Dostoevsky adolescence summary. Tolstoy Lev Nikolaevich

The story "Adolescence" by Leo Tolstoy became the second book in the author's pseudo-autobiographical series.

It was printed in 1854. It describes the moments that occur in the life of an ordinary teenager of that time: betrayal and change of values, first love experiences, and so on. So, Leo Tolstoy, "Boyhood": a summary of the work.

Changes in the soul of Nikolenka after moving to Moscow

As soon as Nikolenka arrived in Moscow, he felt that not only the world around him had changed, but he himself too. Neither the tears of his grandmother, grieving after the death of her daughter, nor the bitterness of his elder brother Volodya pass by him. Nikolenka is jealous of his external beauty, trying to convince herself that appearance does not affect personal happiness in any way. Our hero quarrels with his brother, but finds the strength to forgive him. Nikolenka hides all her thoughts deep in her soul. He believes that he is doomed to loneliness. This is how Leo Tolstoy described the main character. "Adolescence", a summary of which is given in this article, reflects not only some of the events that took place in the life of the young author once, but also his thoughts and thoughts.

Parting with grandfather Karl Ivanovich

One day the brothers found lead shot and had the imprudence to play with it. This immediately became known to their grandmother.

She, in turn, accused the grandfather of Volodya and Nikolenka Karl Ivanych of negligence. The result of a quarrel between adults was their decision to take a tutor to the house to raise the boys. Nikolenka was very worried about the fact that now he would have to see his grandfather very rarely. Despite the fact that Karl Ivanovich's character was not easy, he loved children and grandchildren in his own way and tried to teach them how to live. In the 19th century, Tolstoy wrote his story ("Boyhood"). Its brief content is unlikely to be able to convey the fullness of the sensations and experiences of a growing boy. Times are changing, and we can easily recognize in these views of a teenager of that time our own thoughts.

Experiences and bitterness of Nikolenka

After a French tutor appeared in the house, everything changed. Nikolenka's relationship with him did not work out. Sometimes he himself did not understand why this person evokes so much aggression and bitterness in him. Once he even hit the tutor. When Volodya tries to find out from him what happened to him, Nikolenka replies that everyone instantly became disgusting to him. The next trick of the young boy is an attempt to penetrate his father's briefcase. At the same time, he breaks the key, and everyone immediately becomes aware of this. They threaten Nikolenka with rods and lock him in a dark closet. Convulsions happen to our hero. He is laid on the bed and given the opportunity to sleep well. After sleep, Nikolenka gets up healthy. The author Tolstoy described the protagonist very vividly. "Boyhood", a summary of which makes it possible to trace the chain of events that led to the emergence of this incomprehensible disease, does not lose its relevance today.

The influence of Nekhlyudov's friend on the views of young Nikolenka

Soon Volodya enters the university. Nikolenka is sincerely happy about this. He has a few months left before entering this institution. Our hero studies diligently and is preparing to pass exams for the Faculty of Mathematics. He makes friends: student Nekhlyudov and adjutant Dubkov. Nikolenka is talking with Nekhlyudov more and more often.

He is close to his views aimed at creating a new society. From now on, our hero believes that the correction of mankind is his calling. From this moment, as it seems to him, his new stage of life begins. Tolstoy's "Boyhood", a summary of which we are considering, is a reflection of the thoughts and aspirations of the youth of those years. Here you can see how a growing person changes dramatically. Reading this work, you come to the idea that each era affects people in its own way.

In the century before last, Leo Tolstoy wrote "Boyhood". A summary of the work is given in this article. In the main character, perhaps, many recognize themselves in their youth. Therefore, I recommend reading the work in the original.

adolescence

Nikolenka is convinced of his ugliness, envies Volodya's beauty, and tries with all his might, although unsuccessfully, to convince himself that a pleasant appearance cannot make up all the happiness of life. And Nikolenka tries to find salvation in thoughts of proud loneliness, to which, as it seems to him, he is doomed.

Grandmother is informed that the boys are playing with gunpowder, and although this is just harmless lead shot, the grandmother blames Karl Ivanovich for the lack of supervision of the children and insists that he be replaced by a decent tutor. Nikolenka is having a hard time parting with Karl Ivanovich.

They lock him in a closet and threaten to punish him with rods. After a long confinement, during which Nikolenka is tormented by a desperate feeling of humiliation, he asks his father for forgiveness, and convulsions are made with him. Everyone fears for his health, but after a twelve-hour sleep, Nikolenka feels good and at ease and is even glad that his family is experiencing his incomprehensible illness.

After this incident, Nikolenka feels more and more lonely, and his main pleasure is solitary reflections and observations. He observes the strange relationship between the maid Masha and the tailor Vasily. Nikolenka does not understand how such a rough relationship can be called love. Nikolenka's circle of thoughts is wide, and he often gets confused in his discoveries: “I think what I think, what I think about, and so on. Mind went beyond the mind ... "

Nikolenka rejoices at Volodya's admission to the university and is envious of his maturity. He notices the changes that are happening to his brother and sisters, watches how an aging father develops special tenderness for children, experiences the death of his grandmother - and he is offended by talk about who will get her inheritance ...

Nikolenka talks more and more often with Dmitry Nekhlyudov, they become friends. The mood of their souls seems to Nikolenka the same. Constantly improving himself and thus correcting all of humanity - Nikolenka comes to such an idea under the influence of his friend, and he considers this important discovery the beginning of his youth.

Immediately after arriving in Moscow, Nikolenka feels the changes that have taken place with him. In his soul there is a place not only for his own feelings and experiences, but also for compassion for the grief of others, the ability to understand the actions of other people. He is aware of all the inconsolability of his grandmother's grief after the death of his beloved daughter, rejoices to tears that he finds the strength to forgive his older brother after a stupid quarrel. Another striking change for Nikolenka is that he bashfully notices the excitement that the twenty-five-year-old maid Masha arouses in him. Nikolenka is convinced of his ugliness, envies Volodya's beauty, and tries with all his might, although unsuccessfully, to convince himself that a pleasant appearance cannot make up all the happiness of life. And Nikolenka tries to find salvation in thoughts of proud loneliness, to which, as it seems to him, he is doomed.

Nikolenka does not get along with the new French tutor, he himself sometimes does not understand his impudence towards the teacher. It seems to him that the circumstances of life are directed against him. The incident with the key, which he inadvertently breaks, for some unknown reason, trying to open his father's briefcase, finally brings Nikolenka out of balance. Deciding that everyone has deliberately turned against him, Nikolenka behaves unpredictably - she hits the tutor, in response to her brother's sympathetic question: "What is happening to you?" - shouts, as all are disgusting to him and disgusting. They lock him in a closet and threaten to punish him with rods. After a long confinement, during which Nikolenka is tormented by a desperate feeling of humiliation, he asks his father for forgiveness, and convulsions are made with him. Everyone fears for his health, but after a twelve-hour sleep, Nikolenka feels good and at ease and is even glad that his family is experiencing his incomprehensible illness.

Before entering the university, Nikolenka is a few months away. He is preparing for the Faculty of Mathematics and studies well. Trying to get rid of many of the shortcomings of adolescence, Nikolenka considers the main one to be a tendency to inactive reasoning and thinks that this tendency will bring him much harm in life. Thus, it manifests attempts at self-education. Friends often come to Volodya - adjutant Dubkov and student Prince Nekhlyudov. Nikolenka talks more and more often with Dmitry Nekhlyudov, they become friends. The mood of their souls seems to Niklenka the same. Constantly improving himself and thus correcting all of humanity - Nikolenka comes to such an idea under the influence of his friend, and he considers this important discovery the beginning of his youth.

Nikolenka comes to Moscow and feels the changes taking place inside him. He begins to experience not only his emotions, but also for others and their problems. He rejoices greatly that he managed to find the strength to forgive his brother, since they were in a quarrel over a trifle. Nikolenka was able to feel the loss of his grandmother, as her beloved daughter had recently died.

He also begins to think about the pleasant twenty-five-year-old beauty Mashenka, and that he begins to be ashamed in the presence of this lady next to him. Citizen Nikola considers himself far from attractive. Envying Volodya and his external beauty, Nikolenka convinces himself that for a lady, external beauty is not the most important sign for a man. He longs for salvation in the thought of living alone, as he believes that this is the only option in his life.

Someone reports to granny that the boys are playing with gunpowder, but, despite the fact that this is a very safe lead shot, she accuses Karl Ivanovich of insufficient supervision of the pranks of children. Grandmother begins to strongly insist on changing the tutor to a more responsible one.

Little Nikola is greatly disappointed by the loss of his tutor Karl Ivanovich. The new French tutor Nicola takes badly and their relationship does not work out from the very beginning. He is rude to his teacher, although he does not understand why he does it. He is indignant at why life develops in such a way that the circumstances of life are directed not in his direction.

One day, Nikolenka accidentally breaks the key to his father's briefcase, and this incident completely pisses him off. Nikolenka is very upset and he gets the feeling that everyone has deliberately conspired and turned against him. He beats the tutor and tells his relatives that everyone around him is nasty and disgusting. He is punished by being locked in a closet, and it is explained that if he continues to behave like this, he will be beaten with rods. Nikolenka feels greatly humiliated, and as soon as he begins to ask for forgiveness from his father, he has an attack of convulsions.

Relatives are worried about Nikolay's health, but after he has slept for twelve hours, he is getting better. After all the incidents, little Nikola feels very lonely, and he only enjoys thinking about life in solitude with himself.

Nikolenka notices some strange relationship between Masha and Vasily. He cannot understand how such a rough relationship is called love. He constantly thinks about everything that happens, but he is very afraid of new discoveries.

The elder brother Volodya leaves to study at the university, and Nikola is very jealous of him. Nikolenka sees changes in relatives: he notices that his father shows special tenderness for children and that his sister and brother have become somehow strange.

Grandmother dies, and talk of an inheritance upsets Nicola. So the day is coming when Nikola himself crosses the threshold of the university. He diligently studies various subjects. Trying to rid himself of the problems of adolescence, he understands that his love to dream will not lead him to anything good, but will only bring him a lot of grief.

Nicola begins to engage in her own upbringing in order to get rid of this addiction. Volodya communicates with his comrades adjutant Dubkov and Prince Nekhlyudov. The time that Nikola spends with Dmitry Nekhlyudov increases, and they gradually become best friends. It seems to Nicola that their souls are very similar. According to Dmitry's instructions, Nikolenka forces himself to improve so that the world becomes a better place. Such thoughts lead him to the fact that he is becoming young.

His father, brother Volodya, sister Lyubochka and governess Mimi and their daughter Katenka leave the Petrovsky estate for Moscow. Tolstoy describes their long journey in a cart and carriage, from one inn to another.

Chapter II. On the way, the Irtenev family is overtaken by a strong thunderstorm, which excites horror and happiness in Nikolenka's soul at the same time.

Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy. Photo 1897

Chapter III. In a road conversation with Katya, Nikolenka suddenly finds out: she is not too happy about moving to Moscow. The girl is afraid that she and her mother, poor people, will not get along and get along with the rich grandmother of the Irtenevs. A conversation with Katenka gives Nikolenka a new look at the difference in the social status of people, which he did not even think about as a child.

Chapter IV. The Irtenievs live with their grandmother in Moscow. The whole family involuntarily behaves more strictly and ceremoniously here than in the village.

Chapter V Nikolenka increasingly notices that his older brother Volodya is behaving more and more like an adult. Between the two of them, an invisible line that did not exist in childhood is formed. Nikolenka even begins to quarrel with her brother, suspecting that he looks down on him, but these quarrels quickly end in reconciliation.

Lev Tolstoy. Adolescence. audiobook

Chapter VI. Having matured himself, Nikolenka for the first time draws attention to the fact that their beautiful maid Masha is not only a servant, but also woman. Not indifferent to Masha and Volodya. Hiding under the stairs, Nikolenka witnesses Volodya's pestering Masha on the landing.

Chapter VII. Mimi's governess finds a gunshot at Nikolenka and Volodya's. Thinking it is explosive gunpowder, she complains about the boys to their father and grandmother. Grandmother asks her father to fire the incapable German teacher Karl Ivanovich and replace him with a young, educated Frenchman.

Chapter VIII. Frustrated by the dismissal, Karl Ivanovich tells Nikolenka the story of his life - it is not known how true, but how fantastic. He assures that an almost impoverished mother gave birth to him from Count von Zomerblat, who later arranged her to marry one of his poor tenants. The stepfather did not love Karl, giving all his care to his own son, Johann. Karl felt like a stranger in his own family. When the call to the army was announced on the occasion of the Napoleonic Wars, the lot fell to Johann to go to the service. But Karl, who was not needed by anyone in his own home, volunteered to replace him.

Chapter IX. Karl Ivanovich assures that he participated in the famous battles of Ulm, Austerlitz and Wagram. Under Wagram, he was taken prisoner, but one compassionate French sergeant helped him escape. On the way to Frankfurt, Karl met the owner of the rope factory and liked him. Fabrikant took him in and gave him a job. But the owner's wife began to make love proposals to Karl. Not wanting to harm his benefactor, he fled from his house.

Chapter X Karl came to his hometown and found out that his mother and stepfather now run a liquor store. His parents did not recognize him when he entered their tavern and ordered a glass of liquor. Carl told him who he was, and his mother fell unconscious into his arms. But his happiness in the parental home was short-lived. A government spy overheard his free speeches about Napoleon's policy in a coffee shop - and in the evening he came to arrest him. Karl Ivanovich tore his sword off the wall, hit the spy, jumped out the window and fled to the location of the Russian troops, where General Sazin sheltered him. Together with him, he later came to Russia and began to teach noble children there.

Chapter XI. The new tutor - the strict Frenchman St.-Jérôme - reprimands Nikolenka for poor studies with the history teacher Lebedev and threatens to punish him if he gets a deuce again. However, Nikolenka does not teach a new lesson either. Angry Lebedev gives him not even a deuce, but a one.

Chapter XII. On this day, Lyubochka's name day is celebrated. The father, who forgot a gift in the office - a bonbonniere, sends Nikolenka with a bunch of keys for her. Unlocking the box with the bonbonniere in the study, the boy, out of curiosity, opens his father's briefcase with documents with a small key. However, when trying to close it, the key breaks and remains in the lock of the briefcase. Nikolenka is in despair because this new fault has been added to the unit in history.

Chapter XIII. Relative children come to the Irtenevs for lunch. After dinner, teenagers start a game in which young "ladies" choose their "cavaliers". Almost none of the girls wants to choose the ugly Nikolenka. His old love, Sonechka (see chapters XX-XXIV of "Childhood"), prefers Seryozha Ivin (see chapter XIX of "Childhood"). Nikolenka notices how they furtively kiss - and is indignant at traitor Sonechka.

Chapter XIV. St.-Jérôme approaches Nikolenka, annoyed to the depths of his soul. As punishment for a unit in history, he requires him to leave the general game and go to his room to do his homework. In the hearts of Nikolenka, he refuses to leave and shows his tongue to the tutor. St.-Jérôme threatens him with rods. No longer in control of himself, Nikolenka beats the Frenchman with all his might. He, as if in a vise, squeezes his hands, drags him down, locks him in a closet and orders Uncle Vasily to bring the rods.

Chapter XV. Locked in a closet, Nikolenka falls into a frenzied half-forgetfulness. It seems to him that those around him deliberately conspired to torture him - because he is probably not the real son of his parents, but a foundling taken out of mercy. He dreams of confounding his enemies with heroic deeds in the war and then begging the Sovereign to allow him to kill St.-Jérôme. Nikolenka imagines how in the morning he will die in a closet, and his relatives will regret that they brought him to death ...

Chapter XVI. They don't let Nikolenka out of the closet all day long, although punishment with rods is as it should be. The next day, St.-Jérôme opens the closet door and leads the boy to his grandmother. She reproaches him for his impudent behavior, demands to apologize to the tutor, but seeing the uncontrollable and sincere despair of her grandson, she herself begins to cry. Nicholas is released. On the stairs, his father grabs him and sternly asks how he dared to open a briefcase with documents without asking. Nikolenka's sobs turn into convulsions. He is carried to bed, and he falls asleep until evening.

Chapter XVII. Waking up, Nikolenka burns with a fierce hatred for the frivolous and arrogant St.-Jérôme, who is so unlike the former good-natured and simple teacher Karl Ivanovich.

Chapter XVIII. The maid Masha, meanwhile, falls in love with the lackey Vasily without memory. However, their uncle, Nikolai, who considers Vasily “a man, is opposed to their marriage.” inconsistent and unbridled". From grief, Vasily drinks from time to time, and these manifestations of longing further strengthen Masha's love for him. Sad Vasily goes to sit with Masha in the maid's room, but another maid, Gasha, drives him out of there. Pitying the unfortunate lovers, Nikolenka dreams of growing up quickly and becoming the owner of the estate: then he will allow his serfs Masha and Vasily to get married and give them a thousand rubles.

Chapter XIX. Having passed from childhood to adolescence, Nikolenka begins to show a penchant for philosophical reflections on the meaning of life, on the essence of happiness, on whether there are objects of the world apart from our imagination. He considers himself the discoverer of many well-known thoughts about morality and being, but in the end he gets confused in his polysyllabic reasoning.

Chapter XX. Nikolenka's older brother, Volodya, diligently studies with teachers and soon successfully passes the entrance exam to the university. The line separating the already almost adult Volodya from Nikolenka is now becoming even more noticeable. Volodya is visited by smart comrades, with whom he has serious conversations. Between him and Katenka, in addition to childhood friendship, some other, mysterious relationship appears.

Chapter XXI. Katenka and Lyubochka are no longer girls, but girls. Both of them are changing a lot - externally and internally. In this case, the difference between their characters becomes more pronounced. Lyubochka is simple and natural in everything, while Katenka is prone to ceremony, affectation and coquetry.

Chapter XXII. With the transition from childhood to adolescence, Nikolenka's view of his father also changes. The former unconditional admiration for him disappears. Nikolenka begins to notice that his father has many weaknesses and shortcomings.

Chapter XXIII. Grandmother falls seriously ill and soon dies, leaving the entire estate in her will to Lyubochka and entrusting custody until her marriage not to the player-father, but to Prince Ivan Ivanovich.

Chapter XXIV. Nikolenka is preparing to enter the university. Science comes easily to him. Nikolenka is encouraged by the words of his father that he has smart mug. The maid Masha is finally allowed to marry Vasily, and they are married.

Chapter XXV. Of all the friends, Volodya is most often visited by adjutant Dubkov and Prince Nekhlyudov. The first is a limited person, but cheerful and self-confident. Nekhlyudov, on the other hand, is silent and bashful. Nikolenka likes his thoughtfulness. He would like to get closer to Nekhlyudov, but at first he does not pay much attention to him.

Chapter XXVI. Nekhlyudov and Dubkov pick up Volodya to go to the theater with him. But they only have two tickets for the three of them. Nekhlyudov gives Volodya his ticket, and he himself stays with Nikolenka and starts a conversation with him about pride and other properties of the human soul. Nikolenka's reasoning seems to Nekhlyudov very intelligent. Both of them feel a lot in common in their characters.

Chapter XXVII. Nekhlyudov and Nikolenka become friends. In order to eliminate any shadow of indiscretion among themselves, they even decide to confess to each other the most vile thoughts that come into each head. Nikolenka feels a certain superiority of Nekhlyudov over himself, but is still very glad to be friends with him.

© Author of the summary - Russian Historical Library. Read also Tolstoy's article "Childhood" - a summary of the chapters. Links to materials about other works of Leo Tolstoy - see below, in the block "More on the topic ..."

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