The May literary salon was dedicated to the famous and beloved work of Alexander Tvardovsky Vasily Terkin. The theme was chosen collectively, and as soon as we agreed on it, everyone spontaneously exclaimed: “The crossing, the crossing…”
Sounds familiar? Indeed.
This was our second literary salon held both in-person and via Zoom, allowing those who couldn’t attend in person to still join the discussion.
We read not only Terkin himself, but also about Terkin — and, of course, about the author, Alexander Tvardovsky.
During the war years, Tvardovsky was a military correspondent, traveling along the front lines and observing life during wartime.
The work is a poem with the subtitle “A Book About a Soldier.” Written during the Great Patriotic War (1941–1945), it became immensely popular both at the front and on the home front.
The main character, Vasily Terkin, is a collective image of the Russian soldier. He’s not a superhero or brilliant strategist but an ordinary guy who can fight, joke, survive, and support his comrades. He is characterized by kindness, bravery, wit, humor, and resilience.
The main theme is the life of a soldier at war. The author manages to combine heroism with everyday life, showing the strength of the human spirit, courage, humanity, and the importance of humor in harsh conditions. Tvardovsky emphasizes that war also needs “a jest, a joke, a proverb, and truth.”
The author’s voice is present in lyrical digressions and direct commentary on the hero. It feels like Tvardovsky is speaking directly to the reader, always on Terkin’s side.
Now test your knowledge of the poem:
Quiz Questions:
- What musical instrument did the tankmen give to Terkin?
- A) Balalaika
- B) Guitar
- C) Accordion
- D) Spoons
- What was Terkin’s namesake’s name?
- A) Alexey
- B) Ivan
- C) Yakov
- D) Fedor
- To whom is the poem dedicated?
- A) The generals at the front
- B) Relatives
- C) All those fallen and wartime comrades
- D) His wife
- When was the poem written?
- A) 1940–1943
- B) 1940–1946
- C) 1941–1945
- D) 1945–1947
- How does the author describe Vasily Terkin?
- A) As a simple, ordinary guy
- B) As a superhero
- C) Only as a soldier
- D) Only as a musician
6. What was Terkin awarded for?
-
- A) For shooting down an enemy plane
- B) For taking Berlin
- C) For capturing a prisoner
- D) For playing the accordion
7. Where is Vasily Terkin from?
-
- A) Orel
- B) Voronezh
- C) Ulyanovsk
- D) Smolensk
8. How does Terkin relate to awards?
-
- A) He wants them at all costs
- B) He sees them as a goal
- C) He treats them with irony — what matters is the cause
- D) He envies the awarded
9. What scene emphasizes Terkin’s love for life?
-
- A) Fight with a fascist
- B) Chapter about awards
- C) The scene with Death
- D) Farewell to his village
10. What traits make Terkin a folkloric hero?
-
- A) Ingenuity, humor, strength, and kindness
- B) Greed and cunning
- C) Magical powers
- D) A magic weapon
Send your answers to: biblio@rushouse.be
The first three winners will receive a book as a gift!
