - summary

Trying to quickly acquaint his sons with military affairs, Bulba suggested that the main Zaporizhian leader - the ataman - organize a campaign against the Tatars or Turks. The guarded ataman refused, citing treaties. Then Taras staged a Cossack revolt and gathering in the Sich. Having run out to the main square, the Cossacks deposed the Koschevoi and chose Bulba's comrade, Kirdyaga, in his place.

Gogol "Taras Bulba", chapter 4 - summary

Gogol "Taras Bulba", chapter 5 - summary

The Cossacks betrayed terrible devastation all the southern regions of Poland. Ostap and Andriy, delighting Bulba, showed unheard-of courage in this war. In the end, the Zaporozhye army besieged the city of Dubno and decided to starve it out.

One night, when the entire Cossack army was sleeping under the city walls, Andriy suddenly saw the face of an old Tatar woman in front of him - a servant of that Polish lady whom he fell in love with in Kyiv. The Tatar woman said that her mistress was in Dubno and was already close to starvation. From the city walls, she saw Andrii among the Cossacks and now she asks him for at least a piece of bread.

Andriy's heart skipped a beat at this news. Slowly picking up food in a bag, he followed the Tatar woman to a secret underground passage that led beyond the city walls.

Taras Bulba. Feature film based on the novel by N. V. Gogol, 2009

Gogol "Taras Bulba", chapter 6 - summary

The Tatar accompanied Andrii to the city, to the house of her mistress. The lady, who had become even more beautiful, looked tenderly at her savior. Love clouded the Cossack's mind. He immediately swore to the beautiful Polish woman that he would renounce his homeland, father and Cossacks for her sake.

A Tatar woman who ran in brought news to Andriy and panna: strong Polish reinforcements had entered the city.

Andriy and the Polish beauty. Illustration by S. Ovcharenko to Gogol's story "Taras Bulba"

Gogol "Taras Bulba", chapter 7 - summary

The Poles managed to get into the city, suddenly attacking a drunk Pereyaslavsky hut at one of the gates. Many Cossacks died at the same time. Taras Bulba could not find Andrii and thought that he was also killed. However, an acquaintance of the Jew Yankel said: he saw his son in the city. Fascinated by the beautiful Polish woman, he ordered to tell the Cossacks that they were no longer his brothers.

New bloody battles began to boil under the walls of Dubno. When the ataman of the Uman kuren fell in them, the Cossacks chose Bulba's son, Ostap, in his place.

Gogol "Taras Bulba", chapter 8 - summary

The news came to the Cossacks that the deserted Sich was brutally plundered by the Tatars. The Zaporizhzhya army was divided: one half of it rushed after the Tatars, and the other half remained to besiege Dubno.

Gogol "Taras Bulba", chapter 9 - summary

Taras tried to encourage those who remained under the walls of the city with a proud speech about comradeship. Having learned about the retreat of half of the Cossacks, the gentry came out from behind the walls with strong detachments. In the mortal battle, many glorious warriors fell on both sides. At the decisive moment, Polish reinforcements unexpectedly flew out of the city gates, at the head of which rode, chopping the Cossacks, the son of Bulba, Andriy.

The enraged father caught up with his son near the forest, grabbed his horse by the reins, cursed Andriy for betraying the people and faith, and shot him with a gun. (See Death of Andriy.) Ostap drove up to Bulba. From the forest, a crowd of Poles suddenly rushed at them. Taras saw how Ostap was seized and they began to knit. He rushed to help his son, but lost consciousness from a terrible blow.

Gogol "Taras Bulba", chapter 10 - summary

The old comrade Tovkach carried the wounded Bulba out of the battle and took him on horseback to the Sich. There, Taras's wounds healed, but he knew nothing about the fate of Ostap. The thought of a son did not give Bulba peace.

Taras decided, at least at the cost of his own life, to find out what had happened to Ostap. The Poles valued Bulba's head at two thousand chervonny, but the familiar Jew Yankel, for a generous bribe, secretly drove him through the outposts to Warsaw at the bottom of a wagon covered with bricks on top.

Gogol "Taras Bulba", chapter 11 - summary

In Warsaw, Yankel, with the help of other crafty Jews, learned that Ostap was in the city dungeon. An attempt to get him out of there, or at least to get a meeting with him for money, failed. Bulba soon learned that the next day Ostap and other Cossacks were being executed in the city square in the presence of a huge crowd.

Taras wished to go to the place of execution. Ostap was brought to the executioner first. He endured terrible torments with unshakable courage. "Good, son, good!" - Bulba said to himself with bated breath, looking at this. Just before his death, in terrible suffering, Ostap exclaimed: “Father! Do you hear?

"I hear!" came the answer in the midst of the general silence. The Polish guards rushed to look for Taras, but he had already slipped away. (See Death of Ostap.)

Ostap before execution. Illustration by S. Ovcharenko for Gogol's story "Taras Bulba"

Gogol "Taras Bulba", chapter 12 - summary

Hetman Ostranitsa and his comrade Gunya were raised in Little Russia new Cossack uprising. The regiment fought best of all, led by Taras Bulba, who avenged the murdered Ostap. The Cossacks defeated the most crowned hetman, Mykola Potocki, but then their leaders imprudently made peace with the enemy.

Bulba dissuaded from this world, and when they did not listen to him, he continued to fight with one of his regiments. Five Polish regiments overtook him on the banks of the Dniester. The gentry seized Taras, chained him to a tall tree on a hill, and began to burn him at the stake. But even in the last minutes of his life, Bulba managed to shout to his comrades-in-arms galloping to the river about the place where the boats were hidden. Already engulfed in flames, he loudly prophesied that a great Orthodox kingdom would rise on Russian soil, and there would be no power in the world that would not submit to him. (See Death of Taras Bulba.)