What does the wise gudgeon teach in the fairy tale? Analysis of the fairy tale “The Wise Minnow”

Analysis of the tale " The wise minnow"

M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin was born in January 1826 in the village of Spas-Ugol Tverskaya
provinces. On his father's side he belonged to the ancient and rich noble family, by mother -
merchant class. After successfully graduating from the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum Saltykov
becomes an official of the military department, but the service interests him little.
In 1847 his first appear in print literary works –
“Contradictions” and “Complicated Affairs”. But they started talking seriously about Saltykov as a writer
only in 1856, when he began publishing “Provincial Sketches”.
He directed his extraordinary talent to open their eyes, to show those
who does not yet see the lawlessness, flourishing ignorance and stupidity going on in the country,
triumphs of bureaucracy.
But today I would like to dwell on the writer’s fairy-tale cycle, begun in 1869.
Fairy tales were a kind of result, a synthesis of the ideological and creative quest of the satirist. In that
at times, due to the existence of strict censorship, the author could not fully expose the vices
society, to show the inconsistency of the Russian administrative apparatus. But still
with the help of fairy tales “for children of considerable age“Shchedrin was able to convey to people a sharp
criticism of the existing order.
To write fairy tales, the author used grotesque, hyperbole and antithesis. Also for
The Aesopian language was important to the author. Trying to hide the true meaning from censorship
written, I had to use this technique.
In 1883, the famous “Wise Minnow” appeared, which over the past hundred years has become
more than one year of Shchedrin's textbook tale. The plot of this tale is known to everyone:
there was a gudgeon, which at first was no different from its own kind. But, he's a coward
character, he decided to live his whole life, without sticking out, in his hole, shuddering from
every rustle, every shadow that flashed next to his hole. And so life passed
past - no family, no children. And so he disappeared - either on his own or some pike swallowed him. Only
Before his death, the minnow thinks about his life: “Who did he help? Whom did you regret?
What good has he ever done in his life? “He lived - he trembled and he died - he trembled.” Only
before death, the average person realizes that no one needs him, no one knows him or about him
won't remember.
But this is the plot, the external side of the fairy tale, what is on the surface. And the subtext
Shchedrin's caricature in this tale of modern bourgeois morals
Russia was well explained by the artist A. Kanevsky, who made illustrations for the fairy tale.
“The wise minnow”: “…. Everyone understands that Shchedrin is not talking about fish. Minnow –
a cowardly man in the street, trembling for his own skin. He is a man, but also a minnow, in this
the writer gave it its form, and I, the artist, must preserve it. My task is to combine the image
a frightened man in the street and a minnow, to combine fish and human properties. Very
it is difficult to “comprehend” the fish, to give it a pose, a movement, a gesture. How to display on a fish “face”
forever frozen fear? The figurine of the minnow-official gave me a lot of trouble...” .
The writer shows the terrible philistine alienation and self-isolation in
“The Wise Minnow.” M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin is bitter and painful for the Russian people.
Reading Saltykov-Shchedrin is quite difficult. Therefore, perhaps many never
understood the meaning of his tales. But most “children of a fair age” appreciated the creativity
a great satirist deservedly so.
In conclusion, I would like to add that the thoughts expressed by the writer in fairy tales
still modern today. Shchedrin's satire is time-tested and it sounds especially sharp
during a period of social unrest, similar to those that Russia is experiencing today.

In a fairy tale The wise minnow” it is said that in the world there lived a minnow who was afraid of everything, but at the same time considered himself wise. His father told him before he died to be careful and that way he would live. “Look, son,” said the old minnow, dying, “if you want to chew your life, then keep your eyes open!” Piskar listened to him and began to think about later life. He invented a house for himself such that no one but him could get into it, and began to think about how to behave the rest of the time.

With this tale, the author tried to show the life of officials who did nothing in their lives, but only sat in their “hole” and were afraid of those who were higher in rank. They were afraid of somehow harming themselves if they went outside their “hole.” That, perhaps, there will be some kind of force there that can suddenly deprive them of such a rank. Life without luxury is the same as death for them, but at the same time you have to stay in one place and everything will be fine.

This is precisely what can be seen in the image of the minnow. He appears in the tale throughout the entire story. If before his father’s death the gudgeon’s life was ordinary, then after his death he hid. He trembled every time someone swam or stopped near his hole. He didn't finish his food because he was afraid once again get out. And from the twilight that constantly reigned in his hole, the gudgeon was half-blind.

Everyone considered the gudgeon a fool, but he considered himself wise. The title of the fairy tale “The Wise Minnow” hides obvious irony. “Wise” means “very smart,” but in this fairy tale the meaning of this word means something else – proud and stupid. Proud because he considers himself the smartest, since he found a way to protect his life from an external threat. And he is stupid because he never understood the meaning of life. Although at the end of his life the minnow thinks about living like everyone else, not hiding in his hole, and as soon as he gathers the strength to swim out of the shelter, he again begins to tremble and again considers this idea stupid. “Let me crawl out of the hole and swim like a goldeneye across the entire river!” But as soon as he thought about it, he became frightened again. And he began to die, trembling. He lived and trembled, and he died - he trembled.”

To more sarcastically show the life of a minnow, there is a hyperbole in the fairy tale: “He does not receive a salary and does not keep servants, does not play cards, does not drink wine, does not smoke tobacco, does not chase red girls. “. Grotesque: “And the wise minnow lived in this way for more than a hundred years. Everything was trembling, everything was trembling.” Irony: “Most likely he died, because what sweetness is it for a pike to swallow a sick, dying gudgeon, and a wise one at that? “

Talking animals dominate common folk tales. Since in the fairy tale by M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin there is also a talking minnow, his fairy tale is similar to folk tale.

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Analysis of the fairy tale “The Wise Minnow” by M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin.

M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin was born in January 1826 in the village of Spas-Ugol, Tver province. According to his father, he belonged to an old and rich noble family, and according to his mother, he belonged to the merchant class. After successfully graduating from the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, Saltykov becomes an official in the military department, but he is of little interest in the service.
In 1847 His first literary works, “Contradictions” and “Complicated Affairs,” appeared in print. But they started talking seriously about Saltykov as a writer only in 1856, when he began publishing “Provincial Sketches.”

He directed his extraordinary talent to open the eyes of those who do not yet see the lawlessness going on in the country, the flourishing ignorance and stupidity, and the triumph of bureaucracy.

But today I would like to dwell on the writer’s fairy-tale cycle, begun in 1869. Fairy tales were a kind of result, a synthesis of the ideological and creative quest of the satirist. At that time, due to the existence of strict censorship, the author could not fully expose the vices of society, show all the inconsistency of the Russian administrative apparatus. And yet, with the help of fairy tales “for children of a fair age,” Shchedrin was able to convey to people a sharp criticism of the existing order.

In 1883, the famous “The Wise Minnow” appeared, which over the past hundred-plus years has become Shchedrin’s textbook fairy tale. The plot of this fairy tale is known to everyone: once upon a time there was a gudgeon, which at first was no different from its own kind. But, a coward by nature, he decided to live his whole life without sticking out, in his hole, flinching from every rustle, from every shadow that flashed next to his hole. So life passed me by - no family, no children. And so he disappeared - either on his own or some pike swallowed him. Only before death does the minnow think about his life: “Who did he help? Who did you regret, what good did he do in life? “He lived - he trembled and he died - he trembled.” Only before death does the average person realize that no one needs him, no one knows him and no one will remember him.

But this is the plot, the external side of the fairy tale, what is on the surface. And the subtext of Shchedrin’s caricature in this tale of the morals of modern bourgeois Russia was well explained by the artist A. Kanevsky, who made illustrations for the fairy tale “The Wise Minnow”: “...everyone understands that Shchedrin is not talking about fish. The gudgeon is a cowardly man in the street, trembling for his own skin. He is a man, but also a minnow, the writer put him in this form, and I, the artist, must preserve it. My task is to combine the image of a frightened man in the street and a minnow, to combine fish and human properties. It is very difficult to “comprehend” a fish, to give it a pose, a movement, a gesture. How to display forever frozen fear on a fish’s “face”? The figurine of the minnow-official gave me a lot of trouble....”

The writer shows the terrible philistine alienation and self-isolation in “The Wise Minnow.” M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin is bitter and painful for the Russian people. Reading Saltykov-Shchedrin is quite difficult. Therefore, perhaps many did not understand the meaning of his fairy tales. But the majority of “children of a fair age” appreciated the work of the great satirist as it deserved.

In conclusion, I would like to add that the thoughts expressed by the writer in fairy tales are still contemporary today. Shchedrin's satire is time-tested and it sounds especially poignant in times of social unrest, such as those that Russia is experiencing today.

M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin was born in January 1826 in the village of Spas-Ugol, Tver province. According to his father, he belonged to an old and rich noble family, and according to his mother, he belonged to the merchant class.

After successfully graduating from the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, Saltykov becomes an official in the military department, but he is of little interest in the service. In 1847, his first literary works appeared in print - “Contradictions” and “Confused Matters.”

But they started talking seriously about Saltykov as a writer only in 1856, when he began publishing “Provincial Sketches.”

He directed his extraordinary talent to open the eyes of those who do not yet see the lawlessness going on in the country, the flourishing ignorance and stupidity, and the triumph of bureaucracy.

But today I would like to dwell on the writer’s fairy-tale cycle, begun in 1869. Fairy tales were a kind of result, a synthesis of the ideological and creative quest of the satirist.

At that time, due to the existence of strict censorship, the author could not fully expose the vices of society, show all the inconsistency of the Russian administrative apparatus. And yet, with the help of fairy tales “for children of a fair age,” Shchedrin was able to convey to people a sharp criticism of the existing order.

In 1883, the famous “The Wise Minnow” appeared, which over the past hundred-plus years has become Shchedrin’s textbook fairy tale.

The plot of this fairy tale is known to everyone: once upon a time there was a gudgeon, which at first was no different from its own kind. But, a coward by nature, he decided to live his whole life without sticking out, in his hole, flinching from every rustle, from every shadow that flashed next to his hole. So life passed me by - no family, no children.

And so he disappeared - either on his own or some pike swallowed him. Only before his death does the minnow think about his life: “Who did he help? Who did you regret, what good did he do in life? “He lived - he trembled and he died - he trembled.” Only before death does the average person realize that no one needs him, no one knows him and no one will remember him.

But this is the plot, the external side of the fairy tale, what is on the surface. And the subtext of Shchedrin’s caricature in this tale of the morals of modern bourgeois Russia was well explained by the artist A. Kanevsky, who made illustrations for the fairy tale “The Wise Minnow”: “...everyone understands that Shchedrin is not talking about fish. The gudgeon is a cowardly man in the street, trembling for his own skin. He is a man, but also a minnow, the writer put him in this form, and I, the artist, must preserve it.

My task is to combine the image of a frightened man in the street and a minnow, to combine fish and human properties. It is very difficult to “understand” a fish, to give it a pose, a movement, a gesture. How to display forever frozen fear on a fish’s “face”? The figurine of the minnow-official gave me a lot of trouble....”.

The writer shows the terrible philistine alienation and self-isolation in “The Wise Minnow.” M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin is bitter and painful for the Russian people. Reading Saltykov-Shchedrin is quite difficult. Therefore, perhaps many did not understand the meaning of his fairy tales. But most “children of a fair age” appreciated the work of the great satirist as it deserved.

In conclusion, I would like to add that the thoughts expressed by the writer in fairy tales are still contemporary today. Shchedrin's satire is time-tested and it sounds especially poignant in times of social unrest, such as those that Russia is experiencing today.

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Problems of the fairy tale "The Wise Minnow" by Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin

In the complex sense of Shchedrin’s tales, small in volume and large in their ideological content, the following topics can be distinguished: satire on the autocratic government and on the exploiting classes, depiction of the life of the people in Tsarist Russia, exposure of the behavior and psychology of the secularist-minded layers of the intelligentsia, disclosure of individual morality and propaganda of the socialist ideal and new morality.
In the fairy tale “The Wise Minnow,” Shchedrin exposed for condemnation the cowardice of that part of the intelligentsia who, during the years of political reaction, succumbed to a mood of shameful panic. Depicting the pitiful fate of a hero who went mad with fear and walled himself up in a dark hole for the rest of his life, the satirist showed his warning and contempt for all those who, obeying the instinct of self-preservation, plunge into the narrow world of their own needs instead of active social struggle.
The gudgeon's parents lived quietly and peacefully, did not interfere in the life of society, and therefore died a natural death. And they ordered their son to watch with both, protecting himself. Their son was smart and took his parents’ words literally. He protected himself not only from large fish, but also from crayfish and water fleas. Although they were smaller than him, they could cause more harm, in his opinion. He was completely mad with fear and was even afraid to have a wife and children.
Shchedrin also ridiculed the minnow’s thoughts about man, that is, about the government. How many different means he came up with to destroy the minnows, that is, the people, and they, knowing all these stupid means, still swallow them. “Even though this is the stupidest tool, with us minnows, the more stupid, the more accurate,” this is how the old minnow thinks about the life of a people who do not want to learn even from their mistakes.
That gudgeon did not live, but did nothing but tremble and rejoice that he was alive. Even the pikes began to praise him, hoping that he would come out of the hole. But he doesn't. I sat for more than a hundred years and thought that I was the smartest. But Saltykov-Shchedrin speaks about the wrong course of reasoning of the minnow, that the wrong minnows become worse citizens who sit in holes, tremble and therefore eat in vain. What is the benefit to society from their existence? No. Therefore, it did not consider the gudgeon smart, but only called it a fool.
Originality artistic skill Shchedrin turned out to be in great power of his laughter, in the art of using humor, hyperbole, grotesque and fantasy for realistic image reality and its assessment from progressive public positions. In his tales, those who tried to hide from the enemy, avoid social struggle, and live by their own needs die. He tried to instill in the reader a sense of social duty, to teach him to live social life, social needs. Only under these conditions can a person be called smart and wise.