"The Word of Igor's Regiment" is an old book from the time of Ancient Rus. Leading linguists from different eras translated it from the Old Slavonic language. Nevertheless, the work is still hard for modern readers. Archaic turns of speech, a complex plot, and not entirely clear main events can pretty much confuse students. But a brief retelling from Literaguru will help you create an excellent reader's diary.
(424 words) The narrator is a chronicler who praises his fellow worker, Boyan, who was famous for his ability to tell legends. But our narrator is telling the truth, recalling the campaign of Prince Igor of Novgorod against the Polovtsy.
Igor wanted to gain military glory, so he sent a squad to conquer the nomadic people. He took brother Vsevolod and his army with him. On the way, they saw unkind omens: a solar eclipse, the alarm of birds and animals, a thunderstorm. But this did not enlighten the heroes.
Their first success was intoxicating: the Polovtsy fell. Having plundered values, having arranged a feast, the Russian heroes went to bed, and at night the cunning enemy began a new duel. The khans Gzak and Konchak came to the aid of the nomads. Vsevolod fell in battle, Igor fell captive, the squad lay down in the field. This terrible battle lasted three days. Since then, the Polovtsy began to plague the Russian lands with raids, but the princes stubbornly did not want to unite in order to drive away the enemies. The narrator recalls the times of his grandfather Igor, Oleg. Then Russia was exhausted by feuds and constant robberies. The rulers only did that they fought for power, but no one thought of the people. After came his son, Prince of Kiev Svyatoslav, and arranged a peace time, reconciling the warring relatives. But now, due to the stupid act of Igor and Vsevolod, Russia is again stained with blood. No one defends the city, because one prince is in captivity, and the second is beaten by nomads.
In a dream, Prince Svyatoslav had a bad sign: he was standing all in black and drinking bitter wine, and pearls from unclean sinks were strewed onto his chest. He wakes up and makes a passionate call for the unification of the Russian principalities. This is his Golden Word. The hero is very sorry about the act of his sons, reproaches them for weakening the position of all of Russia. The ruler calls all relatives and allies to help in order to defend their homeland together. It is necessary to beat Konchak, Khan of Polovtsy, in order to drive away his gangs from Russia. Further, he severely convinces those princes who gain possession dishonestly, deceiving and robbing their brothers. In his opinion, it is necessary to forget about self-love and self-interest, otherwise the whole country will fall under the pressure of nomads.
At this time, the inconsolable wife of Igor, Yaroslavna, is crying in Putivl, she is burning the wind, which allows enemy arrows to fly to the Russian squad. She asks the Dnieper to bring her husband’s boats. A woman dreams of turning into a cuckoo, flying to a battlefield and washing the prince’s wounds. The heroine prays for the sun to help her chosen one return home.
Nature itself favors Igor: he manages to escape. He was helped by a nomad Ovlur, who took out a horse, and the prince leaves at night. On the way, he arranges for communion with the river Donets, magpies notify him of the pursuit, and everything around him helps him. Gzak and Konchak follow the trail, but they could not catch the captive. Igor returned, the whole earth rejoices to his master, the people rejoice!
