1. A.P. Chekhov “Man in a Case”. Belikov, a Greek teacher, is afraid of the world, of life. He wears galoshes, a long coat, walks with an umbrella, and is constantly afraid “that something might happen.” The hero's "timidity" turned into espionage and denunciations. The result is the slavish fear of the city residents. Belikov oppressed those around him, they became afraid to speak loudly, get to know someone, help the poor and write letters to each other.
2. V. Zheleznikov “Scarecrow”. Dimka Somov is a coward. He is afraid to admit to the guys that he is a traitor. He told the teacher that the class ran away to the cinema, and Lena Bessoltseva took all the blame on herself. Somov betrays Lena, her friendship, her love and participates in the burning of the effigy.
3. M. A. Bulgakov “The Master and Margarita”.
The procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate, being a brave and valiant warrior, turned out to be a coward when he had to make a decision about the fate of the wandering philosopher Yeshua Ha-Nozri. The procurator knew that, despite the impudent speeches about Caesar, Yeshua was not a criminal, and did not wish him death. But the fear of going against the authorities, the fear of losing his place, forced Pilate to act contrary to his conscience and impose a death sentence.
4. L. N. Tolstoy “War and Peace”. Nikolai Rostov chickened out during his first battle: instead of shooting at the attacking French, he threw his pistol in their direction and ran away.
Updated: 2017-07-15
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What is cowardice? Self-preservation instinct or vice? What feelings does a person experience who has deviated from generally accepted moral norms and committed an act of which he is ashamed in the future? It is these questions that F.A. Vigdorova ponders.
The author raises the problem of cowardice in his text. The writer illustrates the relevance of this problem. To do this, she quotes the Decembrist poet Ryleev, who wrote that “we are not afraid to die on the battlefields, but we are afraid to say a word in favor of justice.” The author is surprised how many actions people sometimes fail to commit precisely under the influence of momentary cowardice. Examples of such behavior are contained in sentences 16–24 of the text. The worst thing, according to the journalist, is to experience cowardice and betrayal in everyday life. A broken window, an accidental loss of something, or a perceived injustice... How scary it is sometimes to make a confession about even a minor offense!
It is impossible not to agree with the opinion of F. Vigdorova. To make a truthful confession, you need to be a brave and strong person. We are well aware of examples from A.S. Pushkin’s story “The Captain’s Daughter”. Shvabrin, throughout almost the entire work, commits cowardly acts: he lies, dodges, becomes a traitor, caring only about his own good. Pyotr Grinev, on the contrary, maintains dignity in any circumstances. So, the main character, risking his life, declares that he will not swear allegiance to Pugachev.
We see another evidence of cowardice in the novel by M.Yu. Lermontov "Hero of Our Time". Grushnitsky, shooting with Pechorin, knew perfectly well that the latter did not have a loaded pistol, but, nevertheless, he shot at a practically unarmed man. Fate cruelly punished the meanness of the young man killed in this duel... Perhaps Lermontov wanted to express his position on this issue in this way. Cowardice is the quality of a scoundrel, unworthy to live.
Cowardice and betrayal always went hand in hand. I believe that we cannot be cowardly without committing betrayal towards those around us. Perhaps someone justifies their cowardice, but the mental trauma, the pain from the cowardly behavior of friends or those whom we considered friends, will be quite strong and will remain in the soul for a long time.
Cowardice, and after it betrayal, not only destroys relationships between people, but also destroys the person himself. And Frida Abramovna Vigdorova is a thousand times right when she asserts in the final lines of the text that there is only one courage. It has no plural, while cowardice has many faces.
Teacher's comment:
An essay about cowardice and betrayal is easy to write for an adult. Based on your life experience, it is easier to distinguish between good and evil. How can a schoolchild who has only a short period of life behind him, and still has everything ahead, cope with this? How to find in the text the problem that he will write about?
You can determine the topic by asking: what is the text about? And highlight the problem that you will discuss. She must be alone. Several of them may be reflected in the text.
In the control version, the author clearly calls things by their proper names, so there cannot be any difficulties with choosing definitions. We can advise you this: decide what you will discuss - cowardice and betrayal or courage.
When you work on your essay, don't be shy about writing emotionally. Let your emotional impulses be reflected on paper. Because it is impossible to write about cowardice and betrayal in dry language. But don’t get carried away with excessive expression, don’t use big words. The essay is not a letter to your best friend, but a journalistic document.
If you can't focus on examples from life, remember the literature. You can find many examples on this topic in works of art. And be sure to make a plan, determine in what sequence you will write.
Source text for writing an essay:
(1) I knew a wonderful writer. (2) Her name was Tamara Grigorievna Gabbe. (3) She told me once:
– There are many challenges in life. (4) You can’t list them. (5) But here are three, they occur often. (6) The first is the test of need. (7) Second - prosperity, glory. (8) And the third test is fear. (9) And not only with the fear that a person recognizes in war, but with the fear that overtakes him in ordinary, peaceful life.
(10) What kind of fear is this that does not threaten either death or injury? (11) Isn’t he a fiction? (12) No, it’s not fiction. (13) Fear has many faces, sometimes it affects the fearless.
(14) “It’s an amazing thing,” wrote the Decembrist poet Ryleev, “we are not afraid to die on the battlefields, but we are afraid to say a word in favor of justice.”
(15) Many years have passed since these words were written, but there are persistent illnesses of the soul.
(16) The man went through the war as a hero. (17) He went on reconnaissance, where every step threatened him with death. (18) He fought in the air and under water, he did not run from danger, he fearlessly walked towards it. (19) And now the war is over, the man returned home. (20) To my family, to my peaceful work. (21) He worked as well as he fought: with passion, giving all his strength, not sparing his health. (22) But when, due to the libel of a slanderer, his friend, a man whom he knew as himself, of whose innocence he was convinced as his own, was removed from work, he did not stand up. (23) He, who was not afraid of bullets or tanks, was scared. (24) He was not afraid of death on the battlefield, but was afraid to say a word in favor of justice.
(25) The boy broke the glass.
- (26) Who did this? - asks the teacher.
(27) The boy is silent. (28) He is not afraid to ski down the most dizzying mountain. (29) He is not afraid to swim across an unfamiliar river full of treacherous funnels. (30) But he is afraid to say: “I broke the glass.”
(31) What is he afraid of? (32) Flying down the mountain, he can break his neck. (33) Swimming across the river, you can drown. (34) The words “I did it” do not threaten him with death. (35) Why is he afraid to say them?
(36) I heard a very brave man who went through the war once say: “It was scary, very scary.”
(37) He spoke the truth: he was scared. (38) But he knew how to overcome his fear and did what his duty told him to do: he fought.
(39) In peaceful life, of course, it can also be scary.
(40) I’ll tell the truth, but I’ll be expelled from school for it... (41) If I tell the truth, I’ll be fired from my job... (42) I’d rather remain silent.
(43) There are many proverbs in the world that justify silence, and perhaps the most expressive: “My hut is on the edge.” (44) But there are no huts that would be on the edge.
(45) We are all responsible for what is happening around us. (46) Responsible for all the bad and all the good. (47) And one should not think that a real test comes to a person only in some special, fatal moments: in war, during some kind of catastrophe. (48) No, not only in exceptional circumstances, not only in the hour of mortal danger, human courage is tested under a bullet. (49) It is tested constantly, in the most ordinary everyday affairs.
(50) There is only one courage. (51) It requires that a person always be able to overcome the monkey within himself: in battle, on the street, at a meeting. (52) After all, the word “courage” does not have a plural form. (53) It is the same in any conditions.
(According to F.A. Vigdorova*) * Frida Abramovna Vigdorova (1915–1965) - Soviet writer, journalist. (From Open Bank FIPI)
The material was prepared by Larisa Gennadievna Dovgomelya
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 of a courageous, strong-willed personality is Alexey Meresyev, the main character of “The Tale 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 battle, those most exposed to danger are those who are most possessed by fear; courage is like a wall” G.S. Crisp
Do you agree with the statement of L. Lagerlöf: “More soldiers always die when fleeing than in battle?”
In the epic novel War and Peace one 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, young Nikolai Rostov is wounded; he, along with the hussars, boldly rushes 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 a positive character trait. 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 pays undue attention to his military uniform. 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 thing: 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 cannot 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 indecisiveness 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 is a noble man who has chosen 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 do extreme conditions affect 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 can 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 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 powerful characters 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 the whole class about goodness and showed that everything in the world is not always 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” is an instructive story about the dangers of fear. The gudgeon lived and trembled all his life. He considered himself very smart because he made a cave in which he could be safe, but the downside of such an existence was the complete absence of 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, the main character of the work, 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.
Do you need courage in love? Do you agree with Russell's statement: “To fear love is to fear life, and to fear life is to be two-thirds dead”?
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 she did not experience great love. Only after the death of her admirer, looking at his 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 great disappointment, as 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 of a 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, 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 overcome, she can live a calm family life, but the biggest test awaits her. 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.
The essay requirements for the Unified State Exam have changed several times in recent years, but one thing has remained unchanged - the need to prove the correctness of your judgments. And for this you need to choose the right arguments.
The problem of repentance will interest us first of all. In this article we will present several options for arguments selected from the school reading list. From it you can choose those that are best suited for your work.
What are arguments for?
When writing an essay for part C, you need to express your opinion regarding the given topic. But your thesis needs evidence. That is, it is necessary not only to express your position, but also to confirm it.
Very often the problem of repentance comes up in exams; it is quite easy to find arguments for it if the student is well acquainted with the school literature curriculum. However, not everyone manages to immediately remember the desired work, so it is better to select several arguments in advance on the most common topics.
What are the arguments?
In order to fully reveal the problem of repentance, arguments must be selected based on the basic requirements of the Unified State Exam in the Russian language. According to them, all evidence is divided into three types:
- Personal experience, that is, facts taken from your life. They do not have to be reliable, since no one will check whether this actually happened.
- Information that the student received from the school curriculum. For example, from geography, history, etc. lessons.
- Literary arguments that will interest us in the first place. This is the reading experience that the examinee must acquire during training.
Arguments from literature
So, we are interested in the problem of repentance. Arguments from literature will be necessary if you want to get a high score for your essay. At the same time, when selecting arguments, you need to give priority attention to those works that are included in the school curriculum or are considered classics. You should not take texts from little-known authors or popular literature (fantasy, detective stories, etc.), as they may be unfamiliar to the inspectors. Therefore, you need to refresh your memory in advance of the main works that were studied during your school years. Usually in one novel or story you can find examples on almost all topics found in the Unified State Exam. The best option would be to immediately select several works that are familiar to you. So, let's look at the classics that raise the issue of repentance.
"The Captain's Daughter" (Pushkin)
The problem of repentance is very common in Russian literature. Therefore, it is quite easy to select arguments. Let's start with our most famous writer A.S. Pushkin and his novel “The Captain's Daughter”.
At the center of the work is the love of the protagonist Peter Grinev. This feeling is broad and comprehensive, like life. What interests us about this feeling is that it was thanks to him that the hero realized the evil that he had caused to his loved ones, realized his mistakes and was able to repent. Thanks to the fact that Grinev reconsidered his views on life and attitude towards others, he was able to change the future for himself and his beloved.
Thanks to repentance, his best qualities appeared in Peter - generosity, honesty, selflessness, courage, etc. We can say that it changed him and made him a different person.
"Sotnik" (Bykov)
Now let's talk about Bykov's work, which presents a completely different side of the problem of repentance. Arguments from the literature can be different, and you need to choose them depending on your statement, so it’s worth stocking up on a variety of examples.
Thus, the theme of repentance in “The Sotnik” is not at all similar to Pushkin’s. First of all, because the characters themselves are different. Partisan Rybak is captured and in order to survive, he needs to hand over a comrade to the Germans. And he commits this act. But years pass, and the thought of betrayal does not leave him. Repentance overtakes him too late, this feeling can no longer correct anything. Moreover, it does not allow the Fisherman to live in peace.
In this work, repentance did not become an opportunity for the hero to get out of the vicious circle and get rid of suffering. Bykov did not consider Rybak worthy of forgiveness. On the other hand, a person must answer for such crimes throughout his life, since he betrayed not only his friend, but also himself and his loved ones.
“Dark Alleys” (Bunin)
The problem of repentance may appear in a different light. Arguments for an essay on the Unified State Exam should be varied, so let’s take Bunin’s story “Dark Alleys” as an example. In this work, the hero did not have enough strength to admit his mistakes and repent, but retribution overtook him. Once in his youth, Nikolai seduced and abandoned a girl who sincerely loved him. Time passed, but she could not forget her first love, so she refused the advances of other men and preferred solitude. But Nikolai did not find happiness either. Life severely punished him for his crime. The hero's wife constantly cheats on him, and his son has become a real scoundrel. However, all this does not lead him to thoughts of repentance. Here repentance appears before the reader as an act that requires incredible spiritual effort and courage, which not everyone can find within themselves. It is for indecision and lack of will that Nikolai pays.
As an argument, the example from “Dark Alleys” is suitable only for those who in their thesis addressed the problem of retribution and retribution for those who did not repent of their atrocities. Only then will mentioning this work be appropriate.
"Boris Godunov" (Pushkin)
Now let's talk about the problem of delayed repentance. The arguments for this topic will be slightly different, since we will only be interested in one aspect of repentance. So, this problem is perfectly revealed in Pushkin’s tragedy “Boris Godunov”. This example is not only literary, but also partly historical, since the writer turns to the description of epoch-making events that took place in our country.
In "Boris Godunov" the problem of late repentance is very clearly presented. Arguments for written work on this topic must be selected taking into account Pushkin’s tragedy. In the center of the work is the story of Godunov, who ascended the royal throne. However, he had to pay a terrible price for power - to kill the baby, the real heir, Tsarevich Dmitry. Several years have passed, and now the time has come to repent. The hero is no longer able to correct what he has done; he can only suffer and suffer. His conscience haunts him; Godunov begins to see bloody boys everywhere. Those close to the king understand that he is weakening and going crazy. The boyars decide to overthrow the illegal ruler and kill him. Thus, Godunov dies for the same reason as Dmitry. This is the hero’s retribution for a bloody crime, repentance for which overtook him only after several years.
The problem of human repentance. Arguments from Dostoevsky’s novel “Crime and Punishment”
The theme of repentance became the basis for another great work, which gained considerable popularity and love among readers.
The main character commits a crime to prove his inhuman theory about inferior and superior people. Raskolnikov commits murder and begins to suffer, but tries in every possible way to drown out the voice of his conscience. He doesn't want to admit he's wrong. Repentance becomes a turning point in the life and fate of Raskolnikov. It opens the way for him to faith and true values, makes him reconsider his views and realize what is truly precious in this world.
Throughout the entire novel, Dostoevsky led his hero precisely to repentance and recognition of his guilt. This feeling made Raskolnikov's best character traits emerge and made him much more attractive. Although the hero still suffered punishment for his crime, and it turned out to be very severe.
The problem of repentance: arguments from life
Now let's talk about another type of argument. It is very easy to find such examples. Even if nothing like this has ever happened in your life, you can come up with it. However, such arguments are rated lower than literary ones. So, for a good book example you will get 2 points, but for a real example - only one.
Arguments based on personal experience are based on observations of one’s life, the lives of parents, relatives, friends and acquaintances.
Must be remembered
There are several general requirements for any essay, including those that reveal the problem of guilt and remorse. Arguments must necessarily confirm the thesis you have expressed and in no case contradict it. The following points must also be taken into account:
- Reviewers take into account and evaluate only the first two arguments, so there is no point in giving more examples. It is better to pay attention not to quantity, but to quality.
- Remember that literary arguments are scored higher, so try to include at least one such example.
- Do not forget about examples taken from folklore or folk tales. Similar arguments are also taken into account, but are assessed with only one point.
- Remember that all arguments are worth 3 points. Therefore, it is best to follow the following scheme: one example from folklore or personal experience, the second from literature.
Now a few words about how to correctly write a literary argument:
- Be sure to include the author's last name and initials and the full title of the work.
- It is not enough to name the writer and the title; you need to describe the main characters, their words, actions, thoughts, but only those that are related to the topic of the essay and your thesis.
- The approximate amount of text per argument is one or two sentences. But these numbers ultimately depend on the specific topic.
- Start giving examples only after you have expressed your position.
Summing up
Thus, the problem of repentance is widely represented in literature. Therefore, choosing arguments for the Unified State Exam in the Russian language will not be difficult. The main thing is that all your examples confirm the thesis and look concise and harmonious. Often, the main problem for examinees is not the choice of work, but its description. Expressing an idea in a few sentences is not always easy. In order to avoid such a problem, you need to practice in advance. Take a sheet of paper and try to concisely and clearly describe your opinions, without going beyond the stated volumes.
The main thing is not to lose confidence and prepare as best as possible, then it will not be difficult to get it.
Pontius Pilate is a cowardly man. And it was for cowardice that he was punished. The procurator could have saved Yeshua Ha-Nozri from execution, but signed the death warrant. Pontius Pilate feared for the inviolability of his power. He did not go against the Sanhedrin, ensuring his peace at the cost of the life of another person. And all this despite the fact that Yeshua was sympathetic to the procurator. Cowardice prevented the man from being saved. Cowardice is one of the most serious sins (according to the novel "The Master and Margarita").
A.S. Pushkin "Eugene Onegin"
Vladimir Lensky challenged Evgeny Onegin to a duel. He could have called off the fight, but he chickened out. Cowardice manifested itself in the fact that the hero took into account the opinion of society. Evgeny Onegin thought only about what people would say about him. The result was sad: Vladimir Lensky died. If his friend had not chickened out, but preferred moral principles to public opinion, the tragic consequences could have been avoided.
A.S. Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter"
The siege of the Belogorsk fortress by the troops of the impostor Pugachev showed who is considered a hero and who is a coward. Alexey Ivanovich Shvabrin, saving his life, betrayed his homeland at the first opportunity and went over to the side of the enemy. In this case, cowardice is a synonym