fbpx
Wikipedia

The Death of Smail-aga Čengić

October 21, 2023

The Death of Smail-aga Čengić (Croatian: Smrt Smail-age Čengića) is an epic poem by Croatian poet Ivan Mažuranić during 1845 and first published in the almanac Iskra for 1846.[1] It is based on the real events of the murder of Bosnian Ottoman army general (aga) Smail-aga Čengić by Montenegrin vojvoda Novica Cerović in 1840. In the poem, Smail-aga is famous for his bravery, but disparaged for his truculence; the main motif is his death, happening after he engages in a battle against the Herzegovinian Montenegrins.

The Death of Smail-aga Čengić
AuthorIvan Mažuranić
Original titleSmrt Smail-age Čengića
CountryCroatia
LanguageCroatian
GenreEpic poem
Publication date
1846
Media typePrint

The poem was initially ordered by Dimitrija Demeter. It is divided in 5 sections and contains exactly 1134 verses.

Synopsis Edit

The poem is divided into five sections: Smail-aga's Display of Power (Croatian: Agovanje), The Night Traveller (Noćnik), A Company (Četa), A Tribute (Harač) and Doom (Kob).

Display of Power (Agovanje) Edit

Smail-aga rules from his fort in Stolac in Herzegovina. He calls his servants to gather the Highlanders he had recently captured near the river Morača. He also brings out Durak, an old man who advised him to release his prisoners, fearing a reprisal from the Orthodox population ("Vlachs") if he were to execute them.

He threatens his prisoners before killing them, but the Montenegrins remain silent as they are being executed by impalement, hanging, and beheading. Young Turks spectate and are pleased, while older Turks anticipate reprisals and are silent with fear. Smail-aga is disheartened by and in awe of the fact that his prisoners retained composure.

In a moment of awe and fury, he lashes out on Durak for advising him against his brutal ways, and threatens to hang him in front of his son, Novica. Durak and Novica plead for Durak's life, but Smail-aga proceeds to hang him regardless.

The Night Traveller (Noćnik) Edit

Novica travels by night towards Cetinje, knowing that he could not get through Montenegro alive in broad daylight, since he participated in battles against them with Smail-aga. He passes through Cuce, Bjelice and Ćeklići, and reaches the guards of Cetinje.

Novica introduces himself as a fighter from Tušina, a village under Durmitor mountain, desperate after Čengić killed his compatriots from Morača and his father, and looking for revenge. The guards allow him to pass after disarming him.

A Company (Četa) Edit

A company of hajduks moves from Cetinje to Morača, passing through Zagarač, Bjelopavlići and Rovca. They move silently led by Mirko.

The company sits down to rest by the Morača river. As shepherds start to return their sheep for sundown, a priest approaches the men and starts to eulogize their struggle. During his speech, Novica approaches the group and tells them of his goal. He asks to be baptized and the priest baptizes him, while the hajduks receive the eucharist. The priest leaves and the company continues their trek.

A Tribute (Harač) Edit

Smail-aga arrives at Gatačko Polje with his men on horseback. They set up camp and intend to collect haraç from the locals of Gacko and surrounding villages. As payment, they require a sequin for every person, as well as a ram and a young woman per house. Since most peasants are unable to pay, the Turks drag them back to the camp, tied to their horses.

Meanwhile, Smail-aga practices throwing his javelin. He strikes his servant Safer by accident when aiming at a Christian man, and Safer loses an eye. In a fit of rage, Smail-aga orders his men to torture the captured peasants. They chase the peasants on horseback. After they fall to the ground tired, the Turks drag them across the ground with their horses. Smail-aga then orders them to whip the prisoners until they stand up, and threatens to shoe them with horseshoes in mockery of them being barefoot.

The Turks feast on a spit-roasted ram, and throw the bones to their captives who claim they had not eaten in days. They prepare to hang the peasants upside down on linden trees and ignite the hay under their heads.

The company of hajduks travels to Smail-aga's camp through a stormy night. Smail-aga sits in his tent, drinking coffee and smoking pipe with his henchmen Bauk and Mustapa. He asks Bauk to sing to the gusle for him. Bauk mocks Smail-aga, singing about a Rizvan-aga who collected haraç in Kosovo, but got copper instead of gold sequins, skinny rams and was provided with old women to rape. Smail-aga is furious and rallies his men to attack the Christians once again.

At that moment, the company attacks Smail-aga and kills Safer with a shot to the other eye. Mirko kills Smail-aga, and the other hajduks kill Mustapa, several of his named henchmen, and around thirty other Turks. Bauk escapes in the night, and Novica is struck down next to Smail-aga while trying to behead his corpse.

Doom (Kob) Edit

The dead body of Smail-aga (or a puppet in his likeness) has been turned into a mannequin standing in a cottage near Cetinje. He wears all of his old clothes and weapons, but the mannequin is made to put his hands together and bow to a cross, triggered by a tap on the floor.

Reception Edit

Writing in the almanac Danica in 1846, Bogoslav Šulek names the poem "the most beautiful work of this year's Iskra". He claims the work bridges the gap between "romantic" and "folk" poetry, and claims "some follow the Romanticism of the West and of Dubrovnik, others cling to folk poetry. Each side has its reasons; though it seems to me that here, as always – in medio virtus". Croatian literary historian Ivo Frangeš, while generally agreeing with Šulek, points out several issues with his terminology. Most importantly, that the literature of Dubrovnik could more accurately be described as an extension of classicism than of romanticism. He disagrees on the fact that, while incorporating folk elements, Mažuranić strives more strongly towards the artistic, when interpreted dynamically.[2]

Quotes Edit

See also Edit

External links Edit

References Edit

  1. ^ Goy, E. D. (1966). "The Tragic Element in Smrt Smail-Age Čengića". Slavonic and East European Review. 44 (103): 327–336. JSTOR 4205779.
  2. ^ Mažuranić, Ivan (1965). "Umjetnost Ivana Mažuranića". In Frangeš, Ivo (ed.). Smrt Smail-age Čengića (in Croatian). Zagreb: Zora. pp. 9–10.

October 21, 2023
death, smail, Čengić, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, october, 2010, learn, . This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations October 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Death of Smail aga Cengic Croatian Smrt Smail age Cengica is an epic poem by Croatian poet Ivan Mazuranic during 1845 and first published in the almanac Iskra for 1846 1 It is based on the real events of the murder of Bosnian Ottoman army general aga Smail aga Cengic by Montenegrin vojvoda Novica Cerovic in 1840 In the poem Smail aga is famous for his bravery but disparaged for his truculence the main motif is his death happening after he engages in a battle against the Herzegovinian Montenegrins The Death of Smail aga CengicAuthorIvan MazuranicOriginal titleSmrt Smail age CengicaCountryCroatiaLanguageCroatianGenreEpic poemPublication date1846Media typePrintThe poem was initially ordered by Dimitrija Demeter It is divided in 5 sections and contains exactly 1134 verses Contents 1 Synopsis 1 1 Display of Power Agovanje 1 2 The Night Traveller Nocnik 1 3 A Company Ceta 1 4 A Tribute Harac 1 5 Doom Kob 2 Reception 3 Quotes 4 See also 5 External links 6 ReferencesSynopsis EditThe poem is divided into five sections Smail aga s Display of Power Croatian Agovanje The Night Traveller Nocnik A Company Ceta A Tribute Harac and Doom Kob Display of Power Agovanje Edit Smail aga rules from his fort in Stolac in Herzegovina He calls his servants to gather the Highlanders he had recently captured near the river Moraca He also brings out Durak an old man who advised him to release his prisoners fearing a reprisal from the Orthodox population Vlachs if he were to execute them He threatens his prisoners before killing them but the Montenegrins remain silent as they are being executed by impalement hanging and beheading Young Turks spectate and are pleased while older Turks anticipate reprisals and are silent with fear Smail aga is disheartened by and in awe of the fact that his prisoners retained composure In a moment of awe and fury he lashes out on Durak for advising him against his brutal ways and threatens to hang him in front of his son Novica Durak and Novica plead for Durak s life but Smail aga proceeds to hang him regardless The Night Traveller Nocnik Edit Novica travels by night towards Cetinje knowing that he could not get through Montenegro alive in broad daylight since he participated in battles against them with Smail aga He passes through Cuce Bjelice and Ceklici and reaches the guards of Cetinje Novica introduces himself as a fighter from Tusina a village under Durmitor mountain desperate after Cengic killed his compatriots from Moraca and his father and looking for revenge The guards allow him to pass after disarming him A Company Ceta Edit A company of hajduks moves from Cetinje to Moraca passing through Zagarac Bjelopavlici and Rovca They move silently led by Mirko The company sits down to rest by the Moraca river As shepherds start to return their sheep for sundown a priest approaches the men and starts to eulogize their struggle During his speech Novica approaches the group and tells them of his goal He asks to be baptized and the priest baptizes him while the hajduks receive the eucharist The priest leaves and the company continues their trek A Tribute Harac Edit Smail aga arrives at Gatacko Polje with his men on horseback They set up camp and intend to collect harac from the locals of Gacko and surrounding villages As payment they require a sequin for every person as well as a ram and a young woman per house Since most peasants are unable to pay the Turks drag them back to the camp tied to their horses Meanwhile Smail aga practices throwing his javelin He strikes his servant Safer by accident when aiming at a Christian man and Safer loses an eye In a fit of rage Smail aga orders his men to torture the captured peasants They chase the peasants on horseback After they fall to the ground tired the Turks drag them across the ground with their horses Smail aga then orders them to whip the prisoners until they stand up and threatens to shoe them with horseshoes in mockery of them being barefoot The Turks feast on a spit roasted ram and throw the bones to their captives who claim they had not eaten in days They prepare to hang the peasants upside down on linden trees and ignite the hay under their heads The company of hajduks travels to Smail aga s camp through a stormy night Smail aga sits in his tent drinking coffee and smoking pipe with his henchmen Bauk and Mustapa He asks Bauk to sing to the gusle for him Bauk mocks Smail aga singing about a Rizvan aga who collected harac in Kosovo but got copper instead of gold sequins skinny rams and was provided with old women to rape Smail aga is furious and rallies his men to attack the Christians once again At that moment the company attacks Smail aga and kills Safer with a shot to the other eye Mirko kills Smail aga and the other hajduks kill Mustapa several of his named henchmen and around thirty other Turks Bauk escapes in the night and Novica is struck down next to Smail aga while trying to behead his corpse Doom Kob Edit The dead body of Smail aga or a puppet in his likeness has been turned into a mannequin standing in a cottage near Cetinje He wears all of his old clothes and weapons but the mannequin is made to put his hands together and bow to a cross triggered by a tap on the floor Reception EditWriting in the almanac Danica in 1846 Bogoslav Sulek names the poem the most beautiful work of this year s Iskra He claims the work bridges the gap between romantic and folk poetry and claims some follow the Romanticism of the West and of Dubrovnik others cling to folk poetry Each side has its reasons though it seems to me that here as always in medio virtus Croatian literary historian Ivo Franges while generally agreeing with Sulek points out several issues with his terminology Most importantly that the literature of Dubrovnik could more accurately be described as an extension of classicism than of romanticism He disagrees on the fact that while incorporating folk elements Mazuranic strives more strongly towards the artistic when interpreted dynamically 2 Quotes EditLjutit aga mrko gleda Gdje se silom divit mora Silan arslan gorskom misu The angry aga glumly glances As he the mighty lion is forced To admire the mountain mouse See also EditIllyrian movement Croatian literatureExternal links EditCedo Bacovic SMAIL AGA CENGIC MIT I STVARNOST http www camo ch ivanmazuranic htmReferences Edit Goy E D 1966 The Tragic Element in Smrt Smail Age Cengica Slavonic and East European Review 44 103 327 336 JSTOR 4205779 Mazuranic Ivan 1965 Umjetnost Ivana Mazuranica In Franges Ivo ed Smrt Smail age Cengica in Croatian Zagreb Zora pp 9 10 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Death of Smail aga Cengic amp oldid 1148322268, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.