Leo Tolstoy childhood main characters characteristics. Characteristics of Nikolenka from the story “Childhood” by L. N. Tolstoy. Relation to maman

The story “Childhood” was first published in Sovremennik and immediately brought fame to Tolstoy and recognition of his talent. The remarkable ability to see the human soul was examined in the novice author by the then famous writers Turgenev, Chernyshevsky, Nekrasov. Lev Nikolaevich was then twenty-four years old. He was an officer in the Russian army.

What is Tolstoy’s “power as a writer”?

While in the Caucasus, Tolstoy intended to write the work “Four Epochs of Development” about the formation of human personality. The planned work was supposed to tell about four important milestones in life - childhood, adolescence, adolescence, youth. But later an interesting idea developed into a trilogy.

Its first part, “Childhood,” became Lev Nikolaevich’s first work. He sent the manuscript to the then famous magazine Sovremennik, not hoping that the story would be published. He even sent money to the editor to send it back. Chernyshevsky, giving a review of Tolstoy’s “Childhood,” already then identified two important features of his work, which later became the “calling cards” of the great Russian thinker.

One of the features is that Tolstoy did not limit himself to “depicting the results of the mental process,” he was also concerned about the process itself, “the subtle phenomena of inner life.” There is another “strength in his talent - the purity of moral feeling.” This is what gives Tolstoy’s work “a special - touching and graceful - charm,” Chernyshevsky emphasized in his review.

In “Childhood,” Tolstoy describes in every detail how life blossoms in a little man, how everyday events resonate in his heart. A person who has just entered this world looks with curiosity and admiration at everything that surrounds him, and his inquisitive mind develops under the influence of the sounds of the outside world.

Who are the main characters of the story?

The life of Nikolenka Irtenyev, the main character of the story, a kind and gentle boy, with a sympathetic heart and an inquisitive mind, is surrounded by an atmosphere of well-being. The first days of his childhood are spent in a noble estate. A special place in his life is occupied by his mother, who was for him the source of all the most beautiful things. He loves his father, but this feeling is different from the tenderness he feels for his mother. Nikolenka’s father, despite many shortcomings, is an undoubted authority. The boy is proud of his father and considers him a knight.

In L. N. Tolstoy’s story “Childhood,” the child’s first memories are associated with the teacher Karl Ivanovich and the housekeeper Natalya Savishna. Nikolenka loves her mentor very much, although sometimes she is angry with him. The child sees the kind heart of the old teacher and feels his great affection for his pupil. For him, Karl Ivanovich is a man with a calm soul and a clear conscience. Nikolenka is not ideal at all: he often gets angry and scolds his teacher or nanny, thinks a lot about himself and does not want to study. But Karl Ivanovich shows patience and restraint towards his pupil.

What is Tolstoy's "Childhood" about?

First impressions of your home, close and loved ones, people living nearby. The second important moment in a boy’s life is separation from his home, moving to Moscow, meeting new people. The third, most bitter moment in the life of the main character of L.N. Tolstoy’s story “Childhood” is a letter from the village, the death of a mother, the genuine grief of a child.

Irtenev family

The boy turned ten two days ago. Nikolenka wakes up from Karl Ivanovich hitting the fly with a firecracker. This made the boy very angry. He goes to wash his face and coldly and aloofly analyzes his teacher’s behavior. Even his robe and cap with a tassel seem disgusting to Nikolenka. The responsibilities of a teacher include not only the education of children, but also their upbringing. But this is not a burden to him, since he does not have his own family. And despite all the severity and exactingness, he loves children very much. Together with their brother Volodya and Karl Ivanovich, they go to greet their parents.

His mother is waiting in the dining room, kisses Nikolenka and inquires about his well-being. After talking with their mother, the children go into their father’s office. Looking at her daddy giving orders and her mother pouring tea, Nikolenka admires them and feels how much she loves them. The father informs his sons that he is leaving for Moscow and takes them with him to continue their education. Nikolenka is very insightful and understands that the good-natured old teacher will be fired as unnecessary. He sincerely feels sorry for Karl Ivanovich. This news leaves an imprint on the rest of the boy's day.

Mama always welcomes wanderers and pilgrims. At lunch, food was served to the holy fool Grisha at a separate table. Nikolenka’s father doesn’t like her mother’s idea at all, but he remains silent. After dinner, all the men of the family go hunting, after which the guys frolic in the clearing. Nikolenka kisses Katenka, governess Mimi’s cute little girl, on the shoulder. The boy has been partial to her for a long time, and his older brother mocks him. In the evening, the family gathers in the living room, where the mother plays music and the children are busy drawing. The teacher goes to his father’s office and says how much he has become attached to the children, that he agrees to teach them for free. Nikolenka's father is an understanding man, he decides to take the old teacher with him to Moscow.

Before leaving, Nikolenka, the main character of Tolstoy's Childhood, remembers Natalya Savishna. She also came to work for her grandfather, who did not give her his blessing for marriage, but sent her to the barnyard. The nanny did not become embittered, did not break down, but transferred all her unspent love to the owner’s daughter, Nikolenka’s mother.

Separation from home

Morning comes, and the men of the Irtenyev family are getting ready to go to Moscow. Nikolenka is very sad. The boy tenderly parted with his mother and sister, and sincerely said goodbye to the servants. The child cannot hold back his emotions when parting and cries. All the way he indulges in childhood memories. In Moscow, the brothers live in their grandmother's house. Their mentor Karl Ivanovich lives with them. For her grandmother’s birthday, Nikolenka composes poems that she is delighted with. Princess Kornakova also came to congratulate her, who says that the boy is ugly. Nikolenka feels these words deeply.

In a conversation with Ivan Ivanovich, the grandmother mentioned that Nikolenka’s father plays cards and has fun with women. The boy accidentally witnessed this unflattering review. In Tolstoy’s “Childhood,” one can see how conflicting feelings struggle in the soul of a child. Among the guests are Serezha’s parents Ivin, with whom Nikolenka immediately gets along. He sees Sonya among the guests and tries to please her. Nikolenka dances, but everyone notices his clumsiness. The father gets irritated by this, and the child really wants to cuddle up to his mother. But mommy is far away.

After the festive dinner, the dancing continued. Nikolenka dances with Sonya and is immensely happy. The boy is excited by the events of this day and cannot sleep. He shares his experiences with his brother Volodya. But he does not understand him and does not share Nikolenka’s feelings.

Letter from mom

Six months passed like this. A letter arrived from my mother. The father tells the children to immediately get ready for the village, but does not give a reason for the hasty departure. The Irtenyevs arrive in the village and see that the mother is very ill and has not gotten out of bed for several days. That evening she dies.

At the funeral, Nikolenka came up to say goodbye to his mother. The boy sees how much the features of his own face have changed, and runs out of the room screaming. Three days later they return to Moscow. Natalya Savishna does not leave the empty house and remains in the village. She soon dies of melancholy, and the nanny is buried not far from her mother.

What is special about the story?

The story about the nanny is told with great warmth. In their reviews of Tolstoy’s “Childhood,” both readers and literary critics believe that the most heartfelt lines are dedicated to Natalya Savishna. Her selfless love for people makes them kinder and more humane. This rare woman warmed the whole house with her love.

The child feels falsehood and deception in the feelings of the neighbors who have gathered for the mother’s funeral. In these circumstances, when bitter truths are revealed, the boy sees the sincerity of the serfs. Simply, silently and completely they share the grief of children who have lost their mother.

The tragedy that occurred in Nikolenka’s life seems to draw a line under her carefree childhood. The attitude and feelings of a child, changing as he gets to know the big world of adults, are described so accurately and in detail by the author that many were sure that this was the childhood of L. N. Tolstoy.

The story published in Sovremennik was called “The Story of My Childhood.” The author was very saddened by this, since he strived for generalization in revealing the most “fragrant time of life” - the time of childhood. He wrote about this to Nekrasov, as the editor of Sovremennik, defending the typicality of the image he created.

Sorokina Evgenia

Object of study – texts of L.N. Tolstoy’s story “Childhood” and A.M. Gorky’s story of the same name

Subject of study : techniques for creating images of the main characters, similarities and differences.

Target : creation of an algorithm for use in further work in literature lessons “Comparative characteristics of images of a work of art.”

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RESEARCH

PROJECT

ON LITERATURE

“COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS IN THE WORKS OF L.N. TOLSTOY “CHILDHOOD” AND THE STORY OF THE SAME NAME BY A.M. GORKY.”

Prepared

7A class student

Sorokina Evgenia

HEAD: Svetlana Ivanovna Kovaleva, teacher of Russian language and literature, Municipal Budgetary Educational Institution Secondary School No. 14, Yaroslavskaya Station, Mostovsky District, Krasnodar Territory

year 2012

Object of study- texts of the story “Childhood” by L.N. Tolstoy and the story of the same name by A.M. Gorky

Subject of study: techniques for creating images of the main characters, similarities and differences.

Target : creation of an algorithm for use in further work in literature lessons “Comparative characteristics of images of a work of art.”

Tasks :

2. Study sections of literary criticism related to the creation of the image of a literary hero;

3 . Identify similarities and differences in the methods of creating the main character of a work according to plan.

4. Systematize the collected material. Summarize the comparison results and draw conclusions.

5. Create an algorithm for working on a literary image.

Research methods: analysis of scientific literature; comparison of works; modeling a hypothesis, creating an algorithm for further work in literature lessons.

The plot of M. Gorky’s story “Childhood” and L.N. Tolstoy’s story of the same name are based on facts from the real biography of the writers. This determined the features of the genre of works - the autobiographical story. The works of Gorky and Tolstoy are separated by a significant period of time.

The story by A.M. Gorky was written in 1913, where he described the events associated with the growing up of a little man. This story is autobiographical, in which the writer offers the reader a description of his own childhood in literary adaptation. The first part of Tolstoy's trilogy was created in 1851-1852.

comparison table

Based on ideological and artistic analysis, we will present the similarities and differences

works by A.M. Gorky and L.N. Tolstoy

The narrative of the works is based on a subjective organization. The writer offers the reader a description of his own childhood in literary adaptation. The most important images are the image of Nikolenka Irtenyev (“Childhood” by L.N. Tolstoy) and Alyosha Peshkov (“Childhood” by A.M. Gorky).

L.N. Tolstoy shows his heroes in those conditions and in those circumstances where their personality can manifest itself most clearly. In small but incredibly bright inclusions, moments are woven into the fabric of the narrative in which we are talking about something that goes beyond the understanding of a child. For A.M. Gorky, first of all, life circumstances and aesthetic motives determined the need to turn to children's themes in literature.

Each of the writers uses in different ways such traditional Russian literature methods of presenting a person’s characteristics as describing a portrait of a hero, depicting his gesture, and manner of behavior, since all of these are external manifestations of the hero’s inner world.

1.External features (portrait). A portrait characteristic often expresses the author's attitude towards a character.

2. Psychological analysis. (Detailed, detailed recreation of feelings, thoughts, motives - the inner world of the character)

3.Character's character. It is revealed in actions, in relation to other people, in descriptions of the hero’s feelings, in his speech.

5. Comparison of the hero with other characters and contrast with them.

6. Depiction of the conditions in which the hero lives and acts.

7.Image of the social environment, society in which the character lives and acts.

8.Artistic detail.

9.Presence or absence of a prototype.

The hero of L.N. Tolstoy and A.M. Gorky lives in a special world - the world of childhood, which includes the following

THE WORLD OF CHILDHOOD

Based on the presented plan, we will consider what techniques authors use to create a literary image. Let's identify some of their similarities and differences.

Techniques for creating the image of the main character in L.N. Tolstoy’s story “Childhood”

Techniques for creating the image of the main character in A.M. Gorky’s story “Childhood”

COMMON FEATURES. DIFFERENCES

So, when characterizing a child hero in a work of fiction, the following must be taken into account:

1. Psychological analysis. (Detailed, detailed recreation of feelings, thoughts, motives - the inner world of the character)

2.Character's character. Revealed in actions, in relation to other people, in descriptions of the hero’s feelings, in his speech

4. Comparison of the hero with other characters and contrast with them.

5.Image of the conditions in which the hero lives and acts.

6. Image of the social environment, society in which the character lives and operates

Story by L.N. Tolstoy "Childhood"

Analysis of literary text

The story "Childhood" is the first part of the autobiographical trilogy of the Russian realist writer L.N. Tolstoy. This work is about the happiest time of human life, about how a person enters the world and how this world meets him - with extraordinary joys and endless anxieties.

The main character of the work, Nikolenka Irtenyev, like any child, looks at the world around him with curiosity, studies it, and many things are revealed to him for the first time. The author endowed his hero with a restless conscience and constant mental anxiety. Exploring the world, he strives to understand the actions of others and himself. Already the first episode shows how complex the spiritual world of this ten-year-old boy is.

The story begins with an insignificant, trifling incident in a children's room. Teacher Karl Ivanovich woke up Nikolenka by hitting a fly over his head with a sugar paper cracker on a stick. But he did it so awkwardly that he touched the little icon hanging on the headboard of the bed, and the dead fly fell right on Nikolenka’s face. This awkward act immediately angered the boy. He begins to think about why Karl Ivanovich did this. Why did he kill a fly above his crib, and not above his brother Volodya’s crib? Is it really just because Nikolenka is the youngest that everyone will torment him and offend him with impunity? Upset, Nikolenka decides that Karl Ivanovich has only been thinking about this all his life, how to make trouble for him, that Karl Ivanovich is an evil, “nasty person.” But only a few minutes pass, and Karl Ivanovich comes up to Nikolenka’s crib and begins, laughing, tickling his heels, affectionately saying in German: “Well, well, you lazy fellow!” And new feelings are already crowding in the boy’s soul. “How kind he is and how he loves us,” Nikolenka thinks. He becomes annoyed with both himself and Karl Ivanovich, he wants to laugh and cry at the same time. He is ashamed, he cannot understand how a few minutes ago he could “not love Karl Ivanovich and find his robe, cap and tassel disgusting.” Now all this seemed to Nikolenka “extremely sweet, and even the tassel seemed clear proof of his kindness.” Feeling emotional, the boy began to cry. And the teacher’s kind face, bending over him, the sympathy with which he tried to guess the reason for the children’s tears, “made them flow even more abundantly.”

In the classroom, Karl Ivanovich was “a completely different person: he was a mentor.” His voice became stern and no longer had that expression of kindness that touched Nikolenka to tears. The boy carefully examines the classroom, in which there are many things of Karl Ivanovich, and they can say a lot about their owner. Nikolenka sees Karl Ivanovich himself in a long cotton robe and a red cap, from under which sparse gray hair can be seen. The teacher sits at a table on which stands “a cardon circle inserted into a wooden leg” (Karl Ivanovich “himself invented and made this circle in order to protect his weak eyes from bright light”). Near him lie a watch, a checkered handkerchief, a black round snuff box, a green case for glasses, and tongs on a tray. All things are orderly and neatly in their places. Therefore, Nikolenka comes to the conclusion that “Karl Ivanovich has a clear conscience and a calm soul.”

Sometimes Nikolenka caught Karl Ivanovich at moments when his “blue half-closed eyes looked with some special expression, and his lips smiled sadly.” And then the boy thought: “Poor, poor old man! There are so many of us, we play, we have fun, but he is alone, and no one will caress him...” He ran up, took him by the hand and said: “Dear Karl Ivanovich!” These sincere words always deeply touched the teacher. But there were moments when Nikolenka, lost in thought, did not hear the teacher’s words, and thereby offended him.

This chapter alone, in which the hero recalls his attitude towards teacher Karl Ivanovich, shows that Nikolenka Irtenyev’s childhood years were not carefree. He constantly observed, reflected, learned to analyze. But most importantly, from childhood the desire for goodness, truth, truth, love and beauty was inherent in him.

In 1851, Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy traveled to the Caucasus. At that moment there were fierce battles with the mountaineers, in which the writer took part without interrupting his fruitful creative work. It was at this moment that Tolstoy came up with the idea of ​​​​creating a novel about the spiritual growth and personal development of a person.

Already in the summer of 1852, Lev Nikolaevich sent his first story, “Childhood,” to his editor. In 1854, the part “Adolescence” was published, and three years later - “Youth”.

This is how the autobiographical trilogy was designed, which today is included in the compulsory school curriculum.

Analysis of a trilogy of works

Main character

The plot is based on the life of Nikolai Irtenyev, a nobleman from a noble family who is trying to find the meaning of existence to build the right relationship with the environment. The characteristics of the main character are quite autobiographical, so the process of finding spiritual harmony is especially important for the reader, who finds parallels with the fate of Leo Tolstoy. It is interesting that the author seeks to present a portrait of Nikolai Petrovich through the points of view of other people whom fate brings together with the main character.

Plot

Childhood

In the story “Childhood” Kolenka Irtenyev appears as a modest child who experiences not only joyful, but also sorrowful events. In this part, the writer reveals the idea of ​​the dialectic of the soul as much as possible. At the same time, “Childhood” is not without the power of faith and hope for the future, since the author describes the life of a child with undisguised tenderness. It is interesting that the plot makes no mention of Nikolenka’s life in her parents’ home. The fact is that the boy’s formation was influenced by people who did not belong to his immediate family circle. First of all, this is Irtenyev’s tutor Karl Ivanovich and his housekeeper Natalya Savishna. Interesting episodes from “Childhood” include the process of creating a blue drawing, as well as the game of rowers.

Boyhood

The story “Adolescence” begins with the thoughts of the main character who visited him after the death of his mother. In this part, the character touches on philosophical issues of wealth and poverty, intimacy and loss, jealousy and hatred. In this story, Tolstoy seeks to convey the idea that an analytical mindset inevitably reduces the freshness of feelings, but at the same time does not prevent a person from striving for self-improvement. In “Adolescence,” the Irtenyev family moves to Moscow, and Nikolenka continues to communicate with the tutor Karl Ivanovich, receiving punishments for bad grades and dangerous games. A separate storyline is the development of the relationship between the main character and Katya, Lyuba, and also his friend Dmitry.

Youth

The finale of the trilogy - “Youth” - is dedicated to the main character’s attempts to get out of the labyrinth of internal contradictions. Irtenyev’s plans for moral development collapse against the background of an idle and petty lifestyle. Here the character encounters the first love worries, unfulfilled dreams, and the consequences of vanity. In “Youth” the plot begins with Irtenyev’s 16th year of life, who is preparing to enter university. The hero experiences the joy of confession for the first time, and also faces difficulties in communicating with friends. Tolstoy strives to show that life has made the main character less sincere and kind towards people. Nikolai Petrovich's neglect and pride leads him to expulsion from the university. The series of ups and downs does not end, but Irtenyev decides to create new rules for a good life.

Tolstoy's trilogy was realized with an interesting compositional idea. The author does not follow the chronology of events, but the stages of personality formation and turning points in fate. Lev Nikolaevich conveys through the main character the basic values ​​of a child, teenager, and youth. There is also an edifying aspect to this book, since Tolstoy appeals to all families not to miss the most important moments in raising a new generation.

According to many literary scholars, this is a book about the most important role of kindness, which helps a person to stay away from cruelty and indifference, even despite serious life trials. Despite the apparent ease of narration and fascinating plot, Tolstoy’s novel hides the deepest philosophical subtext - without hiding moments from his own life, the author seeks to answer the question of what challenges of fate a person has to respond to in the process of growing up. Moreover, the writer helps the reader decide what kind of answer to give.

The main character of the story is a ten-year-old boy from a noble family. This is a cheerful, kind and well-mannered boy who grows up in love and care. Not only his parents take part in his upbringing, but also his nanny Natalya Savishna and teacher Karl Ivanovich. He loves his parents very much and is proud of them. In his eyes, these are the most beautiful and sincerely loving people.

Natalya Nikolaevna, mother of the main character Nikolenka, whom he calls Maman. Nikolenka Irtenev remembers her mother with endless love and gratitude. She was the source of everything beautiful for him. Every morning Nikolenka went down to the living room to say hello to his mother, and it seemed to him that there was no more beautiful and kinder person in the world than this woman. He also treated his father well, and he was an unquestioned authority for the boy.

Is Petr Aleksandrovich Irtenyev the father of ten-year-old Nikolenka? whom he calls papa (emphasis on the last syllable). This is a man of stern disposition, serious and strict. At the same time, he treats children with great love and makes every effort to ensure that they receive a decent upbringing and education. Nikolenka’s father seems like a mysterious man, but undeniably handsome. During the events taking place in the story, the entire Irtenyev family lives in the village.

A minor character in the story, who played an important role in the development of the character of the main character, ten-year-old Nikolenka, as well as in revealing his attitude towards other people. Natalya Savishna served in the Irtenyevs' house from time immemorial. She was responsible for the keys to the pantry and was a domineering woman by nature, so the servants in the house were afraid of her.

A minor character in the story, a teacher and tutor in the Irtenievs’ house, German by origin. He is entrusted with the education and upbringing of Nikolenka and his brother Volodya. The reader meets him at the very beginning of the story, when early in the morning he wakes Nikolenka up by slapping a fly. This is a man of extraordinary kindness, with whom it is even difficult to get angry.

Volodenka

A minor character, Nikolenka’s older brother, who is 13 years old. They are always close, and sleep in the same room, and went to Moscow together.

Grandmother

Nikolenka's grandmother, who lived in Moscow. She was rich and was a representative of that old generation that is almost gone. Grandmother loved her daughter, Nikolenka’s mother, very much, and after her death she was in grief for a long time. During the events described, she had an Angel Day, which was attended by many guests.

Grisha

A minor character, a holy fool and a wanderer, who walked barefoot all year round, visited monasteries and spoke strange words, which were perceived by some as predictions. In addition, he wore heavy chains under his clothes.

Sonechka

A minor character, Nikolenka’s love in Moscow, whom he met at Angel’s grandmother’s day.

Lyubochka

A minor character, Nikolenka’s older sister, who is 11 years old.

Katenka

Minor character, daughter Mimi, who is 12 years old. She is Nikolenka's first love.

Princess Varvara Kornakova

A minor character, a little woman about 45 years old, who came to congratulate her grandmother on Angel's Day. She was angry and beat her children.

Prince Ivan Ivanovich

A minor character, “a man of about seventy, tall, in a military uniform.” He was in the same position as his grandmother, having made a brilliant career in his youth. I came to congratulate my grandmother on Angel Day.