“The Prayer of Daniel the Exile” in a brief summary


“Prayer”, like many other works of ancient Russian literature, is devoid of narrative about events. The whole text is the appeal of Daniel the Exile to the prince, asking him for mercy.

The main thing that Daniel is supposed to rely on in life is his own mind. “I have scant clothes, but I have a lot of reason.” Daniel asks the prince to save him from poverty and grief, to protect “with the fear of your storm.” The author contrasts the mind and wealth, pointing mainly to wealthy nobles and boyars.

On the one hand, much in the text goes back to folk jokes, jokes, proverbs. On the other hand, Daniel often refers to the Holy Scripture, quotes it. Arguing about his life, Daniel seems to lose some situations: what can be done to get rid of the need, rather than steal me, and not go to a monastery, and not marry by the calculation of a rich bride… None of the ways not good for Daniel, he laughs at everything. The most expressive is the argument about why one should not marry. Here the author follows the medieval tradition of describing “evil wives”. “A wicked wife is like an abrasion: it is hammering here, it hurts.” Daniel ends his “Prayer” with a self-deprecating formula, which, in the context of the whole work, also acquires a real meaning: “Perhaps you will say, Prince: he lied like a dog,


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“The Prayer of Daniel the Exile” in a brief summary