Tvardovsky's poem "Vasily Terkin", which also has another name - "The Book of a Fighter", is considered one of the most important and famous works written by the poet during his creative activity.
Being the pinnacle of epic Russian poetry, she received national recognition. Many lines of Tvardovsky's work "Vasily Terkin" have become an integral part of oral speech or popular aphorisms pronounced in poetic form. Moreover, the “Book about a fighter” received not only nationwide, but also nationwide recognition.
History of Creation
Work on the poem "Vasily Terkin" Tvardovsky began in 1939-1940. At that time, he was a war correspondent, publishing his material in the newspaper "On Guard of the Motherland" of the Leningrad Military District. This was the period of the Finnish campaign. The image and name of the main character Tvardovsky - Vasily Terkin - became the fruit of the joint work of many members of the editorial board. Among them: S. Marshak, N. Shcherbakov, N. Tikhonov. The result was a very successful image of a good-natured, strong and at the same time simple Russian guy.
Initially, Terkin was a satirical hero of feuilletons and poems written for the newspaper. And from that time on, the readers of the district newspaper fell in love with the Russian soldier. This led Tvardovsky to the idea of the prospects of this topic and the need for its development within the framework of a major work.
In 1940, the author created draft versions of some chapters, and one of them - "Accordion" - was printed on the pages of the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper as a separate poem.
The beginning of the war with Nazi Germany for some time not only interrupted work on the poem. It was the reason for the revision of the plan. As a result, the feuilleton Vasya Terkin turned into a Soviet fighter, in whose image the best moral aspects of the entire pre-war generation are embodied. Tvardovsky gave his hero the features of the broadest generalization, while maintaining his recognizability and concreteness.
Tvardovsky's work "Vasily Terkin" was loved by the soldiers who fought on the battlefields. It was the feeling of the necessity of the book that made the author continue to work on it.
Already at the end of 1942, readers could get acquainted with the new chapter of the work "Who shot?", which was included in the second part of the poem. After that, Tvardovsky continued his work and completely completed work on the book in March 1945. Let's get acquainted with the summary of "Vasily Terkin" by Tvardovsky.
From the author
BIn the first chapter of the work, the reader gets acquainted with the hero of the poem "Vasily Terkin". Tvardovsky, starting his story, claims that the most important thing in the war is not food at all, but a good saying and saying, as well as a joke. No less important at this time is the real truth. And even if it is bitter.
The hero of Tvardovsky, Vasily Terkin, with whom the author introduces us, plays an important role in the war. Indeed, in this difficult time, there must be a place for fun and jokes. In the first chapter of the work, the author also decided on the form of his narrative. He pointed out to the reader that the book he picked up had neither beginning nor end. The first chapter is only the middle of the story.
On a h alt
Getting acquainted with the content of "Vasily Terkin" by Tvardovsky, the reader learns that the protagonist of the work was in the first infantry platoon, where he immediately became his own. All the first night after his appearance, the soldiers could not fall asleep, listening to the stories of an experienced soldier. Vasily Terkin's jokes help to survive the hardships of an unsettled military life, cold, hunger, dirt and sleep on bare roots and in wet overcoats.
Based on Tvardovsky's reasoning, Vasily Terkin is a person who can be found in every company. And let this fighter of medium height, unsightly appearance, not very handsome and has no awards. But still he fought and was able to survive in any position and under any fire.
Before the fight
Let's move on to the next chapter of "Vasily Terkin" by Tvardovsky. In it, the hero of the poem talks about how he got outfrom the environment and was a political instructor, conducting a conversation with the fighters with only the words “do not be discouraged.”
From this chapter of "Vasily Terkin" by Tvardovsky, we understand that the Soviet army is retreating. She leaves her native lands, which will soon be occupied. The soldiers feel guilty before the civilian population. On their way, the native village of the commander. The platoon goes there. The commander's wife invites the fighters to the hut and treats them. The children are happy with their father, who, as it seems to them at first, came in the evening after working in the field. However, they understand that tomorrow he will leave, and the Germans will most likely enter their house. All night the commander does not sleep and chop wood. He is trying to somehow help his wife.
For a long time in Terkin's head sounds the cry of the children who woke up at dawn and saw their father leaving the house with the soldiers. Vasily dreams of how, after the liberation of his native land, he will come to the hospitable hostess and bow to her for waiting.
Crossing
We continue our acquaintance with the summary of the chapters of Tvardovsky's poem "Vasily Terkin". In the next of them, the reader will learn about how the soldiers of three platoons tried to cross the river in the winter. Only the soldiers of the unit where Terkin served managed to swim to the other side. After that, the Germans began shelling. By night, the one who remained alive no longer hoped to see his comrades, believing that they were all dead.
What further does the chapter "Crossing" in "Vasily Terkin" by Tvardovsky tell the reader about? At dawn, the lookouts reported that they saw a small black dot on the river. At first, they decided that this was the body of a soldier killed during the shelling. However, the sergeant took the binoculars and saw the floating man. Someone joked that only Terkin could swim across the river in icy water. And indeed, it was him. Vasily reported to the colonel that the first platoon was intact, waiting for further instructions and asking for support with artillery fire. Terkin is dressed in dry clothes, forced to run, rubbed with alcohol and given inside to warm him up. At night, the fighters resumed the crossing to fight for the sake of life on earth, and not at all for the sake of glory.
About war
The next chapter of Tvardovsky's poem "Vasily Terkin" contains the reasoning of the protagonist. He believes that with the advent of war, you need to forget about everything and be only responsible for the Motherland and for your people. At this time, it is necessary to be one with all people. About yourself, says Terkin, you must also forget. Each fighter must beat the German, fight selflessly and be fully prepared to fulfill the order of the command at any cost. Even if you have to give your life for it. At the same time, soldiers must believe that their descendants will be grateful to them.
Terkin injured
Continuing our acquaintance with the chapters of A. T. Tvardovsky's poem "Vasily Terkin", we learn that its main character had to establish contact on one of the winter days. At this time, Vasily moved after the rifle company. Suddenly, a projectile hissed near him. Everyone got scared and fell to the ground. The first of all the fighters to rise was Terkin. He handed the spool to the soldiers and decided to see if the enemy was firing from a nearby cellar. But there's no one thereIt was. He himself set up an ambush in this dugout, deciding to hold the line using two grenades.
The Nazis were approaching. Two steps away, Terkin noticed a German soldier. The enemy rushed at Vasily and wounded him in the shoulder. Terkin hit the German with a bayonet. At this time, the shelling of heavy artillery began.
At the end of this chapter of Tvardovsky's poem "Vasily Terkin" the reader learns that the wounded soldier was found by Soviet tankmen. He was already bleeding and losing consciousness. Tankers saved his life.
About the award
In the next chapter of A. T. Tvardovsky's poem "Vasily Terkin" the reader gets acquainted with the reasoning of the protagonist that he does not need an order at all. The fighter agrees to a medal. He will need this award after the war, when, returning to his homeland, he will tell the girls about how he once went on the attack. The author regrets that now Vasily cannot get to his native land. After all, he takes part in a terrible, mortal, bloody battle for life on earth, and not for glory.
Accordion
What is the next chapter of A. T. Tvardovsky's poem "Vasily Terkin" about? The reader will learn that after being wounded and staying in the hospital, the fighter returns to the rifle regiment to the soldiers of his first company. On the way, he was picked up by a truck heading to the front. The marching column had to stop because of a snow jam. In the forced moments of rest, two tankers gave Terkin an accordion, which was left from the commander, who had recently died in battle.
From the sounds of a musical instrument to all fightersit becomes warmer in the soul, and some of them start dancing. It even begins to seem to the tankers that they are already familiar with Terkin. Looking closer at him, they recognized in Vasily that wounded soldier who had been saved from death. The tankers gave Terkin the accordion of their commander. They understand that war is not the time to mourn the dead and wonder who can survive and return home.
Two soldiers
What becomes known to the reader from the next chapter of A. T. Tvardovsky's poem "Vasily Terkin"? Just three miles from the front line, the protagonist of the work entered the house where two old people live. My grandfather used to be a soldier himself. Terkin helped the old man fix his watch and saw. With jokes, Vasily lured food from the old woman. Reluctantly, she took out bacon from her bins and fried the men scrambled eggs from two eggs. After having lunch and drinking alcohol from a flask, the two soldiers started talking about the everyday difficulties of the war. At the end, Vasily bowed to the hosts and promised that the German would definitely be defeated.
About loss
What will the reader learn from the next chapter of Alexander Tvardovsky's poem "Vasily Terkin"? This story says that our hero's comrade lost his pouch. This made him very sad. But Vasily calms the fighter, saying that he has already lost his native land and family. This is the main disappointment. Everything else is not to be regretted. Terkin gives his comrade his pouch, noting at the same time that they should never lose Russia, for which they are responsible.
Duel
From the plot of "Vasily Terkin" by Tvardovsky, the reader learns thatthat the protagonist of the work entered into hand-to-hand combat with a fascist. The German is a strong and agile man, large and well-fed. However, our soldier does not give up and does not lose heart. The German knocked out Terkin's teeth, and Vasily knocked out his enemy's eye. Our soldier is very hard. He already barely manages his wounded right hand and is exhausted, but he does not give up. The Nazi removed his helmet from his head and began to fight with it. Terkin, on the other hand, struck down his enemy with an unloaded grenade, stunned him and tied him up.
Vasily is pleased with himself. He enjoys military success and is proud that he is walking on Soviet soil and pushing him to the headquarters of the "language", realizing that everyone who comes across him is glad that Terkin returned from intelligence alive.
Message from the author
The next chapter is a kind of respite in the "tale of war" created by the author. After all, listening to it is good for someone who has already been able to defeat the enemy and returned home. Tvardovsky says that a soldier in the war would like to read a peaceful fairy tale. However, as long as the native land continues to remain in captivity, the author will talk about the war.
Who shot?
In this chapter, the author tells the story of how, after yesterday's battle, the soldiers are in the trenches not far from the enemy's positions. A summer evening descends to the ground, reminding the fighters of peacetime and peasant labor. Suddenly, the sound of an approaching enemy aircraft is heard. The Nazi is circling over the positions of Soviet soldiers. Death is very near. However, no one wants to die. And here the author of the work began to talk about what time of the year is best to die in the war. Eventuallyhe comes to the conclusion that no time is good for this.
But here Terkin came to the aid of his comrades. He got up, fired at the plane with his rifle and knocked it out. Vasily became a hero. For this he was awarded an order.
About the hero
In the next chapter of the poem, its main character tells how he met, while in the hospital, a young soldier-order-bearer from near Tambov. He hinted to him that such daredevils as he, in the Smolensk region - the homeland of Terkin, simply cannot be. Now Vasily is glad that he received the order. He does not boast of his small homeland, but at the same time he is proud of the land where he was born and raised, and also cherishes it.
General
This chapter is about the second year of the war. There are battles on the Volga. Terkin is on the defensive and sleeping in a trench on the river bank. Half asleep, he hears a song that speaks of a rivulet that can crawl under barbed wire and reach his native village, conveying greetings and words of love to the soldier's mother. And here he was called to the general to present the order. Terkin refuses his leave, and decides to go home at the time when the army moves on to the liberation of Smolensk. The general agrees with his words, firmly shakes Vasily's hand, hugs and looks the soldier in the eye. He behaves with him as he would behave with his son. The General warmly bids farewell to Terkin.
About me
In this chapter, the author tells the reader how he saved his father's house in his soul, although he left it in his youth. The poet recalls the forest, not yet wounded by the war, and summer days, his native courtyard and the stitch leading to the well. He identifies himself with those Soviet people who left their families and everything that they have dear behind the front lines. Now the land of the author and Terkin, his countryman, is suffering in captivity. And for this they both must answer.
Fight in the swamp
Terkin's platoon is fighting for the settlement of Borki. For the third day they have been fighting in a swamp, which seems to them pointless. Around is hungry and damp. Soldiers can’t even smoke, because all the tobacco has gone sour. And at this time, Terkin manages to cheer up his comrades. He tells the fighters that they are among their own and in their native territory. In addition, the soldiers are protected by Soviet artillery. According to Vasily, everything is not so bad. And this swamp can be compared to a resort. The words spoken by Terkin amused the fighters, after which they occupied the village without much difficulty.
About love
In the next chapter of the poem, the author argues that every soldier was certainly escorted to war by a woman. Her love always encourages, glorifies, warns, and condemns. Soldiers' wives never complain in their letters about how hard it is for them to live. And these news from home do real miracles with the fighters. The author argues that love is much stronger than war, and encourages women to write to their husbands to the front more often. The poet also asks the girls to take a closer look at the hero of the poem and fall in love with him.
Terkin's rest
From the next chapter, the reader will learn that a soldier's paradise is the place where he can sleep off. The hero of Tvardovsky got into such a peaceful house. There's a warm stove and a bedroom with a bedlined with clean linen. In this "paradise" you do not need to sit in your clothes, cut bread with a bayonet and put a rifle at your feet, as well as remove a spoon from your bootleg. In such purity, Vasily becomes uncomfortable. Sometimes it even begins to seem to him that he again found himself in the hospital. The fighter keeps thinking about those who are at war, and because of this he cannot sleep. However, the Soviet army has not yet come to victory. That is why Terkin is again sent to the forefront. Until the end of the war, he will have to rest only on the way and where the case takes him.
On the offensive
The next chapter tells that the fighters are already very used to being in the harrow. However, an order came, according to which the army was required to go on the offensive. Young soldiers try to look up to Terkin. And this, despite the fact that he is also scared, lying on the ground, waiting for the next break. The lieutenant running in front of the attack was seriously wounded, and he died right on the battlefield. And then Terkin led the soldiers forward. But he was also badly injured.
Death and warrior
In this chapter, the author tells the reader how death came to the bleeding Terkin. She called him with her, frightened him with injury and said that the war would go on for a very long time, so there was no point in life. However, Vasily did not give up. He still wanted to see victory and, returning home, walk with living people.
The funeral team found a fighter. They put him on a stretcher and took him to the medical battalion. All this time, death was near. But when she saw that the living take good care of each other, she left.
Terkinwrites
This chapter talks about the time when Vasily is in the hospital.
He writes to his fellow soldiers that he survived and that his leg is already healing. After the hospital, Terkin dreams of returning to his native part, which has become a home and family for the soldier. Vasily wants to walk with his comrades to the very border, and if this does not work out, then meet his death among fellow soldiers.
Terkin-Terkin
After recovery, Vasily was back in his regiment. However, now he feels like a complete stranger. And then someone asked: “Where is Terkin?” The first to answer the question was an unfamiliar red-haired fighter. Terkin the old had a grudge in his soul. He decided to find out to the end which of them is real. It turned out that the new soldier's name was Ivan Terkin. He has been awarded two orders. And due to the fact that Ivan knocked out one enemy car more, he is sure that the book about the fighter was written about him. The author came up with another name only for rhyme. How did the heroes of "Vasily Terkin" by A. T. Tvardovsky resolve their dispute? The foreman settled the conflict. He announced that each company will now have its own Terkin.
From the author
In this chapter, the poet refutes rumors about the death of the beloved hero. He says that Terkin is alive, and not heard about him only because he is fighting in the West.
Grandfather and grandmother
The heroes whom the reader met in the chapter of Tvardovsky's poem "Vasily Terkin" - "Two Soldiers" met again during the offensive of the Soviet troops. Grandfather and grandmother were sitting in the cellar,hiding from the shots when they heard the voices of scouts, among whom was our fighter. The old people accepted Vasily as their own son, feeding him with lard. Terkin assured them that the Soviet army would not back down again. He promised to bring back from Berlin the watches that the Germans had taken from the old people.
On the Dnieper
Creating a collective image of Vasily Terkin, Tvardovsky argued that throughout the war his hero never ceased to feel his own guilt in front of his native land under occupation. He was ashamed that he was not among those who liberated his native village. The front continued to advance towards the Dnieper, where at dawn, at the very end of the Indian summer, a battle took place. Our troops successfully crossed the river. At the same time, they captured the Germans, who practically did not resist this.
The image of Vasily Terkin in Tvardovsky's poem for this chapter has already undergone significant changes. In this fighter, we see a completely different person - calm, experienced, who has already managed to lose many, many things.
About an orphan soldier
The Soviet army continues its offensive. The fighters who are liberating city after city are already dreaming of taking Berlin as something real. After analyzing "Vasily Terkin" by Tvardovsky, it becomes clear that the popularity of the protagonist of the poem began to decline. He was held in high esteem in those days when the army was retreating. At that time, Vasily cheered up the fighters. Now this role is assigned to the generals.
It becomes clear that the war in Tvardovsky's "Vasily Terkin" is nearing its end. Residents of Europeancapitals gladly welcome the liberators. However, a simple soldier does not stop thinking about his native village.
One of the author's countrymen was orphaned. His house was burned down and his family was killed. He learned about this during the offensive near Smolensk, when he asked for leave to visit his native village of Krasny Most. The soldier silently returned to the unit and, holding a plate of cold soup in his hands, wept. The author urges the reader not to forgive the Nazis for these tears, to reach victory and avenge the grief brought by the Germans.
On the way to Berlin
The war in Tvardovsky's poem "Vasily Terkin" is getting closer and closer to the end. The Soviet army is in a foreign land, where the soldiers are unaccustomed to red tiles and foreign speech.
People are walking towards the east. These are the British, the French and the Poles, who look kindly at the Russian soldiers-liberators. Here the fighters meet a Russian woman who returns across the Dnieper to her ruined yard. Terkin gives her a horse with harness, a sheep, a cow, and various household items.
In the bath
The Russian bathhouse becomes a real stepfather's home in a foreign land for soldiers. She gives them a lot of pleasure. The fighters regret only that they have to take water from other people's rivers. However, the author notes that it will be worse in a war if soldiers start washing, for example, near Moscow.
In the bath, everyone undresses, and all the wounds on the body immediately become visible. They are marks of war. On the tunics, which the fighters put on after the bath, a large number of medals stand out. The soldiers joke that that's not all. After all, the last frontier awaits them ahead.
From the author
In this chapter, the author says goodbye to Terkin. After the war, he was no longer needed, as it was time for a different song. But the "Book about a fighter" created by Tvardovsky is dear to him. After all, Terkin is the pain of the poet, his joy, rest and feat. Everything written by the author was supposed to please the reader.
Analysis of the poem
Tvardovsky's "Vasily Terkin" is rightfully on the list of the most significant works of Russian literature written in the second half of the 20th century.
The poem includes 29 chapters. Each of them can be considered as an independent work. The book contains many lyrical digressions. At the same time, its form and content are close to folk tales.
In the poem you can find a whole fusion of genres, epic and lyrics. The poetic form of the work is rich in humor and pathos, sketches of front-line life and heroic battles, casual jokes and tragedy. There is a folk language and high oratory here. That is why the work is sometimes called not a poem at all. It can be considered a folk book. Tvardovsky invented a general genre and chose a military theme. Moreover, the author showed the war from the very beginning to the end.
From lyrical digressions, the image of the author becomes clear to us. The reader realizes that the poet loves his hero very much.
The whole plot of the work carries a high ideological idea. And the simplicity of the poetic language, which is close to the folk language, makes the poem understandable to all people. From the poems of Tvardovsky it became warm to the fighters,who were on the battlefield. They give us inexhaustible spiritual energy even now, after many years.
As for the character of the protagonist, his author reveals to his reader gradually. Going from chapter to chapter, Terkin appears to us from different angles. Sometimes he shows real courage and courage. This the reader sees in the chapter "Crossing". When describing what is happening in the war, the author never ceases to emphasize that Soviet soldiers are not heroes from birth. They are simple young guys, and many of them donned military uniforms for the first time. Yet heroism illuminates their faces.
Tvardovsky emphasizes his idea that the feat performed by these young fighters is nothing more than a continuation of the military successes of their grandfathers and fathers who participated in the wars of past centuries.
The author covers Terkin's participation in battles using a semi-joking form. At the same time, he talks about the dreams of his hero, who wants to return home as soon as possible. Vasily does not mind receiving an award, but at the same time he shows modesty. Most of all, he wants to impress the girls with his medal.
After the cheerful scenes that describe Vasily's dreams, the author proceeds to describe the terrible battle. By this, he seeks to emphasize that the path to happiness lies through struggle, and also indicates the connection between the fate of each person and the future of the country.
In the poem, the author collected people's joy and sorrow. You can find here both harsh and mournful lines. However, most of all in the work of folk humor, which affirms a great love for life. Sometimesit seems incredible that the story of the most difficult and cruel war that has ever been in the history of peoples will sound so life-affirming. But Tvardovsky in his "Vasily Terkin" successfully coped with a similar task.
The work with amazing brightness and truthfulness draws a real picture of the life and struggle of the people in the harsh years of the war. At the same time, the author constantly draws the reader's eyes to the future. He also mentions that list of golden glory, in which descendants will add nameless heroes who gave their lives for victory.
The epic nature of the poem, as well as its narrative nature of the presentation of the plot, get along well with the high lyrical beginning, which then literally permeates all the chapters. The reader gets acquainted with the most sincere thoughts of the author both in the descriptions of the battle, and in the story about the woman who sees off the soldier, and in the conversation that Terkin has with death. Thus, the lyrical and epic principles in the work are united and inseparable.
Tvardovsky's poem "Vasily Terkin" has been reprinted more than once. There are many translations of it into various languages. And today both the older generation and the youth read it willingly.
