Lesson-reflection “The Legend of Danko” from M. Gorky’s story “The Old Woman Izergil”. Romantic character of the legend

“In the old days, only people lived on earth; impenetrable forests surrounded the camps of these people on three sides, and on the fourth there was the steppe. They were cheerful, strong and brave people. And then one day a difficult time came: other tribes appeared from somewhere and drove the former into the depths of the forest. There were swamps and darkness, because the forest was old and its branches were so densely intertwined that the sky could not be seen through them, and the rays of the sun could hardly make their way to the swamps through the thick foliage.

But when its rays fell on the water of the swamps, a stench rose, and people died from it one after another. Then the wives and children of this tribe began to cry, and the fathers began to think and fell into depression. It was necessary to leave this forest, and for this there were two roads: one - back - there were strong and evil enemies, the other - forward - giant trees stood there, tightly hugging each other with powerful branches, sinking their gnarled roots deep into the tenacious silt of the swamp. These stone trees stood silent and motionless during the day in the gray twilight and moved even more densely around people in the evenings when the fires were lit. And always, day and night, there was a ring of strong darkness around those people, as if it was going to crush them, but they were accustomed to the expanse of the steppe. And it was even more terrible when the wind beat on the tops of the trees and the whole forest hummed dully, as if it was threatening and singing a funeral song to those people. It was all the same strong people, and they could have gone to fight to the death with those who once defeated them, but they could not die in battle, because they had covenants, and if they had died, then the covenants would have disappeared from their lives. And so they sat and thought in the long nights, under the dull noise of the forest, in the poisonous stench of the swamp. They sat, and the shadows from the fires jumped around them in a silent dance, and it seemed to everyone that these were not shadows dancing, but triumphing. evil spirits forests and swamps.<...>And people weakened from thoughts.<...>Fear was born among them, shackled their strong hands, women gave birth to horror, crying over the corpses of those who died from the stench and over the fate of the living, chained by fear - and cowardly words began to be heard in the forest, at first timid and quiet, and then louder and louder... Already they wanted to go to the enemy and bring him their will as a gift, and no one, frightened by death, was afraid of slave life.<...>But then Danko appeared and saved everyone alone.<...>

Danko is one of those people, a handsome young man. Beautiful people are always brave. And so he says to them, his comrades:

Don't turn a stone out of your way with your thoughts. If you do nothing, nothing will happen to you. Why do we waste our energy on thoughts and melancholy? Get up, let's go into the forest and go through it, because it has an end - everything in the world has an end! Let's go! Well! Hey!..

They looked at him and saw that he was the best of all, because a lot of strength and living fire shone in his eyes.

Lead us! - they said...

Danko led them. Everyone followed him together and believed in him. It was a difficult path! It was dark, and at every step the swamp opened its greedy rotten mouth, swallowing people, and the trees blocked the road with a mighty wall. Their branches intertwined with each other; the roots stretched everywhere like snakes, and every step cost a lot of sweat and blood to those people. They walked for a long time.<...>The forest was getting thicker and I had less and less strength! And so they began to grumble against Danko, saying that it was in vain that he, young and inexperienced, led them somewhere. And he walked ahead of them and was cheerful and clear.

But one day a thunderstorm burst over the forest, the trees whispered dully, menacingly. And then it became so dark in the forest, as if all the nights had gathered in it, how many there had been in the world since the hole he was born. Little people walked between large trees and in the menacing noise of lightning, they walked, and, swaying, the giant trees creaked and hummed angry songs, and lightning, flying over the tops of the forest, illuminated it for a minute with blue, cold fire and disappeared just as quickly, how they appeared, scaring people. And the trees, illuminated by the cold fire of lightning, seemed alive, stretching around the people leaving the captivity of darkness, gnarled, long arms, weaving them into a thick network, trying to stop people. And from the darkness of the branches something terrible, dark and cold looked at those walking. It was a difficult journey, and people, tired of it, lost heart. But they were ashamed to admit their powerlessness, and so they fell in anger and anger at Danko, the man who walked ahead of them. And they began to reproach him for his inability to manage them - that’s how it is!

They stopped and, under the triumphant noise of the forest, in the midst of trembling darkness, tired and angry, they began to judge Danko.

You, they said, are insignificant and harmful person for us! You led us and tired us, and for this you will die!

You said: “Lead!” - and I led! - Danko shouted, standing against them with his chest. - I have the courage to lead, that’s why I led you! And you? What did you do to help yourself? You just walked and didn’t know how save your strength for a longer journey! You just walked, walked like a flock of sheep!

But these words infuriated them even more.

You will die! You will die! - they roared.

And the forest hummed and hummed, echoing their cries, and lightning tore the darkness to shreds. Danko looked at those for whom he had labored and saw that they were like animals. Many people stood around him, but there was no nobility on their faces, and he could not expect mercy from them. Then indignation boiled in his heart, but out of pity for the people it went out. He loved people and thought that maybe they would die without him. And so his heart flared up with the fire of desire to save them, to lead them to an easy path, and then the rays of that mighty fire sparkled in his eyes... And when they saw this, they thought that he was furious, which is why his eyes flared up so brightly, and they became wary , like wolves, expecting that he would fight them, and began to surround him more tightly so that it would be easier for them to grab and kill Danko. And he already understood their thought, which is why his heart burned even brighter, for this thought of theirs gave birth to melancholy in him.

And the forest still sang its gloomy song, and the thunder roared, and the rain poured...

What will I do for people?! - Danko shouted louder than thunder.

And suddenly he tore his chest with his hands and tore out his heart from it and raised it high above his head.

It burned as bright as the sun and brighter than the sun, and the whole forest fell silent, illuminated by this torch great love To people, and the darkness scattered from its light and there, deep in the forest, trembling, it fell into the rotten mouth of the swamp. The people, amazed, became like stones.

Let's go! - Danko shouted and rushed forward to his place, holding his burning heart high and illuminating the way for people.

They rushed after him, fascinated. Then the forest rustled again, shaking its peaks in surprise, but its noise was drowned out by the tramp of running people. Everyone ran quickly and boldly, carried away by the wonderful spectacle of a burning heart. And now they died, but they died without complaints or tears. And Danko was still ahead, his heart was still burning, burning!

And then suddenly the forest parted before him, parted and remained behind, dense and silent; and Danko and all those people immediately plunged into the sea sunlight And clean air, washed by the rain. There was a thunderstorm - there, behind them, above the forest, and here the sun was shining, the steppe was sighing, the grass was shining in the diamonds of the rain and the river was sparkling golden... It was evening, and from the rays of the sunset the river seemed red, like the blood that flowed in a hot stream from Danko's torn chest.

The proud daredevil Danko cast his gaze ahead of him at the expanse of the steppe; he cast a joyful glance at the free land and laughed proudly. And then he fell and died.

People, joyful and full of hope, did not notice his death and did not see that his brave heart was still burning next to Danko’s corpse. Only one cautious person noticed this and, fearing something, stepped on the proud heart with his foot... And then it, scattered into sparks, died out...

That’s where they come from, the blue sparks of the steppe that appear before a thunderstorm!”<...>

Maxim Gorky

1 The legend is given with slight abbreviations.

Questions and tasks

1. How do you think Danko differs from the people around him? Prepare this text for expressive reading or an artistic retelling, emphasizing the peculiarity of Danko’s behavior and the attitude of the people he saved to his action.
2. Among M. Gorky's stories there are realistic and romantic works. What works include the story “Childhood” and the story “Old Woman Izergil”?
3. Which of Gorky's heroes would you like to erect a monument to and how do you imagine him?

Enrich your speech

1. Prepare an artistic retelling of one of the episodes - “Fire”, “Teaching”, “Punishment”, “Granny’s Dance”, “Gypsy” (your choice). What can you say about the author who, after many years, so vividly reproduced the life, everyday life, and relationships of the inhabitants of the Kashirin house?
2. Read by role or dramatize one of the scenes: “Conversation with Grandfather”, “Conversation with Gypsy”, “Study”, etc.
3. Prepare an oral or written essay or script: “The Story of the Gypsy”, “Grandfather is not evil and not scary”, “Why did Alyosha feel in his grandmother loved one?”, “Alyosha and the Kashirins’ house” (optional).
4. Consider the illustrations by B. Dekhterev for the story “Childhood” and D. Butorin for “Danko”. Is this how you imagined the heroes? D. Butorin is a Palestinian artist. You have seen Palekh drawings decorating lacquer boxes, illustrating books for children, and Pushkin’s fairy tales. What is interesting about the drawing by the Palekh artist?
5. What folklore works resemble the rhythm and music of the legend “Danko” (an excerpt from the story “The Old Woman Izergil”)? Read the legend aloud, keeping its special fairytale rhythm.

Main character M. Gorky's fairy tale “Danko's Burning Heart” (it is the third part of the story “Old Woman Izergil”) - a young man named Danko. He belonged to a tribe that lived on the border of the forest and the steppe. One day, enemies came and drove this tribe deep into the forest.

The forest was very dense, dark, swampy, and people began to die in it. They had only two options - either go through the forest and find a new place suitable for life, or submit to the enemies who drove them into the forest.

People began to think and thought for a very long time, not daring to choose any of these paths. And then Danko said that he was ready to lead his tribe through the dark forest to find a better life.

People believed Danko and followed him. The road was incredibly difficult, and people continued to die along the way. Gradually, confidence in the success of this campaign left them, and at one point they stopped and began to blame Danko for all their troubles.

Danko at first tried to convince people, but, seeing how they had lost faith in success, he did the incredible. Danko tore open his chest and took out a brightly burning heart. Raising it high above him, Danko moved on and the people followed him again. They still died along the way, but their confidence in success did not let them stop.

And the moment came when the forest ended, and the tribe again saw the expanse of the steppe. And Danko, seeing that the forest had been passed, laughed joyfully. Then he fell and died, and his heart continued to burn next to him. People rejoicing at their salvation did not notice the death of the brave young man, and one man quietly extinguished his burning heart.

That's how it is summary fairy tales

The main idea of ​​Gorky’s fairy tale “Danko’s Burning Heart” is that often among people there are people with a special thirst for life, with a desire for unlimited freedom, with a craving for something impossible, even at the cost of their own lives. Danko sacrificed the personal in the name of the public. Danko has a desire to conquer, he is capable of self-sacrifice.

People tend to have such a feeling as selfishness. Thinking only about themselves and about saving their lives, they take the exploits of lone heroes for granted, and forget about the savior as soon as the danger to their lives has passed. When Danko, who saved people, died, he was immediately forgotten. Moreover, someone, out of precaution, extinguished his burning heart.

The fairy tale teaches you to be decisive, to be able to show leadership qualities, do not be afraid of difficulties and always believe in the success of your endeavors.

In the fairy tale, I liked the main character, Danko, who found the strength and courage to lead his tribe into the unknown in order to find a way to salvation. Danko died, but saved people from death at the cost of his life.

What proverbs are suitable for Gorky’s fairy tale “Danko’s Burning Heart”?

Water does not flow under a lying stone.
The one who walks will master the road.
With courage you can get through hell.
A hard heart knows no gratitude.
A brave man is not afraid of anything.

Danko is the hero of Gorky's work "Old Woman Izergil". This is a strong young man who is characterized by philanthropy and self-sacrifice in the name of good goals.

The character of the hero is courageous and fearless. Danko is not afraid of his own death when it comes to the health and well-being of the people he loves. Besides this, he is very merciful and compassionate. Danko has a sporty appearance. He is handsome, young and smart. This is a person who is ready to take on a heavy burden of responsibility and lead people. The hero has charisma and is a good speaker: that is why people believe him and follow him. Being a representative ancient tribe, Danko honored the traditions of his ancestors, worried about the fate and future of his fellow tribesmen.

He dreamed of giving freedom to all the people he loved. His life position was this: to give all of himself in the name of salvation and happy life for others. For such positive traits character, people believed Danko: after all, even at that moment when everyone turned away from him, he sacrificed himself for their good. Danko’s raison d’être boiled down to the following: “What have I done, am doing and will do for people?”, “What am I willing to sacrifice for people?”

The feat he accomplished elevates Danko to the rank of a hero. For this person, true happiness lies in living and creating for others. Despite all these positive qualities, Danko is lonely and initially has a conflict with the crowd. But he sacrifices the most precious thing - his life - in order to sanctify the path for people. It’s sad that the majority of people took Danko’s feat for granted. At the moment when the exhausted and dying hero falls to the ground, the people rejoice and have fun. But even dying, Danko did not regret his action at all. Self-sacrifice is his ideal and life principle, to which he remained faithful until his last breath.

In the image of Danko one can trace the revolutionary struggle characteristic of that period of history. People driven into wretched places personify the oppressed working class and peasantry, and Danko is a ray of sunshine in a dark kingdom, like a revolutionary, ready to lead the people to victories and a happy future.

Option 2

The creative legacy of Maxim Gorky is enormous. It includes large number diverse texts. A special place occupy early romantic stories. In particular, the text with the title “Old Woman Izergil”. This is a text with a special composition based on the “story within a story” principle. Namely, on behalf of Izergil, the reader learns two beautiful ancient legends: about Larra and Danko.

Danko is a selfless person who does not mind giving up the most precious thing - life, in exchange for the well-being and happiness of the human race.

If you tell Danko's story briefly, it is as follows: in a certain place there lived a human tribe. At one point, they were driven out of their inhabited lands by stronger ones. The tribe went to an area unsuitable for habitation. People began to get sick and die. Then they chose Danko as their leader, because they saw in him courage and fortitude.

And Danko decided to lead the human tribe through the dense forest. But, as usually happens, Danko tried to do the best, but it turned out as always. Unrest began among the human race. Then Danko, in order to save the human tribe, tore out the heart from his own chest and illuminated the path for people with it...

Danko Gorky bestows such epithets as “strong, cheerful, brave.” Therefore, it is no wonder that such a person is capable of self-sacrifice for the sake of the happiness and well-being of others. It turned out in this situation that those whom he led gave up, namely, the road turned out to be too difficult for the tribe. In order not to take responsibility, people blamed Danko for all their failures. At the end of their journey, they exposed their bestial nature, which means they could not be loyal to their leader, whom they themselves had chosen.

The next episode once again emphasizes the ability to do a good deed for the sake of his people. This is when Danko feels the strength to do something bright and joyful for people. He sacrifices his heart, his life for the sake of humanity. Then a miracle happens: the darkness recedes and this means that kindness, spiritual strength triumphs over the fears and insignificance of a person before the elements.

Yes, Danko died at the end of the legend, but the blue sparks from his heart are alive. This suggests that people have hope for salvation in troubled periods of history.

Essay about Danko

In his work “The Old Woman Izergil,” Gorky tells two legends that he heard from an old storyteller. These stories contrast two different characters. Both of them are strong people. But, one of them acts only for his own satisfaction, while the other sacrifices his own life for the sake of people. This is Danko.

These events took place a very long time ago. There lived a tribe of people. But one day those who were stronger came to their land, and they drove them out. The tribe went into the forest to the swamp. There they began to get sick and die one after another, as a terrible poisonous stench emanated from the swamp.

People didn't know what to do. They could not go back and retake their land from the enemy, because they were afraid to break the covenant. And go forward through scary forest in search of a new land they were afraid. And the more they thought about the upcoming hardships, the stronger their fear became, and the more their strength dried up.

And then Danko appears among them. There was fire in his eyes and he was brave. The people decided that he could lead them through the forest. He agreed. But the path was difficult. And the people began to grumble at him, and then they even wanted to kill him.

More recently, these people were afraid of the path ahead and did not find the strength to complete it. And, following Danko like a flock of sheep following a shepherd, they laid all the responsibility on him. A crowd of weak-willed people appears before the reader. The difficulties of the journey tired them so much that they would be glad to stay where they were. And, although they agreed to go on their own, they blame everything on the one who led them. No one thought that losses could not be avoided. And fear and lack of will consumed them more and more, giving rise to disbelief and powerlessness in their hearts.

This would be a good time to throw them to Danko. But he was a selfless man. Therefore, instead of abandoning those for whom he tried in vain, he sacrifices himself for their salvation. He rips his heart out of his chest.

The author describes this moment with particular delight. Danko's heart burned, burned with strength, courage and love for people. And they, enchanted by such a spectacle, complete their journey without much difficulty. Now they no longer grumbled.

And when the people came out of the forest, they were so glad that they did not even notice that their savior was lying dead under their feet.

On the one hand, Danko’s image is an example of selflessness and love for others. But what a sad ending: the reward for the hero was only his death. And those for whom he sacrificed himself did not appreciate the feat. They saw only the end of their journey: new land, clear sky And fresh air. But they no longer remembered how they did not dare to take this path, they no longer remember how they wanted to kill the man who led them and gave his life for them.

Essay Characteristics and image of Danko

In the story “Old Woman Izergil” there are two legends, but they are opposite to each other. Larra's story is the story of a cruel and insensitive, very evil man. But, since his story is told at the beginning, the overall impression of “Old Woman Izergil” is determined precisely by the last part, which talks about Danko.

Danko is one of the people whom the author describes as “cheerful, strong and brave.” The text mentions that they lived not in tribes, but in camps, that is, most likely they were gypsies. Gypsies, both in cinema and in literature, have long become a symbol of freedom and courage. Therefore, it is easy to imagine that for these people the behests of their ancestors were very important, and instead of dying fighting for the opportunity to live in the old place, they decided that they needed a new one, not among the swamps where enemy tribes had driven them.

And at a moment when such a wonderful people were overwhelmed with melancholy, it was Danko who came to save everyone. The old woman Izergil says about him: “Danko is one of those people, a handsome young man. Beautiful people are always brave.” After her words, a tall and stately young man, a gypsy, appears with pitch-black hair and dark eyes, in which burns that very living fire that the hearts of his people lacked. Therefore, everyone easily responds to his call - you really want to follow such a leader.

However, the road turned out to be too difficult for them - and, as happens in life, the one who does not save quickly becomes a liar and a traitor in the eyes of people. From the hardships they have experienced, those who were cheerful and strong become weaker and blame the strongest of all, Danko, for their weakness. He tries to reason with them with words, but they are described by the old woman Izergil as animals - which means that they no longer have the faith that led them forward before.

Further events are more reminiscent of a fairy tale than a legend, but they are the culmination of what a person can do for his people. Surrounded, but filled with love and pity, Danko asks himself the question - “What will I do for people?” The old woman Izergil says that this voice was “stronger than thunder,” that is, even nature retreated before Danko’s fortitude. And then he rips his heart out of his chest - and the darkness is finally defeated, emphasizing the triumph of the human mind, human kindness and spiritual fire over primitive fears and insignificance.

There are many repetitions in this passage of the story - they are used to draw attention to how different the journey with the torch-heart was from the previous one, how people were fascinated by Danko’s act, how incredibly significant this act was, in the end.

Danko's death, described at the end, is shocking. Having led his people through such trials, having accomplished the impossible and finding himself free, he does not have time to enjoy the feeling of long-awaited liberation and dies. This is a magnificent example of self-sacrifice, true and ardent, and here it would be more accurate to say - from a pure, ardent heart. It is all the more tragic that some person trampled what was left of Danko, turning his sincere fire into blue sparks appearing in the steppe before a thunderstorm. But even the fact that they appear before a thunderstorm is another feature of Danko’s feat - when nature comes, at this dangerous time, the echoes of the flame of his heart seem to say that there is always hope, and there is no need to be afraid of thunder and lightning.

Youth is the best time. At this time you are full of strength and energy. Your heart is full of bright hopes and it seems to you that only good things are ahead. It is very important for young people to be recognized in society

The image and characteristics of Zhenya in the story by Yama Kuprin, essay

One of the main characters of the work is the image of Zhenya, a young girl who, by the will of fate, became a fallen woman.

This means that he must be brave, courageous, sympathetic, caring, etc. Such people can immediately be distinguished from the crowd; they are somehow different from other people and attract people to themselves.

In this part of the work the writer drew perfect image a positive hero, a person who does everything possible for the common good.

Gorky draws in the legend difficult situation, in which a certain tribe found itself. The enemies, who turned out to be stronger, drove these people from habitable places into the forest, where they died from swamp fumes.

The young and handsome Danko volunteered to lead them out of the dark place. He is a clear personification of the people's leader. He knew that he definitely needed to leave this forest and knew where to go. There is not one in his image negative trait, some advantages.

Many could not withstand the hardships of the transition and died along the way. They began to be disappointed in their choice and, naturally, blamed their leader for everything. The masses in this legend are presented as cowardly and cowardly people. They do not have as strong a will as their leader. In addition, the tribesmen further decided to blame Danko for their failures and kill him, not having the moral strength and courage to admit their cowardice.

In the legend of Danko, Maxim Gorky raises one of his key themes. He extols courage and strength of character. Danko answers his accusers, but his speech can be perceived as a reproach (which is what happens in the course of the action). He is aware of his strength and blames people for their lack of courage and for not doing anything to help him. Naturally, such words cause even greater anger. Here, perhaps, is the reaction of the Bolshevik writer to the “backward” workers and peasants who do not want to absorb the right ideas and follow the advanced ideologists.

Further description of the events of the legend about Danko indirectly confirms such assumptions. He, as befits a true fighter for the idea and people's happiness, sacrifices his life for the sake of ungrateful people.

Gorky paints a beautiful image of a heart torn out by Danko himself, with the light of which he dispels the darkness and helps to find the right way. The heart is an image not only of life, but also of love. In this case, to dark, embittered and weak fellow tribesmen.

The writer still does not lose faith in the masses. After Danko’s sacrifice, people gain courage and endure the difficult path more willingly and patiently. At the end of this story, they reach habitable land, and Danko dies. With his death, Gorky once again emphasizes that truly brave and selfless people make selfless sacrifices for the people.

Option 2

In Maxim Gorky's story "Old Woman Izergil" a shining example love for people and self-sacrifice is the legend of Danko. The work itself is filled deep meaning, like most of the works of this author.

In the person of Danko, Maxim Gorky shows a man who puts the interests of society first, his life is filled with noble impulses, he tries to help everyone, often even those who do not deserve it. The main character of the work is endowed with the best human qualities: kindness, honesty, courage and love for loved ones. Danko goes to great lengths to save the people dear to him.

The legend speaks of people who lived in a world full of happiness and carefree, but the moment came when foreign tribes appeared and drove people deep into the forest. They were surrounded by mighty trees intertwined with each other, huge thickets through which not even a ray of sun could penetrate. Then they had to go to difficult path in search of a new place where they could live again, enjoying every ray of sun and the sparkling river playing with waves. Then they decided to move forward. In Danko they saw a strong and brave man, and exclaimed: “Lead us!” And he led. On the way they encountered many difficulties, people were exhausted and could not go further. “You,” they said, “are an insignificant and harmful person for us! You led us and tired us, and for this you will die!”

People went mad with anger, and no one even remembered that it was they who chose him and asked him to lead them. No one listened to his words, and when they wanted to kill him, Danko tore his chest, pulled out his heart, which shone with a bright flame of love for his people, and raised it above the heads of the people. "Let's go!" - he shouted. And people went, as if enchanted, looking at the heart in his hands. The forest parted before him and he led people out onto the wide steppe lands, and then he laughed proudly, then fell and died. People, full of joy, did not even notice his death, but one person, noticing the flaming heart, got scared and stepped on it with his foot, causing it to crumble into many sparks and go out. That evening, the river, reflecting the last rays of the sunset, seemed bright red, like the blood that beat from the chest of a brave and unusually courageous man - Danko.

In this work, the author drew attention to a problem that is relevant at all times - selfishness. The main character was completely different, not like everyone else. He tried to do at least something for people who were absolutely selfish, thinking only about themselves. And for their sake he gave his life, even though they didn’t deserve it. Thus, Maxim Gorky spoke about the existence of a man who was ready to give his life for his people, who in moments of joy did not even remember his hero and repaid him by destroying the heart that beat for them and saved them from certain death in the wilderness.

Several interesting essays

The problems of the early twentieth century have a social connection with the work of Mikhail Sholokhov. So, for example, in the novel “ Quiet Don"The writer talks about the Cossacks and the problems during the First World War and the Civil War.

One day my parents and I decided to go to the forest. In the forest you can relax from the bustle of the city, enjoy nature and breathe fresh air.

In the old days, only people lived on earth; impenetrable forests surrounded the camps of these people on three sides, and on the fourth there was the steppe. These were cheerful, strong, brave people, and then one day a difficult time came: other tribes appeared from somewhere and drove the former into the depths of the forest. There were swamps and darkness, because the forest was old and its branches were so densely intertwined that the sky could not be seen through them, and the rays of the sun could hardly make their way to the swamps through the thick foliage. But when its rays fell on the water of the swamps, a stench rose, and people died from it one after another. Then the wives and children of this tribe began to cry, and the fathers began to think and fell into depression. It was necessary to leave this forest, and for this there were two roads: one - back - there were strong and evil enemies, the other - forward - giant trees stood there, tightly hugging each other with powerful branches, sinking knotty roots deep into the tenacious silt swamps. These stone trees stood silent and motionless during the day in the gray twilight and moved even more densely around people in the evenings when the fires were lit. And always, day and night, there was a ring of strong darkness around those people, as if it was going to crush them, and they were accustomed to the expanse of the steppe. And it was even more terrible when the wind beat on the tops of the trees and the whole forest hummed dully, as if it was threatening and singing a funeral dirge. a song for those people. These were still strong people, and they could have gone to fight to the death with those who had once defeated them, but they could not die in battle, because they had covenants, and if they had died, they would have disappeared with them from lives and covenants. And so they sat and thought in the long nights, under the dull noise of the forest, in the poisonous stench of the swamp. They sat, and the shadows from the fires jumped around them in a silent dance, and it seemed to everyone that these were not shadows dancing, but the evil spirits of the forest and swamp were triumphant... People all sat and thought. But nothing—neither work nor women—exhausts the bodies and souls of people as much as melancholy thoughts do. And people weakened from their thoughts... Fear was born among them, fettered their strong hands, women gave birth to horror, crying over the corpses of those who died from the stench and over the fate of the living, shackled by fear - and cowardly words began to be heard in the forest, at first timid and quiet, and then louder and louder... They already wanted to go to the enemy and bring him their will as a gift, and no one, frightened by death, was afraid of slave life... But then Danko appeared and saved everyone alone.
Danko is one of those people, a handsome young man. Beautiful people are always brave. And so he says to them, his comrades:
- Do not turn a stone from the path with your thoughts. If you do nothing, nothing will happen to you. Why do we waste our energy on thoughts and melancholy? Get up, let's go into the forest and go through it, because it has an end - everything in the world has an end! Let's go! Well! Hey!..
They looked at him and saw that he was the best of all, because a lot of strength and living fire shone in his eyes.
-Lead us! - they said.
Danko led them. Everyone followed him together and believed in him. It was a difficult path! It was dark, and at every step the swamp opened its greedy rotten mouth, swallowing people, and the trees blocked the road with a mighty wall. Their branches intertwined with each other; the roots stretched everywhere like snakes, and every step cost a lot of sweat and blood to those people. They walked for a long time... The forest became more and more dense, and their strength became less and less! And so they began to grumble against Danko, saying that it was in vain that he, young and inexperienced, led them somewhere. And he walked ahead of them and was cheerful and clear.
But one day a thunderstorm burst over the forest, the trees whispered dully, menacingly. And then it became so dark in the forest, as if all the nights had gathered in it at once, as many as there had been in the world since he was born. Little people walked between large trees and in the menacing noise of lightning, they walked, and, swaying, the giant trees creaked and hummed angry songs, and lightning, flying over the tops of the forest, illuminated it for a minute with blue, cold fire and disappeared just as quickly, how they appeared, scaring people. And the trees, illuminated by the cold fire of lightning, seemed alive, stretching out gnarled, long arms around the people leaving the captivity of darkness, weaving them into a thick network, trying to stop people. And from the darkness of the branches something terrible, dark and cold looked at those walking. It was a difficult journey, and the people, tired of it, lost heart. But they were ashamed to admit their powerlessness, and so they fell in anger and anger at Danko, the man who walked ahead of them. And they began to reproach him for his inability to manage them - that’s how it is!
They stopped and, under the triumphant noise of the forest, in the midst of trembling darkness, tired and angry, they began to judge Danko.
“You,” they said, “are an insignificant and harmful person for us!” You led us and tired us, and in return you will die!
- You said: Lead! - and I drove! - Danko shouted, standing against them with his chest. - I have the courage to lead, that’s why I led you! What about you? What did you do to help yourself? You just walked and didn’t know how to save your strength for a longer journey! You just walked and walked like a flock of sheep!
But these words infuriated them even more.
- You will die! You will die! - they roared.
And the forest hummed and hummed, echoing their cries, and lightning tore the darkness to shreds. Danko looked at those for whom he had labored and saw that they were like animals. Many people stood around him, but there was no nobility on their faces, and he could not expect mercy from them. Then indignation boiled in his heart, but out of pity for the people it went out. He loved people and thought that maybe they would die without him. And so his heart flared up with the fire of desire to save them, to lead them to an easy path, and then the rays of that mighty fire sparkled in his eyes... And when they saw this, they thought that he was furious, which is why his eyes flared up so brightly, and they became wary , like wolves, expecting that he would fight them, and began to surround him more tightly so that it would be easier for them to grab and kill Danko. And he already understood their thought, which is why his heart burned even brighter, for this thought of theirs gave birth to melancholy in him.
And the forest still sang its gloomy song, and the thunder roared, and the rain poured...
- What will I do for people!? - Danko shouted louder than thunder.
And suddenly he tore his chest with his hands and tore out his heart from it and raised it high above his head.
It burned as brightly as the sun, and brighter than the sun, and the whole forest fell silent, illuminated by this torch of great love for people, and the darkness scattered from its light and there, deep in the forest, trembling, fell into the rotten mouth of the swamp. The people, amazed, became like stones.
- Let's go! - Danko shouted and rushed forward to his place, holding his burning heart high and illuminating the way for people.
They rushed after him, fascinated. Then the forest rustled again, shaking its peaks in surprise, but its noise was drowned out by the tramp of running people. Everyone ran quickly and boldly, carried away by the wonderful spectacle of a burning heart. And now they died, but they died without complaints or tears. But Danko was still ahead, and his heart was still burning, burning!
And then suddenly the forest parted before him, parted and remained behind, dense and silent, and Danko and all those people immediately plunged into the measure of sunlight and clean air washed by the rain. There was a thunderstorm - there, behind them, above the forest, and here the sun was shining, the steppe was sighing, the grass was shining in the diamonds of the rain and the river was sparkling golden... It was evening, and from the rays of the sunset the river seemed red, like the blood that flowed in a hot stream from Danko's torn chest.
The proud daredevil Danko cast his gaze ahead of him at the expanse of the steppe; he cast a joyful glance at the free land and laughed proudly. And then he fell and died.
People, joyful and full of hope, did not notice his death and did not see that his brave heart was still burning next to Danko’s corpse. Only one cautious person noticed this and, fearing something, stepped on the proud heart with his foot... And then it, scattered into sparks, died out...
- That's where they come from, the blue sparks of the steppe that appear before a thunderstorm!