A.N. Ostrovsky "The Snow Maiden": description, heroes, analysis of the work. Encyclopedia of fairy-tale heroes: "Snow Maiden" Review n Hawthorne Snow Maiden summary

The times described are mythical. The action takes place in the country of the Berendeys. Winter is coming to an end - the goblin is hiding in a hollow. The capital of Tsar Berendey is Berendeev Posad, near which is Krasnaya Gorka. Spring flies here with her retinue - birds (cranes, swans). The country of the Berendeys meets Spring with cold. Spring admits that this is because of her flirting with Frost, the old grandfather, from whom her daughter, the Snow Maiden, was born.

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For the sake of her daughter, Spring is ready to endure everything, just not to quarrel with Frost. The "jealous" Sun is also angry at Spring. She invites all the birds to keep warm by dancing and dancing, as people do in the cold, so as not to freeze. But a terrible blizzard rises, and Spring hides the birds in the bushes until morning, promising to warm them. Frost appears from the forest and reminds Spring of her daughter. Each of the parents wants to take care of the Snow Maiden in their own way. Frost wants to hide her in a forest chamber so that she lives among obedient animals. Spring wants her daughter to live among people, so that she has friends - cheerful girls and guys with whom she will have fun and dance until midnight. The parents are arguing. Frost knows that the hot god of the Sun of the Berendeys, Yarilo, vowed to destroy the Snow Maiden when the fire of love flares up in her heart. Spring doesn't believe it. Then Frost proposes to give the Snow Maiden to be raised in a suburb with a childless Bobyl, where hardly anyone will pay attention to her. Spring agrees.

Frost calls the Snow Maiden from the forest. She admits that she yearns for girls' songs and round dances, that she really likes the singing of the young shepherd Lel. Her confession frightens her father. He strictly orders her to beware of Lel more than anything else, because the rays of the scorching Sun live in him. Frost instructs his "leshutki" forest to look after his daughter, and he says goodbye to her, making way for Spring. The festivities, songs and round dances begin. The Berendeys see off Maslenitsa and welcome the arrival of Spring.

Bobyl went to the forest for firewood and met the Snow Maiden dressed like a hawthorn. She wanted to become the adopted daughter of Bobyl with Bobylikh.

Wanting to get rich with the help of a profitable marriage of their adopted daughter, Bobyl and Bobylikh are angry with the Snow Maiden for excessive modesty and modesty, with which she warded off all suitors.

Lel comes to Bobyl to wait. Others are afraid to let Lelya into the house, fearing that their wives and daughters will not be able to resist his charm. Bobyl accepts him in his house for the money collected by the rest of the families. The Snow Maiden seems incomprehensible to Lel's behavior. He asks her for a kiss for a song and a flower gift. She picks a flower and gives it to him, but Lel, having finished singing his song, runs away to new amusements and other girls, leaving the withered flower of the Snow Maiden. Girls do not like the Snow Maiden and are jealous of the guys who are passionate about her beauty. Only Kupava, the daughter of Murash (a wealthy Slobozhan), treats her affectionately. She shares her joy with the Snow Maiden: a rich guest from the royal settlement, whose name is Mizgir, wooed her. At this time, Mizgir himself appears with a bride price for boys and girls - two bags of gifts. Kupava, together with the groom, approaches the Snow Maiden to invite her to the girlish round dances. Mizgir, seeing the Snow Maiden, falls in love with her without memory. He rejects Kupava and orders to carry his treasury to Bobyl's house. The Snow Maiden tries to resist all this, but the foster parents, having seen the money, agree to everything. At the request of Mizgir, they force the Snow Maiden to expel Lel. Kupava wants to understand the reason for her fiancé's betrayal. He explains that he was attracted by the modesty of the Snow Maiden, and the courage of Kupava seems to him a harbinger of an imminent betrayal. Kupava is humiliated and asks for protection from the Berendeys, sending curses to Mizgir. She decided to drown herself, but Lel stops her, the girl falls into his arms unconscious.

Tsar Berendey in his chambers talks with close Bermyata about the problems of the kingdom. Yarilo, for fifteen years already, does not favor Berendey: winters are getting colder every year, and springs are colder. The tsar thinks that Yarilo is angry with the Berendeys because their hearts have cooled. Berendey decides on Yarilin Day (tomorrow) to tie as many couples as possible in marriage in order to propitiate the sun god. Bermyata tells the tsar that it is impossible to find grooms and brides for marriage, because all the girls quarreled with the guys because of some Snow Maiden who lives in the settlement. At this time, Kupava runs to the king and talks about his grief. Berendey gives the order to find and bring Mizgir to him, and also to convene a court of the Berendeys. Mizgir is brought to Berendey. Bermyata advises the king to force the traitor to marry Kupava. But Kupava, after all, no longer wants to marry him. And Mizgir boldly declares that his bride is the Snow Maiden. The Berendeys do not use the death penalty, and the king does not know how to punish him. They decide to expel Mizgir. He is ready to accept the punishment, but asks the king to personally look at the beautiful Snow Maiden. The Tsar agrees, and when he sees the Snow Maiden, he himself is struck by her tenderness and beauty. He decides that she needs to find a suitable groom for her - Yarila will surely like such a sacrifice. But the Snow Maiden says that her heart does not yet know love. The Tsar's wife, Elena the Beautiful, advises turning to Lel, who can melt the beauty's heart. Lel invites the Snow Maiden to make wreaths until the morning sun, promising that she will awaken love in her heart. Mizgir asks permission from the king to fight for the heart of the Snow Maiden. The king allows, he is sure that everything will work out, and the Sun will accept their “sacrifice”. The people glorify his wisdom.

In the evening, girls and boys dance round dances, the Snow Maiden and Lel are in the center. The king is delighted with his singing and offers to choose any girl for a kiss. The Snow Maiden wants Lel to choose her, but he preferred Kupava. Other girls begin to put up with the guys, forgiving them their passion for the Snow Maiden. Lel sees the crying Snow Maiden, but he does not feel sorry for her, because these are tears of jealousy, not love. He tells her about secret lovemaking, but says that only for true love, he will lead her to meet the Sun. Lel recalls that it was also hard for him when she did not immediately respond to his love. He goes to the guys, leaving the Snow Maiden alone.

At this time, Mizgir finds her. He burns with real male passion and pours out his soul to her. On his knees, he begs her for love. But his passion scares the Snow Maiden. She also rejects his priceless gift, declaring that she will exchange her love only for Lel's love. Mizgir threatens her that he will avenge the humiliation. He wants to get the Snow Maiden by force. The “leshutki” of the old man Frost come to the rescue. They lure Mizgir into the forest with the ghost of the Snow Maiden, which he tries in vain to catch.

Even Elena the Beautiful was subdued by Lel's songs. But the shepherd deftly dodges the king's wife, leaving her with Bermyata. And he also runs away from the Snow Maiden, seeing Kupava. It was this kind of ardent love that Lel's heart longed for. He gives advice to the Snow Maiden: to "eavesdrop" on Kupava's passionate speeches in order to learn to love truly. Desperate, the Snow Maiden runs to Mother Spring for help. She remembers her father's warning, but she is ready to give her life for one moment of love. Spring will not be able to fulfill her daughter's request tomorrow, as she transfers her rights to Let and Yarila. On this last evening, she decides to help her daughter. The mother puts on the Snow Maiden a magic wreath of herbs and says that she will fall in love with the young man whom she meets first on the way. The Snow Maiden met Mizgir and responded to his passion. Mizgir is happy, he is sure that the Snow Maiden is needlessly afraid of Yarila's rays. Together they come to Yarilina Mountain. All the Berendeys have already gathered here. The Snow Maiden melts in the first rays of the sun, but blesses the love that she happened to experience. Mizgir in despair rushes from the mountain into the lake. The king and all the Berendeys hope that now Yarila will change her anger to mercy and send them strength and a good harvest.

The action takes place in the country of the Berendeys in mythical times. The end of winter comes - the goblin hides in a hollow. Spring arrives on Krasnaya Gorka near Berendeyev Posad, the capital of Tsar Berendey, and birds return with it: cranes, swans - the retinue of Spring. The country of the Berendeys meets Spring with cold, and all because of Spring's flirtations with Frost, the old grandfather, Spring herself admits. They had a daughter - the Snow Maiden. Spring is afraid to quarrel with Frost for the sake of her daughter and is forced to endure everything. The “jealous” Sun itself is also angry. Therefore, Spring calls all the birds to warm themselves with a dance, as people themselves do in the cold. But the fun is just beginning - the choirs of birds and their dances - as a blizzard rises. Spring hides the birds in the bushes until the new morning and promises to warm them. Meanwhile, Frost comes out of the forest and reminds Spring that they have a common child. Each of the parents takes care of the Snow Maiden in their own way. Frost wants to hide her in the forest so that she lives among obedient animals in a forest tower. Spring wants a different future for her daughter: for her to live among people, among cheerful friends and children who play and dance until midnight. The peace meeting turns into a spor. Frost knows that the god of the Sun of the Berendeys, hot Yarilo, vowed to destroy the Snow Maiden. As soon as the fire of love ignites in her heart, it will melt her. Spring does not believe. After a quarrel, Frost offers to give their daughter to be raised by a childless Bobyl in the suburb, where the guys are unlikely to pay attention to their Snow Maiden. Spring agrees.

Frost calls the Snow Maiden out of the forest and asks if she wants to live with people. The Snow Maiden admits that she has long yearned for girlish songs and round dances, that she likes the songs of the young shepherd Lel. This especially frightens the father, and he punishes the Snow Maiden more than anything in the world to beware of Lel, in whom the "scorching rays" of the Sun live. Parting with his daughter, Frost entrusts the care of her to his "leshutki" forest. And, finally, gives way to Spring. Folk festivities begin - seeing off Maslenitsa. The Berendeys greet the arrival of Spring with songs.

Bobyl went to the forest for firewood and sees the Snow Maiden dressed like a hawthorn. She wanted to stay with Bobyl with Bobyl's adopted daughter.

Lel comes to the Bobyls to wait, because they alone, for the money collected by other families, are ready to let him into the house. The rest are afraid that their wives and daughters will not resist Lel's charm. The Snow Maiden does not understand Lel's requests for a kiss for a song, for a flower gift. She picks off the flower with surprise and gives it to Lelya, but he, having sung a song and seeing other girls calling him, throws the already wilted flower of the Snow Maiden and runs away to new amusements. Many girls quarrel with guys who are inattentive to them because of their passion for the beauty of the Snow Maiden. Only Kupava, the daughter of the wealthy Slobozhan Murash, is affectionate towards the Snow Maiden. She informs her of her happiness: a wealthy merchant guest from the royal settlement Mizgir has engaged to her. Then Mizgir himself appears with two bags of gifts - a bride price for girls and boys. Kupava, together with Mizgir, approaches the Snow Maiden, who is spinning in front of the house, and calls her for the last time to lead the girl's round dances. But when he saw the Snow Maiden, Mizgir fell passionately in love with her and rejected Kupava. He orders to carry his treasury to Bobyl's house. The Snow Maiden resists these changes, not wishing harm to Kupava, but the bribed Bobyl and Bobylikha force the Snow Maiden to even drive Lel away, which is demanded by Mizgir. The shocked Kupava asks Mizgir about the reasons for his betrayal and hears in response that the Snow Maiden won his heart with her modesty and bashfulness, and Kupava's courage now seems to him a harbinger of future betrayal. The offended Kupava asks for protection from the Berendeys and sends curses to Mizgir. She wants to drown herself, but Lel stops her, and she falls unconscious into his arms.

In the chambers of Tsar Berendey, a conversation takes place between him and his entourage Bermyata about the trouble in the kingdom: for fifteen years Yarilo has been unkind to Berendey, the winters are getting colder, the springs are getting colder, and in some places there is snow in summer. Berendey is sure that Yarilo is angry with the Berendeys for cooling their hearts, for the "cold of feelings." To quench the wrath of the Sun, Berendey decides to propitiate him with a sacrifice: on Yarilin's day, the next day, to tie as many grooms and brides as possible by marriage. However, Bermyata reports that because of some Snow Maiden who showed up in the settlement, all the girls quarreled with the guys and it is impossible to find brides and grooms for marriage. Then Kupava, abandoned by Mizgir, runs in and cries out all her grief to the king. The king orders to find Mizgir and summon the Berendeys for trial. Mizgir is brought in, and Berendey asks Bermyata how to punish him for cheating on his bride. Bermyata proposes to force Mizgir to marry Kupava. But Mizgir boldly objects that his bride is the Snow Maiden. Kupava also does not want to marry a traitor. The Berendeys do not have the death penalty, and Mizgir is sentenced to exile. Mizgir only asks the king to look at the Snow Maiden himself. Seeing the Snow Maiden who came with Bobyl and Bobylikh, the tsar is struck by her beauty and tenderness, wants to find a worthy husband for her: such a “sacrifice” will surely appease Yarila. The Snow Maiden admits that her heart does not know love. The king turns to his wife for advice. Elena the Beautiful says that the only one who can melt the heart of the Snow Maiden is Lel. Lel calls the Snow Maiden to twist wreaths until the morning sun and promises that by morning love will wake up in her heart. But Mizgir does not want to give in to the Snow Maiden and asks for permission to join the fight for the heart of the Snow Maiden. Berendey allows and is sure that at dawn the Berendey will gladly meet the Sun, which will accept their expiatory "sacrifice". The people glorify the wisdom of their king Berendey.

At the evening dawn, the girls and boys begin to dance, in the center - the Snow Maiden with Lel, Mizgir either appears or disappears in the forest. Fascinated by Lel's singing, the tsar invites him to choose a girl who will reward him with a kiss. The Snow Maiden wants Lel to choose her, but Lel chooses Kupava. Other girls put up with their sweethearts, forgiving them past betrayals. Lel is looking for Kupava, who has gone home with her father, and meets the weeping Snow Maiden, but he does not feel sorry for her for these “jealous tears”, caused not by love, but by envy for Kupava. He tells her about secret lovemaking, which is more valuable than a public kiss, and only for true love is he ready to take her to meet the Sun in the morning. Lel recalls how he cried when the Snow Maiden had not previously answered his love, and goes to the guys, leaving the Snow Maiden to wait. And yet, it is not love that lives in the heart of the Snow Maiden, but only pride that Lel will lead her to meet Yarila.

But then Mizgir finds the Snow Maiden, he pours out his soul to her, full of burning, real male passion. He, who never prayed for love from girls, falls on his knees before her. But the Snow Maiden is afraid of his passion, and the threats to avenge the humiliation are also terrible. She also rejects the priceless pearl with which Mizgir tries to buy her love, and says that she will exchange her love for Lel's love. Then Mizgir wants to get the Snow Maiden by force. She calls Lelya, but "leshutki" come to her aid, whom Father Frost instructed to take care of her daughter. They take Mizgir into the forest, beckoning him with the ghost of the Snow Maiden, and he wanders all night in the forest, hoping to overtake the Snow Maiden-ghost.

Meanwhile, even the heart of the tsar's wife was melted by Lel's songs. But the shepherd deftly dodges both from Elena the Beautiful, leaving her in the care of Bermyata, and from the Snow Maiden, from whom he runs away when he sees Kupava. It was this kind of reckless and ardent love that his heart was waiting for, and he advises the Snow Maiden to “eavesdrop” on Kupavina’s hot speeches in order to learn to love. The Snow Maiden, in her last hope, runs to Mother Spring and asks her to teach her real feelings. On the last day, when Spring can fulfill her daughter's request, since the next day Yarilo and Summer come into their own, Spring, rising from the water of the lake, reminds the Snow Maiden of her father's warning. But the Snow Maiden is ready to give her life for a moment of true love. Her mother puts on her a magic wreath of flowers and herbs and promises that she will love the first young man she meets. The Snow Maiden meets Mizgir and responds to his passion. The immensely happy Mizgir does not believe in danger and considers the desire of the Snow Maiden to hide from Yarila's rays as an empty fear. He solemnly leads the bride to Yarilina Gora, where all the Berendeys have gathered. At the first rays of the sun, the Snow Maiden melts, blessing the love that brings death to her. It seems to Mizgir that the Snow Maiden deceived him, that the gods mocked him, and in despair he rushes from Yarilina Mountain into the lake. “The Snow Maiden’s sad death and the terrible death of Mizgir cannot disturb us,” the tsar says, and all the Berendeys hope that Yarila’s anger will now go out, that he will give the Berendeys strength, harvest, life.

Retold by E. P. Sudareva.

Back in 1873, A.N. Ostrovsky wrote a wonderful play, which is considered the spring fairy tale of the Slavic peoples, called "The Snow Maiden". The events of the work are set out in four acts. All main characters are fictional.

For the first time the text of the play was published in the literary magazine Vestnik Evropy. In the same year, the premiere of the play took place on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow.

The appearance of a spring fairy tale, written in poetic form, was an absolutely random event.

In 1873, the leadership of the Ministry of Culture decided to temporarily close the Maly Theater in order to carry out a major overhaul in the premises.

All artists moved to the Bolshoi Theater, where they were supposed to be involved in local productions.

To provide everyone with a sufficient amount of work, A.N. Ostrovsky was instructed to write an enchanting play, the plot and genre of which would allow the involvement of several artistic groups at once, namely:

dramatic;
ballet;
opera.

The writer readily agreed to the proposal and immediately began writing a literary work.

The plot was based on a Russian folk tale about a girl who was born from the love of Father Frost and Spring and received the name Snegurochka. P. Tchaikovsky, then still young and still unknown in wide circles, was commissioned to write music for the fairy tale extravaganza.

Brief summary of actions

What is Ostrovsky's play about? First of all, about love. Events unfold in the mythical state of the Berendeys.

Spring is slowly entering its domain, the mountains are still covered with snow. In the distance is the capital of the kingdom of the Berendeys and the throne of the king himself, which is made of wood and covered with intricate carvings. Goblin does not like spring awakening and is already ready to hide in the hollow until the next winter season.

He sits and watches as Queen Spring descends from the tops on a team of geese, swans and cranes. Then the events of the play unfold in four acts with a description of the main characters.

Important! If there is no time to read the entire work as a whole, then it is recommended to read the summary.

Act one

Local residents of the kingdom of Berendey learn about the unprecedented beauty of the daughter of Father Frost and Spring-Red. All the guys are trying to woo the beauty and do not give her a pass, but she does not love anyone. The appearance of the girl is formidable, her lips are compressed, and her forehead is wrinkled.

All the guys who stuffed into her suitors were refused. The named grandfather and grandmother of the beauty, who are referred to in the play as Bobylikh and Bobyl, scold her very much, they say that she neglects happiness.

In the fairy tale, the girl has a good friend - Kupava, who is also a marriageable girl. A young guy named Mizgir wooed her. His father occupies a noble rank in the royal settlement of the Berendeys and is a very rich man.

Kupava dreams of marrying him, and the wedding date has almost been agreed upon, but suddenly she decides to introduce her fiancé to her girlfriend.

As soon as Mizgir saw the extraordinary beauty of the Snow Maiden, he immediately fell in love with her, completely forgetting about his previously beloved Kupava.

The offended girl did not expect such a turn of events and accuses the Snow Maiden of betrayal, says that she took her fiancé away from her, and curses her so that she will never be happy.

Mizgir does not leave attempts to win the heart of the beauty, gives her expensive gifts, but the newly-made love refuses to reciprocate.

Action two

In the kingdom of the Berendeys, the great ruler Berendey sits on a golden throne. Buffoons run around him, who periodically fight with each other on their fists. A boyar named Bermyata enters the room. He asks how things are in the kingdom.

The buffoons shout that everything is fine, but the king is not sure about this. He answers the boyar with great doubts, they say, he has long been in the realm of cold and cold. Summer passes too quickly, and it is very cold.

Berendey believes that the lord of solar heat, Yarilo, became angry with people, because the former feeling of love for each other disappeared in their hearts.

There is no longer this kind and heartfelt longing. The hearts of the inhabitants of the Berendey state were filled only with envy for the beautiful outfits of their neighbor and vanity.

This worries him greatly, since no one knows the warmth while the cold is walking in the soul. For this, Yarilo, the lord of the sun, will continue to take revenge on all the Berendeys.

The king proposed his plan of action. Berendey says that tomorrow is Yarilin's day. To please the lord of solar heat, you need to gather all the young grooms and beautiful brides in the meadow, and then marry them.

This will be a sacrifice of love, for which Yarilo will thank all the inhabitants of the Berendey state, stop taking revenge and bestow a warm spring, and then a long summer.

Bermyata, in response to the proposal of the king, explained that this was impossible, because all the young couples living in the kingdom quarreled. The reason for this is the beautiful Snow Maiden.

Young guys are completely in love with the girl, do not let her pass, and abandoned their brides. At the same time, the beauty herself does not love anyone.

Berendey cannot believe what the boyar told and demands that his order be carried out immediately.

A boy comes into the room, who suggested to Kupava to complain that the Snow Maiden broke her love by charming Mizgir.

The king listened attentively to the offended girl. The boyar, who is standing nearby, offered to oblige Mizgir to marry Kupava, who had been deceived by him, but the girl answered with an unambiguous and proud refusal. From now on, her heart is broken and can not feel anything for the guy but bitter hatred.

Berendey decides to judge Mizgir according to the rules of the people's court. He orders the guy to be expelled from the state so that he will never again be able to deceive anyone. Mizgir defends himself, invites the tsar to go himself to see how beautiful the Snow Maiden is.

Berendey agrees to this proposal. As soon as he saw the girl, he was immediately convinced of her extraordinary beauty. At this moment, the ruler promises the girl to find the most beautiful groom for her.

The beauty refuses what was offered by the king, citing the fact that she still does not know the feeling of love.

Bermyata's wife, Elena, interjects into the conversation and says that she knows who will help them.

This is the shepherd Lel. Only this boy is able to melt the cold and impregnable heart of a girl.

On the instructions of the sovereign, the shepherd invites the Snow Maiden to weave wreaths of field herbs all night, convincing the beauty that from this her heart will know true love.

At the same time, Mizgir does not leave attempts to get the girl to be his bride.

Act Three

Evening came in the Berendey state, and the youth rushed to dance. Lel began to sing his beautiful songs, which Tsar Berendey incredibly liked. As a sign of gratitude, the sovereign orders the guy to choose any bride for himself, who will give him a hot kiss in return.

The Snow Maiden's eyes lit up with happiness, and she asks Lel to choose her, but the guy turns away from the girl, choosing Kupava.

Mizgir rushes to the Snow Maiden and swears his sincere love to her, but the girl is frightened by his excessive passion and determination.

Mizgir does not stop his actions and tries to achieve the beauty by force.

Goblin comes to her aid, who magically creates the ghost of the Snow Maiden and takes the madman away.

At the same time, Lel continues to sing with her beautiful voice, driving Elena, the boyar's wife, and Kupava herself crazy.

act four

Lel starts a sincere conversation with the Snow Maiden, in which he recommends that she learn true love from Kupava. The girl in tears runs to her mother - Spring and asks to teach her love.

The mother warns the girl, but still gives her a wreath, saying that now she will fall in love with the first person she meets. This guy turns out to be Mizgir, who is bursting with pride that he still got the desired love.

The groom does not even want to hear anything about the girl's fear of the rays of Yaril and calls her with him to the Red Mountain, where all the inhabitants of the Berendey state gathered to meet the sun.

As soon as the solar circle appears on the horizon, the body of the Snow Maiden immediately begins to melt and turn into a lake.

The girl understands that she is now dying, but despite this, she still blesses her love, since it was at that moment that she was able to experience real warm feelings.

Mizgir cannot bear what is happening, cries and yearns for his beloved. The realization comes to him that the gods have laughed at him in this way.

He no longer wants to live without his bride, whose reciprocity he has been seeking for so long.

The guy runs up and rushes from the mountain right into the lake. Sovereign Berendey assures that the sacrifices on the part of the Snow Maiden and Berendey will only appease Yarilo. He will no longer take revenge and will bestow all the inhabitants of the kingdom with the rays of his warmth.

Important! Despite the tragic end of the play, which consists in the death of the main character, as well as her lover, the original work is read easily and naturally.

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Summing up

In the work of Ostrovsky, the Snow Maiden, the main character, like other characters, is a reflection of those difficult relationships between a man and a woman that happen in real life.

Many literary critics believe that this play is not just a fairy tale extravaganza, but also filled with deep dramatic meaning, since the writer paid great attention to the issue of unrequited love and the consequences that it can lead to.

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Summary of the tale

They had a daughter, the Snow Maiden. Spring is afraid to quarrel with Frost for the sake of her daughter and is forced to endure everything. The “jealous” Sun itself is also angry. Therefore, Spring calls all the birds to warm themselves with a dance, as people themselves do in the cold. But as soon as the fun begins - the choirs of birds and their dances - as a blizzard rises. Spring hides the birds in the bushes until the new morning and promises to warm them. Meanwhile, Frost comes out of the forest and reminds Spring that they have a common child.

Frost, Spring, Snow Maiden. The Snow Maiden (Spring Tale) by A. N. Ostrovsky, illustration by Adrian Mikhailovich Ermolaev

Each of the parents takes care of the Snow Maiden in their own way. Frost wants to hide her in the forest so that she lives among obedient animals in a forest tower. Spring wants a different future for her daughter: for her to live among people, among cheerful friends and children who play and dance until midnight. The peace meeting turns into a spor. Frost knows that the god of the Sun of the Berendeys, hot Yarilo, vowed to destroy the Snow Maiden.

As soon as the fire of love ignites in her heart, it will melt her. Spring does not believe. After a quarrel, Frost offers to give their daughter to be raised by a childless Bobyl in the suburb, where the guys are unlikely to pay attention to their Snow Maiden. Spring agrees.
Frost calls the Snow Maiden out of the forest and asks if she wants to live with people. The Snow Maiden admits that she has long yearned for girlish songs and round dances, that she likes the songs of the young shepherd Lel.

Snow Maiden, artist A. M. Ermolaev

This especially frightens the father, and he punishes the Snow Maiden more than anything in the world to beware of Lel, in whom the "scorching rays" of the Sun live. Parting with his daughter, Frost entrusts the care of her to his "leshutki" forest. And, finally, gives way to Spring. Folk festivities begin - seeing off Shrovetide. The Berendeys greet the arrival of Spring with songs.
Bobyl went to the forest for firewood and sees the Snow Maiden dressed like a hawthorn. She wanted to stay with Bobyl with Bobyl's adopted daughter.

Bobyl and Bobylikh. V.M. Vasnetsov

It is not easy for the Snow Maiden to live with Bobyl and Bobylikh: the named parents are angry that she, with her excessive bashfulness and modesty, discouraged all suitors and they fail to get rich with the help of a profitable marriage of their adopted daughter. Lel comes to the Bobyls to wait, because they alone, for the money collected by other families, are ready to let him into the house. The rest are afraid that their wives and daughters will not resist Lel's charm.

Snow Maiden and Lel. Vasnetsov, sketch

The Snow Maiden does not understand Lel's requests for a kiss for a song, for a flower gift. She picks off the flower with surprise and gives it to Lelya, but he, having sung a song and seeing other girls calling him, throws the already wilted flower of the Snow Maiden and runs away to new amusements.

Many girls quarrel with guys who are inattentive to them because of their passion for the beauty of the Snow Maiden. Only Kupava, the daughter of the wealthy Slobozhan Murash, is affectionate towards the Snow Maiden. She informs her of her happiness: a wealthy merchant guest from the royal settlement Mizgir has engaged to her. Then Mizgir himself appears with two bags of gifts - a bride price for girls and boys.

Kupava, together with Mizgir, approaches the Snow Maiden, who is spinning in front of the house, and calls her for the last time to lead the girl's round dances. But when he saw the Snow Maiden, Mizgir fell passionately in love with her and rejected Kupava. He orders to carry his treasury to Bobyl's house. The Snow Maiden resists these changes, not wishing harm to Kupava, but the bribed Bobyl and Bobylikha force the Snow Maiden to even drive Lel away, which is demanded by Mizgir.

Mizgir and Kupava. Vasnetsov, sketch 1885-1886

The shocked Kupava asks Mizgir about the reasons for his betrayal and hears in response that the Snow Maiden won his heart with her modesty and bashfulness, and Kupava's courage now seems to him a harbinger of future betrayal. The offended Kupava asks for protection from the Berendeys and sends curses to Mizgir. She wants to drown herself, but Lel stops her, and she falls unconscious into his arms. In the chambers of Tsar Berendey, a conversation takes place between him and his close associate Bermyata about the troubles in the kingdom: for fifteen years, Yarilo has been unkind to Berendey, winters are getting colder, springs are getting colder, and in some places there is snow in summer.

Berendeyka in "The Snow Maiden". V. Vasnetsov.

Berendey is sure that Yarilo is angry with the Berendeys for cooling their hearts, for the "cold of feelings." To quench the wrath of the Sun, Berendey decides to propitiate him with a sacrifice: on Yarilin's day, the next day, to tie as many grooms and brides as possible by marriage. However, Bermyata reports that because of some Snow Maiden who showed up in the settlement, all the girls quarreled with the guys and it is impossible to find brides and grooms for marriage.

Then Kupava, abandoned by Mizgir, runs in and cries out all her grief to the king. The king orders to find Mizgir and convene the Berendeys for trial. Mizgir is brought in, and Berendey asks Bermyata how to punish him for cheating on his bride. Bermyata proposes to force Mizgir to marry Kupava. But Mizgir boldly objects that his bride is the Snow Maiden.

Kupava also does not want to marry a traitor. The Berendeys do not have the death penalty, and Mizgir is sentenced to exile. Mizgir only asks the king to look at the Snow Maiden himself. Seeing the Snow Maiden who came with Bobyl and Bobylikha, the tsar is struck by her beauty and tenderness, wants to find a worthy husband for her: such a “sacrifice” will surely appease Yarila.

The Snow Maiden admits that her heart does not know love. The king turns to his wife for advice. Elena the Beautiful says that the only one who can melt the heart of the Snow Maiden is Lel. Lel calls the Snow Maiden to twist wreaths until the morning sun and promises that by morning love will wake up in her heart. But Mizgir does not want to give in to the Snow Maiden and asks for permission to join the fight for the heart of the Snow Maiden. Berendey allows and is sure that at dawn the Berendey will gladly meet the Sun, which will accept their expiatory "sacrifice". The people glorify the wisdom of their king Berendey.

At the evening dawn, the girls and boys begin to dance, in the center - the Snow Maiden with Lel, Mizgir either appears or disappears in the forest. Delighted by Lel's singing, the tsar invites him to choose a girl who will reward him with a kiss. The Snow Maiden wants Lel to choose her, but Lel chooses Kupava. Other girls put up with their sweethearts, forgiving them past betrayals. Lel is looking for Kupava, who has gone home with her father, and meets the weeping Snow Maiden, but he does not feel sorry for her for these “jealous tears”, caused not by love, but by envy for Kupava.

Sketch for a poster for the opera by N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov "The Snow Maiden". Artist K.A. Korovin

He tells her about secret lovemaking, which is more valuable than a public kiss, and only for true love is he ready to take her to meet the Sun in the morning. Lel recalls how he cried when the Snow Maiden had not previously answered his love, and goes to the guys, leaving the Snow Maiden to wait. And yet, in the heart of the Snow Maiden, it is not love that still lives, but only pride that Lel will lead her to meet Yarila. But then Mizgir finds the Snow Maiden, he pours out his soul to her, full of burning, real male passion.

He, who never prayed for love from girls, falls on his knees before her. But the Snow Maiden is afraid of his passion, and the threats to avenge the humiliation are also terrible. She also rejects the priceless pearl with which Mizgir tries to buy her love, and says that she will exchange her love for Lel's love. Then Mizgir wants to get the Snow Maiden by force. She calls Lelya, but the Leshuki come to her aid, whom Father Frost instructed to take care of her daughter.

Elena Katulskaya as the Snow Maiden in N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov's opera The Snow Maiden

They take Mizgir into the forest, beckoning him with the ghost of the Snow Maiden, and in the forest he wanders all night, hoping to overtake the Snow Maiden-ghost.
Meanwhile, even the heart of the tsar's wife was melted by Lel's songs. But the shepherd deftly dodges both from Elena the Beautiful, leaving her in the care of Bermyata, and from the Snow Maiden, from whom he runs away when he sees Kupava. It was this kind of reckless and ardent love that his heart was waiting for, and he advises the Snow Maiden to “eavesdrop” on Kupavina’s hot speeches in order to learn to love. The Snow Maiden, in her last hope, runs to Mother Spring and asks her to teach her real feelings.

Actress Alyabyeva as Spring in the play "The Snow Maiden";
Viktor Vasnetsov. Spring. Sketch for the play "The Snow Maiden";
Nadezhda Zabela (Vrubel) as the Snow Maiden (1890).

Ostrovsky's play The Snow Maiden, written in 1873, is based on a Russian folk tale. This is a poetic story stylized as Russian folklore, in which the characters are the lower and higher Slavic deities: Spring, Yarilo, Frost, Leshy.

Main characters

Freezing- a stern old man, the lord of cold and snowstorms.

Spring- a young beauty that brings warmth and joy.

Snow Maiden- the young daughter of Frost and Spring.

Lel- a carefree shepherd, able to charm anyone with his singing.

Mizgir- a young merchant, passionately in love with the Snow Maiden.

Other characters

Tsar Berendey- a kind and fair ruler of the magical kingdom.

Bobyl and Bobylikha- foster parents of the Snow Maiden.

Kupava- Snow Maiden's girlfriend, Mizgir's rejected bride.

Bermyata- the close boyar of the tsar.

Elena the beautiful- Bermyat's wife.

Yarilo- a powerful deity, the sun, which all Berendeys worship.

Prologue

The first phenomenon

“Spring-Red descends to the earth”, only the “gloomy country” meets her completely unhappily - the fields are covered with snow, and the streams are ice-bound.

Vesna admits that sixteen years ago she showed her "fickle disposition, changeable and whimsical", and seduced Frost. Now they have a common daughter - the beautiful Snegurochka.

The second phenomenon

At the meeting, Spring asks the old man to quickly go north, "to the Siberian tundra." Upon learning that Frost leaves her daughter in a deep forest, she protests - the grown-up Snow Maiden needs "fun and games until midnight, spring parties and burners."

Frost admits that his main opponent - Yarilo - "swore a terrible oath to destroy" him, and melt the Snow Maiden as soon as she truly loves.

The third phenomenon

The girl confesses to her parents that she has long dreamed of going to the forest with her friends to pick mushrooms and berries, to dance with them to the sonorous trills of the young shepherd Lel.

Frost leaves the kingdom of the Berendeys, and Spring enters into its rightful possessions.

The fourth phenomenon

To celebrate, the Berendeys burn an effigy of winter and celebrate Maslenitsa.

Bobyl and Bobylikha notice on the road a hawthorn "in a sheepskin coat, in boots, in mittens" - the Snow Maiden, who becomes their named daughter.

Act I

The first phenomenon

The inhabitants of the kingdom receive a decree - to gather everyone "in the abyss, in the game, in the disgrace" and worship the bright Yarila.

In the meantime, Bobyl and his wife are twisting - grooms go after the Snow Maiden in "hordes, herds", but the beauty does not like anyone. Old people dream of a well-fed life with their future son-in-law, but the Snow Maiden wants to marry only for love. She just doesn't know what love is.

The second phenomenon

The inhabitants of the settlement offer payment to Bobyl to give him shelter for the young shepherd Lel. Many of them are afraid that a young handsome guy can turn the heads of their wives and daughters, and Bobyl's Snegurochka is not at all like a Slobozhanka.

The third phenomenon

The Snow Maiden asks Lelya to sing a song for her. As payment, the shepherd asks for a kiss, but the girl does not agree. Then Lel is ready to take a flower as a payment.

The shepherd boy begins to sing, but other girls call him, and the guy without hesitation throws away the withered flower and runs away.

The fourth phenomenon

The Snow Maiden is offended by Lelya's indifference - "annoyance squeezes her chest." The girl is offended by her father for having created her so cold, and decides to take "a little warmth of the heart" from her mother Spring.

Fifth phenomenon

A friend of the Snow Maiden named Kupava shares her joy with her - she met a rich, handsome young man Mizgir. The girl is looking forward to the holiday, because "on Yarilin's day, at sunrise" the chosen one promised to take her as his wife before the king.

The sixth phenomenon

Seeing Mizgir in the distance, Kupava asks her girlfriends to hide her, and give her to her betrothed only for a large ransom. Girls cheerfully bargain with the groom, and he gives them rich gifts. Kupava calls the Snow Maiden "for the last time, for the last" to dance round dances together and sing songs.

The seventh phenomenon

Seeing the Snow Maiden, Mizgir falls in love with her without memory. For her sake, he is ready to leave his bride Kupava, and shower the beauty with “priceless gifts”. Bobyl and his wife persuade the Snow Maiden to be favorable to such an enviable groom.

The eighth phenomenon

The humiliated Kupava comes with friends to Bobyl's porch and demands an answer from Mizgir. The rich merchant explains that Snegurochka's modesty is "most dear to him". Kupava, on the other hand, “loved without looking back, hugged her with both hands,” and Mizgir considered the girl to be unnecessarily windy.

In desperation, Kupava decides to drown herself in the river, but Lel stops her in time. The Slobozhans advise her to turn to Tsar Berendey for help.

Act II

The first phenomenon

Tsar Berendey sits on his golden throne, and personally paints one of the pillars to the songs of the blind harpists. Two buffoons are jokingly arguing among themselves about what is depicted there.

The second phenomenon

The ruler worries that in the hearts of the Berendeys there is no former "ardor of love". He proposes on Yarilin Day to unite all the gathered girls and boys with a marriage union. To which Bermyata reports that “the brides quarreled to the point of a fight with the grooms”, and the reason for this is the impregnable beauty Snegurochka.

The third phenomenon

Kupava comes to the king and complains about the unworthy behavior of Mizgir, who has dishonored her in front of all the Slobozhans. Berendey orders a young man to be brought to him "for the court of the kings."

The fourth phenomenon

Berendey offers the young man to "make amends" and marry Kupava, but he does not agree - he loves only the Snow Maiden. Yes, and Kupava refuses such a marriage, because "offended, heartbroken."

Berendey wants to expel Mizgir from his kingdom forever, but he asks the tsar only to look at the Snow Maiden, and then pass the verdict.

Fifth phenomenon

The Snow Maiden appears in the royal chambers, and the tsar cannot take his eyes off her. Berendey does not believe that the heart of the Snow Maiden is still silent, and none of the young men could charm her.

The king turns to Elena the Beautiful for advice, and she says that “only one can inspire love in a girl” - the young shepherd Lel. Mizgir asks the tsar to give him another chance to win the love of the Snow Maiden.

Act Three

The first phenomenon

At the evening dawn, young men and women begin to dance. The king looks with tenderness at the fun, and advises to forget about all the problems, because "there is a time for caring."

Berendey invites Lelya to choose a girl who will reward him with a kiss. The Snow Maiden asks the shepherd to choose her, but he prefers Kupava to her. In tears, the Snow Maiden runs away.

The second phenomenon

The Snow Maiden accuses Lel of choosing Kupava and not her. The pride of the girl is wounded, because she is much more beautiful than her rival. Lel promises that next time he will definitely choose her.

The third phenomenon

The Snow Maiden is found by Mizgir and tells her about “how the heart aches, what longing the soul is sick with.” He scares the girl with his frenzied passion. For the consent of the Snow Maiden to become his wife, he is ready for anything. In fear, the beauty runs away.

The fourth phenomenon

With his charming singing, Lel drives crazy not only the Snow Maiden and Kupava, but also Elena the Beautiful. She confesses her love to the shepherd, but does not "light a fire in Lel's chest."

Fifth phenomenon

Elena the Beautiful is jealous of Lelya by her husband, the boyar Bermyata. However, the beauty reassures him by the fact that “the young men are all arrogantly heartless, but the husbands are both sweet and kind.”

The sixth phenomenon

The Snow Maiden finds Lelya and asks him for protection from the persistent Mizgir. However, the shepherd, seeing Kupava running, leaves under a plausible pretext.

The seventh phenomenon

Kupava confesses her love to Lelya, who "saved the girl's pride". The shepherd agrees to declare Kupava his wife as soon as the sun rises.

This conversation is heard by the Snow Maiden, and in anger calls Lel a traitor, and Kupava - a homemaker. The girl replies that for the Snow Maiden, love is just a game, fun, and the shepherd confesses that he “does not need childish love.”

act four

The first phenomenon

Mizgir follows the ghost of the Snow Maiden deep into the forest - this Leshy tried to protect Frost's daughter from a persistent admirer.

The second phenomenon

The Snow Maiden resorts to her mother and complains that she wants to "love - but she does not know the words of love at all." She is tired of being cold, and wants to open her heart to a strong feeling.

However, Spring reminds the Snow Maiden of "father's fears" - love will cause her death. The girl is ready to die, just to experience "love in an instant."

Spring puts on her daughter a magic wreath and says that she will love the first person she meets with all her heart.

The third phenomenon

The Snow Maiden meets Mizgir and confesses her love to him. He does not believe his luck and looks forward to the sunrise in order to announce his betrothed to Tsar Berendey.

The fourth phenomenon

At dawn, boys and girls sing songs. The king blesses marriage unions, wishes young people happiness and prosperity.

With the advent of bright sunlight, the Snow Maiden begins to melt. She is happy, because for the first time in her life "there is fire in the eyes ... and in the heart ... and in the blood all over the fire."

With grief, Mizgir throws himself into the lake, and Tsar Berendey says that the death of the lovers is not accidental, because "the sun knows whom to punish and pardon." Lel sings a laudatory song to Yarile.

Conclusion

Ostrovsky's work is built on the confrontation of opposites: Frost and Yaril, cold and heat, indifference and sensuality. The main theme of the play is that life without love is meaningless.

A brief retelling of the "Snow Maiden" will be useful for the reader's diary and in preparation for a literature lesson.

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