Old Izergil by Maxim Gorky. Short summary

5 seconds

In Bessarabia, the writer got into a conversation with the old woman Isergil. She told him the legend of the burning heart of Danko, son of Larr the eagle. Then the woman told the writer the story of her life, her relationships with men.

1 minute

In Bessarabia, the old woman Izergil told Gorky stories and legends.

Her first legend was about Larr, the son of a woman and an eagle. He was arrogant and invulnerable, and could kill whoever displeased him. People tried to destroy Larre, but he was immortal. One day he got tired of living. Larre tried to crash to the ground, but the ground would not accept him. Larre became a shadow.

Next, the old woman talks about her relationships with men.

She then tells the legend of Danko, whose tribe was driven out by other men. The young man led his tribesmen to other lands. The tired people began to grumble and wanted to kill him.

Then the young man tore his burning heart out of his chest and with its light illuminated the way for them. When he brought the people to the place, he died. One of the tribesmen, frightened by something, trampled the burning heart.