Leskov, analysis of the work left-handed, plan. N.S. Leskov “Lefty”: description, characters, analysis of the work The main idea of ​​the work

Nikolai Semyonovich Leskov (1831-1895) - Russian writer. His surname comes from his grandfather, a clergyman from the village of Leski. Nikolai spent his childhood in the family farm of Panino, where he spent a lot of time playing with peasant children. From here he learned the life of the Russian people down to the smallest detail, which was reflected in his work. As the writer himself said later: “... I grew up among the people... I was one of the people with the people...”.

Famous works of Leskov

The writer has written many novels, stories, short stories, plays and essays:

• "Nowhere."
• "At knifepoint."
• “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk” - a film was made based on this story.
• "Lefty."
• "The Enchanted Wanderer".
• "The Life of a Woman"
• "Mysterious person".
• "Stupid artist."

“The Tale of the Tula Oblique Lefty and the Steel Flea”

N. S. Leskov wrote the story “Lefty” in 1881 and stylized it as a satirical legend. It will take from 45 to 60 minutes to read the original story. Reading the review “Lefty” (summary) takes approximately 10 minutes. The narrative in the work comes from a person from the people who is not trained to read and write and distorts words. The author deliberately constructs new words this way. The story raises the problem of the severity of life, autocracy and the incredibly difficult living conditions of ordinary Russian people of that time. Even a true talent, which is Lefty, Leskov is not able to impart any benefits in his homeland. Let's understand the work.

"Lefty." Summary (chapters 1-5)

Emperor Alexander I of Russia (from 1801 to 1825), after winning the war with Napoleon, decided to travel to European countries and see the achievements of science and technology of the Allied powers. The sovereign was accompanied by a general, a prominent commander of the Patriotic War of 1812, Platov (in the story - a Don Cossack). Every time the emperor began to admire something shown to him, Platov assured the sovereign that there was no worse food at home.

One day Platov and the sovereign went to the Kunstkamera to look at rare weapons. Platov greatly embarrassed the British by showing everyone the internal mechanism of the shown pistol, on which on the inside there was an inscription: “Ivan Moskvin in the city of Tula.”

In the last chamber of curiosities, English craftsmen presented a tray to the emperor. There was a small clockwork flea with a key on it. Through a microscope one could see a flea dancing a square dance. The emperor, without hesitation, paid a million in silver for the flea and took it to Russia in a case made of a solid diamond the size of a walnut. Platov remained silent and smoked all the way to St. Petersburg, being in great annoyance.

After the death of Alexander I, the flea passed to Emperor Nicholas I. When he decided to reconsider it, he found the flea immovable. Commander Platov told the emperor everything he knew. Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich was delighted with the dance of the forged flea, but did not believe in the talents of the Russian people. And Platov was instructed to prove the superiority of domestic masters over English skills.

Lefty appears in the story. Summary (chapters 6-14)

Three of the most skilled gunsmiths from Tula got to work. The author's description of Lefty is very meager. All that is said is that he had a sidelong hair, with a birthmark on his cheek and sparse hair at the temples, which had been torn out during his studies. Before the important task, the masters went to pray to the icon and perform a prayer service. Afterwards we returned home, locked ourselves in and did not leave the hut for two weeks, only hammering on anvils in complete secrecy by the light of a lamp.

On the way back to St. Petersburg, Platov was unable to get a flea because he had thick fingers. The angry chieftain jumped into the carriage, threw the first gunsmith he came across at his feet and took him to answer to the sovereign.

After the flea planted, nothing happened. She continued to lie motionless on her side. They dragged the Tula gunsmith, who had been under guard all this time, and ordered him to answer for the damage he had done.

They brought a microscope and Lefty showed the sovereign that the Tula craftsmen had shod the flea on all its legs with horseshoes and signed their names on them. The gunsmiths had this plan from the very beginning. Lefty made small nails that were used to nail horseshoes. The Emperor hugged and kissed Lefty, as he was covered in dust, and ordered him to take the savvy flea back to England to prove that Russian craftsmen were better than English ones.

How Lefty gets to London and what comes of it (chapters 15-20)

The British received the oblique master very well. They explained to Leftsha that the Tula masters, due to illiteracy, did not take into account the weight of the horseshoes. That's why the flea couldn't dance the square dance. They offered Lefty to study, stay and get married. But Lefty, loyal to the Fatherland, answered through an interpreter that he would not stay in a foreign land and he did not need a foreign wife. The foreman walked around and was amazed at how well people work in English factories and how well they take care of it. They took Lefty around factories and factories for a long time, until one day he hurriedly began to ask to go to Russia. He saw something among the English that he certainly had to tell the sovereign.

On the way back from London, Lefty sailed on a ship and looked into the distance, looking out for his homeland. Lefty got bored and started drinking in a race with the ship's skipper. Yes, they drank so much that everyone saw the devil of the sea in the foam behind the stern. We almost jumped in to hug the devil. I had to lock them both in the hold until they returned.

An Englishman came from the ship sick to the embassy, ​​where he had care and a doctor. And Lefty was thrown onto a cart and taken to a poor area. There, his patient, after swimming and drinking, was robbed and began to be transported to free hospitals in a cart in the cold. But nowhere did they accept a person without documents. They shifted it from cart to cart and kept dropping it and dropping it.

When the Englishman came to his senses, he found his friend Lefty on the floor in the hospital corridor. The master asked only one thing - to say two words to the sovereign. While they were waiting for the doctor, Lefty began to die. He only managed to whisper to the doctor to convey his words to the sovereign - so that they would not clean our guns with broken bricks. Otherwise they won't be able to shoot. The British don't do that. But the doctor was not allowed to see the sovereign. But the guns continued to be cleaned with brick chips, which was one of the reasons for the defeat in the Crimean War.

The main idea of ​​the work

In his most famous work, “Lefty,” Leskov tried to convey that Russia has always had many unprecedented craftsmen. But how difficult life was for peasants and talented people, how tragically their inglorious life ended. A striking example of this is Lefty. The summary does not convey all the beauty of the Russian language and the emphasis of the identified problem. To fully understand all the humiliation, injustice and downtroddenness of ordinary people in tsarist times, it is recommended to read the story “Lefty” in the original.

“Lefty” is a touching story about a master who devoted his entire life to working for the good of his homeland. Leskov creates many literary images that live and act in the setting of bygone days.

In 1881, the magazine “Rus” published “The Tale of the Tula Lefty and the Steel Flea.” Later, the author will include the work in the collection “The Righteous”.

The fictional and the real are intertwined into a single whole. The plot is based on true events, which allow us to adequately perceive the characters described in the work.

Thus, Emperor Alexander I, accompanied by the Cossack Matvey Platov, actually visited England. In accordance with his rank, he was given due honors.

The true story of Lefty unfolded in 1785, when two Tula gunsmiths, Surnin and Leontyev, by order of the emperor, went to England to get acquainted with weapons production. Surnin is tireless in acquiring new knowledge, and Leontyev “plunges” into a chaotic life and “gets lost” in a foreign land. Seven years later, the first master returns home to Russia and introduces innovations to improve weapons production.

It is believed that Master Surnin is the prototype of the main character of the work.

Leskov makes extensive use of folklore. Thus, a feuilleton about the miracle master Ilya Yunitsyn, who creates tiny locks, no larger than a flea, is the basis for the image of Lefty.

Real historical material is harmoniously integrated into the narrative.

Genre, direction

There are discrepancies regarding genre affiliation. Some authors prefer the story, others prefer the tale. As for N. S. Leskov, he insists that the work be defined as a tale.

“Lefty” is also characterized as a “weapon” or “shop” legend that has developed among people of this profession.

According to Nikolai Semenovich, the origin of the tale is a “fable” he heard in 1878 from some gunsmith in Sestroretsk. The legend became the starting point that formed the basis of the concept of the book.

The writer’s love for the people, admiration for their talents and ingenuity are embodied in the relief characters. The work is full of elements of a fairy tale, popular words and expressions, and folk satire.

The essence

The plot of the book makes you wonder whether Russia can truly appreciate its talents. The main events of the work clearly indicate that the authorities and the mob are equally blind and indifferent towards the masters of their craft. Tsar Alexander I visits England. He is shown the amazing work of the “Aglitsky” masters - a dancing metal flea. He acquires a “curiosity” and brings it to Russia. For some time they forget about “nymphosoria”. Then Emperor Nicholas I became interested in the British “masterpiece.” He sent General Platov to the Tula gunsmiths.

In Tula, a “courageous old man” orders three craftsmen to make something more skillful than the “Aglitsky” flea. The craftsmen thank him for the sovereign’s trust and get to work.

Two weeks later, Platov, who arrived to pick up the finished product, without understanding what exactly the gunsmiths had done, grabs Lefty and takes him to the Tsar’s palace. Presenting himself before Nikolai Pavlovich, Lefty shows what work they have done. It turned out that the gunsmiths had shod the “Aglitz” flea. The Emperor is happy that the Russian fellows did not let him down.

Then follows the order of the sovereign to send the flea back to England in order to demonstrate the skill of Russian gunsmiths. Lefty accompanies the "nymphosoria". The British welcome him warmly. Having become interested in his talent, they are doing everything possible to ensure that the Russian craftsman remains in a foreign land. But Lefty refuses. He misses his homeland and asks to be sent home. The British are sorry to let him go, but you can’t keep him by force.

On the ship, the master meets the half-skipper, who speaks Russian. The acquaintance ends with drinking. In St. Petersburg, half a skipper is sent to a hospital for foreigners, and Lefty, a patient, is imprisoned in a “cold quarter” and robbed. Later they are brought to die in the common people's Obukhov hospital. Lefty, living his last hours, asks Doctor Martyn-Solsky to tell the sovereign important information. But it does not reach Nicholas I, since Count Chernyshev does not want to listen to anything about it. This is what the work says.

The main characters and their characteristics

1. Emperor Alexander I- “enemy of labor.” He is inquisitive and a very impressionable person. Suffering from melancholy. He admires foreign wonders, believing that only the English can create them. He is compassionate and compassionate, builds a policy with the British, carefully smoothing out the rough edges.
2. Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich- an ambitious martinet. Has an excellent memory. Doesn't like to concede to foreigners in anything. He believes in the professionalism of his subjects and proves the inconsistency of foreign masters. However, he is not interested in the common man. He never thinks about how difficult it is to achieve this mastery.
3. Platov Matvey Ivanovich- Don Cossack, count. His figure exudes heroism and sweeping prowess. A truly legendary personality, a living embodiment of courage and bravery. He has enormous endurance and willpower. He loves his native land immensely. A family man, in a foreign land he misses his family. Insensitive to foreign creations. He believes that Russian people can do anything, no matter what they look at. Impatient. Without understanding it, he can beat up a commoner. If he is wrong, then he certainly asks for forgiveness, since behind the image of a tough and invincible chieftain hides a generous heart.
4. Tula masters- the hope of the nation. They are knowledgeable in metal work. They have a bold imagination. Excellent gunsmiths who believe in miracles. Orthodox people are full of church piety. They hope for God's help in solving difficult problems. They honor the gracious word of the sovereign. Thank you for the trust you place in them. They personify the Russian people and their good qualities, which are described in detail Here.
5. Left-handed oblique- a skilled gunsmith. There is a birthmark on the cheek. He wears an old “zyamchik” with hooks. The modest appearance of a great worker hides a bright mind and a kind soul. Before taking on any important matter, he goes to church to receive a blessing. The characteristics and description of Lefty are described in detail in this essay. He patiently endures Platov’s bullying, although he has done nothing wrong. Later he forgives the old Cossack, without harboring resentment in his heart. Lefty is sincere, speaks simply, without flattery or cunning. He loves his fatherland immensely and would never agree to exchange his homeland for prosperity and comfort in England. It is difficult to bear separation from his native places.
6. Half skipper– an acquaintance of Levsha who speaks Russian. We met on a ship heading to Russia. We drank a lot together. After arriving in St. Petersburg, he takes care of the gunsmith, trying to rescue him from the terrible conditions of the Obukhov hospital and find a person who would convey an important message from the master to the sovereign.
7. Doctor Martyn-Solsky– a true professional in his field. He tries to help Lefty overcome his illness, but does not have time. He becomes the confidant to whom Lefty tells the secret intended for the sovereign.
8. Count Chernyshev- a narrow-minded Minister of War with enormous self-esteem. Despises the common people. He has little interest in firearms. Because of his narrow-mindedness and narrow-mindedness, he substitutes the Russian army in battles with the enemy in the Crimean War.

Topics and issues

1. Theme of Russian talents runs like a red thread through all of Leskov’s work. Lefty, without any glass magnifiers, was able to make small nails to nail the horseshoes of a metal flea. There are no limits to his imagination. But it's not just about talent. Tula gunsmiths are workers who do not know how to rest. With their diligence, they create not only outlandish products, but also a unique national code that is passed on from generation to generation.
2. Theme of patriotism deeply worried Leskov. Dying on the cold floor in the hospital corridor, Lefty thinks about his homeland. He asks the doctor to find a way to inform the sovereign that guns cannot be cleaned with bricks, since this will make them unusable. Martyn-Solsky tries to convey this information to the Minister of War, Chernyshev, but everything turns out to be in vain. The master’s words do not reach the sovereign, but the cleaning of the guns continues until the Crimean campaign. This unforgivable disregard of the tsarist officials for the people and their fatherland is outrageous!
3. The tragic fate of Lefty is a reflection of the problem of social injustice in Russia. Leskov's tale is both cheerful and sad. The story of how Tula craftsmen shoe a flea is captivating, demonstrating a selfless attitude to work. In parallel with this, the author’s serious thoughts are heard about the difficult destinies of brilliant people who came from the people. The problem of attitude towards folk craftsmen at home and abroad worries the writer. In England, Lefty is respected, they offer him excellent working conditions, and they also try to interest him in various wonders. In Russia, he faces indifference and cruelty.
4. The problem of love for one's native places, to native nature. The native corner of the earth is especially dear to man. Memories of him captivate the soul and give energy to create something beautiful. Many, like Lefty, are drawn to their homeland, since no foreign blessings can replace parental love, the atmosphere of their father’s home and the sincerity of their faithful comrades.
5. The problem of the attitude of talented people to work. Masters are obsessed with finding new ideas. These are hard workers, fanatically passionate about their work. Many of them “burn out” at work, because they devote themselves completely to the implementation of their plans.
6. Problems of power. What is the true strength of a person? Representatives of the authorities allow themselves to go beyond what is “permissible” in relation to ordinary people, shout at them, and use their fists. Craftsmen with calm dignity withstand this attitude of their masters. The true strength of a person lies in balance and perseverance of character, and not in the manifestation of intemperance and spiritual impoverishment. Leskov cannot stay away from the problem of heartless attitude towards people, their lack of rights and oppression. Why is so much cruelty used against the people? Doesn't he deserve humane treatment? Poor Lefty is indifferently left to die on a cold hospital floor, without doing anything that could somehow help him get out of the strong bonds of illness.

the main idea

Lefty is a symbol of the talent of the Russian people. Another striking image from Leskov’s gallery of “righteous people”. No matter how difficult it is, the righteous always fulfills his promise, gives himself to the fatherland to the last drop, without demanding anything in return. Love for one’s native land, for the sovereign, works wonders and makes one believe in the impossible. The righteous rise above the line of simple morality and selflessly do good - this is their moral idea, their main idea.

Many statesmen do not appreciate this, but in the memory of the people there always remain examples of selfless behavior and sincere, selfless actions of those people who lived not for themselves, but for the glory and well-being of their Fatherland. The meaning of their life is the prosperity of the Fatherland.

Peculiarities

Bringing together bright flashes of folk humor and folk wisdom, the creator of “Skaz” wrote a work of art that reflected an entire era of Russian life.

In places in “Lefty” it is difficult to determine where good ends and evil begins. This reveals the “cunning” of the writer’s style. He creates characters that are sometimes contradictory, containing positive and negative traits. Thus, the courageous old man Platov, being of a heroic nature, could never raise his hand against a “little” man.

“The Wizard of the Word”—that’s what Gorky called Leskov after reading the book. The folk language of the heroes of the work is their vivid and accurate description. The speech of each character is figurative and original. It exists in unison with his character, helping to understand the character and his actions. Russian people are characterized by ingenuity, so they come up with unusual neologisms in the spirit of “folk etymology”: “trifle”, “busters”, “peck”, “valdakhin”, “melkoskop”, “nymphosoria”, etc.

What does it teach?

N. S. Leskov teaches fair treatment of people. Everyone is equal before God. It is necessary to judge each person not by his social affiliation, but by his Christian actions and spiritual qualities.

Only then can you find a diamond glowing with righteous rays of warmth and sincerity.

Interesting? Save it on your wall!

The story “Lefty” is perhaps one of Leskov’s most poetic works. The author attributes that “Lefty” is “a tale about the Tula oblique left-hander and the steel flea.” Usually the genre declared by the writer creates one or another reader expectation. This is what happens in this case. The fairy tale form sets us up to believe that the narrative is based on a certain legend. Since childhood, Leskov had a love for existing stories and legends, and he will carry this love throughout his life.

Leskov's tale form is a combination of truly folk, folklore elements with the author's deep philosophical thoughts about the essence of the Russian national character. This form of narration made it possible for the hero himself to individually assess events. In addition, this artistic technique also served as a means of revealing the hero himself. The tale is attached to the narrator, who becomes an intermediary between the author and the world of the literary work. The image of the narrator leaves the imprint of its expression, its style on literary reality.

Lefty himself does not say much in the work, but this is quite enough for us to characterize him as a man, albeit not the most educated, but worldly wise, reasoning, thinking, sedate. With what dignity and restraint he appears before the sovereign! He is not embarrassed by his appearance and his unprepossessing speech. He speaks as best he can. And this is truly popular speech. Arriving in England, Lefty shows himself to be not only a patriotic, but also a sensible person: Out of a feeling of love for his homeland, he refuses to stay abroad forever. He is not attracted by the pictures of prosperity and satiety that he sees everywhere in English factories. He also rejects marriage, reasoning simply: “there is no point in fooling girls in vain.” Besides, he doesn't want to leave his parents.

The left-hander is alien to the thought inherent in some Russian people: “I don’t have it, and he won’t have it.” This thought, born of envy, more than once prompted Russian people to resort to meanness. Lefty, on the other hand, adopts foreign experience and rushes to his homeland to pass on his experience. This idea was like an obsession for him. And for the sake of this idea he dies. And even in a semi-conscious state on the floor of a common hospital, Lefty does not forget about his duty to his homeland. And he speaks his last words in the name of Russia, that country that was not so kind and welcoming to him. It’s not without reason that Lefty asks: “Can’t I know whether our generals ever looked at this or not?” Yes, they looked, but they didn’t even take off their gloves. Lefty becomes bitter, he worries, because if they didn’t take off their gloves, it means they couldn’t feel anything. Behind this question lies the deep thought of the author. One can’t help but feel insulted for Russia: everything is done carelessly, superficially, for show.

It is characteristic that Lefty’s name is not mentioned. This emphasizes that the inconspicuous Tula master depicted on the pages of the tale is a collective image of the mysterious Russian soul. Yes, such is the Russian people of the era of serfdom: a poor man in rags and shabby habiliments, simple, modest, unpretentious. Lefty studied from the Psalter and the Half-Dream Book; he did not know “any arithmetic,” but managed to work out something “beyond the concept,” which amazed the “cunning” Englishmen. Of course, the masters did not calculate it completely, and could they have calculated it, and they ruined the delicate mechanism of the steel flea. Yes, it's not their fault. The backwardness of the country, ostentatious scholarship, the downtroddenness of the people themselves - these are the real reasons. In Rus' they live by different rules. And yet, having seen enough of the well-being of the British, the left-hander is eager to go home.

Thus, the story echoes the theme of the tragic fate of a talented individual from the lower classes under serfdom. This theme will resonate with great and genuine drama in many of the writer’s works.

Ticket 9

1. N.S. Leskov. "Lefty." A combination of comic and tragic. The world of the writer's literary word. (p. 397-400)

One of the most interesting works by N. S. Leskov is the tale “Lefty”, or “The Tale of the Tula Oblique Lefty and the Steel Flea”. Behind the veil of irony, even some unreality of the events described, the writer hides many questions, many problems of Russian life, which are often quite tragic in nature.

Perhaps the most serious problem posed by Leskov in “Lefty” is the problem of the lack of demand for Russian talent. In the final, twentieth chapter, the author notes: “The left-hander’s own name, like the names of many of the greatest geniuses, is forever lost to posterity.” Many people with quite a lot of power (Platov, Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich, etc.) “were very confident in their... people and did not like to give in to any foreigner,” but things did not go beyond words and pride for their people, they did not have education it was, and if it was, it was only for the rich; geniuses died in poverty, never having used the talent given to them from above... In other states, for example, in England, the opposite is true. There were not many masters, but they took care of them very diligently: study, work, and excellent conditions for creativity...

Left-handed - an unprepossessing little man, with hair torn out “during his apprenticeship”, dressed like a beggar - is not afraid to go to the sovereign, because he is confident in his rightness, in the quality of his work. Once in England, he strives to understand the military tricks of the British and serve the Fatherland. Lefty, who travels to England without documents, hastily dressed, hungry, in order to demonstrate Russian ingenuity and skill, is for the writer the embodiment of the idea of ​​​​self-denial in the name of the glory of the Fatherland. It is no coincidence that the narrator recounts his conversations with the British, who are persistently trying to persuade Lefty to stay in England. The hero's inflexibility earns the respect of the British.

Drawing a parallel with modern life, I would like to note that this problem remains relevant in our time. Our problems were indirectly described by Leskov in a contemporary form. From time to time there are still “English” virtues who try to use our talents for the benefit of their homeland, but this, of course, is only a sign of the unscrupulous attitude of the authorities towards their people, for which the state should be very ashamed.

Excessive love for everything foreign, respect and hospitality shown to foreigners, often diverts the eyes of our politicians from their own people, which often has a disastrous effect on people. This can be traced very accurately in the eighteenth chapter of the tale, where “the Englishman... was brought to the embassy house,... they immediately called a doctor and a pharmacist to him...”, while a simple Russian left-hander “until the morning... They dragged him along all the remote crooked paths and transplanted everything, so that he was completely beaten...”

Despite the tragic fate of the main character, the work also describes quite a lot of situations that are comic in nature. The originality of the work is given by the author’s extraordinary style and manner of narration: simplicity, brevity, swiftness of action. Here, Lefty’s argument with the skipper immediately comes to mind about who will drink more, when, walking equally, both simultaneously saw multi-colored devils crawling out of the water. Very interesting are the descriptions of the appearance of the Tula masters (“three people,... one is left-handed with an oblique expression, there is a birthmark on his cheek, and the hair on his temples was torn out during training...”), Left-handed people (“... in shorts, one leg of a boot , the other one is dangling, but the collar is old, the hooks are not fastened, they are lost, and the collar is torn; but it’s okay, he’s not embarrassed.”

With humor, Leskov describes the “spiral” formed from the “breathless work” “of the masters in their cramped mansion,” from which “an unusual person with a fresh wind could not breathe even once.”

Also, the comedy of the story is given by the author's invention and wit, which consists in the use of new words - foreign words, altered in the Russian manner or mixed with native Russian expressions. Examples of such neologisms are the words: “tugoment” (“document”), “nymphosoria” (“ciliate”), “dolbitsa” (“table”), etc.

In his work, N. S. Leskov successfully synthesized many tragic and comic features, clearly and accurately expressing in them the sorrows and joys, disadvantages and advantages, character traits and originality of the Russian people.

1. S.A. Yesenin. Poems about the Motherland. Poem by heart. (p. 115-123)

In all centuries, artists, reflecting on the beauty and wretchedness of Russia, the love of freedom of its life and spiritual slavery, faith and unbelief, sought to create a unique and individual image of the Motherland. For Yesenin, his native land, homeland is central Russia, the village of Konstantinovo is rural Rus' with its traditions, fairy tales and songs, with dialect words that convey the originality of village dialect with the colorful world of nature.

The Russian village, the nature of central Russia, oral folk art, and most importantly, Russian classical literature had a strong influence on the formation of the young poet and guided his natural talent.

From the very first verses, Yesenin’s poetry includes the theme of the homeland. Sergei later admitted: “My lyrics are alive with one great love, love for my homeland. The feeling of homeland is central to my work.”

And the fire of dawn, and the splash of a wave, and the silvery moon, and the rustle of reeds, and the immense blue, and the blue surface of the lakes - all the beauty of the native land over the years has been poured into poems full of people's love for the Russian land:

About Rus' - raspberry field

And the blue that fell into the river -

I love you to the point of joy and pain

Your lake melancholy.

From a young age, the sad and free songs of Russia, its bright sadness and valiant prowess, the rebellious, Razin spirit and the shackled Siberian ringing, the church bell and peaceful rural silence, the cheerful girlish laughter in the meadows and grief sank into Yesenin’s heart from a young age.

The poem “Go you, Rus', my dear” is remarkable not only for the poet’s sincere declaration of love for his homeland, but also for the poetic form in which this confession is made, in what words it is expressed. The very first words refer the reader to the language of distant ancestors. In the speech of the Eastern Slavs, the phrase “goy thou art” was associated with the mention of health and is synonymous with the word “live.” Yesenin addresses his native Rus' with wishes of health and life. the poet glorifies rural, peasant Rus'. Line after line gives birth to bright, rich, unexpected images.

The poet feels like a part of his native nature and is ready to merge with it forever: “I would like to get lost in the greenery of your hundred-bellied greenery.” But even then the homeland does not appear to him as an idyllic “transcendental paradise.” The poet loves the real peasant Rus' on the eve of October. In his poems we find such expressive details that speak of the hard life of the peasants, such as “worried huts”, “lean fields”, “black, then smelling howl” and others. Elements of sociality increasingly appear in the poet’s lyrics during World War I: his heroes are a child asking for a piece of bread; plowmen going to war; a girl waiting from the front for her beloved. “Sad song, you are Russian pain!” - exclaims the poet. The poet greeted the October Revolution with enthusiasm. “I rejoice in the song of your death,” he throws out to the old world. However, the poet did not immediately understand the new world. Yesenin expected from the revolution an idyllic “earthly paradise” for men (the poem “The Jordanian Dove”). Needless to say, these hopes of the poet were not justified? And Yesenin is experiencing a deep spiritual crisis, but cannot understand “where the fate of events is taking us.” He also does not understand the change in the appearance of Russia that Soviet power brought with it. The renewal of the village appears to the poet as an invasion of a hostile, “bad”, “iron guest”, against whom the nature opposed to him is defenseless. And Yesenin feels like “the last poet of the village.” He believes that man, transforming the earth, necessarily destroys its beauty. A unique expression of this view of a new life was a foal trying in vain to overtake a steam locomotive:

Dear, dear, funny fool,

But where is he, where is he going?

Doesn't he really know that live horses

Did the steel cavalry win?

Admiration for the beauty of the native land, a depiction of the difficult life of the people, the dream of a “peasant paradise”, rejection of urban civilization and the desire to comprehend “Soviet Rus'”, a feeling of international unity with every inhabitant of the planet and the “love for the native land” remaining in the heart - this is the evolution of the theme of the native lands in Yesenin's lyrics.

He sang joyfully, selflessly, sublimely and purely about Great Rus', a sixth of the earth:

I will chant

With the whole being in the poet

Sixth of the land

With a short name “Rus”.

Ticket 10

1. A.S. Pushkin "Poltava". Pictures of the Battle of Poltava. Comparison of commanders - Peter I and Charles XII. The role of Mazepa (expressive memorization of a passage).

A.S. Pushkin knew well and loved Ukraine, which he met during his southern exile. He was also interested in the events of the Petrine era. In his poem “Poltava” Pushkin reconstructs in detail the course of the famous battle. He makes it clear that previously the Swedes almost never knew defeat, shows how the fighting developed that day: first, the Swedes break through the line of Russian fortifications, from where they are fired upon by Russian artillery (“the Swedes are rushing through the fire of the trenches”), suffer heavy losses and lose offensive impulse. Then there is a pause in the battle (“like a plowman the battle rests”). Finally it comes to a decisive battle, in which the Russians win a decisive victory. A.S. Pushkin accurately characterizes the psychological state of the military leaders Peter and Karl, and gives stunning in its accuracy characteristics to Peter’s associates (“chicks of Petrov’s nest”).

Comparing the two main participants in the Battle of Poltava, Peter I and Charles XII, the poet pays special attention to the role played by the two great commanders in the battle. The appearance of the Russian Tsar before the decisive battle is beautiful, he is all in motion, in the feeling of the upcoming event, he is the action itself:

...Peter comes out. His eyes

They shine. His face is terrible.

The movements are fast. He is beautiful,

He's like God's thunderstorm.

With his personal example, Peter inspires Russian soldiers, he feels his involvement in the common cause, therefore, when characterizing the hero A.S. Pushkin uses verbs of motion:

And he rushed in front of the shelves,

Powerful and joyful, like battle.

He devoured the field with his eyes...

The complete opposite of Peter is the Swedish king, Charles XII, who portrays only a semblance of a commander:

Carried by faithful servants,

In a rocking chair, pale, motionless,

Suffering from a wound, Karl appeared.

The entire behavior of the Swedish king speaks of his bewilderment and embarrassment before the battle; Charles does not believe in victory, does not believe in the power of example:

Suddenly with a weak wave of the hand

He moved his regiments against the Russians.

The outcome of the battle is predetermined by the behavior of the commanders. Describing two military leaders in the poem “Poltava”, A.S. Pushkin characterizes two types of commanders: the phlegmatic Swedish king, Charles XII, who cares only about his own benefit, and the most important participant in the events, ready for the decisive battle, and subsequently the main winner of the Battle of Poltava, the Russian Tsar Peter the Great. Here A.S. Pushkin appreciates Peter I for his military victories, for his ability to make the only right decision at a difficult moment for Russia.

Pushkin was very interested in the image of Mazepa - both in political terms and in historical and literary terms (as a polemic with Ryleev’s poem “Voinarovsky”). According to the existing literary tradition, Mazepa could be perceived as a typical romantic hero who does not recognize human judgment over himself, because he is above the “crowd”. But Pushkin, who did not question the conclusions of official historiography and set the goal of exalting Peter I, judges Mazepa as a person who opposed himself to his homeland and people. In Pushkin's poem, Mazepa and Peter are given as antipodes. Mazepa is lonely, Peter is surrounded by like-minded people. Mazepa thinks first of all about himself, Peter is inspired by the idea of ​​the state. Mazepa appears in the poem as an absolutely immoral, dishonest, vindictive, evil person, as a treacherous hypocrite for whom nothing is sacred (he “does not know the sacred,” “does not remember charity”), a person accustomed to achieving his goal at any cost.

Excerpt from the poem "Poltava"

It's almost noon. The heat is blazing.

Like a plowman, the battle rests.

Cossacks are prancing here and there.

Leveling up, shelves are built.

The battle music is silent.

On the hills the guns are hushed

They stopped their hungry roar.

And behold, announcing the plain

Cheers rang out in the distance:

The regiments saw Peter.

And he rushed in front of the shelves,

Powerful and joyful as battle.

He devoured the field with his eyes.

A crowd rushed after him

These chicks of Petrov's nest -

In the midst of earthly lot,

In the works of power and war

His comrades, sons;

And noble Sheremetev,

And Bruce, and Bour, and Repnin,

And, happiness, the rootless darling,

Semi-powerful ruler.

And in front of the blue rows

Their warlike squads,

Carried by faithful servants,

In a rocking chair, pale, motionless,

Suffering from a wound, Karl appeared.

The hero's leaders followed him.

He quietly sank into thought.

He portrayed an embarrassed look

Extraordinary excitement.

It seemed that Karl was brought

The desired fight is at a loss...

Suddenly with a weak wave of the hand

He moved his regiments against the Russians.

1. Spiritual and moral meaning of “The Tale of Peter and Fevronia.” Connection with oral folk art. (p. 43-51)

“The Tale of Peter and Fevronia” arose in its core no later than the second quarter of the 15th century, but received its final design at the beginning of the 16th century under the pen of Ermolai Erasmus and is closely connected with folklore.

This is a story about the love of Prince Peter and the peasant girl Fevronia - strong and invincible love, “until the grave.”

The first appearance in the story of the girl Fevronia is captured in a visually distinct image. She was found in a simple peasant hut by an envoy of the Murom prince Peter, who fell ill from the poisonous blood of the snake he had killed. In a poor peasant dress, Fevronia sat at a loom and was doing a “quiet” job - weaving cloth, and a hare was jumping in front of her, as if symbolizing a merger with nature. Her questions and answers, her quiet and wise conversation, clearly show that she is smart. Fevronia amazes the messengers with her prophetic answers and promises to help the prince. Well-versed in healing potions, she heals the prince.

Despite social obstacles, the prince marries the peasant girl Fevronia. Their love does not take into account the opinions of others. The swaggering wives of the boyars disliked Fevronia and demanded her expulsion. Prince Peter renounces the principality and leaves with his wife.

The life-giving power of Fevronia’s love is so great that the poles stuck into the ground, with her blessing, blossom, turning into trees. Crumbs of bread in her palm turn into grains of sacred incense. She is so strong in spirit that she can unravel the thoughts of the people she meets. In the strength of her love, in the wisdom, as if suggested to her by this love, Fevronia turns out to be superior to her ideal husband, Prince Peter.

Death itself cannot separate them. When Peter and Fevronia felt the approach of death, they asked God to let them die at the same time, and prepared a common coffin for themselves. After that they became monks in different monasteries. And so, when Fevronia was embroidering “air” (the cover for the holy cup) for the temple of the Mother of God, Peter sent her to tell her that he was dying, and asked her to die with him. But Fevronia asks to give her time to finish the bedspread. Peter sent to her a second time, ordering her to say: “I won’t wait long enough for you.” Finally, sending her for the third time, Peter tells her: “I already want to die and I’m not waiting for you.” Then Fevronia, who had only one robe left to finish, stuck a needle into the bedspread, wrapped a thread around it and sent it to tell Peter that she was ready to die with him.

After the death of Peter and Fevronia, people placed their bodies in separate coffins, but the next day their bodies ended up in a common, pre-prepared coffin. People tried to separate Peter and Fevronia for the second time, but again their bodies ended up together, and from then on they no longer dared to separate them.

Ticket 11

1. Metaphor, personification as an artistic and visual means.

METAPHOR (Greek Μεταφορά - transference) is a type of trope based on association by similarity or analogy. Thus, old age can be called the evening or autumn of life, since all these three concepts are associated by their common sign of approaching the end: life, day, year. In artistic speech, the author uses metaphors to enhance the expressiveness of speech, to create and evaluate a picture of life, to convey the inner world of the characters and the point of view of the narrator and the author himself.

Personification is the endowment of inanimate objects with signs and properties of a person. For example: Our guns started talking. In the evening, you remember, the blizzard was angry.

“Fairy Tales” is one of the most striking creations of the great Russian satirist M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin. The fairy tale genre helped the writer, in an environment of fierce government reaction, to talk about the most pressing problems of the era, to show those sides of reality to which the satirist was irreconcilable. “The Tale of How One Man Fed Two Generals” is one of Shchedrin’s most vivid and memorable fairy tales. At its center are two generals who find themselves on a desert island. Living in St. Petersburg, the generals did not know any difficulties. They went to service at the registry, and this service developed in them only one skill - to say “Accept the assurance of my complete respect and devotion.” Nevertheless, the generals deserved a pension, a personal cook, and everything that allowed their old age to be well-fed and serene. Waking up one morning in the middle of the island, they experienced a real shock, because it turned out that without outside help these adult men could neither get food for themselves nor cook it.

When creating images of generals, Saltykov-Shchedrin actively uses the grotesque. A huge discovery for the heroes is that “human food” in its original form flies, swims and grows on trees. According to them, “the rolls will be born in the same form as they are served with coffee in the morning.” The inability to serve themselves in generals awakens animal instincts: one bites off an order from another and immediately swallows it.

Generals only know how to write reports and read the Moskovskie Vedomosti. They cannot bring any other benefit to society. A fantastic plot helps the satirist show the heroes of the fairy tale in the most unsightly form. The heroes appear before the reader as stupid, helpless, pitiful creatures. The only salvation for them is a simple man. Frightened to death by their position, the generals attack him with anger: “You’re sleeping, you couch potato!” In their opinion, a man exists only to serve their general needs. The man is a great craftsman, he can make fire and cook food, he knows how to survive on a desert island. This, of course, is what the author appreciates in his hero. Emphasizing his talents, Shchedrin uses hyperbole: boiling a handful of soup is not a problem for a man. He doesn’t care about anything, and it’s not for nothing that the writer calls him a “man.”

Ticket 12

1. The idea and images of the poem by N.A. Nekrasov “Railway” (excerpt by heart).

Alexey Nikolaevich Nekrasov dedicated his work to the common people. In his works, the poet reveals those problems that lay a heavy burden on the shoulders of the working people.

In the poem “The Railway” N.A. Nekrasov shows with anger and pain how the railway was built between St. Petersburg and Moscow. The railway was built by ordinary Russian people, many of whom lost not only their health, but also their very lives in such incredibly hard work. The construction of the railway was headed by Arakcheev's former adjutant Count Kleinmichel, who was distinguished by extreme cruelty and contempt for people of the lower class.

Already in the epigraph to the poem, Nekrasov defined the theme of the work: the boy asks his father-general: “Dad! Who built this road? The poem is built in the form of a dialogue between a boy and a random fellow traveler, who reveals to the child the terrible truth about the construction of this railway.

The first part of the poem is lyrical, it is filled with love for the homeland, for the beauty of its unique nature, for its vast expanses, for its peace:

All is well under the moonlight.

Everywhere I recognize my native Rus'...

The second part contrasts sharply with the first. Horrible pictures of road construction emerge here. Fantastic techniques help the author to more deeply reveal the horror of what happened.

Chu! Menacing exclamations were heard!

Stomping and gnashing of teeth;

A shadow ran across the frosty glass...

What's there? Crowd of the dead!

Cruelty towards ordinary builders, absolute indifference to their fate is shown very clearly in the poem. This is confirmed by the lines of the poem in which people who died during construction talked about themselves:

We struggled under the heat, under the cold,

With an ever-bent back,

They lived in dugouts, fought hunger,

They were cold and wet and suffered from scurvy.

In the poem, Nekrasov paints a picture that hurts the heart of any kind and compassionate person. At the same time, the poet did not at all strive to evoke pity for the unfortunate road builders; his goal was to show the greatness and resilience of the Russian people. The fate of ordinary Russian people involved in construction was very, very difficult, but each of them contributed to the common cause. Outside the windows of the cozy carriage, a series of emaciated faces pass, causing a shudder in the soul of a stunned child:

Bloodless lips, drooping eyelids,

Ulcers on skinny arms

Always standing in knee-deep water

The legs are swollen; tangles in hair;

Without the labor, strength, skill and patience of ordinary people, the development of civilization would be impossible. In this poem, the construction of the railway itself appears not only as a real fact, but also as a symbol of another achievement of civilization, which is the merit of the working people. The words of the father general are hypocritical:

Your Slav, Anglo-Saxon and German

Do not create - destroy the master,

Barbarians! A wild bunch of drunkards!..

The final part of the poem is no less scary. The people receive their “deserved” reward. For suffering, humiliation, illness, and hard work, the contractor (“fat, stocky, red as copper”) gives the workers a barrel of wine and forgives the arrears. Unhappy people are already satisfied that their torment is over:

Someone shouted “hurray”. Picked up

Louder, friendlier, longer... Lo and behold:

The police officers rolled the barrel with a song...

Even the lazy man could not resist!

Excerpt from the poem “Railroad”

Glorious autumn! Healthy, vigorous

The air invigorates tired forces;

Fragile ice on the icy river

It lies like melting sugar;

Near the forest, like in a soft bed,

You can get a good night's sleep - peace and space!

The leaves have not yet had time to fade,

Yellow and fresh, they lie like a carpet.

Glorious autumn! Frosty nights

Clear, quiet days...

There is no ugliness in nature! And kochi,

And moss swamps and stumps -

Everything is fine under the moonlight,

Everywhere I recognize my native Rus'...

I fly quickly on cast iron rails,

I think my thoughts...

The topic of patriotism was often raised in works of Russian literature of the late 19th century. But only in the story “Lefty” is it connected with the idea of ​​the need to take care of talents that ennoble the face of Russia in the eyes of other countries.

History of creation

The story “Lefty” first began to be published in the magazine “Rus” Nos. 49, 50 and 51 in October 1881 under the title “The Tale of the Tula Lefty and the Steel Flea (Workshop Legend).” The idea for Leskov’s creation of the work was the popular joke that the British made a flea, and the Russians “shod it and sent it back.” According to the testimony of the writer’s son, his father spent the summer of 1878 in Sestroretsk, visiting a gunsmith. There, in a conversation with Colonel N.E. Bolonin, one of the employees of the local arms factory, he found out the origin of the joke.

In the preface, the author wrote that he was only retelling a legend known among gunsmiths. This well-known technique, once used by Gogol and Pushkin to give special authenticity to the narrative, in this case did Leskov a disservice. Critics and the reading public literally took the writer’s words, and subsequently he had to specifically explain that he was, after all, the author, and not a reteller of the work.

Description of the work

Leskov's story would most accurately be called a story in terms of genre: it presents a large time layer of the narrative, there is a development of the plot, its beginning and conclusion. The writer called his work a story, apparently in order to emphasize the special “narrative” form of narration used in it.

(The Emperor examines the savvy flea with difficulty and interest)

The story begins in 1815 with the trip of Emperor Alexander I with General Platov to England. There, the Russian Tsar is presented with a gift from local craftsmen - a miniature steel flea that can “drive with its antennae” and “switch with its legs.” The gift was intended to show the superiority of English masters over Russians. After the death of Alexander I, his successor Nicholas I became interested in the gift and demanded to find craftsmen who would be “as good as anyone.” So in Tula, Platov called three masters, among them Lefty, who managed to shoe a flea and put the name of the master on each horseshoe. Lefty didn’t leave his name, because he forged nails, and “there’s no small scope there that can take it.”

(But the guns at court were cleaned the old fashioned way.)

Lefty was sent to England with a “savvy nymphosoria” so that they would understand that “this is not surprising to us.” The British were amazed by the jewelry work and invited the master to stay and showed him everything they had learned. Lefty could do everything himself. He was struck only by the condition of the gun barrels - they were not cleaned with crushed bricks, so the shooting accuracy from such guns was high. Lefty began to get ready to go home, he urgently needed to tell the Emperor about the guns, otherwise “God bless the war, they are not suitable for shooting.” Out of melancholy, Lefty drank all the way with his English friend “half-skipper”, fell ill and upon arrival in Russia found himself near death. But until the last minute of his life he tried to convey to the generals the secret of cleaning guns. And if Lefty’s words had been brought to the attention of the Emperor, then, as he writes,

Main characters

Among the heroes of the story there are fictional and real personalities who existed in history, among them: two Russian emperors, Alexander I and Nicholas I, ataman of the Don Army M.I. Platov, prince, Russian intelligence agent A.I. Chernyshev, Doctor of Medicine M.D. Solsky (in the story - Martyn-Solsky), Count K.V. Nesselrode (in the story - Kiselvrode).

(Left-handed "nameless" master at work)

The main character is a gunsmith, left-handed. He has no name, only a craftsman's peculiarity - he worked with his left hand. Leskov's Lefty had a prototype - Alexey Mikhailovich Surnin, who worked as a gunsmith, studied in England and, after returning, passed on the secrets of the business to Russian craftsmen. It is no coincidence that the author did not give the hero his own name, leaving the common noun - Lefty is one of the types of righteous people depicted in various works, with their self-denial and sacrifice. The hero's personality has clearly defined national traits, but the type is rendered universal and international.

It is not for nothing that the hero’s only friend, about whom the story is told, is a representative of a different nationality. This is a sailor from the English ship Polskipper, who did his “comrade” Lefty a disservice. To dispel the longing of his Russian friend for his homeland, Polskipper made a bet with him that he would outdrink Lefty. A large amount of vodka drunk became the cause of the illness and then the death of the yearning hero.

Lefty's patriotism is contrasted with the false commitment to the interests of the Fatherland of the other heroes of the story. Emperor Alexander I is embarrassed in front of the British when Platov points out to him that Russian craftsmen can do things just as well. Nicholas I's sense of patriotism is mixed with personal vanity. And the brightest “patriot” in Platov’s story is such only abroad, and upon arriving home, he becomes a cruel and rude serf owner. He does not trust Russian craftsmen and is afraid that they will spoil the English work and replace the diamond.

Analysis of the work

(Flea, savvy Lefty)

The work is distinguished by its genre and narrative originality. It resembles the genre of a Russian fairy tale, based on a legend. There is a lot of fantasy and fabulousness in it. There are also direct references to the plots of Russian fairy tales. So, the emperor first hides the gift in a nut, which he then puts in a golden snuff box, and the latter, in turn, hides in a travel box, almost the same way as the fabulous Kashchei hides a needle. In Russian fairy tales, tsars are traditionally described with irony, just as in Leskov's story both emperors are presented.

The idea of ​​the story is the fate and place in the state of a talented master. The entire work is permeated with the idea that talent in Russia is defenseless and not in demand. It is in the interests of the state to support it, but it brutally destroys talent, as if it were a useless, ubiquitous weed.

Another ideological theme of the work was the contrast of the real patriotism of the national hero with the vanity of characters from the upper strata of society and the rulers of the country themselves. Lefty loves his fatherland selflessly and passionately. Representatives of the nobility are looking for a reason to be proud, but do not give themselves the trouble to make life in the country better. This consumer attitude leads to the fact that at the end of the work the state loses another talent, which was sacrificed to the vanity of first the general, then the emperor.

The story “Lefty” gave literature the image of another righteous man, now on the martyr’s path of serving the Russian state. The originality of the language of the work, its aphorism, brightness and accuracy of wording made it possible to parse the story into quotes that were widely circulated among the people.

Time of creation

The work of Nikolai Semenovich Leskov was created in 1881. The idea arose three years earlier, when the writer was visiting an employee of one of the arms factories in the vicinity of St. Petersburg. According to the writer’s contemporaries, once at the table in a general conversation they remembered a joke about a slanting left-hander who shoed an English flea and sent it back to the English. Perhaps this served as the starting point for the creation of the work.

Genre of the work

Researchers attribute it to the genre of tale: the narration is told on behalf of a person from the people with his characteristic turns of speech, distortions of foreign words and an appropriate assessment of what is depicted.

Plot

Emperor Alexander, having visited England, brought from there a gift from English craftsmen - a silver miniature flea that can be wound with a key and performs a dance. One of the emperor’s close associates, General Platov, is confident that Russian craftsmen are capable of performing even more delicate work. He takes the flea to Tula craftsmen. Two weeks later he took the flea, in which, at first glance, nothing had changed. However, the craftsmen managed to put it on horseshoes. Platov brings the flea and the master Lefty to St. Petersburg to the emperor. Everyone admires the fineness of the work, but the horseshoes made the flea's legs heavier, and she can no longer perform the dance.

Lefty is sent to study in England. There he sees respect for educated workers. Lefty is offered to stay abroad, but he cannot leave his elderly parents without care and cannot change his Orthodox faith.

Lefty returns by ship to St. Petersburg. On the way, he caught a cold and became seriously ill. Being near death, he is very keen to inform the emperor that the British do not clean their guns with bricks. One of the doctors, who heard these words, conveys them to someone from the military, but he believes that the generals know better, and these words do not reach the emperor.

Issues

In his work N.S. Leskov poses and solves a wide range of problems

1. The problem of the powerless situation of the people is connected with the image of the central hero, his living conditions, and the attitude of those in power towards him.
2. The problem of lack of education among the common people is also connected with the image of Lefty. His talent as a master is unique, but he lacks basic knowledge.
3. The problem of undervalued talents of representatives of the people. The educated class often does not even imagine how many gifted and talented people live in the wilderness of the village. Their abilities could bring glory to the country.
4. The problem of admiration for foreign masters and their skills is raised by Leskov when he depicts the stay of the Russian emperor in England.
5. The problem of patriotism among representatives of different classes. How do the emperor, the general and the simple Tula master Lefty understand love for the Fatherland and service to the Motherland?

Subjects

The story about the amazing talent of the Tula master includes as equal characters the Russian emperors Alexander Pavlovich, Nicholas I, Empress Elizabeth, General Platov - very real historical figures. But the main subject of the image is the talent of the folk craftsman, and many characters in one way or another show their attitude towards the talents of ordinary craftsmen. Some tend to worship foreigners and underestimate their own craftsmen, while others, on the contrary, believe in the superiority of Russian masters.

Image system

The central character of the work is an unnamed Russian master who did an unusually delicate job: he and his comrades managed to forge miniature horseshoes for a steel flea, which was presented to the Russian emperor when he was abroad. Lefty made tiny nails, with the help of which the horseshoes were attached to the feet of the mechanical toy. Leskov does not describe the process of performing this delicate work, he only says that it is done in extraordinary secrecy: the craftsmen work deeply, concentratedly, with complete self-denial; it seems that even a fire could not stop them. They are simple Russian people, not accustomed to boasting, not promising excellent results. Before an important task, they go to venerate the miraculous icon and ask for God's blessing. Lefty's patriotism manifests itself during his stay in England, where he learns about the working conditions of foreign workers, their training, and how they spend their days off. He refuses all requests to stay abroad, get married, and study. On the other hand, he greedily absorbs everything that can and should be transferred to Russian soil, everything that can be useful in Russia.

Among other images of the tale, one can highlight the Don Cossack Platov, who is very worried when Emperor Alexander admires the skill of foreign masters. Platov is confident that in Russia they can and are able to do delicate work and make weapons no worse. He does everything to prove this to the British.

Emperor Alexander Pavlovich is full of admiration for foreign masters and their work. He believes that the Russians should learn from them, and is willing to pay huge sums for a diamond nut containing a steel flea and its key.

Nikolai Pavlovich, on the contrary, believes in the skill of Tula gunsmiths and asks Platov to take the flea, a product of English craftsmen, to our craftsmen.

Lefty perfectly finds a common language with the English half-skipper, with whom he goes on a ship to Russia. A simple, friendly sailor becomes Lefty's friend.

It is impossible not to feel the author’s sympathy for the talented Russian master, sympathy for his plight. The narrator, just like the main character of the work, has a heart for the interests of the country, and says with regret that Lefty’s last words never reached the Russian emperor.

Relevance of the work

Issues of personality and power, the attitude of government officials towards the people and their outstanding, talented representatives remain relevant to this day. The work teaches a responsible attitude towards one’s responsibilities, honesty and love for the Fatherland.

Option 2

The main theme of the work is the creative talent of an ordinary Russian peasant, presented by the writer in the image of a Tula gunsmith, endowed not only with talent, but also with a spiritual core and moral human strength.

The key character of the story is Lefty, depicted as an unprepossessing beggar little peasant, a master blacksmith, distinguished by a strong character and self-confidence not only in relation to life, but also in relation to the work he performs and its quality.

The hero communicates with dignity and courage not only with the Russian sovereign, but also with representatives of foreign powers. Being sent to a foreign land, he enthusiastically studies the outlandish products of foreign masters, trying to comprehend their wisdom, as well as demonstrate his own ingenuity and skill in order to prove the great capabilities of his homeland.

The work is a narration in the form of a legend, but it differs from the traditional genre of skaz, which is aimed at oral speech and narration on behalf of a direct participant in what is happening.

Leskovskaya's story uses in its content the unique author's originality, expressed in the use of fables, changes in the manner of presentation of events throughout the narrative, as well as the use of various artistic and literary techniques that convey the motives of folk poetry (tautologies, verbs with a prefix, diminutives and expressions, modified sayings).

In addition, the writer uses numerous neologisms in the work, contained in the description of objects, actions, and states. Emotions that allow you to demonstrate a special literary game.

The story, written in folk language, is filled with subtle authorial irony, in tune with the Russian national character.

Sample 3

This work by Nikolai Leskov is the most popular in his work. The work was published in 1891 and was presented in the collection “The Righteous.” The full name has a few more words. Namely, “The Tale of the Tula Oblique Lefty and the Steel Flea.”

It is worth noting that Nikolai Leskov in this work touches on the life of an ordinary person. The author himself proposes to perceive this work as a folk work. The reader's attention is concentrated on the plot, including the main character of the work acting as a hero, as in old epics. This arrangement confirms the “national character” of the work. The author tries to avoid his opinion in order to add realism as in folk stories.

Genre of the work. Many people classify “Lefty” as a genre of critical realism. But it's not that simple. The author of the story sometimes uses fairy tale motifs. Although they are not the main criterion for assessing the genre. The realism of the work is fully revealed by the author, mentioning the Russian people, their traditions and character. It tells the story of ordinary working people who, like the main character, in some situations show their originality and skills. The narrative also touches on the role of autocracy as the main form of government. The reader gets to see two sides of the coin. Two worlds, monarchical and Western in comparison. Where the king is trying in every possible way to resist modern principles of government. A very striking literary device of this work is the interweaving of tragic motifs with comedy, reality with fairy tales.

It is worth noting in detail the stylistic devices in the essay. The author does not skimp on comparisons. Almost the entire work is based on these literary compositions. On the one hand, there is life in Russia and England, and a parallel is drawn between the simple and influential population. Through the tension of the entire narrative, the author reveals the image of the main person of the state. All the required information is clearly conveyed in small sketches.

It would be wrong to ignore the main character. In the work he is presented as a hardworking and extremely talented person. The author introduced the main character to the reader in a very detailed and colorful way. He appears in an extremely positive manner. Almost a national hero and a man loyal to his Fatherland. There is a strong emphasis on his patriotism and righteousness. A man who will not sell his homeland to any Englishmen, as noted in the story there were such proposals.

The work clearly shows a true patriot of his state. Who, under any circumstances and conditions, does not betray and does not lose love for his native land. One feels deep love and devotion to the interests of one’s state. Even on the brink of death, this man thought about how to convey to his ruler the secret of better weapon storage, caring for his state with sincere enthusiasm. The author tries to convince everyone that ordinary people create the state and thanks to them it exists.

The main character is a man who has abilities. He looks like an ordinary guy and he works in his forge from morning until late evening. If he takes up a task, he does not calm down until he completes it.

People come to him from different countries and cities, and that’s it, because everyone knows that he simply has golden hands. The sovereign also came to him to see what he was creating with his hands.

And even when he finds himself in a foreign land, he does not stop doing what he loves and introduces his ideas into new technologies, which are then used by people. In addition, in foreign lands he tries to comprehend their talents and learn from them. But he doesn’t forget about his homeland and constantly misses it. More than anything else, he wants to go back and so he asks the emperor to let him go home.

He went home by ship. There he met with one half-skipper who could speak Russian perfectly and also understood everything that was said to him in this language. It all ended in a big drinking session and they both ended up in the hospital. There they take everything they can out of his pockets and then leave him to die. Finally, Lefty tries to make sure that all his words reach the emperor, because this is important information, but no one wants to listen to him.

Our main character dies right in the hospital on the floor, and his thoughts are in his homeland, which he will never see again and will never be able to come there again.

Over all this time, Lefty has suffered a huge number of problems and misfortunes, but the man withstands all this with honor and his head held high.

The work contains not only magical adventures and fables, but also various popular expressions, as well as folklore satire.

From this work we can conclude that the country does not think about its heroes at all and cannot appreciate their talents. But in other countries they take it completely differently.

This is how the emperor, having learned that Lefty created a flea, only remembered it for a while, and then forgot. And when they found out about this in other countries, they ordered their masters to invent and then create something that would be much better than a flea, but they didn’t succeed.

The essence, meaning and idea of ​​the story Lefty

The story called Lefty, authored by Leskov, is a tale, that is, a legend that is based on true events. In fact, it is not entirely known whether the work is a stylization or is actually based on some true events. There is reason to believe that Leskov made up a lot of things, but at the same time he supplied the story with genuine historical figures and also added his own deep knowledge of the people.

Leskov's works are characterized by a fairly accurate understanding of various communities, a clear vision of people, but often in all this there is some kind of refinement mixed with melancholy. After all, Lefty (hereinafter referred to as the hero of the story) is a tragic figure, and he is the personification of the entire people. In torn rags, maintaining his dignity and working only for the country.

This ant pride and dedication is perceived by Leskov as something natural, just as Platov is exactly the kind of Cossack generals the reader wants to see. These figures are a little exaggerated and too stereotypical, although this is a fairy tale. Therefore, some allowance should be made in this sense.

The author is trying to present to the reader the idea of ​​undivided devotion to the people. In many ways, his thoughts are expressed both through Platov and through Lefty. Platov is a stern chieftain who believes in everything Russian and has dog-like devotion to the Tsar.

Of course, it’s possible that modern officials simply shredded things and hypocrisy became more widespread, but something suggests that before there were no such pure Platovs, there were only outwardly Platovs. It is also difficult to believe in Lefty, in such a selfless representative of the people, who, at the level of a saint, forgets about himself and works only for his own country, shoeing a flea so that the country is better than others, and the king is happy.

Leskov’s work is such a cheerful and coherent fatherland, and such a work cannot be called anything other than a kind of propaganda or, as they say now, work for the Kremlin (although in Leskov’s time the capital was in St. Petersburg). However, in fact, this is all Leskov, he simply idealized a lot, tried to write honestly and openly, as far as was possible for him. That’s why Leskov’s truth about the people in the country and about those above them looks so sad and dreary.

His Lefty is Alexander Matrosov, who climbs into the embrasure with a smile, although it is possible to take the Bunker without this, his Lefty is a sincere trust in the hypocrisy of those in power. His Platov is the stupid patriotism of an official in a country that wants to be better than Europe, but spits on its own people and raises an intelligentsia that speaks French from childhood. And the meaning of this story is very sad.

Several interesting essays

• Essay by Sudbinsky in the novel by Oblomov Goncharov (Image and Characteristics)

  A striking secondary character of the work is one of the guests of the protagonist of the novel in the image of Mr. Sudbinsky, presented by the writer as a former office colleague of Ilya Ilyich Oblomov.

• Journey to the field of glory (Borodino Lermontov 5th grade) essay

  Lermontov has many different works, but one of them is significant for the entire people and it is called “Borodino”. And with this work he tries to show all readers

• The image of the Moneylender in the story Portrait of Gogol and his characterization essay

  The portrait is one of the stories by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol, part of the “Petersburg Tales” cycle. In my opinion, “Portrait” stands out from other stories not only because of its original plot, but also because of its unusual characters.

• Review of the book Fahrenheit 451 (Bradbury)

  Nowadays the theme of dystopias is in fashion. New books are constantly being written, films are being made. And people go to the cinemas to watch the next “Jays”, where they always show the cruel world of the future

• The history of the creation of the novel Dubrovsky by Pushkin

  Pushkin worked on his novel for a whole year. However, he never finished it. He didn’t even give the work a title. In the title I put only the start date of work: October 21, 1932