"Taras Bulba": the history of the creation of the story of Gogol

One of the most famous narratives of Nikolai Gogol is "Taras Bulba". The work describes the life of the Cossacks against the backdrop of the beautiful landscapes of Ukraine. Like any other creation of Gogol, the history of the creation of "Taras Bulba" is no less interesting.

He devoted more than nine years of life to the story, returning to it for improvements and improvements. There are several editions of the work, each of which has its own peculiarities. The history of the creation of Taras Bulba by Gogol is no less fascinating than the plot of the story itself.

Gogol's work on the story

His work began with a study of historical sources. With them, he learned the actual details of the historical events of the epoch described. However, in time, which is indicated by the plot, there are certain contradictions. The author himself pointed out that the main character was born in the beginning of the 15th century. At the same time he smoked a pipe, which could appear on Cossack lands not earlier than the 17th century.

The prose "Taras Bulba", whose history of creation is considered, is presented by the author as a fantastic work. The image of his protagonist is collective. However, it has its prototypes.

One of them is Okhrim Makukha, the ataman of the Zaporozhye Army. He was an associate of Bogdan Khmelnytsky and lived in the 17th century. He had three sons. One of them, Nazar, moved from the Cossacks to the side of the Commonwealth, because he was in love with the Polish pannochku. The second son, Khoma, died, wanting to deliver the traitor's brother to his father. The third son, Omelka, was the ancestor of the famous traveler Nikolai Miklukho-Maclay. The descendant Omelka studied with Nikolai Gogol. He gave the writer the tradition of his family. In the sons the images of the traitor Andriy and the faithful Cossack association Ostap are clearly traced.

Another prototype of Taras Bulba is Ivan Gonta. He was mistakenly credited with killing two sons from his Polish wife. But there is no confirmation of such an act.

List of sources used to create the story "Taras Bulba"

The history of the creation of the work of Gogol is impossible without considering the historical sources that Gogol studied:

• "Description of Ukraine" by Guillaume de Boplan;
• "The story of the Cossacks Zaporozhye" Seeds Myshetskogo;
• Works (handwritten) Velichko, Samovidtsa and others.

Great importance for studying the life of the Cossacks had Ukrainian folk songs and dumas, which Gogol also studied for a long time. Some of them took their place in the story. For example, the dramatic story of Mosiah Schiele, who was captured by the Turks and rescued from the enemy bondage of his comrades, was inspired by the people's council about Samily Kishka.

Why there are several versions of the novel

The story of the creation of the story "Taras Bulba" is rather complicated. For the first time the work was published in 1835 in Mirgorod. Seven years later, in 1842, the writer published a story in the second volume of "Works". The second edition was revised and supplemented.

Gogol in writing had one remarkable feature, which was that even a published work he never considered complete. He continued to improve it even after publication. The writer often expressed the idea that the work would be "completely artistically finished" only after the eighth correspondence with his own hand.

The main differences in the editions of 1835 and 1842

It has already been mentioned that the prose "Taras Bulba", whose history of creation is presented, has two main versions. They differ from each other. First of all, they vary in volume. So, for 1835 the story consisted of nine chapters, and for 1842 - from twelve. This allowed the emergence of new characters, descriptions of nature, conflicts, situations.

The second edition significantly enriched the household and historical background of the story, there were details of the form of the Sich, expanded battle scenes, a new scene of the election of the koshevoy. The history of the creation of Taras Bulba by Gogol is not limited to these additions.

The images of the main characters in the last edition are more spelled out. So, Taras Bulba becomes the defender of the oppressed people, although in the "Mirgorod" edition Gogol described him as a big "hunter to raids and riots".

The image of Andria became more complex. Gogol perfected it, making the inner world of the hero more capacious. His love for the Polish girl acquired a brighter emotional coloring in the story.

However, these are not the main differences between the editors. The main advantage of the story of 1842 is a more vivid and full disclosure of the theme of the people's liberation movement against Polish self-will. The story acquired the character of a national heroic epic.

Popular statements of "Taras Bulba"

The popularity of a work is often measured by how deeply it could enter the minds of ordinary people. The story "Taras Bulba", whose history of creation is represented, is known for its expressions that have become winged:

• "Tolerate the Cossack - you will be the ataman."
• "I gave birth to you, I will kill you."
• "There is life in the old dog yet".