Line #45 Literature/RuslanAndLudmila


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ruslanandludmila.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Illustration by Ivan Bilibin]]
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4	''Ruslan and Ludmila'' is an epic poem by Creator/AlexanderPushkin, first published in 1820 when the author was only twenty years old.
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6	It started as an AffectionateParody of Vasily Zhukovsky's ''The Twelve Sleeping Maidens'' but ended up overshadowing it. Though the initial reception was pretty mixed and Pushkin himself was later critical of the poem, it has aged well, getting adapted to the stage and screen, and the prologue is considered one of Pushkin's most iconic works.
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8	The ''overall'' plot of the poem is fairly simple: Ludmila, the daughter of Prince Vladimir of Kiev, is kidnapped on her wedding night by the evil wizard Chernomor, and her beloved bridegroom Ruslan sets off to rescue her. However, there is quite a lot of subplots, particularly since Ludmila has three more suitors who jump at a chance to rescue and win her after all.
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10	----
11	!! The poem features the following tropes:
12	* BaldOfEvil: Chernomor is very evil and very bald.
13	* BeardOfEvil: Chernomor's beard can be the most triumphant example, as his magical power is actually in his very long beard.
14	* CombatBreakdown: The aftermath of Rogday and Ruslan's battle. Good thing there was a battlefield full of loot nearby.
15	* CreateYourOwnVillain: Finn puts a love spell on Naina only to dump her. Enraged and vengeful, she plots against Ruslan simply because Finn is aiding him.
16	* CreepyHighPitchedVoice: Naina the witch is mentioned to have a "squeaky" voice.
17	* DefeatMeansFriendship: When he describes his pirate life, Finn mentions that he held feasts of friendship with the people he defeated.
18	* DefiantCaptive: Ludmila successfully trolls Chernomor and his servants during her time in captivity. It's partly thanks to Chernomor being so LaughablyEvil that she can't get properly scared.
19	* DirtyCoward: Farlaf is such a weakling that he quickly returns home after Naina assures him of her help in getting Ludmila.
20	* DistractedByTheSexy: Ratmir hurries to save Ludmila, until he sees a palace with twelve lovely sirens calling for him and promptly forgets where he was going.
21	* DressHitsFloor: In a description of a wedding night it says "On carpets of Byzantine splendour / The jealous covers fall" (падут ревнивые одежды на цареградские ковры).
22	* DudeShesLikeInAComa: Discussed when Ruslan is taking Ludmila home while she is in an enchanted sleep. Pushkin states that the narrator insisted Ruslan behaved honorably, and he believes that. Later, she is snatched by [[FakeUltimateHero another guy who brings her home]]... not so clear about him, but considering he was in a hurry, it is entirely possible he behaved himself.
23	* EasilyForgiven: [[spoiler:Chernomor and Farlaf]], despite their numerous crimes, are fully forgiven in the end amidst the general rejoicing.
24	* EngagementChallenge: Prince Vladimir announces that whoever rescues Ludmila will get her hand in marriage.
25	* EvilSorcerer: Chernomor is a powerful wizard who kidnaps the Princess of Kiev.
26	* GrandRomanticGesture: Subverted. Finn spends ten years as a pirate and brings Naina a magnificent hoard of treasure, and she coldly says "Hero, I don't love you!"
27	* HappilyEverAfter: Even the BigBad lives happily ever after.
28	* HappilyMarried: The titular couple are already that in the beginning of the story, but since Chernomor kidnaps Ludmila in the beginning of the wedding night, the marriage can still be declared void.
29	* IWasQuiteALooker: Naina, an ugly old woman, used to be famous for her beauty. However, she doesn't seem to regret its loss too much, as she now has her magic powers instead.
30	* TheLoinsSleepTonight: It is emphasized that despite all his powers, Chernomor is quite incapable of taking advantage of Ludmila.
31	* LoveAtFirstSight: Finn fell madly in love with Naina the first time he saw her and spent fifty years trying to win her love. Deconstructed, as he really saw nothing in her except her beauty.
32	* LoveDodecahedron: Ludmila has ''five'' people vying for her hand – Ruslan (the lucky one), Ratmir, Rogday, Farlaf and Chernomor. Additionally, Ratmir is seduced by ''twelve'' sirens [[spoiler:whom he ultimately spurns when he falls in love with a shepherdess]].
33	* MagicHair: Chernomor's very long WizardBeard is where his entire power is hidden.
34	* MurderTheHypotenuse: Ruslan's villainous rivals are eager to get him out of the way.
35	** Rogday attempts it, only to be killed by Ruslan himself.
36	** [[spoiler:Farlaf succeeds in it (while Ruslan is asleep)]], but Finn comes to the rescue [[spoiler:and resurrects Ruslan]].
37	* NameAndName: "Ruslan" and "Ludmila".
38	* OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame: averted with Chernomor. ''"Karla"'' was the standard Russian word for a fantasy dwarf before there was Tolkien. Chernomor is a wizard (a very non-standard class for a dwarf) as well as evil (a quite non-standard alignment for a dwarf).
39	* ParodyDisplacement: ''Ruslan and Ludmila'' contain large parts that invoked referencing to and parodying Vasiliy Zhukovsky's ballad "The Twelve Sleeping Maidens" (Zhukovsky, apparently, loved the parody). One guess which is better known today.
40	* RichesToRags: Happens by the character's own wish. [[spoiler:Khan Ratmir]] leaves his title and riches behind and chooses to live as a simple fisherman.
41	* SexyDiscretionShot: Whenever the scene gets too erotic for the 19th-century audience's liking, the LemonyNarrator suddenly decides to talk about something else.
42	* StealthParody: Of chivalric romances and narrative poems.
43	* TinyGuyHugeGirl: Attempted by the dwarf Chernomor with Ludmila. It's mentioned it's not the first time he tried to hit on human women.
44	* UnrequitedLoveSwitcheroo: Finn spent fifty years desperately pining after the gorgeous Naina, until, after finally casting a love spell over her, he discovered that she is no longer gorgeous.
45	* UptownGirl: [[spoiler:Khan Ratmir]] ultimately falls in love with a shepherdess.
46	* VillainousValour: Rogday is one of Kiev's greatest and bravest fighters, but he is also insanely jealous after losing Ludmila to Ruslan.
47	* WomanScorned: Naina was spurned by Finn (after he himself cast a love spell over her), and she is absolutely furious and bent on revenge. She supports Farlaf just because the latter is the rival of Ruslan, who is helped by Finn.
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Context Literature / RuslanAndLudmila