Courage is the engine of progress, arguments from literature. The problem of cowardice: arguments from literature and reasoning on this topic

All arguments for the final essay in the direction of “Courage and Cowardice.” Does it take courage to say no?

Some people tend to be timid. Such people very often do not know how to refuse, which others take advantage of. The heroine of A.P.’s story can serve as such an example. Chekhov "". Yulia Vasilievna works as the narrator's governess. She is characterized by shyness, but this quality of hers reaches the point of absurdity. Even when she is openly oppressed and unjustly deprived of the money she has earned, she remains silent because her character does not allow her to fight back and say “no.” The heroine’s behavior shows us that courage is needed not only in emergency situations, but also in everyday life when you need to stand up for yourself.

How is courage demonstrated in war?

Extreme conditions tend to reveal the true nature of a person. Confirmation of this can be found in the story of M.A. Sholokhov "The Fate of Man". During the war, Andrei Sokolov was captured by the Germans, he was starved, he was kept in a punishment cell for attempting to escape, but he did not lose his human dignity and did not behave like a coward. The situation is indicative when, for careless words, the camp commandant summoned him to his place to shoot him. But Sokolov did not give up his words and did not show his fear to the German soldiers. He was ready to face death with dignity, and for this his life was spared. However, after the war, a more serious test awaited him: he learned that his wife and daughters had died, and only a crater remained in place of the house. His son survived, but his father’s happiness was short-lived: on the last day of the war, Anatoly was killed by a sniper. Despair did not break his spirit; he found the courage to continue life. He adopted a boy who also lost his entire family during the war. Thus, Andrei Sokolov shows a wonderful example of how to maintain dignity, honor and remain courageous in the most difficult life situations. Such people make the world a better and kinder place.

How is courage demonstrated in war? What kind of person can be called brave?

War is a terrible event in the life of any person. It takes away friends and loved ones, makes children orphans, and destroys hopes. War breaks some people, makes others stronger. A striking example Alexey Meresyev is a brave, strong-willed personality - main character“Tales of a Real Man” by B.N. Polevoy. Meresyev, who has dreamed all his life of becoming a professional fighter pilot, is seriously wounded in battle, and both legs are amputated in the hospital. It seems to the hero that his life is over, he cannot fly, walk, and is losing hope of starting a family. While in a military hospital and seeing the example of courage of other wounded, he understands that he must fight. Every day, overcoming physical pain, Alexey does exercises. Soon he can walk and even dance. Meresyev is trying with all his might to get accepted into a flight school, because only in the sky does he feel like he belongs. Despite the serious demands placed on pilots, Alexey receives a positive response. The girl he loves does not give up on him: after the war they get married and have a son. Alexey Meresyev is an example of a man with an unbending will, whose courage even war could not break.

In the epic novel "" you can find many examples of human behavior in war. Thus, officer Zherkov shows himself as a person who is not ready to sacrifice himself for the sake of victory. During the Battle of Shengraben, he shows cowardice, which leads to the death of many soldiers. By order of Bagration, he must go to the left flank with a very important message - the order to retreat. However, Zherkov is a coward and does not convey the message. At this time, the French are attacking the left flank, and the authorities do not know what to do, because they did not receive any orders. Chaos begins: the infantry flees into the forest, and the hussars go on the attack. Because of Zherkov’s actions, a huge number of soldiers die. During this battle he is wounded young Nikolai Rostov, he and the hussars boldly rush into the attack, while other soldiers are in confusion. Unlike Zherkov, he did not chicken out, for which he was promoted to officer. Using the example of one episode in the work, we can see the consequences of courage and cowardice in war. Fear paralyzes some and forces others to act. Neither flight nor fight guarantees survival, but courageous behavior not only preserves honor, but also gives strength in battle, which increases the chances of survival.

How are the concepts of courage and self-confidence related? The courage to admit when you are wrong. What is the difference between true courage and false courage? What's the difference between being bold and taking risks? Do you need to have courage to admit your mistakes? Who can be called a coward?

Courage expressed in excessive self-confidence can lead to irreparable consequences. It is generally accepted that courage is positive quality character. This statement is true if it is associated with intelligence. but a fool can sometimes be dangerous. Thus, in the novel “Hero of Our Time” by M.Yu. Lermontov can find confirmation of this. The young cadet Grushnitsky, one of the characters in the chapter “Princess Mary,” is an example of a person who pays great attention to external manifestations of courage. He loves to impress people, speaks in pompous phrases and devotes his time to his military uniform excessive attention. He cannot be called a coward, but his courage is ostentatious and not aimed at real threats. Grushnitsky and Pechorin have a conflict, and their offended pride demands a duel with Grigory. However, Grushnitsky decides to be mean and does not load the enemy’s pistol. Finding out about this puts him in a difficult situation: ask for forgiveness or be killed. Unfortunately, the cadet cannot overcome his pride; he is ready to bravely face death, because recognition is unthinkable for him. His “courage” does no one any good. He dies because he does not realize that the courage to admit his mistakes is sometimes the most important thing.

How are the concepts of courage and riskiness, self-confidence, and stupidity related? What is the difference between arrogance and courage?

Another character whose courage was foolish is Azamat, Bela's younger brother. He is not afraid of risk and bullets whistling overhead, but his courage is stupid, even fatal. He steals his sister from home, risking not only his relationship with his father and his safety, but also Bela's happiness. His courage is not aimed either at self-defense or at saving lives, and therefore leads to sad consequences: his father and sister die at the hands of the robber from whom he stole a horse, and he himself is forced to flee to the mountains. Thus, courage can lead to dire consequences if it is used by a person to achieve goals or protect his ego.

Courage in love. Can love inspire people to great deeds?

Love inspires people to great deeds. Thus, the main characters of O. Henry’s story “” showed an example of courage to readers. For the sake of love, they sacrificed the most precious things: Della gave her beautiful hair, and Jim gave him the watch he inherited from his father. In order to realize what is truly important in life, remarkable courage is required. Even more courage is needed to sacrifice anything for the sake of a loved one.

Can a brave man be afraid? Why shouldn't you be afraid to admit your feelings? What is the danger of indecisiveness in love?

A. Maurois in the story “” shows readers why indecision in love is dangerous. The main character of the story, Andre, falls in love with an actress named Jenny. He brings her violets every Wednesday, but does not even dare to approach her. Passions are seething in his soul, the walls of his room are hung with portraits of his beloved, but in real life he can't even write her a letter. The reason for this behavior lies in his fear of being rejected, as well as his lack of self-confidence. He considers his passion for the actress “hopeless” and elevates Jenny to an unattainable ideal. However, this person cannot be called a “coward”. A plan arises in his head: to go to war in order to accomplish a feat that will “bring him closer” to Jenny. Unfortunately, he dies there without having time to tell her about his feelings. After his death, Jenny learns from his father that he wrote many letters, but never sent a single one. If Andre had come closer to her at least once, he would have learned that for her “modesty, constancy and nobility are better than any feat.” This example proves that indecision in love is dangerous because it prevents a person from becoming happy. It is likely that Andre's courage could make two people happy, and no one would have to mourn an unnecessary feat that did not bring him closer to his main goal.

What actions can be called courageous? What is the feat of a doctor? Why is it important to be brave in life? What does it mean to be brave in everyday life?

Doctor Dymov - noble man who chose serving people as his profession. Only concern for others, their troubles and illnesses can be the reason for such a choice. Despite the hardships in his family life, Dymov thinks more about his patients than about himself. His dedication to his work often puts him in danger, so he dies saving a boy from diphtheria. He proves himself to be a hero by doing what he was not supposed to do. His courage, loyalty to his profession and duty do not allow him to do otherwise. To be a doctor with a capital D, you need to be brave and decisive, like Osip Ivanovich Dymov.

What does cowardice lead to? What actions does cowardice push a person to do? Why is cowardice dangerous? What is the difference between fear and cowardice? Who can be called a coward? Can a brave man be afraid? Is it possible to say that there is only one step from fear to cowardice? Is cowardice a death sentence? How extreme conditions influence courage? Why is it important to have courage when making your decisions? Can cowardice hinder personal development? Do you agree with Diderot’s statement: “We consider him a coward who allowed his friend to be insulted in his presence”? Do you agree with the statement of Confucius: “Cowardice is knowing what you should do and not doing it”

It's hard to always be brave. Sometimes even strong and honest people with high moral principles may get scared, like, for example, the hero of the story V.V. Zheleznikova Dima Somov. His character traits, such as “courage” and “correctness,” set him apart from other guys from the very beginning; he appears to readers as a hero who does not allow the weak to be offended, protects animals, strives for independence and loves work. During the hike, Dima saves Lena from her classmates, who began to scare her by wearing the “muzzles” of animals. It is for this reason that Lenochka Bessoltseva falls in love with him.

But over time, we observe the moral decline of the “hero” Dima. At first he is frightened by the problem with his classmate's brother and violates his principle. He does not talk about the fact that his classmate Valya is a flayer because he is afraid of his brother. But the next act showed a completely different side of Dima Somov. He deliberately allowed the whole class to think that Lena told the teacher about disrupting the lesson, although he did it himself. The reason for this act was cowardice. Further, Dima Somov plunges deeper and deeper into the abyss of fear. Even when they boycotted Lena and mocked her, Somov could not confess, although he had many chances. This hero was paralyzed by fear, turning him from a “hero” into an ordinary “coward” and devaluing all his positive qualities.

This hero shows us another truth: we are all made of contradictions. Sometimes we are brave, sometimes we are afraid. But there is a huge gap between fear and cowardice. Cowardice is not useful, it is dangerous, because it pushes a person to do bad things, awakens base instincts. And fear is something that is inherent in everyone. A person who performs a feat may be afraid. Heroes are afraid ordinary people they are afraid, and this is normal, fear itself is a condition for the survival of the species. But cowardice is an already formed character trait.

What does it mean to be brave? How does courage influence the formation of personality? In what life situations is courage best demonstrated? What is true courage? What actions can be called courageous? Courage is resistance to fear, not the absence of it. Can a brave man be afraid?

Lena Bessoltseva is one of the most strong images in Russian literature. From her example we can see the huge gap between fear and cowardice. This is a little girl who finds herself in an unfair situation. She is inherently afraid: she is frightened by the cruelty of children, she is afraid of stuffed animals at night. But in fact, she turns out to be the bravest of all the heroes, because she is able to stand up for those who are weaker, she is not afraid of universal condemnation, she is not afraid of being special, not like those around her. Lena proves her courage many times, such as when she rushes to Dima's aid when he is in danger, even though he betrayed her. Her example taught whole class good, showed that not always everything in the world is decided by force. “And longing, such a desperate longing for human purity, for selfless courage and nobility, more and more captured their hearts and demanded a way out.”

Is it necessary to defend the truth, to fight for justice? Do you agree with Diderot’s statement: “We consider him a coward who allowed his friend to be insulted in his presence”? Why is it important to have the courage to stand up for your ideals? Why are people afraid to express their opinions? Do you agree with the statement of Confucius: “Cowardice is knowing what you should do and not doing it”

It takes courage to fight injustice. The hero of the story, Vasiliev, saw injustice, but due to his weakness of character, he could not resist the team and its leader, Iron Button. This hero tries not to offend Lena Bessoltseva, refuses to beat her, but at the same time tries to maintain neutrality. Vasiliev tries to protect Lena, but he lacks character and courage. On the one hand, there remains hope that this character will improve. Perhaps the example of the brave Lena Bessoltseva will help him overcome his fears and teach him to stand up for the truth, even if everyone around him is against it. On the other hand, Vasiliev’s behavior and what his inaction led to teaches us that we cannot stand by if you understand that injustice is happening. Vasiliev’s tacit agreement is instructive, since many of us face similar situations in life. But there is a question that every person should ask themselves before making a choice: is there anything worse than knowing about injustice, witnessing it and simply remaining silent? Courage, like cowardice, is a matter of choice.

Do you agree with the statement: “You can never live happily when you are always trembling with fear”? How is suspiciousness related to cowardice? Why is fear dangerous? Can fear prevent a person from living? How do you understand Helvetius’s statement: “To be completely devoid of courage, one must be completely devoid of desires”? How do you understand the common expression: “fear has big eyes”? Is it possible to say that a person fears what he does not know? How do you understand Shakespeare's statement: “Cowards die many times before they die, but the brave die only once”?

"The Wise Piskar" - cautionary tale about the dangers of fear. The gudgeon lived and trembled all his life. He thought himself very smart because he made a cave in which he could be safe, but reverse side such an existence has become complete absence real life. He didn’t create a family, didn’t make friends, didn’t breathe deeply, didn’t eat his fill, didn’t live, just sat in his hole. He sometimes thought about whether someone benefited from his existence, he understood that there was no, but fear did not allow him to leave his comfort and safety zone. So Piskar died without knowing any joy in life. Many people can see themselves in this instructive allegory. This fairy tale teaches us not to be afraid of life. Yes, it is full of dangers and disappointments, but if you are afraid of everything, then when to live?

Do you agree with the words of Plutarch: “Courage is the beginning of victory”? Is it important to be able to overcome your fears? Why do you need to fight fears? What does it mean to be brave? Is it possible to cultivate courage in yourself? Do you agree with Balzac’s statement: “Fear can make a daredevil timid, but it gives courage to the indecisive”? Can a brave man be afraid?

The problem of overcoming fear is also explored in Veronica Roth's novel Divergent. Beatrice Prior - main character works, leaves her home, the Abnegation faction, to become Dauntless. She is afraid of her parents' reaction, afraid of not going through the initiation rite, of not being accepted in a new place. But her main strength is that she challenges all her fears and faces them. Tris puts herself in great danger by being in the company of Dauntless, because she is “different”, people like her are destroyed. This scares her terribly, but she is much more afraid of herself. She does not understand the nature of her difference from others, she is frightened by the thought that her very existence could be dangerous for people.

The fight against fears is one of the key problems of the novel. So, Beatrice’s lover’s name is Faure, which means “four” in English. This is exactly the number of fears he needs to overcome. Tris and For fearlessly fight for their lives, for justice, for peace in the city they call home. They defeat both external and internal enemies, which undoubtedly characterizes them as brave people.

A.I. Kuprin "Garnet Bracelet"
Georgy Zheltkov is a petty official whose life is devoted to unrequited love for Princess Vera. As you know, his love began long before her marriage, but he preferred to write letters to her and pursued her. The reason for this behavior lay in his lack of self-confidence and fear of being rejected. Perhaps if he were braver, he could become happy with the woman he loves.

Can a person be afraid of happiness? Do you need to have courage to change your life? Is it necessary to take risks?

Vera Sheina was afraid to be happy and wanted a calm marriage, without shocks, so she married the cheerful and handsome Vasily, with whom everything was very simple, but great love she didn't experience it. Only after the death of his admirer, looking at him dead body, Vera realized that the love that every woman dreams of had passed her by. The moral of this story is this: you need to be brave not only in everyday life, but also in love, you need to take risks without fear of being rejected. Only courage can lead to happiness, cowardice and, as a consequence, conformism leads to big disappointment, as it happened with Vera Sheina.

How do you understand Twain's statement: “Courage is the resistance to fear, not the absence of it”? How is willpower related to courage? Do you agree with the words of Plutarch: “Courage is the beginning of victory”? Is it important to be able to overcome your fears? Why do you need to fight fears? What does it mean to be brave? Is it possible to cultivate courage in yourself? Do you agree with Balzac’s statement: “Fear can make a daredevil timid, but it gives courage to the indecisive”? Can a brave man be afraid?

Many writers have addressed this topic. Thus, E. Ilyina’s story “The Fourth Height” is dedicated to overcoming fears. Gulya Koroleva is an example of courage in all its manifestations. Her whole life is a battle with fear, and each of her victories is a new height. In the work we see the life story of one person, the formation real personality. Every step she takes is a manifesto of determination. From the first lines of the story, little Gulya shows real courage in a variety of life situations. Overcoming childhood fears, he takes the snake out of the box with his bare hands and sneaks into the elephant cage at the zoo. The heroine grows up, and the challenges encountered in life become more serious: the first role in a movie, the admission of being wrong, the ability to take responsibility for one’s actions. Throughout the entire work, she struggles with her fears, does what she is afraid of. Already an adult, Gulya Koroleva gets married, her son is born, it seems that her fears have been conquered, she can live in peace family life, but her biggest challenge lies ahead. The war begins, and her husband goes to the front. She fears for her husband, for her son, for the future of the country. But fear does not paralyze her, does not force her to hide. The girl goes to work as a nurse in a hospital in order to help somehow. Unfortunately, her husband dies, and Gulya is forced to continue to fight alone. She goes to the front, unable to look at the horrors happening to her loved ones. The heroine takes the fourth height, she dies, having defeated the very last fear living in a person, the fear of death. On the pages of the story we see how the main character is afraid, but she overcomes all her fears; such a person can undoubtedly be called a brave man.

Courage and cowardice are two opposite traits human character. Philosophers, psychologists, writers and poets have been thinking about this topic for centuries.

Being brave means being able to control your emotions, thereby actively resisting your fears. A brave person is, first of all, a self-confident person who is not afraid to face problems, looks for a way out to solve them, does not deviate from his plans and goes to the end, until his goal is fulfilled.

A brave person must also have a huge amount patience, be sure to be purposeful, enterprising, and have willpower. It is very important that such a character trait as courage be given to a kind and sympathetic person for good purposes. It is worth noting that courage in a person can also manifest itself with a negative connotation, such as arrogance, excitement and fatalism, which can become dangerous for himself, like an inappropriate feeling of courage.

In cowardice, just like in courage, there are also positive and negative aspects manifestations of the human self. Cowardice can manifest itself as a protective reflex that saves a person from a threat - it is fearfulness and timidity. Negative traits include: cowardice, hesitation, such a person is the complete opposite of a brave person, he is afraid of any problems and avoids them in every possible way.

I believe that cowardice is a common weakness of willpower, an unwillingness to take control of one’s emotions and direct them in the right direction. A cowardly person may also have a goal, but he can easily give up on it if a small obstacle arises on the way. There are many examples of human cowardice and courage in literature; this clearly makes it possible to see that, it would seem, cowardice is a trifle, but in fact it can be criminal. Because of this character trait, a person can commit both moral and legal crimes. Therefore, I believe that every person is obliged to educate himself morally, learn to balance his emotions, believe in his strength, pull himself together and not let the feeling of fear overcome him, but also, of course, know in moderation in everything.

Essay 2

When talking about such subtle qualities as courage and cowardice, we must always take into account the circumstances in which this or that person finds himself. The manifestation of courage, as such, is considered only when you showed it consciously, taking the first, unimposed step to help. There are many examples of courage and not every one of them will be appropriate from a logical and human point of view, because we have different manifestations of courage. One should feel this fine line between fanaticism and heroism in their pure manifestation. In addition, excessive demonstration of your courage may not lead to universal recognition, but will only aggravate your situation, so from here we can conclude that every person can and should show courage, but in no way imply echoes of madness by this.

And now we can touch on the complete opposite of courage, cowardice. Let's start by not confusing the natural defensive reflex, namely fear, the manifestation of which is often associated with a real danger factor, and excessive timidity in the face of any difficulties along the way. I think it’s fair to say that cowardice has no excuse, and the people themselves who had such weakness are not too happy about it. What prevents them from believing in their inner strengths and not giving in to panic? This question is difficult to answer, but some come to the same conclusion that a person is hindered by nothing more than his own fear. That very feeling, like a snake, enveloping us from top to toe, forcing us to believe in something that simply does not exist, in our imagination, which does not allow us to function normally and assess the situation sensibly. Perhaps you can get rid of this by slowly overcoming your internal fears and complexes, but unfortunately this is all only in the hands of the person himself, and the environment can only create a favorable environment for overcoming mental difficulties.

Finally, when we have figured out what courage and cowardice are and answered some important questions that ordinary people sometimes ask, we can judge which is better? Show cowardice and stay alive, or, on the contrary, show your courage and not denigrate your reputation, dignity and honor. Of course, the choice will ultimately remain only with the person himself, but still, from the point of view of morality and ethics, a person must help, must show courage in cases of injustice, otherwise we will simply cease to exist. No one wants to become an example of self-sacrifice, but everyone needs heroes so that in a difficult moment of life, no matter what, to believe in the best, to believe in themselves.

Sample 3

Most often, the feeling of courage is attributed to men, while the feeling of cowardice, on the contrary, is considered more feminine. However, such a classification is arbitrary and in reality these feelings are universal and inherent in representatives of any gender. Every person can develop both.

If you look at it superficially, then courage and cowardice are understandable qualities. However, if you look a little deeper, it becomes not entirely clear what the differences are between courage and stupidity, between cowardice and caution, when to be bold and when even to be cowardly.

When the situation is viewed more prosaically, it is possible to see some very interesting facts. For example, take war, which, oddly enough, is a typical state of affairs for humanity. People have regularly organized wars throughout almost their entire history.

Who returns after the war? As a rule, they are considered heroes. However, in fact, the bulk of the heroes remain on the battlefield, since the function of the hero as such is often not only to perform heroic deeds, but also to die heroically.

For the most part, cowards return from war. For the most part, cowards survive, and if we take the factor of evolutionary selection, then, probably, it was cowards, and not daredevils, who could avoid predators and not eat some poisonous berries. Often cowardice prevailed over curiosity and it was this factor that allowed people to survive.

Thus, a significant part of modern humanity is the descendants of cowards, and not daredevils. This raises the question of what behavior is generally more reasonable and appropriate and whether people often confuse courage with stupidity, and cowardice with caution.

In my opinion, there really is courage and true courage, which is an independently developed internal quality that is significantly related to the self-education of the individual and a deep understanding of the world. On the other hand, there is absurd cowardice, which can only be a sign of an undeveloped personality and stupidity. However, in order to understand all these aspects, you need to deeply understand yourself and this world.

Unified State Exam. 350 words

The novel is rich in diverse characters, both main and secondary. One of these characters is Sokov Andrei Fokich. He was criticized by Woland for the poor quality of food served in the buffet of the Variety Theater.

My life is at the price of low white and black darks. My future will no longer be a mystery to me, or until the end of the century. What will happen in the future? You always want to think about it too seriously, you want to let it go, die, or not do anything at all.

Trust but verify - that's what it says folk proverb. It's about about the general most appropriate attitude towards other people, that is, you need to generally express a certain positive attitude

Why is one person brave - he is not afraid of any difficulties, he always achieves his goals, is ready to do anything for the sake of his family and friends, while the other, on the contrary, is cowardly, afraid to take even basic steps in life in order to achieve at least some success? What makes one person brave and another cowardly? This question has haunted the minds of writers, poets, and philosophers for centuries.

Courage always implies the ability to pull yourself together in a moment of fear. A brave person is not afraid to look problems straight in the eye and never gives up on his endeavors. A brave man is always patient, he has enormous power will and goal that he achieves, going through even the most difficult obstacles. Nothing will stop him in achieving his goal! The main thing is that brave people have only good goals, otherwise they can bring misfortune not only to their family and friends, but also to many other people or even an entire generation. For example, some unfortunate rulers started a war, sacrificing thousands of innocent lives.

A cowardly person is afraid of problems. He tries to get away from them by any means accessible ways. A cowardly person may have a goal, but if he fails, he will easily give it up. Because of cowardice, a person can commit almost any crime, against the law or against morality - no matter what they are, it is always scary!

In literature one can find many examples of courage and cowardice. The problem of courage and cowardice is well demonstrated in the work of A.S. Pushkin " Captain's daughter" During the capture of the fortress, Pyotr Grinev was ready to sacrifice his own life, but Shvabrin showed cowardice by going over to the enemy’s side.

Courage is a very valuable quality, but only if it belongs to a prudent person with good goals and intentions.

Read along with the article “Essay on the topic “Courage and Cowardice”:

A. S. Pushkin “The Captain's Daughter”

In A. S. Pushkin’s story “The Captain’s Daughter,” the writer showed us a noble by birth, but inherently dishonest person, a friend of the protagonist, the nobleman Shvabrin, who was capable of not only taking revenge on the girl who refused him, but also inflicting a vile stab in the back Grinev during a duel.

Having forgotten about the oath given to the sovereign, having lost the concept of honor and dignity, Shvabrin even commits treason, betrayal, and violates his duty as an officer.

During the capture of the Belogorsk fortress by Pugachev, Shvabrin violated the oath of a nobleman (to defend power) and went over to the side of the rebel Pugachev. Grinev was ready to sacrifice his life.

M. Yu. Lermontov “Hero of Our Time”

The hero of M. Yu. Lermontov's novel “Hero of Our Time” Grushnitsky was a coward. He showed a weak will, the scene of his duel shows his weak character. He challenged Pechorin to a duel and shot him with a loaded pistol, although he knew that he did not have a bullet in his pistol. The main character exposes this false romantic pathos, giving Grushnitsky a chance to repent, but he refuses.

L. N. Tolstoy “War and Peace”

In L. N. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace,” Adjutant Zherkov was also a coward, avoiding battles and hiding behind the search for his battery. When he was sent to the Tushin battery, he, afraid of being on the front line, looked for it in another place. This is how Tolstoy sees most of his staff officers. Behind the external sleekness and noble origin hides the cowardly soul of stupid, narrow-minded people.

They are opposed by the brave Andrei Bolkonsky, who went to the front line and inspired everyone around him with his courage. Although he experienced feelings of fear, he convinced himself: “I cannot be afraid.” Prince Andrei gave the order to retreat, and also helped the soldiers move to the rear. Before the battery, Zherkov replaces courage with simple bravado, the desire to show off. He was afraid to get to Tushin’s battery, but at the officer’s dinner he laughed at the timid captain, whom Bagration scolded for leaving the gun. None of the officers found the courage to report that Tushin’s battery was completely without cover. Only Prince Andrei called the captain and his soldiers heroes to whom everyone owes success.

A. S. Griboedov “Woe from Wit”

Chatsky is not afraid to express his opinion. He rises against the crowd. However, the rebel and rebel finds himself alone.

In the monologue “Who are the judges?” Chatsky boldly and decisively asserts the right to engage in science and art: “A mind hungry for knowledge will focus on science / Or in his soul God himself will arouse a fervor for creative, high and beautiful arts...”, reveals his attitude towards Moscow society. His feelings are exposed, his pain for the people, for the country. Conflict with society reveals its true essence. He does not agree to live according to the precepts of his hypocritical fathers, to serve petty, unworthy people, to lose his dignity for the sake of benefits and conveniences. Famusov acts as a person protecting this society. How loving father, as a major official, he cannot allow the spread of ideas that would undermine his foundation. His mind scares him young man, it seems strange to him.

Famusov wants to “reason” him in a fatherly way, “instruct him to be true.” But Chatsky does not agree, he resists. He defends his truth and proves that the world is richer than it seems to his beloved father, it is multifaceted, there is so much in it that needs to be explored and studied.

However, it is difficult for people who do not understand the ardor of his nature to unravel his complex thoughts. They are not ready for such difficulties; it is easier for them to recognize this person, who is so different from them, as crazy.

Chatsky still defended his right to think the way he wants, the right to be himself. The hero’s determination maintains in him a craving for science, development and self-improvement. Humanity will always strive for knowledge, despite the resistance of inertia, philistinism and stupidity.

The crowd is not ready and unable to hear Chatsky’s scream and despair. They do not want to listen to reason, the truth, they are afraid to hear it, they are insensitive.

N. M. Karamzin " Poor Lisa»

N. M. Karamzin’s sentimental story “Poor Liza” shows us an example of betrayal committed against oneself. Erast, an intelligent and fairly wealthy young nobleman who fell in love with a poor girl not of his circle, betrays his feelings by choosing material well-being and marrying someone else, which leads to tragedy both for Lisa and for the hero himself.

The fate of a nobleman leading a windy social life, thinking only about his own pleasure, proves that weakness of character, wrong choice of values, cowardice make a person unhappy, lead to mistakes, tragedy and meanness.

M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin “The Wise Minnow”

The problem of philistinism, empty and worthless life is reflected in the fairy tale “The Wise Minnow” by M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin. The personification of this vulgar philistinism was Shchedrin’s wise minnow, whose meaning of life becomes self-preservation, avoidance of clashes and struggle.

Yes, this coward lived to a ripe old age and remained unharmed, but his life was insignificant, worthless and humiliating. She consisted entirely of constant, continuous trembling for her skin. It is not for nothing that the writer succinctly but very clearly described his life: “He lived and trembled - that’s all.”

A. N. Ostrovsky “Thunderstorm”

Katerina's nature is complex and contradictory. She has self-esteem, courage, strength of character and a natural sense of beauty. Her character is unique. N.A. Dobrolyubov saw the greatness of Katerina’s image in the integrity of her character, in her ability to always be herself, to never change herself in anything.

Katerina is separated from her loved one forever. She has no peace in her soul, as she realizes that she has committed a mortal sin and is lost in the eyes of God. The only way out is suicide. She got rid of suffering in the only possible way, in her opinion.

Katerina did not want to put up with the reality that was killing her dignity; she could not live without love and harmony. This is not a defeat, but an assertion of the strength of a free person, a protest against dark kingdom, “a terrible challenge to tyrant power.” Katerina couldn't live without moral purity, love and harmony. She showed courage and determination, did not give in and went to the end.

B. N. Polevoy “The Tale of a Real Man”

The hero of the work was real person, who selflessly and heroically fought the enemy at the controls of the plane. He showed us how we can overcome ourselves. Fighter pilot Alexey Meresyev, shot down in battle over occupied territory, made his way through snow-covered forests for several weeks until he reached the partisans. The continuation of his feat in the war was the desire to win at any cost and continue to fight the enemy.

And he accomplished this feat. Having lost both legs, the hero shows the will to win, strength of character and courage, forcing himself to get up, stand on crutches and sit at the controls of the plane again.

This man, even after defeat, returns to duty. He, as before, again increases the number of his aerial victories over the enemy.

M. A. Bulgakov “The Master and Margarita”

In the novel, the writer raises the problem of cowardice and betrayal as a person’s spiritual defeat. The great Caesar of Judea, Pontius Pilate, orders the execution of Yeshua, although he does not consider him guilty. In Pilate's soul, two opposing principles are fighting - good and evil. Evil wins. The executioner betrays Yeshua to a terrible execution.

Pilate, cowardly, commits betrayal, dooming Yeshua to a painful death. Thus, he betrayed his beliefs and the person who became close to him. Pilate admits: “Betrayal is the most terrible sin person." He experiences unbearable torment from what he did. He will be tormented and tormented until the end of his days, because betrayal is never forgotten, it lives as long as the person who committed it lives.

A. A. Fadeev “Young Guard”

Mass heroism during the war was shown not in the name of personal glory, but in the name of victory. The main thing was to prevent the conquest of the country - young boys and girls in the territory occupied by the Germans, without fear of death, carried out subversive activities. The heroes of the novel created an underground anti-fascist organization. Oleg Koshevoy and Sergei Tyulenin, Ulyana Gromova and Lyubov Shevtsova, as well as Ivan Zemnukhov - real young men and women who called on the population to fight the enemy, instilled in those around them the belief in invincibility with the help of leaflets and hoisting flags in the territory occupied by the Germans, and also saved many of their peers from being deported for forced labor in Germany. They destroyed documentation by setting fire to the building where the lists were kept.

The brave, heroic actions of these people were due to a feeling of great love for their homeland, the desire to win at any cost.

B. L. Vasiliev “Not on the lists”

The hero of the novel boldly gives his life in the name of victory. The feat of Nikolai Pluzhnikov, shown in the novel, is an example of an integral character.

War requires focusing on the main thing - victory over the enemy. It was for this reason that until spring, without food, without water, without weapons, he waged “his war” with the Germans, keeping the banner Brest Fortress. Pluzhnikov agrees to leave the dungeon only after he learns about the situation Soviet army. Having come to the top, he behaves with dignity in front of the enemy. Gray-haired, blind, with frostbitten fingers, Pluzhnikov appeared before the Germans as a proud man, proudly saying: “I am a Russian soldier.”

The German general greeted the man with his hand on the visor of his cap, and his soldiers saluted. He died free and won a battle with the German invaders.

A man in a war thought first of all about victory; for him the honor of the Motherland was above all else. And in the name of this, he went into an unequal battle, remained true to his principles, his duty.

V. V. Bykov “Sotnikov”

The writer touches on the problem of cowardice and betrayal as a person’s spiritual fall in the story. Having been captured by the Nazis and trying to save own life, partisan Rybak betrays his squad, those who helped him survive. He betrays his friend Sotnikov and agrees to take part in his execution. Having transgressed what is truly human, begging for his life at the cost of betrayal, the Fisherman is worthy of contempt.

The writer poses the question: what is better - to save your life by betraying your neighbor, or to die with dignity? Sotnikov makes his own moral choice. He dies, retaining his human appearance, having won a moral victory.

A. P. Chekhov “Revenge”

The author talks about the cowardly and petty revenge of an ordinary actor on a young actress simply because she did not want to give him a beautiful robe to take part in the play. The writer showed the baseness and insignificance of people who are capable of cowardly “hiding in the bushes,” taking revenge and secretly rejoicing. However, the unsuccessful comedian’s planned revenge did not achieve its goal.

Even realizing that the announcement “All tickets for today's performance are sold out” was found and posted, the comedian enjoyed the fact that he was able to take revenge on the impudent girl. Revenge, destroying the human essence, gradually turned the hero’s corrupted soul into something even more disgusting.

A. T. Tvardovsky “Vasily Terkin”

A. Tvardovsky’s poem “Vasily Terkin” raises the problems of self-sacrifice, heroism, courage, patience, deep pain for the homeland engulfed in fire.

Describing pictures of hunger and cold, the poet says that in war “you can live without food for a day, or more,” but every day you need to have the courage to be prepared for death. And the soldiers endure all these hardships patiently and with dignity.

Despite the optimistic mood of the poem, which was necessary at that time to raise the soldier’s spirit, its tragedy breaks through in the typical picture described in the chapter “About an Orphan Soldier,” in which the hero, passing by his native places, did not recognize his native village, did not find his native home :

There is no window, no hut,

Not a housewife, even a married man,

Not a son, but there was one, guys...

Realizing that his relatives were no longer alive, the soldier, himself an orphan, wept bitterly; and these tears are perceived as a cry for a life burned in the fire of war. The poem is full of patriotism, pain, but also faith in the people who stood up to defend their land. The poet confidently says:

Today we are responsible

For Russia, for the people

And for everything in the world.

A. Tvardovsky even speaks of death as something not so important, because it is death in the name of the Motherland: “a terrible battle is going on, a bloody one, a mortal battle not for the sake of glory, but for the sake of life on earth.”

It seems incredible that it was possible to write about the most difficult and cruel war in the history of mankind so optimistically, life-affirmingly, with such a bright philosophy of life, as A. Tvardovsky did in the poem “Vasily Terkin”.

Yu. V. Drunina “Margin of Safety”

The problem of war is especially acute in the poetic works of Yu. Drunina, a famous poetess who herself went through the entire war, selflessly saving the wounded on the battlefields.

It is generally very difficult to imagine a woman in war, because she is a keeper of the hearth and a mother. Therefore, the role of women in war is perceived ambiguously: it is contrary to all human nature.

Perhaps precisely because woman and war are incompatible concepts, everyone bravely fought together - both men and women - for the peace of motherhood, the well-being of children, in order to preserve peace for the new man.

In the poem “Margin of Safety,” the poetess says with pride and pain that the strength and courage of the Russian people do not dry out if they are needed to defend their homeland:

And where did so much strength come from?

Even in the weakest of us?..

What to guess! - Russia had and still has

Eternal strength is an eternal supply.

B. L. Vasiliev “And the dawns here are quiet...”

The role of women in war, her participation in battles and the resilience she showed are reflected in many works about the war. But the contrast between femininity and carnage represents an irreconcilable contradiction between the forces of good and evil. It is this idea that can be seen in B. Vasiliev’s story “And the dawns here are quiet...”.

In B. Vasiliev's story, young girlish purity collides with the inhuman and cruel forces of fascism. And in this clash, five girls who opposed seasoned German saboteurs die, showing the courage, courage and bravery inherent in real fighters.

Yes, the enemy is detained, but this small victory comes at the cost of five young lives. A short story became a hymn to femininity, a symbol of the eternity of charm, spiritual wealth and beauty of five girls, the strength of their spirit. B. Vasiliev describes with bitterness how the harsh and cruel reality of war comes into conflict with everything beautiful that is in the heroines.

V. L. Kondratiev “Sashka”

The hardships of war, the courage and daily feats of people at the front, in the rear, in hospitals and in the field are reflected in V. Kondratiev’s story “Sashka”. Through the perception of the main character, the reader sees the soldiers, observes their harsh everyday life, goes through the path of character development with him, and with him is proud of the courage shown in detaining the German and Sashka’s well-deserved award.

K. M. Simonov “Wait for me...”, “Do you remember, Alyosha, the roads of the Smolensk region...”

The name of the poet Konstantin Simonov was well known already during the Great Patriotic War.

Having gone through the entire war and knowing its heroes well, he simply and sincerely wrote poems that gave hope, instilled faith in victory, and healed pain. His poems “Do you remember, Alyosha, the roads of the Smolensk region...”, “Wait for me...” and others called on soldiers to courage and perseverance, loyalty and readiness to fulfill their duty.

With his poems, the poet claims that none of the soldiers who fought for the happiness of future generations will be forgotten, that the memory of them will forever live in hearts, and their feat will forever remain in the memory of descendants.

M. A. Sholokhov “The Fate of Man”

In M. A. Sholokhov’s story “The Fate of a Man,” the problem of not only the courage and heroism of an ordinary Soviet soldier in war is raised, but also the problem of preserving human feelings, willingness to help people, sensitivity and mercy towards the weak and defenseless. Andrei Sokolov, the main character of the story, went through the entire war, suffered the most difficult trials at the front, lost family and friends. However, he found the strength, the will to commit moral feat by adopting an orphan boy. In the monstrous conditions of war, under the onslaught of enemy force, Sokolov remained a man, unbroken, sincere, reliable.

This is his real post-war feat. Probably, thanks to such people, their inner strength and perseverance, courage, our country won the difficult struggle against the fascists.

E. Hemingway “The Old Man and the Sea”

The hero of the story, fisherman Santiago, a lonely old man living in a hut, thought of the sea as a living creature capable of anything. People lead eternal struggle with the elements, and this struggle makes the hero a strong and strong-willed person. The sea elements prepared a test for the fisherman. The old man bravely and selflessly fights with a huge fish for a long time. The old man “won” the three-day duel with her. The story evokes pride in a man who cannot be defeated. A person can do a lot in this life, even be stronger than nature itself, but he must always feel a connection with it and be aware of his guilt before it.

In the novel by V.A. Kaverin's "Two Captains" the friend of the main character Sanya Grigoriev is Valka Zhukov. They became friends from the moment they met at the boarding school, where Sanya ended up as a street child. Valka is Sanya’s true friend, not like Mikhail Romashov. When a conflict arises between Romashka and Grigoriev, Valka knows the truth, but is afraid to tell it, since the vile Romashov is blackmailing him. However, realizing that his silence could cost his friend too much, he tells Sanya everything, and he asks him to tell this to everyone at the teachers' meeting, where his expulsion from school will be discussed. If you have the support of such a brave and courageous friend, no one is afraid.

2. A.S. Griboyedov "Woe from Wit"

In the comedy, a conflict arises between Chatsky and Famusovsky society. The young man boldly speaks to the faces of all representatives of Moscow society about how ridiculous their habits and passions look. He bravely condemns the bigotry and hypocrisy that reigns here, and speaks contemptuously of veneration and sycophancy. Every guest at the ball heard something offensive in his words. But, in fact, who likes to hear something incriminating about themselves? So for the countess-granddaughter such words seemed to compare her with a milliner, for Natalya Dmitrievna Gorich - a recommendation to move to the village, old woman Khlestova was offended by his laughter about Zagoretsky. But nevertheless, Chatsky continues to talk about the meanness of the serf owners, who treat the peasants like cattle, about sycophancy, about the eternal imitation of foreigners. It was for this courage that I.A. Goncharov called the hero Griboyedov the winner.

3. B. Vasiliev “Tomorrow there was war”

The story shows the relationship between three friends: Zina Kovalenko, Iskra Polyakova and Vika Lyuberetskaya. One day, at a birthday party in the Lyuberetskys’ apartment, Yesenin’s poems were read. The work of this poet was considered prohibited. The head teacher of the school, Valentina Andronovna, collected information from children who were weaker than others in character and personal qualities. This turned out to be Zinochka. She told Valendra that they had read Yesenin. After some time, Vika Lyuberetskaya’s father is arrested. Vika finds herself in front of difficult choice: she must either abandon her father or leave the Komsomol. She can do neither. Not wanting to listen to accusatory words addressed to her, or to expose her friends, she decides to poison herself. With her death, Vika protests the existing world order. Iskra Polyakova reads Yesenin’s poems at her friend’s funeral, proving to everyone that these people did not defeat either Vika or their friendship.