Summary “Peasant Children” Nekrasov


Nikolai Alekseevich Nekrasov – a new trend in the history of Russian literature. He was the first to introduce the theme of the common people and filled the rhymes with conversational turns. There was a life of commoners, so a new style was born. Nikolai Alekseevich became the pioneer in the channel of a combination of lyrics and satire. He dared to change its very content. “Peasant children” by Nekrasov were written in 1861 in Greshnevo. The barn in which the narrator slept most likely was in Shod, under the house of Gabriel Zakharov (his children recognize it in the work). At the time of writing, the poet wore a beard, which was rare for the nobles, so the children questioned his origins.

A rich image of peasant children

The future writer was born in a simple, poor, but respected family. As a child, he often played with peers. The guys did not perceive him as a supreme master. Nekrasov never refused a simple life. He was interested in learning new

worlds. Therefore, probably, he was one of the first to introduce the image of a simple man into high poetry. It was Nekrasov who noticed the beautiful in the village images. Later, his example was followed by other writers.

There was a movement of followers who wrote, like Nekrasov. “Peasant children” (the analysis of which can be carried out based on the historical period in which the poem was written) stands out prominently from the entire work of the poet. In other works, more grief. And these children are full of happiness, although the author does not have much hope for their bright future. Kids do not have time to get sick and think about unnecessary things. Their life is full of the diversity of nature in which they were lucky enough to live. They are hard-working and simple-wise. Any day is an adventure. At the same time children bit by bit absorb science from the elders. They are interested in legends and stories, they do not even shun the carpenter’s work, which is mentioned in the poem.

Despite all the problems, they are happy in their corner of paradise. The author says that these

guys have nothing to regret and hate, they need to envy, because the children of the rich do not have such color and freedom.

Introduction to the poem through the plot

The poem Nekrasov “Peasant children” begins with a description of several previous days. The narrator was hunting and the weary one wandered into the barn, where he fell asleep. He was awakened by the sun, which broke through in the cracks. He heard the voices of birds and recognized pigeons and rooks. I recognized the crow from the shadows. In the gap, eyes of different colors, in which there were peace, caress and kindness, were looking at him. He understood that these are the views of children.

The poet is sure that such eyes can only be in children. They quietly commented on each other what they saw. One looked at the beard and the long legs of the narrator, the other on the big dog. When a man, probably Nekrasov himself, opened his eyes, the children rushed away like sparrows. As soon as the poet lowered his eyelids, appeared again. Further, we concluded that he was not a gentleman, because he did not lie on the stove and was driving from the swamp.

Reflections of the author

Next Nekrasov breaks away from the story line and gives himself over to reflections. He confesses his love for children and says that even those who perceive them as “a low kind of people” still somehow envied them. In the life of the poor there is more poetry, says Nekrasov. Peasant children did with it mushroom raids, they laid snakes on the railings of the bridge and waited for the reaction of passers-by.

Under the old elms, people rested, the children surrounded them and listened to stories. So they learned the legend about Valil. Living always a rich man, he somehow angered God. And since then, he had neither a harvest, nor honey, only the hair in his nose grew well. Another time the working man laid out tools and showed interested children how to saw and cut. The tired man fell asleep, and the guys let’s saw and plan. Then it was impossible to remove the dust for 24 hours. If we talk about the stories that the poem “Peasant Children” describes, Nekrasov, as it were, conveys his own impressions and memories.

Everyday life of peasant children

Further the writer leads the reader to the river. There is a stormy life. Who bathes, who shares stories. Some boy catches leeches “on the lava, where the queen beats underwear,” the other looks after the younger sister. One girl makes a wreath. Another draws a horse and rides it on horseback. Life is full of joy.

Vanyusha’s father called for work, and the guy gladly helps him in the field with bread. When the harvest is collected, he first tries new bread. And after sitting on a cart with straw and feels like a king. The other side of the medal is that children do not have the right to choose the future, and Nekrasov is concerned about this. Peasant children do not study and grow happily, although they have to work hard.

The most vivid character of the poem

The next part of the poem is often mistakenly considered a separate work.

The narrator “in the cold winter season” sees a cart with brushwood, a small man leads a horse. He is wearing a big hat and huge boots. It was a child. The author said hello, to which the boy replied that he was passing. Nekrasov asked what he was doing, the child answered that he was carrying wood that his father was chopping. The boy helps him, because there are only two peasants in his family, father and he. Therefore, it’s all like a theater, but the boy is real.

Such a Russian spirit in the poem that Nekrasov wrote. “Peasant children”, an analysis of their way of life, show the whole situation of the then Russia. The writer calls to grow on freedom, because afterwards it will help to love your working bread.

Completion of the story line

Next, the author breaks away from the memories and continues the plot, from which he began the poem. The children became more daring, and he shouted to the dog named Fingal that thieves are approaching. I need to hide my belongings, Nekrasov said to the dog. Peasant children were delighted with Fingal’s skills. The dog with a serious snout hid all the goods in the hay. Especially she tried to play, then she lay down at the master’s feet and growled. Then the children themselves began to give commands to the dog.

The narrator enjoyed the picture. It became dark, the storm approached. Thunder roared. The rain fell. The audience fled. Barefooted children rushed to their houses. Nekrasov stayed in the barn and waited for the rain, and then with Fingal went to look for dubs.

The image of nature in the poem

It is impossible not to sing the wealth and beauty of Russian nature. Therefore, along with the theme of love for children, the work of Nekrasov “Peasant Children” glorifies the charms of life beyond the gray walls of the city.

Already from the first lines the author sinks in cooing pigeons and chirping birds. Then he compares the color of the children’s eyes with the flowers in the field. The image of the land haunts the poet in the forest when he collects mushrooms. From the forest, the reader leads to the river where the children bathe, which makes the water laugh and howl. Their life is inseparable from nature. The children weave wreaths of pale yellow flowers, their lips are black with blueberries, which have filled them up with a grain, they meet with a wolf, they feed a hedgehog.

The role of bread in the poem is important. Through the sight of one of the boys, the narrator conveys the entire sacredness of growing grain. He describes the whole process from throwing a seed into the ground to baking bread in a mill. Nekrasov’s poem “Peasant Children” calls forever to love the field, which gives strength and labor bread.

The presence of nature adds a melody poem.

The hard life of Nekrasov’s children

The fate of peasant children is tightly tied to labor on earth. The author himself says that they learn work early. Thus, Nikolai Alekseevich cites the example of a little boy who grew up early. A six-year-old fellow with his father works in the forest and does not even think of complaining about his life.

Respect for work has been planted since childhood. Looking at how their parents respect the field, the children imitate them.

Coverage of the educational issue

In addition, there is the problem of education in the poem, which raises Nekrasov. Peasant children are deprived of the opportunity to study. They do not know the books. And the narrator is worried about their future, because he knows that only God knows whether a child will grow up or die.

But next to endless work, children do not lose their thirst for life. They have not forgotten how to enjoy the little things that come across in their way. Their everyday life is full of bright, warm emotions.

The poem is an ode to ordinary children. After its publication in 1861, the entire rich world learned that the peasant children were wonderful. Nekrasov exalted the simplicity of being. He showed that in all corners of the country there are people who, despite their low social status, are distinguished by humanity, decency and other benefactors, which have already begun to be forgotten in large cities. The work had a furor. And its relevance remains acute to this day.


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Summary “Peasant Children” Nekrasov