Gogol's story "Taras Bulba" is part of the "Mirgorod" cycle. There are two editions - 1835 and 1842. Gogol was against publishing the second version without agreeing with him on certain points. However, the story was still published without copyright edits.

The events in the book “Taras Bulba” take place around the 17th century. It is interesting that the author himself often mentions the 15th century, thus emphasizing the fantastic nature of the story. In the work, two narrative plans can be roughly distinguished: on one plan, the life of the Zaporozhye Cossacks and their campaign against Poland is described, and on the other, a dramatic story about the glorious Cossack Taras Bulba and his two sons.

For a deeper understanding of the story “Taras Bulba”, a summary of the chapters is given below.

Main characters

Taras Bulba- main character. A respected Cossack in the Sich, a good warrior. The main values ​​for him are the Christian faith and the Fatherland.

Ostap- Bulba’s eldest son, graduated from the seminary. In battles he proved himself to be a prudent and brave Cossack, able to analyze the situation and make the right decisions. A worthy son of his father.

Andriy- Bulba's youngest son. He subtly senses the world around him and nature, is able to see beauty in insignificant details, nevertheless, in battles he was distinguished by courage and an unconventional approach.

Other characters

Yankel- a Jew, looking for his own benefit in everything. Taras Bulba turned to him for help.

Pannochka- daughter of a Polish gentleman, beloved Andria.

Tatar- the lady’s servant, who informed Andriy about the underground passage in Dubno and about the terrible famine in the city.

Chapter 1

Bulba meets her sons - Ostap and Andriy, who returned from Kyiv after graduating from the seminary. The father kindly makes fun of their appearance, but Ostap does not like it. Instead of a greeting, a small scuffle begins between father and son, ending as suddenly as it began.

Taras decides to send his sons to the Sich so that they become real young men and brave Cossacks, and studying at the academy, books and maternal care will only spoil and pamper them. The mother does not agree with this decision, but what can she do but meekly agree. Such is her lot - to serve her husband and wait for him for months after his campaigns. On the occasion of the arrival of Ostap and Andriy, Bulba convened all the centurions, who approved the idea of ​​​​sending their sons to the Sich. Inspired by the strength and excitement of the upcoming trip, Taras decides to go with his sons.

The old mother did not sleep - she hugged her sons, dreaming only that the night would not end. It was very difficult for her to part with them. Until recently, she hoped that her husband would change his mind or decide to leave a week later. But Taras Bulba was stubborn and unshakable.

When the sons were leaving, the mother rushed to them with ease and speed, not typical of her years. She couldn’t stop her family - the Cossacks took her away twice.

Chapter 2

The riders rode in silence. Taras thought about his youth, which was full of adventures, about his Cossack comrades, about how he would show off his sons to them. Ostap and Andriy were busy with other thoughts. When they were twelve years old, they were sent to study at the Kyiv Academy. Ostap tried to escape several times, buried his primer, but each time he was returned back and bought a new book, until finally his father threatened to send him to a monastery for disobedience. From that moment on, Ostap became much more diligent, and soon became on par with the best students.

Andriy studied more willingly, without making much effort. He was more inventive and was often the instigator of some kind of adventure. He managed to avoid punishment thanks to his flexibility of mind. Andriy's soul was open to other feelings. One day he saw a beautiful Polish girl and fell in love at first sight. Andriy was fascinated by her beauty and femininity. The next night the young man decided to sneak into her chambers. At first the lady was scared, but later she laughed merrily, putting various jewelry on Andriy. The Tatarka, a servant of the Polish lady, helped Andriy get out of the house as soon as there was a knock on the door.

The travelers galloped across the endless expanses of the steppe, which became more and more beautiful. Everything here seemed to breathe freedom. Soon they arrived on the island of Khortitsa. Ostap and Andriy entered the Sich with some fear and pleasure. On the island, life went on as usual: the Cossacks walked, danced, mended clothes, and fought.

Chapter 3

The Sich was a “continuous feast.” There were artisans and merchants and traders there, but most walked from morning to evening. On Khortitsa there were those who never studied or dropped out of the academy, and there were also learned Cossacks, there were fugitive officers and partisans. All these people were united by faith in Christ and love for their native land.

Ostap and Andriy quickly became imbued with the atmosphere that reigned there and joined that environment. The father did not like this - he wanted his sons to be hardened in battle, so he was thinking about how to raise the Sich for such an event. This leads to a quarrel with the Koshevoy, who does not want to start a war. Taras Bulba was not used to things not going his way: he planned to take revenge on the Koshevoi. He persuades his comrades to get the others drunk so that they overthrow the Koschevoy. Bulba’s plan works - Kirdyaga, an old but wise Cossack, Taras Bulba’s comrade in arms, is elected as the new Koshevoy.

Chapter 4

Taras Bulba communicates with the new Koshevoy about the military campaign. However, he, being a reasonable person, says: “let the people gather, but only by my own desire, I will not force anyone.” But in fact, behind such permission lies a desire to relieve oneself of responsibility for violating peace between states. A ferry with Cossacks who managed to escape arrives on the island. They bring disappointing news: priests (Catholic priests) ride on carts, harnessing Christians in them, Jewish women sew outfits for themselves from the priest’s vestments, and people are not allowed to celebrate Christian holidays without the approval of the Jews. Such lawlessness angered the Cossacks - no one had the right to insult their faith and people like that! Both old and young are ready to defend their Fatherland, fight the Poles for disgracing their faith and collect booty from captured villages.

The Cossacks made a noise and shouted: “Hang all the Jews!” Let not the Jewish women sew skirts from the priest’s vestments!” These words had a huge impact on the crowd, which immediately rushed to catch the Jews. But one of them, Yankel, says he knew the late brother of Taras Bulba. Bulba saves Yankel's life and allows him to go with the Cossacks to Poland.

Chapter 5

The earth is full of rumors about the military glory of the Cossacks and about their new conquests. The Cossacks moved at night and rested during the day. Taras Bulba looks with pride at his sons who have matured in battle. Ostap, it seemed, was destined to be a warrior. He proved himself to be a brave warrior with an analytical mind. Andriy was more attracted to the romantic side of the journey: knightly deeds and battles with the sword. He acted at the behest of his heart, without resorting to special thoughts, and sometimes he managed to do something that no experienced Cossack could do!

The army came to the city of Dubno. The Cossacks climbed onto the rampart, but from there stones, arrows, barrels, sandbags and pots of boiling water rained down on them. The Cossacks quickly realized that a siege was not their strong point, and decided to starve out the city. They trampled all the fields on horses, destroyed the crops in the gardens, and then settled down in kurens. Ostap and Andriy do not like this kind of life, but their father encourages them: “Be patient with the Cossack - you will become an ataman!”

Esaul brings icons and blessings from his old mother to Ostap and Andria. Andriy misses her, but does not want to return, even though he feels the stuffiness squeezing his heart. At night he admires the sky and stars.
The warriors, tired during the day, fell asleep. Everyone except Andriy. He wandered around the kuren, looking at the rich nature. Suddenly he accidentally notices a certain figure. The stranger turns out to be a woman whom Andriy recognizes as a Tatar who serves the lady with whom he was in love. The Tatar woman tells the young man about the terrible famine, about the lady who had not eaten anything for many days. It turns out that the lady saw Andriy among the soldiers and immediately remembered him. She told the maid to find Andriy and ask him to give him some bread, and if he did not agree, then let him come just like that. Andriy immediately begins to search for supplies, but the Cossacks even ate the porridge that had been prepared in excess. Then the young Cossack carefully pulls out the bag of food from under Ostap, on which he was sleeping. Ostap wakes up only for a moment and immediately falls asleep again. Andriy quietly sneaks through the kuren to the Tatar woman, who promised to lead him to the city through an underground passage.

Andria’s father calls out, warning that women will not lead to good things. The Kozak stood neither alive nor dead, afraid to move, but Bulba quickly fell asleep.

Chapter 6

Andriy walks along an underground passage and ends up in a Catholic monastery, finding the priests praying. Zaporozhets is amazed by the beauty and decoration of the cathedral, he is fascinated by the play of light in the stained glass. He was especially struck by the music.

A Cossack and a Tatar woman go out into the city. It's starting to get light. Andriy sees a woman with a child who died in the throes of hunger. A man mad with hunger appears on the street, begging for bread. Andriy fulfills the request, but the man, having barely swallowed a piece, dies - his stomach has not received food for too long. The Tatar woman admits that all living things in the city have already been eaten, but the governor ordered not to surrender - not today, tomorrow, two Polish regiments will arrive.

The maid and Andriy enter the house. Where the young man sees his beloved. Pannochka became different: “she was a lovely, flighty girl; this one is a beauty... in all its developed beauty.” Andriy and the Polish girl can’t get enough of each other; the young man wanted to say everything that was in his soul, but he couldn’t. Meanwhile, the Tatar woman cut the bread and brought it - Panna began to eat, but Andriy warned her that it was better to eat in pieces, otherwise you might die. And neither words nor the painter’s pen could express how the Polish woman looked at the Cossack. The feelings that possessed the young man at that moment were so strong that Andriy renounces his father, his faith, and his Fatherland - he will do everything to serve the young lady.

A Tatar woman appears in the room with good news: the Poles have entered the city and are taking captured Cossacks. Andriy kisses the lady.

Chapter 7

The Cossacks decide to attack Dubno and avenge their captured comrades. Yankel tells Taras Bulba that he saw Andriy in the city. The Cossack changed his outfit, he was given a good horse, and he himself shines like a coin. Taras Bulba was dumbfounded by what he heard, but still couldn’t believe it. Then Yankel reports on the upcoming wedding of Andriy with the master’s daughter, when Andriy and the Polish army will drive the Cossacks out of Dubno. Bulba is angry with the Jew, suspecting him of lying.

The next morning it turns out that many Cossacks were killed while they were sleeping; Several dozen soldiers were captured from the Pereyaslavsky kuren. The battle begins between the Cossacks and the Polish army. The Cossacks are trying to break the enemy regiment into pieces - this will make it easier to win.

One of the Kurky chieftains is killed in battle. Ostap takes revenge for a Cossack killed in battle. For his courage, the Cossacks choose him as chieftain (instead of the killed Cossack). And immediately Ostap was given the opportunity to consolidate his fame as a wise leader: as soon as he ordered to retreat from the walls of the city, to stay as far away from them as possible, all sorts of objects fell from there, and many got it.

The battle is over. The Cossacks buried the Cossacks, and tied the bodies of the Poles to wild horses so that the dead would drag along the ground, along hills, ditches and ravines. Taras Bulba wondered why his youngest son was not among the warriors. He is ready to take cruel revenge on the lady, because of whom Andriy renounced everything that was dear to him. But what does the new day have in store for Taras Bulba?

Chapter 8

The Cossacks say goodbye to each other, raise toasts to the faith and the Sich. So that the enemy would not see the decline in the Cossack army, it was decided to attack at night.

Chapter 9

Due to incorrect calculations, the city again lacks food. The military leader hears rumors about the Cossacks who have set out to take revenge on the Tatars, and preparations for the battle begin.
The Poles admire the fighting skills of the Cossacks, but the Cossacks still suffer heavy losses - guns were brought out against them. The Cossacks do not give up, Bulba encourages them with the words “there is still gunpowder in the flasks.” Bulba sees his youngest son: Andriy is riding a black argamak as part of a Polish cavalry regiment. Bulba went mad with anger, seeing how Andriy was cutting down everyone - both his own and strangers. Bulba catches up with the young man, who, at the sight of his father, suddenly loses his fighting spirit. Andriy obediently dismounts from his horse. Before his death, the Cossack uttered not the name of his mother or homeland, but the name of his beloved Pole. The father kills his son with a shot, uttering the phrase that has become famous: “I gave birth to you, I will kill you!” .

The eldest son of Taras Bulba becomes an involuntary witness to the murder, but there is no time to grieve or understand: Ostap is attacked by Polish soldiers. Broken, but still alive, Ostap is captured by the Poles.

The Cossack army is greatly thinned out, Taras Bulba falls from his horse.

Chapter 10

Bulba is alive, he is being taken by the Cossack Tovkach to the Zaporozhye Sich. After a month and a half, Bulba was able to recover from his wounds. Everything in the Sich is new, the old Cossacks are no longer there, and those who left to fight the Tatars have not returned. Taras Bulba was stern, indifferent, did not participate in parties and general fun, he was burdened by thoughts of his eldest son. Bulba asks Yankel to take him to Warsaw, despite the fact that there was a reward of two thousand ducats on Bulba’s head. Having accepted the reward for the service, Yankel hides the Cossack at the bottom of the cart, covering the top with bricks.

Chapter 11

Bulba asks the Jews to release his son from prison - but it is too late, because the execution is scheduled for the next day. You can only see him at dawn. Taras agrees. Yankel dresses the Cossack in foreign clothes, both enter the prison, where Yankel flatters the guards. But Taras Bulba, offended by a remark from one of them, reveals his incognito identity.
Bulba demands to be taken to the place of his son’s execution.

The Cossacks walked to execution with “quiet pride,” Ostap Bulbenko walked ahead. Before his death, deprived of any hope of an answer, Ostap shouts into the crowd: “Father, where are you now: Can you hear me?” . And they answered him: “I hear!”

Chapter 12

The entire Sich has gathered under the leadership of Taras Bulba, the Cossacks are marching towards Poland. Bulba became more cruel, and hatred of the Poles only intensified. With his Cossacks he reached Krakow, leaving behind 18 burned cities. Hetman Potocki was tasked with capturing Taras Bulba, which led to a bloody battle that lasted 4 days. Victory was close, but Taras Bulba was captured while he was looking for a lost cradle in the grass. He was burned at the stake.

The Cossacks managed to escape, sailing on boats, they spoke and praised their chieftain - the irreplaceable Taras Bulba.

Conclusion

The themes and problems raised in the work “Taras Bulba” will be relevant at all times. The story itself is fantastic, and the images are collective. Gogol successfully combines easy writing language, colorful characters, an adventure plot with subtly written psychologism. His characters are memorable and remain in the memory forever. By reading “Taras Bulba” in an abridged version, you can get information about the plot and plot, but stunningly beautiful descriptions of nature, monologues imbued with the spirit of freedom and Cossack valor will only be in the original work. In general, the story was warmly received by critics, although some aspects were condemned (for example, the assessment of Poles and Jews).

Despite the above brief retelling of Gogol's Taras Bulba, we strongly recommend that you read the full text of the work.

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(reads about 5 minutes) Taras Bulba is an elderly Cossack, the father of two sons. His children, Ostap and Andriy, studied at the Kyiv Academy. After its completion, they returned to their home. The young people, strong, strong and healthy, look embarrassed: the father chuckles at their clothes. But Ostap, the eldest son, does not intend to tolerate such an attitude. Taras and his son are seriously fighting. The mother, a kind old lady, calms her husband down. He is glad that Ostap turned out to be a real Cossack. Taras Bulba wants to test his youngest son, but Andriy is already in the arms of his mother.

The old Cossack convenes the regiments and centurions to say: he intends to send his children to the Zaporozhye Sich. After all, for a real Cossack there is no more useful science than the Sich! He wants to introduce the children to his friends in person. It’s not easy for a mother: the time has come to part with her beloved sons, who have just arrived home. The mother spends the night sitting over the sleeping Ostap and Andriy, and in the morning she cannot tear herself away from them, but still finds the strength to bless the children.

Taras Bulba and his children are riding horseback. Everyone thinks about his own things, everyone is silent. Taras remembers his wild youth, tears appear in his eyes. Ostap, who became stern and firm during his studies, cannot indifferently remember saying goodbye to his mother: he has a kind heart by nature. Andriy remembers not only his mother and home, but also a beautiful Polish girl. The Cossack met her shortly before leaving Kyiv. Desperate Andriy made his way into the Polish woman’s bedroom through the chimney. So that no one would see him, the young woman covered her guest. When the threat had passed, the Polish maid took Andriy out into the street. Then he saw the beautiful lady in the church. How can you not remember such meetings!

The road turns out to be long, but after arriving at the place, the sons of Taras plunge into a riotous life: the Cossacks only gain combat experience during battles, and on their free days they drink and have fun. Taras Bulba does not approve of this, because brave prowess should not be wasted on empty entertainment. The old Cossack figures out how to distract the Cossacks and persuades them to choose a new Koschevoy. He decides to go to Poland.

After some time, throughout the southwest of Poland, people were gripped by fear of the Cossacks. The Cossacks, including Ostap and Andriy, mature in battle. One of the first cities on the way is Dubno. It has a rich treasury. The city residents and the garrison resist the Cossacks, but the Cossacks besiege the fortress. They burn houses and spoil crops. Taras Bulba asks the young people to wait: hot fights will begin soon.

One night, Andriy, awakened by the maid of a beautiful Polish woman, learns that the lady is in Dubno. Her mother is dying, and the young woman begs for help. Her lover goes to the city with several bags of bread and, having met the lady, renounces his family and his Motherland. Now his Fatherland is a beautiful Pole. Meanwhile, Poles appear in the city. They kill and capture the Cossacks, and the survivors decide to continue the siege. Taras Bulba learns about his son's betrayal. The Sich is also going through difficult times: those who remained in Zaporozhye were attacked by the Tatars. Half of the fighters have to return. Taras becomes the head of the siege army. He talks about the power of camaraderie, and this speech inspires the Cossacks.

The Polish army learns that the enemy has weakened and decides to attack. Andriy finds himself among the Poles. The Cossacks, having received the order of Taras Bulba, lure him to the forest. The father kills Andriy, who even in the face of death remembers only the lady. The Poles defeat the Cossacks, the eldest son of Taras Bulba is captured. Taras is wounded and taken to the Zaporozhye Sich. But, having barely recovered, the old Cossack turns to the Jew Yankel. Through bribery and threats, he forces him to secretly send him to Warsaw. Taras Bulba hopes to buy out Ostap. Hopes are not destined to come true: the son is tortured in the square. Only one exclamation escapes from his chest - an appeal to his father. The father responds from the crowd and quickly disappears.

More than one hundred thousand Cossacks rise against Poland. Ataman Taras and his regiment are among them. He does not spare anyone, he takes revenge for Ostap. The Hetman of Poland was defeated. He vows never to go against the Cossacks. Colonel Bulba is not satisfied with such a world: the forgiven Poles will probably not keep their word. And the old Cossack turns out to be right: the next attack by the Poles ends in the defeat of the Cossacks. Meanwhile, Bulba's regiment destroys the Poles without pity. After many unsuccessful attempts, the hetman's regiments overtake Taras Bulba. The battle continues for four days. The Cossacks who survived escape the pursuit, but the colonel stops to find the lost cradle. The Poles take him prisoner, tie him to a tree and burn him. Dying, Taras shows the Cossacks the way to the river. At the last moment of his life, he sees how his old comrades are leaving the pursuit, and thinks about their future victories.

Brief summary of the story "Taras Bulba" by chapters

The story by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol called “Taras Bulba” is part of the “Mirgorod” cycle. This cycle consists of several stories by the author. These stories are a kind of continuation of a collection of stories called “Evenings on a farm near Dikanka.” All the stories in the collection are written based on Ukrainian folklore and are very similar to each other in plot line. However, in the “Mirgorod” cycle of this collection there is no one narrator who could contribute to the semantic completion of all the stories.

Summary of Chapter 1 of the story Taras Bulba

The sons of Taras Bulba, Ostap and Andriy completed their studies at the Kyiv Bursa. A few years later they return to their homeland, to their father. Upon meeting, Taras begins to laugh at the way his sons are dressed. His eldest son, Ostap, does not like his father’s behavior and asks him to immediately stop laughing at their clothes. A fight broke out between Taras and Ostap. This playful and awkward brawl is interrupted by Taras’s wife. She immediately rushes to hug her sons. Taras did not like such a tender attitude of his sons towards their mother. He was simply sure that a real Cossack needs no one and nothing except an open field and a good horse. Taras comes to the conclusion that his sons are obliged to go to the Zaporozhye Sich in order to learn the basics of Cossack science. Father allows Ostap and Andriy to spend exactly a week at home. The mother was very unhappy about this turn of events. She wanted her sons to spend more time at home next to her.

For a friendly feast on the occasion of the arrival of his sons home, Taras calls together his closest colleagues. He proudly introduces Ostap and Andriy to all his guests. Taras asks his sons with particular interest about all the nuances of their studies in Kyiv. After drinking a large amount of alcohol, Taras decides to remember his youth. He wants to go with his sons to the Zaporozhye Sich the very next day. Taras’s wife has long been accustomed to such extravagant behavior of her husband. She was upset that she would have to part with her sons so soon. Before the inevitable separation, she tries in any way to spend more time with her sons. All night she does not close her eyes for a minute, sitting by the beds of her children. Taras’s wife had a difficult fate as a woman. She endured all kinds of insults in her direction from her husband and even sometimes beatings, while growing old and never experiencing any love or affection. All the love that she could not spend on her husband, she turned to her sons. However, tomorrow the husband wants to take them to the flogging. She was very worried that she might not see them again.

Taras Bulba was a very stubborn man. Such a character as his could have arisen only in the 15th century in the southern region that was burned and devastated by the raids of the Tatars and Turks. With such formidable and dangerous neighbors, the Cossack spirit was born. The Cossacks, not without reason, are considered the most extraordinary manifestation of Russian strength. In place of isolated small towns and allotments, formidable smoking villages and Cossack villages appeared. All these new formations were connected with each other by hatred of non-Christians. The Polish authorities very quickly realized the significance of such a neighborhood and always helped the Cossacks in all their endeavors as best they could. A large number of representatives of the Russian nobility felt the influence of the Polish people. A large number of representatives of the noble class imitated the Poles in their customs and love of luxury. Taras Bulba did not like this trend. He liked the ordinary life of the Cossacks, without any luxury or flattery. He quarreled with all his comrades who went over to the Polish side. Taras called such defectors the master's slaves. Bulba was confident that it was his point of view that had the right to exist, and that he was the legitimate defender of Orthodoxy. He, together with his Cossacks, restored order in every village where they complained about the oppression of Jewish tenants, mocked Orthodoxy and simply did not respect the elders. He believed that he had every right to take up arms against the Turks and Tatars. Now the thought of how he would appear in the battle and boast of his sons, good and reliable Cossacks, could not leave him. Having woken up very early, Bulba immediately began to prepare for departure. The former students had to change into trousers and Cossacks. Sitting down on the path, Taras asks his mother to give her blessing to her sons. When they had already set off on the road, the mother, distraught, rushed to hug first Andriy and then Ostap. The servants forcibly took her into the hut. The sons barely managed not to burst into tears. Taras Bulba was also embarrassed, but he restrained his emotions with all his might.

Summary of Chapter 2 of the story Taras Bulba

All three rode in silence, each thinking about his own. The old father thought about the past, and could not get enough of the upcoming meeting in the battle. The sons remembered the bursa. In the first year of studying there, Ostap fled from it. He was caught, returned to the bursa, severely flogged and put behind his textbooks. He didn’t want to study there and even buried his primer four times. However, after that they flogged him and bought a new textbook. With unusual zeal, Ostap began to study only after Taras promised to keep him in the monastery servants for twenty years. He was rarely the leader of petty outrages, but he was a good friend and never, under any circumstances, betrayed his friends. His younger brother, Andriy, studied well, was also a hooligan and took part in many pranks. However, unlike his brother Ostap, he was more cunning, and other guys were responsible for the tricks. Already from the age of eighteen, Andriy dreamed of women, but he did not admit such desires to his friends, he was very afraid of their ridicule. Now, on the way to the battle, Andria remembered his date with a beautiful Polish woman. During one of his walks around Kyiv, Andria was almost hit by the carriage of a Polish gentleman. Out of anger, the coachman hit the gaping student with his whip with all his might. Andriy was beside himself with anger and, holding the wheel with one hand, stopped the carriage. However, the horses, frightened, rushed, and he fell face first into a dirty puddle. This misunderstanding made the unfamiliar beauty laugh. To this day Andriy cannot forget this meeting and the face of that beautiful Polish woman. He even sneaked through the chimney into her bedroom. However, when he saw her again, he became timid, which again only made her laugh. On the way to the Zaporozhye Sich, Andriy only thought about this beautiful Pole.

The road was long and passed mainly through the steppe. They stopped only for lunch and overnight. All three happily ate bread and lard for lunch, and before bed they cooked kulesh over an open fire. During the entire journey they did not meet a single traveler or a single horseman. Only occasionally did Taras point out to his sons a flashing black dot in the distance, assuring him that it was a Tatar who had galloped by. Having crossed the Dnieper River, they finally entered the battlefield. She greeted them peacefully. Taras quickly found his old friends and was incredibly happy about it.

Summary of Chapter 3 of the story Taras Bulba

About a week has already passed since Taras and his sons arrived in the battle. Ostap and Andriy hardly practiced the art of war because the Sich trained Cossacks only in battle. The Zaporozhye Sich was the place where a continuous feast took place, noisy and endless. However, unlike other drinking establishments, it was not bitter drunkards who walked here, but cheerful, carefree Cossacks. The Sich was a close circle of comrades who went into battle at the first call of the enemy. It was also a kind of refuge for outcasts. Many people came and came here. There were also schoolchildren who had escaped from the Bursa and serfs who had escaped from the landowners, there were even officers who, in principle, did not care where to fight. The only people it was simply impossible to meet here were admirers of women because women did not dare show themselves in battle. There was also a certain reception ceremony, which consisted in the fact that only Orthodox Christians were accepted into the flogging. Everything was common here - food, money, clothing. There were different moral standards. Stealing, for example, was considered a dishonorable act. Murder was punished very terribly - the murderer was buried alive in the same grave with the murdered person.

Ostap and Andriy easily fit into the wild sea of ​​Cossacks. They liked all the fun customs of the battle, and were not even embarrassed by its harsh and rather strict laws. The brothers quickly made new friends. Soon the brothers began to stand out noticeably among the young Cossacks with their daring and dexterity. Taras did not like this idle life. He thought about sending his sons into some kind of battle, in which the sons would gain military experience. However, to his chagrin, the Sich concluded peace treaties with the Turks and Tatars, and simply could not break these treaties. And the most important ataman over the Cossack Sich, Koshevoy, was categorically against starting a war. Then Taras, without thinking for a long time, decides to incite some of the Cossacks to revolt and he succeeds. The Cossacks re-elect the chief chieftain. Bulba's old friend, the Cossack Kirdyaga, becomes the new koshev.

Summary of Chapter 4 of the story Taras Bulba

Kirdyaga turned out to be a very cunning and seasoned Cossack. He could not and did not want to order the Cossacks to destroy the peace treaties. On his instructions, most of the Cossacks convened a general meeting. At this meeting, it was decided to make a military attack on the Turks. While preparations for hostilities were underway, a ferry approached the river bank. The Cossacks who arrived on this ferry began to shame the revelers of Zaporozhye for their behavior. The reason for this behavior of the new arrivals was that while they were having fun and drinking here, in their native Ukraine the Poles were oppressing Orthodox Christians. After such words, the whole crowd rose as one. Pogroms and mass murders of Jews began. Taras saves one of his comrades, Yankel, from death. The Cossacks begin to prepare for a campaign against the Poles.

Chapter V (summary)

The Zaporozhye army decisively went to war with the Poles. And fear walked in small steps ahead of the army. All the villages that the army encountered along the way were burned, and all the livestock was stolen. The Cossacks, without a twinge of conscience, burned Catholic monasteries and brutally dealt with Jewish tenants. Young Cossacks were famous for robberies and murders of weak people. It was in battles with Polish troops that they honed their military skills. Ostap and Andriy very quickly matured and became hardened in battles with numerous enemies. Taras Bulba was very proud of the successes of his sons. Ostap, as Taras thought, was destined by fate to become a commander, brave and judicious. Andriy, in turn, only amazed his father with his reckless prowess in battle. Soon the Cossacks decided to storm the rich city of Dubno. However, they received severe rebuff from the residents and the garrison. The Cossacks first retreated, and then, having besieged the city, they began to plunder the surrounding villages. Soon the young Cossacks became bored with the fruitless siege. Discipline began to gradually decline. Drunk guards could be seen more and more often. One evening, a servant of a Polish lady, a Kyiv acquaintance of Andria, sneaked into the Cossack camp through a secret passage. A Kiev acquaintance saw him among the Cossack army and immediately sent a maid to him for food. Her action was justified by the fact that the city ran out of supplies and began to starve, from which the Polish mother was dying. Andriy, without hesitation, collected food and, together with his maid, went to the besieged city.

Chapter VI of the story "Taras Bulba" (brief retelling)

Andriy and his maid entered the city through an underground passage. In the city, people were starving and dying of exhaustion. It even got to the point that all the cats and dogs in the city were caught and eaten. What was even more distressing was the fact that the townspeople were not in the habit of keeping huge supplies of food. The city was exhausted and was ready to surrender, but the townspeople were assured that help was already on the way to them.

Andriy was finally able to see his Kyiv friend. The Polish woman was a very beautiful girl. Andriy loved her so much that he was even ready to do the craziest thing. For the sake of the love of this beauty, Andriy was able to betray his homeland, father, brother and friends. On this night, Andriy committed a terrible betrayal against Taras Bulba. Having broken through the Cossack siege, reinforcements finally arrived in the city. They delivered not only food to the city, but also captured Cossacks.

Chapter VII (summary of the story)

The Cossacks on patrol were bored with nothing to do. Having nothing else to do, they got drunk and missed reinforcements to the Poles. Koshevoy was angry, having gathered an army, he scolded the Cossacks for drunkenness. One of the atamans promised to defeat the Poles. The Cossacks, with all the zeal unique to them, began to prepare for battle. Taras, meanwhile, could not find Andriy anywhere. He was very worried that he could be captured. A Jew he knew, Yankel, approached him. Yankel told Bulba that during a trip to the city he saw his youngest son there. The Jew also clarified that Andriy was not in captivity there. He asked to tell his father that he was renouncing his homeland, his comrades and his father. From now on, Andriy will fight against his former comrades. Soon there was a sortie of besieged Poles. The Cossacks very quickly and dashingly repelled the attack. In the battle, Ostap showed himself the most. After this battle, the Cossacks chose Ostap as their chieftain, instead of the Kurenny who died in battle. Taras could not be happier for his eldest son, and his heart never ceased to ache for his youngest son.

Chapter VIII (summary of N. Gogol's story "Taras Bulba")

Very sad news came from the battle. The Tatars, having learned about the absence of the Cossacks from Zaporozhye, carried out a raid. They beat the Cossacks who remained in the kurens and took them prisoner. The Tatars stole cattle and horses, and also took the entire treasury. The Cossacks hastily assembled a council to solve a sudden problem. The Cossacks clearly understood that if they did not rush to the rescue, the Tatars would sell the prisoners into captivity. Koshevoy decides to lift the siege of Dubno and immediately go to recapture the prisoners and the treasury. Taras Bulba was against this plan. He was sure that in the besieged city there were also captured Cossacks, who were also threatened with torture and death, just like the captured Cossacks in the battle. As a result, it was decided that part of the Cossack army, led by the Kosh chieftain, would go to rescue their comrades and the treasury from Tatar captivity, and the rest, having chosen a temporary chieftain, who became Taras Bulba, would continue the siege of Dubno. At night, most of the Cossacks went in search of the Tatars. After such a parting, some Cossacks became depressed, but Taras Bulba ordered the wine to be unpacked. The Cossacks drank to their faith and the Zaporozhye Sich.

Chapter IX

All provisions in the besieged city again ran out. The Poles tried to make a foray for food. However, all their attempts were unsuccessful. The Cossacks killed half of them, and the other half returned to the city empty-handed. The Jews, taking advantage of the foray, sneaked into the Cossack camp and found out that the Cossacks had gone to fight the Tatars. The information received was immediately conveyed to the city. The Poles cheered up and hastily began to prepare for battle. Having killed the Cossacks, Taras, seeing the excitement going on in the city, also began hastily preparing the Cossacks for battle. To maintain morale, Taras gives a speech to the Cossacks. The battle turns out to be very cruel and bloody. A huge number of excellent Cossacks laid down their lives for their faith and homeland. It was in this battle that Taras Bulba kills his son Andriy. “I gave birth to you, I will kill you,” - this is what Taras says to his son before killing him. However, even before his inevitable death, Andriy whispered the name of his beloved Polish girl. But the brave and devoted Ostap is captured by his enemies.

Chapter X

In the last battle, Taras Bulba suffered a lot. For two weeks he lay in a feverish delirium. He, unlike his son Ostap, miraculously managed to avoid captivity. Faithful comrade Tovkach brought Taras to the flogging, barely alive, and was even able to find him a good doctor. Only after a whole month did Taras feel better. However, his soul was very heavy from thoughts about Ostap. Not everything was in order in the battle. Everyone he knew either died or was captured by the enemy. Taras missed his son very much. As a result, he could not stand it and decided to find out about Ostap’s fate. He found his comrade, the Jew Yankel, and for a certain fee persuaded him to take him to Warsaw.

Chapter XI

Upon arrival in Warsaw, Yankel and Taras stop with friends of a Jew. Bulba asks Yankel's acquaintances for a favor, in the hope that they will help him arrange a date with his son. Taras even plans to arrange Ostap's escape. Dressed in expensive count clothes, Taras goes on a date with his son. With the help of flattery and a little bribery, Taras and Yankel manage to get into prison. However, even after taking the money, the guard basely deceived them and did not let them through to Ostap. Out of desperation, Taras decides to go to the square to at least look at his son from afar. A huge crowd of onlookers gathered in the main square where the execution took place. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the start of the execution. Before the execution, the prisoners were subjected to severe torture. Ostap bravely endured all these torments. Taras was very proud of his son’s perseverance. Just before his death, Ostap called his father, Taras, in turn, loudly responded to his son’s call. They tried to find Taras in the crowd of onlookers, but he quickly disappeared from the execution site.

Summary of chapter 12 of the story Taras Bulba

All Cossacks rose up to fight the Polish invaders. A huge army marched against the Poles. Among this huge army there was only one regiment. However, this regiment was the most selective. They were commanded by Taras Bulba. Bulba was driven by a fierce and irreconcilable hatred of his enemies. The Cossacks, liberating the cities one after another, hanged their traitors. The Poles even tried to conclude a peace agreement with the Cossacks, promising to return their former rights and benefits.

The Cossacks bowed their heads only before the Christian Church. They agreed to release the Poles, while taking oaths from them to forget previous grievances against the Cossacks and leave all Christian churches free. However, Taras Bulba did not believe the promises of the Poles, calling on other Cossacks not to believe either. Peace terms were signed, despite the entreaties of Taras. Then Bulba left the army and took his regiment with him. The Poles, as Taras Bulba warned, deceived the Cossacks, killing the chieftain and many colonels. Taras began to burn settlements throughout Poland, plundering rich castles and the best lands. He spared no one, neither women nor children. Taras celebrated cruel and bloody memorials for Ostap throughout Poland. The king instructed Hetman Pototsky himself to deal with Taras Bulba. For ten days, the Cossacks evaded pursuit and fought with Polish troops. The Cossacks even managed to break through the Polish army, but Bulba returned to look for the pipe that had fallen from him. It was at that moment that he was captured. It was decided to burn Taras Bulba alive, in full view of everyone. Bulba died, but his comrades were able to escape.

“Taras Bulba” is a story included in the “Mirgorod” cycle, written by N.V. Gogol. The prototype of the Cossack was the Kurennaya ataman Okhrim Makukha, who was born in Starodub and was an associate of B. Khmelnitsky himself. He had sons, one of whom, like Andriy in Gogol's work, became a traitor.

A brief retelling of “Taras Bulba”: chapters 1-2

Brothers Andriy and Ostap returned home after studying at the Kyiv Academy. Taras's eldest son did not like his father's ridicule of their outfit. He immediately got into a fist fight with him. The mother ran out into the yard and rushed to hug her sons. My father couldn’t wait to see Andriy and Ostap in battle. Taras Bulba scheduled his departure for the Sich in a week. True, after drinking vodka, he decided to go there in the morning. The brothers changed into Cossack clothes early, took their weapons and were ready to leave. On the way, Taras recalled his youth. Ostap dreamed only of war and feasts. Andriy was as brave and strong as his brother, but at the same time more sensitive. He constantly remembered the Polish lady he met in Kyiv. One day, while gaping on the street, Andriy almost fell under the wheels of the master's car. He fell face first into the dirt, and when he got up, he saw a girl watching him from the window. The next night he snuck into the room of a dazzlingly beautiful young Polish woman.
At first she was scared, and then she saw that the student himself was very embarrassed. The Tatar maid quietly took him out of the house. Finally, the Cossacks drove up to the bank of the Dnieper and took a ferry to the island.

A brief retelling of “Taras Bulba”: chapters 3-4

During the truce, the Cossacks rested: they walked, drank. They were served by craftsmen of different nationalities (fed, sheathed), since they themselves could only fight and have fun. Taras introduced Andriy and Ostap to the Koshevoy chieftain and his comrades. The young men were amazed by the customs. There were no military activities as such, but theft and murder were punished in the most severe way. Since the sons of Taras were distinguished by their daring in any business, they immediately became noticeable among young people. However, the old Cossack was tired of the wild life, he dreamed of war. The Koshevoy Ataman told Taras how to rouse the Cossacks to battle without breaking the oath (to keep peace).

A brief retelling of “Taras Bulba”: chapters 5-6

And then one day, tattered Cossacks appeared in the Sich and told what they had suffered from the Poles, who mocked the Orthodox faith. The Cossacks became angry and decided to go on a campaign. A day and a half later they arrived in Dubno. According to rumors, there were many rich people and a treasury there. Residents of the city, including women, began to defend themselves. The Cossacks set up a camp around Dubno, planning to starve it out. From idleness, the Cossacks got drunk and almost all fell asleep. Andriy was sober and slept lightly. The servant of that same lady came to him (she was just in Dubno and noticed a guy from the city wall) and asked for food for her. The Cossack collected a bag of bread and followed the Tatar woman through a secret passage underground. Andriy saw that people really began to die of hunger. But the lady said that by morning help would come to them. Andriy remained in the city.

A brief retelling of “Taras Bulba”: chapters 7-8

In the morning the Polish army actually arrived. In a hot battle, the Poles flogged and captured many Cossacks, but they could not withstand the onslaught and hid in the city. Taras Bulba noticed that Andriy was missing. At the same time, a new misfortune became known from a Cossack who had escaped from Tatar captivity. The Basurmans captured many Cossacks and stole the treasury of the Sich. Kurennoy ataman Kukubenko suggested splitting up. Those whose relatives ended up with the Tatars went to liberate them, and the rest decided to fight with the Poles. Taras stayed near Dubno because he thought Andriy was there.

Brief retelling. Gogol. "Taras Bulba": chapters 9-10

Inspired by Bulba's speech, the Cossacks entered the battle. After its completion, the gates of the city opened, and Andriy flew out at the head of the hussar regiment. By beating the Cossacks, he cleared the way for the Poles. Taras asked his comrades to lure Andriy into the forest. When the young man saw his father, all his fighting spirit disappeared. When Andriy arrived in the forest on horseback, Taras ordered him to dismount and come closer. He obeyed like a child. Bulba shot his son. The last thing the young man’s lips whispered was the Polish woman’s name. Taras did not even allow Ostap to bury his traitor brother. Help came to the Poles. Ostap was taken prisoner. Taras was seriously injured. Tovkach carried him out of the battlefield.

“Taras Bulba”: a very brief retelling of chapters 11-12

The old Cossack recovered and came to the city just at the moment when the Cossacks were being led to execution. Among them was Ostap. Bulba saw the torment his son was subjected to. When Ostap, before he was to be burned alive, looked for at least one familiar face in the crowd and called his father, Taras responded. The Poles rushed to look for old Bulba, but there was no trace of him. Taras's revenge was cruel. With his regiment, he burned eighteen towns to the ground. They offered 2,000 ducats for his head. But he was elusive. And when his regiment was surrounded by Pototsky’s troops near the Dniester River, Taras dropped his pipe into the grass. He did not want the Poles to get it, and stopped to look for it. Then the Poles captured him. The Poles set fire to a living Cossack, having first chained him to a tree. In his last minutes, Taras thought about his comrades. From the high bank he saw the Poles catching up with them. He shouted to the Cossacks to run to the river and get into their canoes. They obeyed and thus escaped pursuit. The mighty body of the Cossack was engulfed in flames. The sailing Cossacks talked about their chieftain.

"Taras Bulba"- a story by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol, part of the “Mirgorod” cycle. "Taras Tulba" abbreviated by chapters you can read in this article.

Summary of “Taras Bulba” by chapters

Chapter 1 “Taras Bulba” abbreviated

The sons of Taras Bulba, Ostap and Andriy, return after many years of study at the Kyiv Bursa. Upon meeting, Taras begins to mock his sons’ clothes. The eldest son, Ostap, did not like his father’s ridicule, and he asks him to stop laughing. Taras and Ostap begin to fight. Their playful fight is interrupted by their mother. She hugs her children. Taras did not like the tender attitude of his sons towards their mother. In his opinion, a true Cossack needs only an open field and a good horse. He decides that in a week Ostap and Andriy will have to go to the Zaporozhye Sich to gain Cossack science. The mother is very upset that her sons will spend so little time at home next to her. On the occasion of the arrival of his sons, Taras convenes his closest colleagues for a friendly feast. He introduces Ostap and Andriy to them. Taras asks his sons about their studies in Kyiv. After drinking vodka, Taras decides to “kick back the old days” and go to the Zaporozhye Sich with his sons tomorrow. Taras’s wife has long been accustomed to her husband’s extravagance, but such a quick separation from her children saddens her to tears. All night, without closing her eyes for a minute, she sits by her sons’ beds, thus saying goodbye to them before their inevitable separation. Her fate as a woman was not easy. She endured insults and even sometimes beatings, and grew old without love and affection. All her unspent love turned to her sons. But tomorrow their husband will take them to the flogging, and it may happen that she will never see them again. Taras was terribly stubborn. Only in the 15th century, in the scorched southern region devastated by the raids of the Tatars and Turks, could such a character arise. In the vicinity of formidable and dangerous neighbors, the Cossack spirit was born. The Cossacks can be considered the most extraordinary phenomenon of Russian power. In place of scattered small towns and plots, formidable smoking villages and Cossack villages arose, bound by hatred of non-Christians. The Polish authorities quickly realized the significance of such a neighborhood and in every possible way encouraged and flattered the Cossacks. Many representatives of the Russian nobility succumbed to Polish influence. They adopted Polish customs and love of luxury. Taras Bulba did not like this. The simple life of the Cossacks was to his heart. He even quarreled with his comrades, who leaned towards the Polish side. He called them the master's slaves. Bulba sincerely considered himself a legitimate defender of Orthodoxy. If in some village they complained about the oppression of Jewish tenants, mocked Orthodoxy, and did not respect the elders, Taras and his Cossacks restored order in this village. Against the Turks and Tatars, he considered it permissible to raise weapons. Now he consoled himself with the thought of coming to the fray and boasting about his sons, what kind and efficient Cossacks he raised and educated them. And in the morning Bulba, waking up very early, began to prepare for departure. The former students changed into trousers and Cossacks. After sitting in front of the road, Taras asks his mother to bless her sons. When they set off on the road, the mother, as if mad with grief, rushed to hug first Ostap and then Andriy. She was taken into the hut by servants, and her sons could hardly hold back their tears. Taras was also embarrassed, but did not show his condition to his sons.

Chapter 2 “Taras Bulba” abbreviated

Taras, Ostap and Andriy rode in silence, each thinking about his own. The old father recalled the past, thinking about the upcoming meeting in the battle. The sons remembered the bursa. Ostap fled from it in the first year of study. When he was returned to the bursa, he was terribly flogged and forced to study. He even buried his primer four times, they whipped him and bought a new textbook. Only when Taras promised to keep him in the monastery service for 20 years did Ostap begin to study with unusual zeal. He was rarely the leader of the daring pranks of schoolchildren, but he was a devoted friend and never betrayed his friends. His younger brother, Andriy, studied willingly, and he did not shy away from leadership in school squabbles. But unlike Ostap, he was more cunning, and most often others were responsible for the tricks, and he, as a rule, “got away unscathed.” Already at the age of 18, Andriy dreamed of women, but did not admit his desires to his friends, fearing their ridicule. Now, rocking in the saddle, on the way to the battle, Andria remembered a meeting with a beautiful Polish woman. Once, while walking around Kyiv, Andria was almost hit by a Polish gentleman's car. The coachman hit the unwary student with his whip, then Andriy boiled with rage and stopped the carriage with one hand on the wheel. But the horses rushed, and he fell face first into a muddy puddle. That’s when he made the unfamiliar beauty laugh. It is this meeting and the face of the beautiful Polish woman that Andriy cannot forget. He even dared to sneak into her bedroom through the chimney. But he was so shy at the meeting that he only made her laugh again. Andriy thought about this beautiful Pole on the way to the Zaporozhye Sich. They drove through the steppe for a long time, stopping only for lunch and overnight. We ate bread and lard for lunch and cooked kulesh over a fire before going to bed. During the journey they did not meet a single traveler or horseman. Only once did Taras point out to his sons a flashing black dot, saying that it was a Tatar who had galloped by. Having crossed the Dnieper, they entered the battlefield. She met them peacefully, some were sewing up their shirts, some were dashingly dancing the hopak, some were simply sleeping. Soon Taras found his old acquaintances.

Chapter 3 “Taras Bulba” abbreviated

Taras and his sons lived in the battle for almost a week. Ostap and Andriy practiced little military art; the slaughter educated the Cossacks through the experience of battles. The Zaporozhye Sich was a continuous feast, noisy and endless. But it was not bitter drunkards walking here, but cheerful, carefree Cossacks. This was a close circle of comrades who, at the first call, went to fight the enemy. The Sich was a kind of refuge for outcasts. Schoolchildren who had escaped from the Bursa and from the landowners, serfs, officers who did not care where to fight, as well as hunters for big money flocked to it. Only admirers of women could not be found here, since women did not dare to show themselves in battle. The reception ceremony was simple; only Orthodox Christians were accepted into the flogging. Everything was common here - money, food, clothing. Theft was considered a dishonorable act, and murder was punished terribly - the murderer was buried alive in the same grave as the murdered man. Ostap and Andriy easily fit into the Cossack riotous sea. They liked the cheerful customs of the battle, and even its harsh and strict laws. The brothers quickly made friends. Soon they stood out noticeably among the young Cossacks for their daring and dexterity. Taras did not particularly like such an idle life. He was thinking about a brave enterprise in which his sons would gain military experience. But the Sich concluded peace treaties with the Turks and Tatars, and could not break them. The Koshevoy Ataman, the head of the Cossack Sich, was against the outbreak of war. Then Taras incited some of the Cossacks to revolt. The Cossacks re-elected the Kosh Ataman. Bulba’s old friend, the Cossack Kirdyaga, became the new koshev.

Chapter 4 “Taras Bulba” abbreviated

Kirdyaga was a cunning and seasoned Cossack. He did not himself order the Cossacks to break their peace oaths. At his instigation, part of the Cossacks convened a general meeting and decided to make a military attack on the Turks. While preparations were underway, a ferry approached the shore. The Cossacks who arrived on it began to shame the revelers of Zaporozhye. After all, while they are having fun and drinking here, in their native Ukraine the Poles are oppressing Orthodox Christians. At such words the whole crowd rose up as one. Pogroms and murders of Jews began. Taras saved one of his Jew acquaintances, Yankel, from death. The Cossacks began to prepare for a campaign against the Poles.

Chapter 5 “Taras Bulba” abbreviated

The Zaporozhye army went to war with the Poles. And ahead of him was fear. Fires engulfed villages and cattle and horses were stolen. The Cossacks burned Catholic monasteries and killed Jewish tenants. Young Cossacks shunned robberies and murders of the weak. They honed their military skills in battles with Polish troops. Ostap and Andriy quickly matured and became hardened in battles with enemies. Bulba was very proud of his sons' successes. Ostap, as it seemed to Taras, was destined to become a commander, fearless and judicious. Andriy amazed his father with his reckless prowess in battle. Soon the Cossacks decided to storm the rich city of Dubno, but met fierce resistance from the inhabitants and garrison. The Cossacks retreated, besieged the city and began looting the surrounding villages. Soon the siege became boring for the Cossacks, especially the young ones. Discipline began to decline, and drunken patrolmen could be seen more and more often. One evening, a servant of a Polish lady, a Kyiv acquaintance of Andria, sneaked into the Cossack camp by a secret passage. She saw him among the Cossack army and sent a maid to him for food, since supplies ran out in the city and hunger began, from which the mother of the beautiful Polish woman was dying. Andriy collected food and went with his Tatar servant to the besieged city.

Chapter 6 “Taras Bulba” abbreviated

Having passed through an underground passage, Andriy and his maid entered the city. Hunger reigned in the city, people were dying of exhaustion, even cats and dogs were caught and eaten. The townspeople did not have the habit of keeping large supplies of food. The city was ready to surrender, but the townspeople were warned that help was coming to them. Andriy met with his Kyiv friend. The Polish woman was so beautiful that Andriy fell in love with her, so much so that he was ready to do the craziest thing. For the sake of her love, he betrayed his homeland, father, brother and friends. That night not only the terrible betrayal of Andriy Bulba took place. Reinforcements arrived in the city, breaking through the Cossack siege. They brought with them not only food, but also captured Cossacks.

Chapter 7 “Taras Bulba” abbreviated

The Cossacks, bored with nothing to do, got drunk on patrol and missed reinforcements to the Poles. Koshevoy gathered an army and scolded the Cossacks for drunkenness. One of the Kurenny atamans promised to beat the Poles. The Cossacks began to prepare for battle. And Taras could not find Andriy anywhere, worrying that he could be captured. Yankel, a Jewish acquaintance, approached him. He told Bulba that he went to the city and saw his youngest son there. Yankel told Taras that Andriy was not in captivity there. He asked to tell his father that he was renouncing his homeland, comrades and father. Now Andriy will fight against his comrades. Soon a sortie of besieged Poles took place. The Cossacks bravely repelled the attack. Ostap distinguished himself in battle. After the battle, the Cossacks of the Uman kuren chose Ostap as their chieftain, instead of the kuren who died in battle. Taras was proud of his eldest son, but his heart ached for his youngest.

Chapter 8 “Taras Bulba” abbreviated

Sad news came from the battle. Having heard about the absence of the Cossacks from Zaporozhye, the Tatars raided. Having beaten the Cossacks remaining in the kurens and taken them prisoner, they stole cattle and horses, and also took away the military treasury. The Cossacks hastily assembled a council to solve the problem. After all, if they do not rush to the rescue, the Tatars will sell the prisoners into captivity. Koshevoy decided to lift the siege of Dubno and go to recapture the prisoners and the treasury. But Taras was against this plan. He says that in the besieged city there are also captured Cossacks who are threatened with torture and death. Then they decided that part of the Cossack army, led by the Kosh chieftain, would go to rescue their comrades and the treasury from Tatar captivity, and the rest, having chosen Taras Bulba as a temporary chieftain, would continue the siege of Dubno. At night, some of the Cossacks go in search of the Tatars. After parting, the Cossacks became depressed, but Taras ordered the wine to be unpacked. The Cossacks drank to their faith and flogged them.

Chapter 9 “Taras Bulba” abbreviated

The city ran out of provisions again. The Poles tried to make a sortie for food, but the Cossacks killed half of them, the other half returned to the city empty-handed. The Jews, taking advantage of the foray, made their way into the Cossack camp and learned about the Cossacks who had gone to the Tatars. They immediately spread this news in the city. The Poles perked up and began to prepare for battle; they decided to lift the siege, killing the Cossacks. Taras, seeing the revival in the city, began hastily preparing the Cossacks for battle. He makes a speech that inspires the Cossacks. The battle was terrible and cruel. Many good Cossacks laid down their lives for their faith and fatherland. In this battle, Taras Bulba killed his son Andriy. “I gave birth to you, I will kill you,” Taras said. But even before his death, Andriy whispered the name of his Polish girl. But the brave and honest Ostap was captured.

Chapter 10 “Taras Bulba” abbreviated

In that last battle, Taras also suffered quite a bit. He spent two whole weeks in feverish delirium. He miraculously managed to escape capture. Faithful comrade Tovkach brought Taras to the flogging almost alive, and even found a doctor. Only a month later Taras felt better. But his soul was heavy because of Ostap. And not everything was in order in the battle. Everyone he knew died or was captured. And those Cossacks who went with the Koshevoy to the Tatars, and those who stayed with him near Dubno. Taras missed his son so much that he could not stand it and decided to find out about Ostap’s fate. He found the Jew Yankel and for 5 thousand gold pieces he persuaded him to take him to Warsaw.

Chapter 11 “Taras Bulba” abbreviated

Arriving in Warsaw, Yankel and Taras stayed with Yankel’s acquaintances. Bulba, hoping that Yankel’s acquaintances will help him arrange a date with his son, asks them for this favor. Taras even hopes to arrange Ostap's escape. Dressed in rich count clothes, Taras goes on a date with his son. Through bribery and flattery, he and Yankel manage to get into prison, but even after taking the money, the guard basely deceived them and did not let them see Ostap. Then Taras decides to go to the square to at least look at his son from afar. A large crowd of people gathered in the square where the execution took place. Everyone was waiting for the execution to begin. Before execution, prisoners were subjected to severe torture. Ostap bravely endured all the inhuman torment. Taras was proud of his son’s perseverance. And when Ostap called his father before his death, Taras loudly responded to his son’s call. They tried to find Taras in the crowd, but he disappeared safely.

Chapter 12 “Taras Bulba” abbreviated

The entire Cossacks rose up to fight the Polish invaders. One hundred and twenty thousand troops marched against the Poles. Among this army there was one regiment. The most selective. They were commanded by Taras Bulba. Bulba was driven by a fierce hatred of his enemies. The Cossacks, liberating cities, hanged traitors. The Poles tried to conclude a peace agreement with the Cossacks, promising them the return of their former rights and benefits. The crown hetman was saved from death by the Russian clergy. Only the Cossacks bowed their heads before the Christian Church. And they agreed to release the Poles, taking oaths from them to forget previous grievances against the Cossack army and leave Christian churches free. Only Taras Bulba did not believe the oaths of the Poles and urged other Cossacks not to believe either. But the Cossacks did not listen to Taras and signed peace terms. Then Bulba left the army and took his regiment away. The Poles really deceived the Cossacks and killed the chieftain and many colonels. And Taras burned churches and settlements throughout Poland, plundered rich castles and the best lands. No one could be saved from the righteous Cossack wrath, neither women nor children. Taras celebrated cruel funerals for Ostap throughout Poland. Hetman Potocki himself was instructed by the king to deal with Bulba. For ten days the Cossacks evaded the pursuit and fought with the Polish troops. The Cossacks broke through the Polish army, only Bulba returned to look for the dropped pipe. That's when he was captured. And they decided to burn Taras alive, in front of everyone. Bulba died, but his comrades were able to escape.