Summary of chapters from Literaguru is a great way to quickly prepare for a lesson by reminding yourself of events from specific chapters. If you have any questions, ask them in the comments.
I chapter
Two brothers, Ostap and Andriy (a comparison of their characters is available here) finished seminary, returned home from Kiev. The father of sons, Taras Bulba (the image of T. Bulba) ridiculed their cropped heads and student clothes made of bursa. Ostap did not tolerate the irony, in contrast to the peace-loving younger brother: he had a fight with his parent, but the conflict quickly ended. Men sat at the table, celebrate the long-awaited meeting. Taras decided to send the children to Sich, because he was sure that books and motherly love would not bring up real men. Defenders in battle are born. Mother's opinion did not interest anyone. She kept all experiences in her loving heart. The head of the family called all the centurions who happily supported his decision. The father was inspired by the trip and decided to go with his sons.
Last night was like a torture for mother. She stroked her only children on the head and cried softly. I didn’t sleep all night, I was afraid that morning would come. When the men hit the road, the mother, as if possessed, rushed to them twice, but the Cossacks led her away. She only managed to give the boys the icons of the Mother of God, with the hope that she would take care of them.
II chapter
On the trip, Taras Bulba yearned for his youth, for friends. The brothers thought about theirs. Once, a 12-year-old boy sent a stern father to study in Kiev bursa. The eldest son had a stubborn character (here is his full description), he did not want to study, so he repeatedly escaped, and in punishment he was beaten half to death. He did not give up and dug a grave for the primer, filling the book with earth as much as 4 times. For this he was again ruthlessly beaten with rods. For educational purposes, Taras threatened to send him to the monastery for disobedience. After that, the son reconciled, took up his mind, and became one of the best students. The youngest son studied well and without a whip, but in spirit he was an adventurer (and here is his full description). Cunning cleverness helped Andriy avoid punishment. He fell in love with a Polish girl and tried to impress her, even dared to get into her chambers. The little girl was frightened, and then she laughed. The maid helped the young boy get out.
The family came to Sich, where they were joyfully met by friends of Taras. On the island, they arranged festivities, had fun, organized massacres.
Chapter III
People on Khortitsa were very different: someone had never seen the primer, someone had left the academy before the deadline, and someone had become a small scientist, like the Bulba brothers. Wise opinion leaders, partisans, officers and many others met in this society. All of them were united by an unshakable faith in Jesus Christ.
Ostap and Andriy quickly joined the team. But Bulba believed that a man is a defender. And so he can only become in battle. Father thought, where could his sons show strength? He wanted a war with the Busurmans, and Koshev was against it. Taras decided to take revenge. Bulba persuaded his comrades to give everyone to drink so that the drunken would overthrow the cat. And so it happened. Now the battle friend of the cunning Taras, Kirdyag, has become Koshev.
Chapter IV
About a military campaign Taras is talking with a new leader. He goes to the trick, asks Bulba to make the people come to him of their own free will, and not by order. After all, this will help to avoid liability for breaking the word.
And here the escaped Cossacks tell that Catholics drive around on carts and harness Christians. From the priestly holy robes, the Jews are sewing skirts, and without the permission of the Jews, people are forbidden to hold Orthodox holidays. Cossacks are furious. They are determined to protect the people of Christ from blasphemy, and plan to ruin the occupied villages. Cossacks arrange attacks on Jews. One of them was Yankel. To save himself, he told Taras that he was briefly acquainted with his brother. Therefore, Bulba allows him to go with the Cossacks to Poland.
Chapter v
Rumor brought the military glory of the Cossacks beyond their camps. The father could not get enough of his sons, because they became brave warriors in the battlefields. In the disposition and behavior of Ostap, he saw wisdom and lion's grip. In battle, he was helped by an analytical mindset. Andria has long been worried about feelings. He could not, like Ostap, plan tactics in advance, acted at the call of his heart, but this was his strength. This feature helped him to make feats that could not be accomplished by experienced Cossacks.
In the city of Dubno, warriors wanted to conquer the rampart, but from there barrels, arrows, and pots of boiling water fell on their heads. In revenge for their resistance, they decided to destroy the crops and fields, as well as besiege the rebellious city. Yesaus brings the brothers icons from his mother. Cossacks blockade Dubno.
Exhausted fighters fell asleep soundly, only Andriy was admiring the firmament of heaven. Suddenly I saw a Tatar in front of her, the maid of the panel. The unfortunate girl asked for bread for the mistress and her mother, because they are dying of hunger. Andriy got scared, pulled a bag of food from under Ostap's head. They headed for the underpass, but they were stopped by the voice of Bulba, who prophesied in a dream. He said that women would not be brought to good, and instantly fell asleep.
Chapter VI
Through an underground passage, Andrii finds himself in a Catholic monastery, where he was struck by the rich decoration and beautiful, unearthly music. After he is allowed into the hungry city with the maid. The Cossack is horrified by the sight of widespread death (a dead woman with a child, a hungry old man), he learns from the Tatars that in Dubno there is no food, no cattle. Once in a rich estate, he meets his beloved, his feelings intensified. Tatar brings sliced bread. Andriy warns, you can’t eat a lot, because the stomach has lost touch with food. Now food is poison.
Feelings were stronger than a duty to faith, homeland, father. Andrius renounced everything in order to serve the panne. Tatarka announces that Polish troops have entered the city and are carrying Cossack captives. At this moment, the lovers fasten the tacit agreement with a kiss: now the younger Bulba is on the other side.
Chapter VII
The Cossacks are furious: they crave revenge for the captives. Yankel tells his father the news of Andria's betrayal. Taras is angry and already wants to punish the talker, unable to believe the shame that happened. But the interlocutor talks about the approaching wedding of two lovers, citing irrefutable evidence of the traitor's guilt.
Luck also changed the Cossacks: many of them fell in battle or perished in captivity. At night they were simply killed in a dream. The war between the Cossacks and the "Poles." Ataman accepts death in battle, but Ostap shows courage and brutally avenges the murderer. For courage, he inherits the title of chieftain. Taras Bulba is proud of his son. The battle was over, but Andria was not found among the dead. Furious, the father wants to destroy the woman who ruined the honor of his son.
Chapter VIII
The news of the Tatars attack on Khortytsya saddened everyone. Kosheva consults with the Cossacks. We decided to go to them and return the stolen goods. But Taras Bulba is against, because the main thing is partnership. Therefore they cannot leave, because their friends are sitting in Polish dungeons. The people agree with Koshevoy and Bulba, people were divided into two camps. Kasyan Bovdyug, an old Cossack, judged that one group should be sent for the missing values, and let the other squad help out the comrades. So they did.
Cossacks say goodbye to each other, maybe they will not see each other again. They drink wine for faith and Sich. The remaining soldiers decide to attack the enemies at night in order to hide the absence of half of the troops.
IX chapter
Hunger again reigned in the besieged city, and then the soldiers decided to fight the Cossacks, waiting for the help of Polish reinforcements and counting on the lack of troops. The Poles admire the glory of the Cossacks, but they have more advanced weapons. Cossacks lose a lot of people fighting with guns.
In battle, the father finally meets his youngest son and mercilessly kills him for betrayal. Andriy calmly and dutifully accepts the execution, realizing that the father has a moral right to it. Ostap saw the reprisal, but did not argue with his father and intervene in the military court. Polish wars attack the eldest son and take him prisoner. Taras Bulba falls from his horse from the stress, lies unconscious. This scene is described in detail in the essay “Three deaths in the story“ Taras Bulba ””
X chapter
Taras is alive, but badly wounded. The fighters who fought with the Tatars did not return back. They were brutally executed in the Tatar settlement.
Father is very worried about Ostap. He begs the pardoned Jew to take him to Warsaw. Accepting the money, Yankel builds a shelter in a cart with bricks and without any problems brings a Cossack to Polish soil.
Xi chapter
Bulba is humiliated to the request of the Jews whom he hates: the eldest son must be freed. But this is impossible, for no money, because the execution is scheduled for tomorrow. Even the influential Mordecai could not help. Yankel changes clothes ataman in a foreigner. The only way they could admire the execution.
The morning of violence came. His bones were broken, and he did not even utter a moan. Before death, Ostap says: “Old Man! Where are you! Do you hear? - and the father, at the risk of being recognized and caught, answered him: "I hear."
Xii chapter
Cossacks went to Poland. Bulba (the national hero whom we described in this essay) violently hated Poles, avenged his family. Taras burned eighteen settlements. The famous hetman Pototsky was instructed to capture the chieftain, and he succeeded in capturing him.
The battle lasted four days. When Bulba was looking for a cradle of tobacco in the grass, his enemies overtook him. He climbed a tree and diverted attention to himself so that his fighters could escape from the chase. The Poles seized the opportunity and burned the tree along with the chieftain. The Cossacks fled and loudly glorified their leader, who sacrificed his life for them.
