What are the best qualities of the Russian folk character embodied by I. S.
The writing
For many years, the central point around which the entire analysis was organized was the discussion of Gerasim as the most remarkable person among the courtyards. Appeal to the assessment of the hero is absolutely necessary in any form of studying the text. When deciding what kind of Gerasim, Readers talk with interest about his kindness and honesty, greatly appreciate his ability to keep his word, although they still put unusual strength in the first place and only sometimes remember his “liberty”, which, obviously, needs to be understood as the ability to protest. It is very important to keep in the "memory of the heart" of our readers the emotional assessment of Gerasim's protest.
Hatred for oppression in general and for serfdom as one of the forms of such oppression permeates every line of Turgenev's work and lives in it next to the author's faith in the great future of his native people, in his strength, talent, kindness and ability to overcome any obstacles.
Readers in the course of studying the story "Mumu" begin to understand that this is one of the most striking anti-serf works, creating which I. S. Turgenev fulfilled his annibal oath. "Mumu" is one of those works classical literature, which found recognition immediately after its creation. A contemporary and friend of Turgenev, A. I. Herzen, wrote: “The other day I was reading Mumu aloud ... a miracle, how good it is.” I. S. Aksakov saw in Gerasim a kind of symbol: “I don’t need to know whether this is fiction or fact, whether the janitor Gerasim really existed or not. Under the janitor Gerasim, something else is understood. This is the personification of the Russian people, their terrible strength and incomprehensible meekness ... He, of course, will speak with time, but now, of course, he may seem both dumb and deaf. The story was also recognized by foreign readers. Galsworthy wrote about her: "Never by the means of art was created a more exciting protest against tyranny and cruelty ..."
Information of this kind will not impress 5th grade readers. But the Reader can create for himself a kind of fund of facts in order to mention them in connection with the study of the writer's creative path in high school. Information about the prototype of Gerasim, the janitor Andrei, can also be used as such a backup material. It was, as contemporaries say, "a handsome man with blond hair and blue eyes, of enormous growth and with the same strength, he lifted ten pounds." His grievances repeat those that Turgenev described in the story, but the dumb Andrei served his mistress until death and maintained slavish obedience.
The peculiarity of the perception of the work, the responses to it, considerations about the nature and methods of typification in the process of creativity - all this can awaken a half-forgotten story in the memory of readers of the 10th grade and relive its events in the process of getting acquainted with the history of life and work of I. S. Turgenev.
Other writings on this work
Why did Gerasim drown Mumu? (according to the story by I.S. Turgenev) Turgenev's story "Mumu" Composition based on the story of I. S. Turgenev "Mumu" Composition based on Turgenev's story "Mumu" The fate of Gerasim (based on the story of I. S. Turgenev "Mumu") What does I. S. Turgenev sing in the image of Gerasim (based on the story "Mumu") What does Turgenev sing in the image of Gerasim? The image and characteristics of Gerasim in Turgenev's story "Mumu" The story "Mumu" and "Inn" The depiction of the cruelty of the masters towards the serfs in the story of I. S. Turgenev "Mumu" Works based on the story of I. Turgenev "Mumu" What are the best qualities of the Russian folk character embodied by I. S. Turgenev in Gerasim, the hero of the story "Mumu"? (Plan)Gerasim - main character story by I. S. Turgenev “Mumu”. (Gerasim is a serf, discharged by a lady from the village and appointed as a janitor in the Moscow house of a landowner.)
Russian qualities folk character embodied in Gerasim:
heroic strength (“Gerasim, a man twelve inches tall, built by a hero.” When he mowed, it seemed that he would easily brush off a slanting young birch forest. Gerasim looks like epic heroes with his extraordinary strength and firmness of character);
the industriousness of Gerasim (“gifted with extraordinary strength, he worked for four - the matter was arguing in his hands, and it was fun to look at him,” when he plowed, mowed, threshed in the village. Once in the city, he easily coped with the duties of a janitor);
mind and kindness (deprived of the opportunity to communicate with people, Gerasim understood them, felt the attitude towards himself, caught the mood of people. He was able to appreciate Tatyana's kindness, tried to protect her. Having lost Tatyana, Gerasim gave his whole soul to Mumu, took care of her and took care of her); patience and willpower (the deaf-mute Gerasim obeyed the orders of the mistress, since he was a serf, a forced man, he endured the ridicule of the servants, but did not allow him to offend those he loved. Only a person with a strong character could decide to drown Mumu, whom he dearly loved. He saved her from unnecessary torment, he himself suffered for her); 5) the ability to protest (by portraying his hero as deaf and mute from birth, the writer wanted to emphasize the long-suffering of the Russian people. But Gerasim's departure from the mistress shows that the people will still “talk”. Gerasim's departure is tantamount to rebellion).
The meaning of the image of Gerasim. (The hero of the story “Mumu” reflects the best features of the people. Contradictory qualities are combined in the image of Gerasim: great strength and patience, emphasized by natural dumbness. But the ending of the story speaks of the victory of the strength of the human spirit, of his desire for freedom and independence.)
Essay on literature on the topic: What are the best qualities of the Russian folk character embodied by I. S. Turgenev in Gerasim, the hero of the story “Mumu”? (Plan)
Other writings:
- Gerasim is the main character of Turgenev's story "Mumu". He was deaf and mute from birth, lived at first in a village in a small hut and worked as a janitor for a lady. By nature, this man was endowed with extraordinary strength. In the village, he was considered the most serviceable draft man, he worked Read More ......
- The story of Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev "Mumu" struck me very much. When Gerasim killed the dog, I could not hold back my tears. And how hard it was for him! After all, he raised Mumu from a small puppy. This is the only creature that loved Gerasim, and he Read More ......
- In the story of Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev "Mumu" the janitor Gerasim is the most remarkable person from all the servants. This is a man of tall stature, powerful physique and deaf-mute from birth. Any work argues in his hands, because nature has endowed him with extraordinary strength. The lady brought Read More ......
- In the story of I. S. Turgenev, I learned about the dog Mumu. In the story, Gerasim found a dog by the lake. Gerasim took the dog home. The dog was of a Spanish breed, with long ears, a fluffy trumpet-like tail, and large, expressive eyes. She became passionately attached to Read More ......
- Gerasim Characteristics of the literary hero GERASIM is the central character in I. S. Turgenev's story "Mumu" (1852), the mute janitor of a tyrant-lady, a man of a strict and serious disposition, a real Russian hero, of enormous growth and extraordinary physical strength. The fate of G. is not invented - the basis of the storyline of the story Read More ......
- The genre of this work is short story. Tie. The deaf-mute Gerasim was brought to Moscow from the village. He became a janitor for a lady. Action development. The tyranny of the lady breaks the fate of Gerasim. First, the peasant is torn off the ground, brought to the city, forced to do work alien to him. Then on Read More ......
- The image of Gerasim is a symbol of the Russian people. In his hero, Turgenev shows the best features of a Russian person: heroic strength, diligence, kindness, sensitivity to loved ones, sympathy for the unfortunate and offended. Turgenev calls Gerasim "the most wonderful person" of all the servants. The author sees in Read More ......
As you know, this man was deaf-mute by nature. And fate compensated for such a natural defect with a real heroic constitution.
Gerasim in the story
Despite his serious shortcoming, Gerasim possessed a truly enormous, literally heroic strength. Everyone in his native village knew about it. He was a draft man, able to work one for four ordinary men. The power of the protagonist is conveyed by the author in many lines, for example: “On St. Peter's Day, he acted so crushingly with a scythe that even a young birch forest should be brushed off by the roots; near the kitchen, he knocked out and shook out a barrel, turning it over in his hands like a children's drum. A large number of various turns, comparisons and metaphors allow readers to feel the power of the protagonist much better.
Gerasim, as every person believes, was in love with a woman. His "patron" was Tatyana. She, like the protagonist of the story, was in the service of the same noblewoman, worked as a laundress. Gerasim regularly accompanied his beloved, tried to be closer to her. Nevertheless, all his attempts were in vain, since Tatyana was simply afraid of him. His truly huge figure evoked blatant horror in Tatyana, she literally froze from him. Actually, such a great nature of the protagonist was also the cause of many ridicule. Gerasim was not a fool, he understood why people mocked him, but his key advantage in relation to everyone was that Gerasim controlled himself, was calm. Nevertheless, many respected him for his hard work, for the fact that he gives himself to work without a trace. During life in the village, the main character works for the good, tirelessly, without stopping. All matters were argued with him, and the work was carried out, it would seem, easily and quickly.
The protagonist of the story is not a soulless person, which is also mentioned by the author of the story. He has compassion not only for people, but also for animals. So, for example, Gerasim felt sorry for the puppy, which ended up in the water and could not get out of it. As a result, the main character takes the puppy with him, nurses him. They become close to each other, as if Mumu is the only friend of our protagonist, in fact, it was so. Indeed, he had no friends, as for his personal life - she was also not perfect, because her beloved Tatyana tries to avoid him all the time. This is how dogs and humans become best friends. Despite seeming happiness, everything turns out to be extremely unpleasant. The boyar found out that Gerasim had found and sheltered the dog, and this turn of events did not suit her in any way. The main character has a difficult dilemma - to give Mumu to others for reprisal, or to end it himself. Of course, instead of giving the dog to someone else for reprisal, the main character decides to do everything on his own. The loss of a close friend, who became such in a very short period of time, did not pass without a trace for Gerasim. He is very painfully experiencing these events.
The image of Gerasim
Actually, the very image of the protagonist of the story is a symbol of the Russian people of that time. Talking about Gerasim, Turgenev emphasizes that the Russian people have a heroic, enormous strength, they are hardworking, kind to loved ones, the Russian people are able to sympathize with the unfortunate and offended.The serfs did not have their own will at that time. They could be sold, repurchased, exchanged at any moment; in fact, they were a bargaining chip, which for a while brought certain benefits. This is the main idea of the story - most people were forced, like the main character himself.
The real hero, born and raised in the countryside, endures his existence very hard after leaving for the city. This happened quite by accident - the noblewoman noticed how a huge man was working in the field and decided to get him into her possession. This is what happened. The burden of change, the feelings experienced by Gerasim, the author conveys through detailed comparisons. Gerasim is compared to a tree that was uprooted from its usual, traditional habitat. Also, it is compared to a wild beast or a bull, which was put on a chain overnight.
So Gerasim loses what he loved most in his life, becomes completely bonded. He was deprived of his homeland, the right and opportunity to love Tatyana. All this, of course, is not the most pleasant way reflected in our main character.
One day he finds a dog, calls her Mumu, and she becomes a replacement for everything that Gerasim loved before. Now Mumu is the best friend, the only best being whom he trusts a lot. She gives him the opportunity to feel happiness again, even though he remains the same bonded person. An absurd accident, due to which everyone's favorite becomes enemy number one for a capricious old lady, deprives Gerasim last chance stay happy and change the already habitual life.
The janitor, who has lost everything, suddenly crosses an invisible line, which he did not even know about. After the death of a loved one, his feeling of dependence and fear of the noblewoman breaks off. The janitor becomes truly free. It would seem, why? He is still the same serf, no one freed him, which means that he is obliged, just as before, to serve his mistress, but no. He has nothing to lose, and this is the real freedom, which he achieved only after the heavy loss of a loved one. Gerasim, having gone back to his native village, experiences "invincible courage, desperate and joyful determination." Nevertheless, it cannot be said that the main character remains happy after this. Unfortunately, he also spends his life in absolute loneliness - he "has stopped hanging out with women" and "does not keep a single dog with him."
The image of Gerasim in real life
It is safe to say that the entire story written by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev is taken from his own life observations.He was the son of the imperious and cruel serf-owner Varvara Petrovna, who, for her undeveloped youth, decided to punish everyone and everything that she sees around. The children were very afraid of her, and the writer himself often recalled that almost every day they received what they deserved with rods. The prototype of the noblewoman in the story "Mumu" was Turgenev's mother.
The story of Ivan Turgenev tells readers about many different qualities that people have long forgotten, and now they are completely covered with a layer of dust. The only thing that can probably be said is that love for animals remains, which, of course, is good. Flattery is a great sin, which, unfortunately, has been and remains inherent in many people. Gerasim, on the other hand, was different. He was not afraid of the authorities, did not flatter, was not a toady, and the very soul of the protagonist was simple and open. Nevertheless, the writer leaves the hope that every Russian person, and the Russian people as a whole, are capable and may well eradicate all bad qualities in themselves. The only thing they need is to be free, but freedom looks different for everyone, and only when this freedom is found, a person will be happy.
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Text content of presentation slides: Gerasim is “the personification of the Russian people, its terrible strength and incomprehensible meekness” I.A. Aksakov Today we are completing the study of I.S. Turgenev’s story “Mumu”, and we must understand the motives of Gerasim’s act. Whether we can do this correctly depends on our further attitude towards the work as a whole. Consider illustrations. What did the artist depict? What part of the story is shown here? What do you think Gerasim thinks?
How did you feel as you read the end of the story? When did you become especially sad? Re-read the scene of Mumu's death and the ending of the story silently, trying to understand the state of mind of the protagonist. Why did Gerasim still drown Mumu? Why didn't he just take her to the village? What does Gerasim's willful return to the village mean? Read how the author describes his state of mind. What attempts had he made earlier to save Mumu? What was the impetus for Gerasim's departure to the village? What feelings did he experience at that moment? How did you feel after you finished reading?
Think about why the author wanted to write such a story? Versions. Look at the end of the text again. Find words that reflect the emotional state of the hero. What part of speech has the most words in the text? What do you think, what idea did I.S. Turgenev want to convey to us? Having killed everything human in himself, the hero was able to rebel. Where could he get the plot for his story?
Many years ago, in the distant master's village of Sychevo, there lived a deaf-mute man from birth, named Andrey. But his mistress (mother Varvara Petrovna) noticed him, admired his guards growth and bearish strength, wished to have that guardsman at her Moscow house as janitors. Let him chop wood for the kitchen and rooms, carry water from the Alexander Fountain in a barrel, court and guard the manor's yard. No one in all of Moscow will have such a giant janitor as the janitor of the widow of a colonel of the Yekaterinoslav regiment. And what is dumb and deaf as a cork - even better! So Andrei ended up in the city. For a man, city work is easy, boring. But Andrey lived and lived, as if without complaining, with the mistress until her death, he performed the service carefully, respected his mistress, did not contradict her in anything. Once a quiet courtyard girl took a liking to the mute, and the mistress, knowing this, decided to give her in marriage to another - he endured this. And his little dog, nicknamed Mumu, a favorite, saved from the Fontanka River somehow in the winter, joy and consolation, meekly drowned himself, if the mistress ordered. And only from that time on Andrey never smiled, he accepted gifts from the mistress gloomily, like a stone, but did not look at the dogs, turned away. After the death of the lady, just as gloomily, without gratitude, he accepted his freedom and went somewhere to Russia. How did you regard Gerasim's act: as a challenge to society or as humility in the face of the inevitable? Write an essay "Why Turgenev changed the ending of a real story."
Attached files
Written by I. Turgenev in 1852, the story "Mumu" appeared in print only in 1854. For about two years, its content was discussed only in private correspondence. main reason the ban on any mention of the work became the protagonist. This is an ordinary serf, whom Turgenev depicted in close-up. Gerasim, according to I. Aksakov, became "the personification of the Russian people." Let's take a closer look at this image.
The real basis of the plot
Varvara Petrovna, a despotic landowner and the writer's mother, had a mute janitor Andrey. She noticed him in one of the villages and took him to her. The serf was distinguished by a heroic figure, enormous strength, diligence and a calm disposition. Almost all of Moscow knew him. Once Andrei picked up a dog that the lady did not like. The owner ordered her to be destroyed. The order was carried out by the mute himself, who, after all that had happened, remained in the service. Turgenev in his story beat the finale of the story, as a result of which he turned out to be more complicated than his prototype. This will show the characteristic of Gerasim.
The history of the life of a serf
The main character has been mute since birth. He had great power, any business was argued in his big hands. Gerasim grew up in a village, which he missed very much in the city. It is no coincidence that the author compares him with a bull, which was torn off from the lush grass and placed on a rumbling railway car. At first he did not know new job seemed like a game. He often fell to the ground and lay for a long time, tormented by longing. Gradually got used to the city, although he did not communicate much with the servants: they were afraid of him because of his huge figure and strict appearance. This is the first characteristic of Gerasim.
After some time, the serf, accustomed to the new life, began to single out the laundress Tatyana, who liked him for her meek and shy disposition. He began courting her, clumsily and clumsily. People around even noticed that the janitor had become a little better. But the landowner gave the girl in marriage to the drunkard Kapiton. This was a huge shock for Gerasim. He did not resent, did not resist the master's will. Only an even greater alienation from people and concentration on work testified to his emotional experiences. So Gerasim lost a man to whom he first became very attached. It is important to note that he did not become angry, just became gloomier and more gloomy than before.
Gerasim and Mumu
The dog appeared at the janitor by accident: he, still quite tiny, he caught in the river. Brought home, left. He treated the puppy like a child, giving all his tenderness and love. A few months later, Mumu - it was one of the few words that a mute could pronounce - turned into a beautiful dog. Gerasim and his pet were inseparable, and the whole life of the janitor focused on the dog. This went on until the mistress - Mumu was already more than a year and a half - accidentally saw her during a walk. An angry growl upon meeting a stranger was the reason that the lady ordered to get rid of the animal.
Gerasim was not like himself when the butler secretly sold Mumu. His face seemed to be petrified, already gloomy, he completely stopped paying attention to people. But when the dog returned - came running with a piece of rope around his neck - he could not get enough of it. He carefully swept the whole yard, repaired the fence, in general, he turned around all day, occasionally visiting his pet, prudently closed in the room. Only at night did he decide to take her out into the street, not thinking that the dog could give himself away with his voice.
Characteristics of Gerasim: a difficult decision
When it became clear that it was impossible to save Mumu, the janitor promised that he would “destroy” her himself. He dressed festively, gave a hearty meal to the dog in the tavern and headed to the river. Taking two bricks, got into the boat and sailed away from the shore ...
The character of Gerasim, firm and decisive, manifested itself at the moment when he fulfilled the promise. Unlike his prototype, the janitor could not come to terms with his lack of rights and the death of his dearest creature. After collecting his things, he went to the village. This act testifies to the great and courage of the serf, who dared to openly oppose the atrocities of the mistress and the position of the serf.
What happened to the hero became an incurable mental trauma for him. Until the end of his life, he did not approach a single woman and did not stroke a single dog. This is the characteristic of Gerasim from the story "Mumu" by I. Turgenev.