Zhilin and Kostylin are two different characters, two different destinies. "Prisoner of the Caucasus"
The story by L.N. Tolstoy was written in 1872 and belongs to the literary movement of realism. The title of the work refers the reader to A. S. Pushkin’s poem “Prisoner of the Caucasus.” However, unlike his predecessor, Tolstoy in his story portrayed not a romantic, idealized character, but an ordinary Russian officer Zhilin - a brave, hardworking and humane hero, capable of always finding a way out of a difficult situation.
Main characters
Zhilin- a gentleman from a poor family, an officer, served in the Caucasus. Heading home, he was captured by the Tatars, from which he escaped only the second time.
Kostylin- the officer with whom Zhilin was captured by the Tatars.
Other characters
Dina- daughter of Abdul-Murat, “thin, skinny, about thirteen years old.” She carried food to Zhilin when he was in captivity and helped him escape.
Abdul-Murat- “owner”, a Tatar who bought Zhilin and Kostylin, Dina’s father.
Chapter 1
Zhilin serves as an officer in the Caucasus. One day he receives a letter from his mother asking him to come home. After thinking, Zhilin “straightened out his vacation,” said goodbye to his friends and got ready to go.
“There was a war in the Caucasus at that time” - the Tatars attacked lonely travelers, so Zilina’s convoy was accompanied by soldiers. Wanting to get there faster, the officer decides to break away from those accompanying him, and Kostylin joins him.
However, on the way they met Tatars. Due to the fault of Kostylin, who got scared and ran away, the unarmed Zhilin was captured and taken to an aul (Tatar village). The prisoner was put in stocks and locked in a barn.
Chapter 2
After some time, Zhilin was informed that the Tatar who captured him also caught Kostylin and sold the captives to Abdul-Murat, who now became their “master”. The Tatar forced the captives to write letters home asking for ransom. Zhilin understood that his mother did not have money, so he wrote a letter with the wrong address so that it would not reach.
Chapter 3
Zhilin and Kostylin lived in the barn for a whole month. The stocks were put on them during the day and removed at night. Zhilin “was a master of all kinds of needlework,” so for the sake of entertainment he began to sculpt dolls from clay for the owner’s daughter Dina. The girl, grateful to the man for the toys, secretly brought him food - milk and cakes.
Chapter 4
Planning his escape, Zhilin began digging a hole in the barn. One night, when the Tatars left the village, the prisoners escaped.
Chapter 5
The officers left the village without hindrance. Soon Kostylin began to complain that he had chafed his feet. They walked through the forest almost all night, Kostylin was far behind, and when his comrade could no longer walk, Zhilin carried him on himself. On the road they were caught by other Tatars and taken to Abdul-Murat.
They wanted to kill the Russians in the village, but Abdul-Murat decided to wait for the ransom. Again the fugitives were put in stocks and this time lowered into a pit five arshins deep.
Chapter 6
“Life has become completely bad for them.” The officers were given raw food, “like dogs,” and the pit itself was wet and stuffy. Kostylin became very ill - “he kept moaning or sleeping,” “and Zhilin became depressed.” One day Dina appeared at the pit - the girl brought them food. Another time she reported that Zilina was going to be killed. The officer asked the girl to bring him a long stick, and at night Dina threw the long pole into the hole.
Zhilin was going to take Kostylin with him, but he was too weak and refused. With Dina's help, the officer got out of the hole. He was very much in the way of the block, but he couldn’t dislodge the lock, so he had to run away like that. Saying goodbye, Dina began to cry and gave the man some flatbread for the journey.
The officer walked through the forest and, coming out to the field, saw Cossacks on the left sitting around the fires. Zhilin hurried to cross the field, fearing to meet Tatars on the way. And so it happened - before he could reach his own people, three Tatars noticed him. Then Zhilin waved his hands and shouted: “Brothers! Help out! Brothers!” . The Cossacks heard him, ran across the Tatars and saved the fugitive.
Recognizing Zhilin, the officers took him to the fortress. Zhilin realized that it was not his destiny to go home and get married, so he remained to serve in the Caucasus. “And Kostylin was bought out only a month later for five thousand. They brought him barely alive."
Conclusion
In the story “Prisoner of the Caucasus,” Tolstoy, using the example of the images of Russian officers Zhilin and Kostylin, reveals important moral issues - loyalty, friendship, comradely duty, responsiveness, kindness, perseverance and courage. Developing a parallel line of friendship between Zhilin and Dina, the author shows that true kindness and tolerance can nullify any evil, even confrontation between peoples and war.
A brief retelling of “Prisoner of the Caucasus” helps to familiarize yourself with the main events and a brief description of the story, but for a better understanding of the story we recommend reading its full version.
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"Prisoner of the Caucasus"
Chapter I
1. Why is the story called “Caucasian”
captive"?
2. Whom
called "Caucasian" in the story
captive"?
3. Name the reason that forced Zhilin
hit the road.
4. What was the danger of the path?
Chapter I
5.
What made Zhilin and Kostylin
break away from the guards and drive forward? "Prisoner of the Caucasus"
Chapter I
6. How the heroes agreed to behave when leaving
from the convoy, and how they behaved when they met
mountaineers? "Prisoner of the Caucasus"
Chapter I
7. Tell us about how you were captured in
captivity of Zhilin and Kostylin. "Prisoner of the Caucasus"
Chapter II
8.
How
decided
the fate of Zilina, and then
and Kostylin in captivity?
9. What makes Zilina
to bargain,
give
wrong address? "Prisoner of the Caucasus"
Chapter III
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How did Zhilin and Kostylin live in captivity? How
their lives were different during the month of captivity
in the camp of the enemy?
With whose help do we get to know life?
mountain village?
How do the Tatars feel in the first days of captivity towards
Zhilin and Kostylin and why?
Are the mountaineers right when they call Zhilin “dzhigit”
And
Kostylina
"meek"?
Explain
the reason for this difference.
Why did locals start coming to Zhilin?
residents from nearby villages?
comparison table
Quality1. Meaning
surnames
2. Appearance
Zhilin
Kostylin
Veins - blood vessels Crutch - stick with
vessels, tendons.
cross member,
laid under
Wiry -
mouse, employee
lean,
support when walking
muscular, with
lame people or
speakers
those who are sick
veins
legs
“At least Zhilin is not “A”
Kostylin
great in stature, but a brave man
heavy,
was".
thick,
all
red and sweaty
it's pouring like that"
comparison table
Quality3rd place
residence
heroes
4. What did you eat?
prisoners?
Zhilin
Kostylin
Mountain Tatar village, barn
Cake
from
millet flour or
raw dough and water;
milk,
cheese
flatbreads,
piece
lamb
Only flatbread from
millet flour or
raw dough and water
10. Comparison table
Quality5. Than
were engaged
officers?
Zhilin
Kostylin
"Wrote
Zhilin
a letter, but not in a letter
I wrote it like that, so as not to
got it. He thinks: “I
I'll leave"
"Kostylin again
wrote home, that's it
I was waiting for the money to arrive
and missed it. By whole
sits in the barn for days and
counts the days when
the letter will come; or
sleeping"
“And he himself looks out for everything,
asking how he
run. Walks around the village
whistles, otherwise he sits,
anything
handicrafts - or from
sculpts clay dolls, or
weaves
braids
from
twigs And Zhilin on
there was all kinds of handicrafts
master"
11. Comparison table
Quality6. Opinion
Tatars o
captives
Zhilin
Kostylin
"Dzhigit"
"Smirny"
12. Comparison table
ZhilinKostylin
We draw a conclusion
We characterize Zhilin and Kostylin
An active person. IN
difficult
situations
Not
loses strength of spirit. All
makes efforts to
to get out of the village,
make an escape. All of him
actions
And
affairs
subordinated to one goal - liberation.
Passive,
lazy,
inactive, bored, waiting,
when will the money be sent? Not
knows how to adapt to
situations.
13.
"Prisoner of the Caucasus"Chapter IV
How did Zhilin live for a month?
What trick did the hero come up with?
to climb a mountain?
What prevented him that evening
escape?
Why did Zhilin offer Kostylin
run with him?
Explain
reason
fluctuations
Kostylin before escaping?
14. “Zhilin is preparing to escape”
Drawing up a story planmaterials of chapters III and IV
1. Getting to know the life of a Tatar village.
2. Work on the tunnel.
3. Finding the road.
4. The escape route is only to the North.
5. Sudden return of the Tatars.
6. Escape.
15. We draw a conclusion
Look,How
bright,
strongly
Maybe
reveal the character of one person and completely
not to reveal the character of another in the same
circumstances.
16. We draw a conclusion
Onehelps patience, endurance,
cunning,
courage,
wish
be
free, belief in one’s rightness; another
does not show any effort or action
so that, at the cost of one’s own efforts,
free himself from captivity, although he too
I want to return to my homeland.
17. Homework
Preparestory according to the plan “Zhilin”
preparing to escape."
Officer Zhilin served in the Caucasus. He received a letter from his mother, and he decided to go home on vacation. But on the way he and another Russian officer Kostylin were captured by the Tatars. This happened due to Kostylin’s fault. He was supposed to cover Zhilin, but he saw the Tatars, got scared and ran away from them. Kostylin turned out to be a traitor. The Tatar who captured the Russian officers sold them to another Tatar. The prisoners were shackled and kept in the same barn.
The Tatars forced the officers to write letters to their relatives demanding a ransom. Kostylin obeyed, and Zhilin specially wrote a different address, because he knew: there was no one to buy him, Zhilin’s old mother lived very poorly. Zhilin and Kostylin sat in the barn for a whole month. The owner's daughter Dina became attached to Zhilin. She secretly brought him cakes and milk, and he made dolls for her. Zhilin began to think about how he and Kostylin could escape from captivity. Soon he began digging in the barn.
One night they ran away. When we entered the forest, Kostylin began to lag behind and whine - his boots had rubbed his feet. Because of Kostylin, they did not go far; they were noticed by a Tatar who was driving through the forest. He told the owners of the hostages, they took the dogs and quickly caught up with the prisoners. The shackles were put on them again and they were not removed even at night. Instead of a barn, the hostages were put in a hole five arshins deep. Zhilin still did not despair. I kept thinking about how he could escape. Dina saved him. At night she brought a long stick, lowered it into the hole, and Zhilin climbed up using it. But Kostylin stayed, didn’t want to run away: he was scared, and he didn’t have the strength.
Zhilin moved away from the village and tried to remove the block, but nothing worked. Dina gave him some flat cakes for the journey and cried, saying goodbye to Zhilin. He was kind to the girl, and she became very attached to him. Zhilin went further and further, even though the block was very much in the way. When his strength ran out, he crawled and crawled to the field, beyond which there were already his own Russians. Zhilin was afraid that the Tatars would notice him when he crossed the field. Just thinking about it, look: to the left, on a hillock, two tithes away from it, three Tatars are standing. They saw Zhilin and rushed to him. And so his heart sank. Zhilin waved his hands and shouted at the top of his voice: “Brothers! Help out! Brothers!” The Cossacks heard Zilina and rushed to intercept the Tatars. The Tatars got scared, and before reaching Zhilin they began to stop. This is how the Cossacks saved Zhilin. Zhilin told them about his adventures, and then said: “So I went home and got married! No, apparently this is not my destiny.” Zhilin remained to serve in the Caucasus. And Kostylin was bought out only a month later for five thousand. They brought him barely alive.
Option 2
After the news came from her mother, a Caucasian officer named Zhilin wanted to visit her, and he went home. However, due to the cowardice of another officer, Kostylin, with whom he set off on this long journey, they were taken prisoner by the Tatars. After that, they were sold to other Tatars, who hid them both in a barn, chained.
In order to receive a ransom, the captives were forced to write letters to their loved ones. Zhilin remembered that his mother was very poor and she definitely wouldn’t have enough to pay for the ransom, so he entered someone else’s address, unlike the obedient Kostylin. A month has already passed since they were in captivity. Dina, the daughter of the Tatar who bought the officers, began to secretly court Zhilin. He reciprocated her feelings. Zhilin began to plot his and Kostylin’s escape.
Having made a tunnel in the barn, they managed to escape from captivity. Kostylin fails again. Before he had gone very far, his legs began to hurt because of his tight shoes, and he began to hesitate; Zhilin had to wait for him. There they were noticed by a Tatar passing nearby, who informed the owners about their disappearance. It was not difficult to catch the fugitives. But Zhilin’s hope for salvation did not fade away, even though they were now thrown into a deep hole. This time, the brave and kind Dina came to the rescue: she found a stick of sufficient size and brought it to them. Kostylin did not want to get out, because he was very exhausted, although to a greater extent, he was simply chickened out.
Dina had to say goodbye to Zhilin and, sobbing, she handed him several flat cakes for the journey. And the officer left. It was completely inconvenient to walk, since it was not possible to get rid of the shackles. The fugitive could no longer walk, he was terribly tired, but he did not give up and began to crawl. As he crawled across the field, three Tatars standing on a hill noticed him and ran after him. Zhilin, who knew that the Cossacks were already behind the field, stood up with the last of his strength, began waving his arms and shouting. And then our people appeared and ran towards the Tatars, who rushed back out of fear, leaving the former captive alone. He later told his rescuers about his story.
Officer Zhilin continued his service in the Caucasus. Kostylin remained in prison for another month, and then he was ransomed for five thousand.
Essay on literature on the topic: Brief summary of the Caucasian prisoner Tolstoy L. N.
Other writings:
- Zhilin and Kostylin are the heroes of the story “Prisoner of the Caucasus” by L. N. Tolstoy. They are both Russian officers. They are participating in the war for the annexation of the Caucasus to Russia. Zhilin received a letter from his mother, who asks him to come to her before her death and say goodbye. A loving son with almost no Read More......
- L.N. Tolstoy served in the Caucasus for a long time in his youth. The impressions from this service were reflected in some of his stories. Including in the story “Prisoner of the Caucasus”. The main character of this work is officer Zhilin. He served in the Caucasus and decided to Read More......
- The events of this story by L.N. Tolstoy take place in the Caucasus during the bloody war of conquest under Nicholas I, who sent Russian troops to conquer the Caucasian lands. The plot is simple. Officer Zhilin went on vacation to see his mother and at the same time get married at home, Read More ......
- Caucasian prisoner In the village, where Circassians sit on the thresholds in the evening and talk about their battles, a horseman appears dragging a Russian prisoner on a lasso, who seems to have died from his wounds. But at noon the prisoner comes to his senses, remembers what happened to him, where he is, Read More......
- Captive Characteristics of a literary hero Captive is a traveler, a Russian European disappointed with life, who went from West to East, from “civilized space” - to the area of savage natural morals, following “the cheerful ghost of freedom.” But this is where he falls into captivity. As expected Read More......
- ...Life became completely bad for them. The pads were not removed or exposed to the white light. L. Tolstoy L. N. Tolstoy served in the Caucasus in almost the same places as M. Yu. Lermontov. But they saw the warlike highlanders differently. Or rather, we saw Read More......
- Pushkin “almost immediately feels the need to go beyond narrowly personal limits, to see and show in the personal what is common, inherent not to him alone, but to an entire generation, wants to present to his readers, instead of his lyrical “I,” an artistic image of a hero in which this personal-common has found Read More......
- Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin is a brilliant poet who created a number of wonderful poetic works. In his youth, the poet paid tribute to romanticism. Thanks to this, we can now enjoy his romantic lyrics and poems: “Caucasian Prisoner”, “Robber Brothers”, “Bakhchisarai Fountain” and “Gypsies”. Bright, unbridled, sometimes cruel Read More ......
Russian officer Zhilin decides to go home to visit his old mother. During the war, you can only travel from one Russian fortress to another in columns guarded by soldiers. But they come with large convoys, very slowly. Another officer, Kostylin, after half the journey, suggests that Zhilin leave the convoy and ride further together on horseback in the hope that he will be able to reach the fortress without meeting hostile mountaineers. Zhilin agrees.
But on the way they meet a crowd of armed Caucasians. Kostylin runs away on his horse alone, abandoning Zhilin. The mountaineers overtake Zhilin, take him prisoner, take him to their village, put stocks on his feet and lock him in a barn.
Tolstoy. Prisoner of the Caucasus. Audiobook
Chapter 2 – summary
The next morning two highlanders enter the barn. Zhilin asks for a drink. One of those who entered calls his daughter, Dina, a beautiful girl of about 13 years old. She brings Zhilin a jug of water and some flatbread.
They explain to him: “Kazi-Mugamed, who took you prisoner, sold you for 200 rubles to Abdul-Murat. He can let you go for a ransom of three thousand.”
Zhilin is not rich. The only relative he has is his mother, but she has nowhere to get three thousand. “I can give no more than 500 rubles,” he says. - It’s not enough for you - kill. But then you won’t take anything at all.”
Here Kostylin is brought in - it turns out that he was also captured. They say: he wrote home asking for 5 thousand to be sent for him. “Well, my friend is probably not poor, but I don’t have money,” Zhilin says again. “500 is not enough for you - kill.” The mountaineers agree to 500 rubles. But Zhilin also writes a letter about them in such a way that it cannot reach his old and poor mother. He hopes he will escape.
They take him and Kostylin to the barn, give them tattered clothes and some food.
Chapter 3 – summary
They live like this for a month. They are fed poorly, but are allowed to walk around the village a little during the day. Zhilin, a great needleworker, begins making children's dolls from clay. He gives several dolls to Dina. She plays with them and, in gratitude, sometimes begins to secretly bring Zhilin milk instead of water, good cheese cakes, and once even a piece of lamb.
Not all residents of the village treat Russian captives tolerably. Many people look at them evilly and scold them. One old man was especially hostile, a zealous Muslim who went on Hajj to Mecca and killed one of his own sons for going over to the Russians.
Tolstoy. Prisoner of the Caucasus. Feature film, 1975
Chapter 4 – summary
Zhilin begins to dig under the wall of his barn. During one day's walk, he climbs a nearby mountain, examines the surroundings from it and guesses which road leads to the Russian fortress.
One evening, the body of brother Kazi-Mugamed, killed in a skirmish with the Russians, is brought to the village. Zhilin observes the ritual of a Muslim funeral: he sees how the deceased is not laid, but placed in a hole that is dug underground in the manner of a basement.
On the fourth day, most of the men leave the village. Zhilin invites Kostylin to escape together that same night. He initially refuses, but then agrees.
Chapter 5 – summary
When it gets dark, they get out of the barn through a tunnel made by Zhilin and walk along the road between the mountains. Zhilin walks briskly, but fat Kostylin soon bleeds his legs and barely drags along. As luck would have it, they lose their way in the dark and wander for some time.
It hurts for Kostylin to walk. Zhilin puts him on his back and tries to carry him, but soon the Caucasians overtake them, grab him, tie him up and take him back to the village. The old haji advises to immediately kill the fugitives, but the owner decides to wait another two weeks for the ransom to be sent - “and then I will screw you.”
Chapter 6 – summary
Now they are kept not in a barn, but in a pit, and are fed very poorly, like dogs. Zilina goes to visit Dean, and he makes her new dolls from the clay he digs in the hole. The weak Kostylin falls ill and loses his last strength.
A few days later, Zhilin hears that the mountaineers have gathered around the mosque and are saying something about the Russians. Soon Dina arrives and tells Zhilin that they want to kill him.
He asks the girl to bring a pole with which he can get out of the hole. At first, Dina refuses in fear, but when the darkness of the night falls, she drags a long stick and helps Zhilin get out. Exhausted, Kostylin does not want to go anywhere, and Zhilin has to leave him in the hole.
Dina, saying goodbye to Zhilin, cries and shoves flat cakes into his bosom. She tries to help him knock down the block with a stone, but neither he nor she succeeds. This time Zhilin has to walk with blocks on his feet.
Overcoming the pain, he walks all night. Coming out of the forest at dawn, he sees Russian Cossacks not far away. Zhilin rushes towards them, but on the other side, three mountaineers standing right there on the hill are jumping after him. Zhilin no longer wants to save his life, but at the last moment the mountaineers, afraid of the Cossacks traveling towards them, turn back.
The exhausted Zhilin is brought to the Russian fortress. He remains to serve in the Caucasus. The barely alive Kostylin’s relatives buy him back a month later for five thousand rubles.
Tolstoy's stories are no less rich in content than his novels, so it is also important to take notes correctly so as not to miss a single important detail from the plot and remember all the main events. So a brief retelling of “Prisoner of the Caucasus” from “Literaguru” is an indispensable aid in learning, as well as.
There was a gentleman named Zhilin who served in the Caucasus. One day he receives a letter from his mother, in which she asks her son to return home for a while, she feels bad and wants to see her son one last time. She also reports that she has found a bride for him.
There was a war going on in the Caucasus at that time, and the roads were unsafe. Zhilin, accompanied by soldiers, sets off on the road. There were often breakdowns on the road, and Zhilin decided to travel further alone, relying on his faithful horse. Another officer, Kostylin, went with him.
As soon as the two drove away from the escort, they were immediately overtaken by the Tatars. Kostylin ran away in fear; Zhilin did not want to be killed alive, because he knew how the Tatars treated Russian prisoners. His horse was shot, the man himself was brought to the village, put in stocks and thrown into a barn.
Chapter II
Zhilin did not sleep all night, the Tatars came in the morning, they did not understand Russian, and the man asked with gestures to bring water. A small thin girl came in with a jug, she looked at the prisoner in fear while he drank.
Zhilin was brought to the house, where the translator explained to the officer that he would not be released until a ransom was paid for him. The Tatars demanded three thousand, but the hero, remembering his poor mother, said that he was ready to give only five hundred.
A second prisoner was brought into the house, it turned out to be Kostylin, he could not hide from the Tatars. Zhilin was told that he had already sent a letter asking for ransom. Zhilin wrote a note, but in such a way that it would not reach the recipient. He was determined to escape.
Chapter III
Kostylin was waiting for a ransom to be sent for him. Zhilin did not waste time: during the day he explored the surroundings of the village, in the evenings he did needlework.
Many Tatars spoke well of the captured Russian: Zhilin repaired a watch for one of the villagers, cured a sick person, and made beautiful dolls for the girls. The thin girl who brought a jug of water on the first day began to bring him milk. Her name was Dina.
Chapter IV
Zhilin lived like this for a whole month. Dina brought him cakes and milk, some of the Tatars began to look warily at the prisoner, rumors arose that they wanted to kill the soldiers without waiting for a ransom.
Zhilin made a small dig in the barn; during the day he persuaded the boy, who was supposed to look after him, to climb the mountain. He examined the surroundings of the village and roughly imagined which direction to move.
Chapter V
Kostylin was afraid of escaping, but still agreed. The yard dog barked when the prisoners crawled out from under the barn, but Zhilin had been feeding the dog for a long time, and he quickly fell silent.
The prisoners wandered through the night forest for a long time, Kostylin became completely exhausted, his legs were raw and bleeding and he could no longer move. Zhilin was not ready to leave his comrade and carried him on his back.
The soldiers heard the clatter of hooves, and in an instant the Tatars overtook them, tied them up and took them back to the village. There the prisoners were beaten with whips; one of the Tatars told Zhilin that if the ransom did not come in a week, he and his comrade would be killed. The prisoners were put in a deep hole and fed like dogs.
Chapter VI
Zhilin's last hope was the kind girl Dina. He made her new beautiful dolls, but the girl was afraid to take them; she showed the man with gestures that they wanted to kill him. Then he asked to bring him a long stick, the heroine shook her head and ran away.
Zhilin thought that the girl was chickening out, but one night a long pole descended into the pit. Kostylin ordered Zilina to get out alone; he couldn’t cope. The officer with difficulty, with a heavy block on his foot, climbed up the pole. Dina gave Zhilin food and cried for a long time. “Who will make dolls for you without me?” - the prisoner told her, stroked the girl’s head and disappeared into the forest.
Zhilin got out of the forest and saw Cossacks and Russian soldiers in the distance. The hero turned around, and the Tatars were already rushing after him at full speed. With the last of his strength, the man rushed to his men shouting: “Brothers! Brothers! The Tatars were afraid to run into the Russian cordon and stopped. The Cossacks immediately took Zhilin off the block, fed him and gave him something to drink. After that, he decided to stay in the Caucasus: “So I went home and got married! No, apparently it’s not my destiny.” A month later, Kostylin returned, barely alive, but they still sent a ransom for him.
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