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Satirical devices in tales of Saltykov-Shchedrin

Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin - the creator of a special literary genre - a satirical tale. In small stories, the Russian writer denounced bureaucracy, autocracy, and liberalism. In this article such works of Saltykov-Shchedrin as "Wild landowner", "Eagle-philanthropist", "Wise minnow", "Carp-idealist" are considered.

Features of tales Saltykov-Shchedrin

In the tales of this writer you can meet and allegory, and grotesque, and hyperbole. There are features characteristic of the Aesopian narrative. In the dialogue between the characters, the relations that prevailed in the society of the XIX century are reflected. What satirical techniques did the writer use? In order to answer this question, we should briefly talk about the life of the author, who ruthlessly exposed the inert world of the landlords.

about the author

Saltykov-Shchedrin combined literary activity with the state service. The future writer was born in the Tver province, but after graduating from the Lyceum he left for St. Petersburg, where he received a post in the Military Ministry. Already in the first years of work in the capital, a young official began to languish with bureaucracy, lies, boredom, reigned in institutions. With great pleasure Saltykov-Shchedrin attended various literary evenings, at which anti-serfdom prevailed. About his views, he notified St. Petersburg in the stories "Confused business", "Contradiction." For which he was exiled to Vyatka.

Life in the province enabled the writer to observe in every detail the official world, the life of the landlords and the peasants oppressed by them. This experience became a material for later written works, as well as the formation of special satirical techniques. One of Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin's contemporaries once said about him: "He knows Russia like no other."

The satirical techniques of Saltykov-Shchedrin

His work is rather diverse. But perhaps the greatest popularity among the works of Saltykov-Shchedrin are fairy tales. One can single out a few special satirical devices, with the help of which the writer tried to convey to readers the stagnation and falsehood of the landlord world. And above all this is an allegory. In veiled form, the author reveals profound political and social problems, expresses his own point of view.

Another technique is using fantastic motives. For example, in the "Tale of how one man fed the two generals," they serve as a means of expressing discontent towards the landlords. Finally, when calling Shchedrin's satirical devices, one can not help but mention symbolism. After all, the heroes of fairy tales often point to one of the social phenomena of the XIX century. Thus, the main character of the work "Konyaga" reflects all the pain of the Russian people, oppressed for centuries. Below is an analysis of some of Saltykov-Shchedrin's works. What satirical techniques are used in them?

"Carp-idealist"

In this fairy tale, the views of the intelligentsia are expressed by Saltykov-Shchedrin. Satirical techniques that can be found in the work "The idealist carp" - is symbolism, the use of popular sayings and proverbs. Each of the heroes - a collective image of representatives of a particular social class.

In the center of the plot of the fairy tale is the discussion of Carp and Ruff. The first, which is already understood from the title of the work, gravitates toward an idealistic worldview, a belief in the best. Rush is, on the contrary, a skeptic who is ironic about the theories of his opponent. There is also a third character in the tale - Pike. This insecure fish symbolizes in the work of Saltykov-Shchedrin the powerful of this world. Pike, as you know, eat carp. The latter, driven by better feelings, goes to the predator. Karas does not believe in the cruel law of nature (or the centuries-old hierarchy in society). He hopes to discourage Pike with stories about possible equality, universal happiness, virtues. And therefore he perishes. Pike, as the author notes, the word "virtue" is not familiar.

The satirical techniques here are used not only to expose the rigidity of representatives of certain sections of society. With the help of them, the author tries to convey the futility of moral disputes, which were common among the intelligentsia of the XIX century.

"Wild landowner"

The subject of serfdom is given a lot of place in the work of Saltykov-Shchedrin. He had something to tell the readers about this. However, writing a journalistic article on the relationship of landlords to peasants or publishing a work of art in the genre of realism on this topic was fraught with unpleasant consequences for the writer. And so we had to resort to allegories, easy humorous stories. In "The Wild Landlord" we are talking about a typical Russian usurper, not differing in education and worldly wisdom.

He hates "muzhiks" and dreams of their lime. But the stupid landowner does not understand that without the peasants he will perish. After all, he does not want to do anything, and he does not know how. One might think that the prototype of the hero of the tale is a landowner, whom, perhaps, the writer met in real life. But no. This is not about a certain master. And about the social layer as a whole.

In full, without parables, this theme Saltykov-Shchedrin revealed in the "Lords of the Golovlyovs." The heroes of the novel - representatives of the provincial landlord family - perish one after another. The reason for their death is stupidity, ignorance, laziness. The character of the fairy tale "Wild landlord" expects the same fate. After all, he got rid of the peasants, which at first was happy, but now he was not ready for a life without them.

"Eagle-Maecenas"

The heroes of this tale are eagles and crows. The first symbolize the landlords. The second - the peasants. The writer again resorts to the reception of allegory, with the help of which he ridicules the vices of the powerful of this world. In the tale there is also Nightingale, Soroka, Owl and Woodpecker. Each of the birds is an allegory to the type of people or social class. Characters in the "Eagle-Maecenas" are more humanized than, for example, the heroes of the fairy tale "Karas-idealist". So, the Woodpecker, in the habit of reasoning, at the close of bird history does not become a victim of a predator, but gets in jail.

"Wise minnow"

As in the works described above, in this tale the author raises questions that are relevant for that time. And here it becomes clear already from the first lines. But the satirical techniques of Saltykov-Shchedrin are the use of artistic means for the critical depiction of the vices not only of the public, but also of the universal. The narrative in "The Wise Pescara" author leads in a typical fairy-tale style: "Once upon a time ...". The author characterizes his hero in this way: "enlightened, moderately liberal."

Cowardice and passivity ridicule in this tale the great master of satire. After all, it was these defects that were typical of the majority of intellectuals in the eighties of the XIX century. The minnow never leaves his refuge. He lives a long life, avoiding meetings with dangerous inhabitants of the water world. But only before he dies understands how much he has missed in his long and worthless life.

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