The meaning of the story is dead souls. "Dead Souls", analysis of Gogol's work

In "Dead"
souls" displayed a whole gallery of officials
that time. Their emptiness is shown
existence, lack of serious
interests, extreme ignorance, there are no
images of the people, but separate places,
works breathe love for him, faith in
him.

Gogol contributed
a huge contribution to the history of Russian society!
The writer died, but his works are not
lost their meaning and now
time. Disappeared people like those whom
portrayed by Gogol, but the individual features of these
heroes can be found in our time.
Gogol helps us see the negative
the meaning of these traits, teaches us to understand their harm and
fight them.

// "Dead Souls" in Gogol's poem "Dead Souls"

Gogol's immortal poem "" opens before us not only life and customs Russian society mid-19th century, but also shows human vices that belonged to him. The author gives the central place in his work to a man of a new type - businessman Chichikov Pavel Ivanovich.

Nature endowed the protagonist with unbearable mental faculties. A brilliant scam was born and developed in his head. Finding inaccuracies in the then legislation, he decides to issue a bank loan, and leave the peasant souls as a pledge. Only in fact, these peasants were already dead for a long time, but on paper they were still alive and healthy. To implement his idea, Chichikov goes to the city of NN, where he buys dead peasant souls from local landowners for pennies.

The main character manages to win over all the officials and landowners of the city of NN. They begin to talk about Chichikov as a businesslike and decent person. Every official and landowner tries to invite Pavel Ivanovich to visit him, and he gladly agrees.

A whole galaxy of landlords opens up before us, who in themselves are strong and bright personalities but who have closed in their own world.

For example, the landowner was smart enough and an educated person. In society, he was known as an aesthete. But he could not realize himself. Manilov became a hostage of his dreams and castles in the air. He was not accustomed to physical labor, all his plans remained only plans, and he looked at the world "through rose-colored glasses."

In contrast to Manilov, Gogol shows us the landowner Sobakevich. He was a man physical labor. He achieved his goal with strength and ingenuity. Dreams were alien to Sobakevich. The only thing that interested him material wealth. even trying to bargain for the dead souls of his peasants the maximum price.

Next we meet the landowner Korobochka, whom Chichikov comes across by chance. symbolizes stagnation and limitation. This is confirmed by the clock in her house, which has long since stopped. The purpose of her life was the sale of hemp and fluff.

The landowner Nozdrev became the embodiment of a broad Russian soul. Excitement and adventurism became the main principles of Nozdrev's life. For him, there were no customs, no laws. He lived according to his heart.

The last landowner with whom Gogol introduces us was. The author speaks of him as "a hole in the body of mankind." Plyushkin reduced his life to mindless hoarding. Even with a huge fortune, he starved and starved his peasants.

It is characteristic that Chichikov managed to find an approach to all these "different" people and get what he wanted. With some he is soft and well-mannered, with others he is firm and rude, with others he is cunning and prudent. All these qualities, ingenuity and ingenuity, perseverance make us admire the main character of the poem "Dead Souls".

For understanding inner world Chichikova, refers to the childhood of the protagonist and to the conditions in which little Pavlusha grew up. Chichikov's only childhood memory was his father's instructions on the need to "save a penny." And so, all my life main character devoted to fulfilling the will of his father.

In "Dead Souls" we can see many human vices, which are reflected in the images of the heroes of the work. Gogol was anxious and worried about this state of affairs and hoped that someday the time would come and the "dead souls" of our society would be reborn.

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol worked on this work for 17 years. According to the writer's intention, grandiose literary work was supposed to be in three volumes. Gogol himself repeatedly reported that the idea of ​​​​the work was proposed to him by Pushkin. Alexander Sergeevich was also one of the first listeners of the poem.

Work on "Dead Souls" was difficult. The writer changed the concept several times, reworked individual parts. Only on the first volume, which was published in 1842, Gogol worked for six years.

A few days before his death, the writer burned the manuscript of the second volume, from which only drafts of the first four and one of the last chapters survived. The author did not have time to start the third volume.

At first, Gogol considered "Dead Souls" satirical a novel in which he intended to show "all of Rus'." But in 1840, the writer fell seriously ill, and was healed literally by a miracle. Nikolai Vasilievich decided that this was a sign - the Creator himself demands that he create something that serves the spiritual revival of Russia. Thus, the idea of ​​"Dead Souls" was rethought. There was an idea to create a trilogy like " Divine Comedy» Dante. From here it arose genre definition the author is a poem.

Gogol believed that in the first volume it was necessary to show the disintegration of feudal society, its spiritual impoverishment. In the second, to give hope for the purification of "dead souls". In the third, the revival of a new Russia was already planned.

The basis of the plot the poem became a scam official Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. Its essence was as follows. A census of serfs was carried out in Russia every 10 years. Therefore, the peasants who died between the censuses, according to official documents (revision tale), were considered alive. Chichikov's goal is to buy "dead souls" at a low price, and then pawn them in the board of trustees and get a lot of money. The fraudster is counting on the fact that such a deal is beneficial for the landlords: they do not need to pay taxes for the deceased until the next revision. In search of "dead souls" Chichikov travels around Russia.

Such plot outline allowed the author to create a social panorama of Russia. In the first chapter, an acquaintance with Chichikov takes place, then the author describes his meetings with landowners and officials. The last chapter is again devoted to the swindler. The image of Chichikov and his buying dead shower unite storyline works.

Landlords in the poem - typical representatives people of their circle and time: wasters (Manilov and Nozdrev), hoarders (Sobakevich and Korobochka). This gallery is completed by the spendthrift and accumulator in one person - Plyushkin.

Image of Manilov especially successful. This hero gave the name to the whole phenomenon of Russian reality - "Manilovism". In communication with others, Manilov is soft to the point of cloying, loving posturing in everything, but an empty and completely inactive owner. Gogol showed a sentimental dreamer who is only capable of lining up beautiful rows of ashes knocked out of a pipe. Manilov is stupid and lives in the world of his useless fantasies.

landowner Nozdrev on the contrary, it is very active. But his seething energy is not directed at all to economic concerns. Nozdrev is a gambler, a spendthrift, a reveler, a braggart, an empty and frivolous person. If Manilov seeks to please everyone, then Nozdryov is constantly dirtying. Not from evil, however, such is his nature.

Nastasya Petrovna Korobochka- a type of economic, but narrow-minded and conservative landowner, quite tight-fisted. The circle of her interests: pantry, barns and a poultry house. Korobochka even went to the nearest town twice in her life. In everything that goes beyond the limits of her everyday worries, the landowner is impassibly stupid. The author calls her "cudgel-headed".

Mikhail Semenovich Sobakevich the writer identifies with the bear: he is clumsy and clumsy, but strong and strong. The landowner is primarily interested in the practicality and durability of things, and not their beauty. Sobakevich, despite his rough appearance, has sharp mind and cunning. It's vicious and dangerous predator, the only one of the landowners capable of accepting the new capitalist way of life. Gogol notices that the time for such cruel business people is coming.

Plushkin's image does not fit into any framework. The old man himself is malnourished, starving the peasants, and a lot of food rots in his pantries, Plyushkin's chests are full expensive things that are falling into disrepair. Incredible stinginess deprives this man of his family.

Officialdom in "Dead Souls" is through and through a corrupt company of thieves and swindlers. In the system of urban bureaucracy, the writer paints with large strokes the image of a “jug snout”, ready to sell his own mother for a bribe. No better than the narrow-minded police chief and alarmist prosecutor who died of fear because of Chichikov's scam.

The main character is a rogue, in which some features of other characters are guessed. He is amiable and prone to posturing (Manilov), petty (Korobochka), greedy (Plyushkin), enterprising (Sobakevich), narcissistic (Nozdrev). Among officials, Pavel Ivanovich feels confident, because he went through all the universities of fraud and bribery. But Chichikov is smarter and more educated than those with whom he deals. He is an excellent psychologist: he delights the provincial society, masterfully bargains with every landowner.

The writer put a special meaning into the title of the poem. These are not only the dead peasants who are bought by Chichikov. Under " dead souls» Gogol understands the emptiness and lack of spirituality of his characters. There is nothing sacred for the money-grubber Chichikov. Plyushkin has lost all human likeness. A box for the sake of profit does not mind digging up coffins. At Nozdryov's, only dogs live well; their own children are abandoned. Manilov's soul sleeps like a deep sleep. There is not a drop of decency and nobility in Sobakevich.

The landowners look different in the second volume. Tentetnikov- A disillusioned philosopher. He is immersed in thought and does not do household chores, but is smart and talented. costanjoglo and an exemplary landowner. Millionaire Murazov also endearing. He forgives Chichikov and stands up for him, helps Khlobuev.

But we never saw the rebirth of the main character. A person who has let the “golden calf” into his soul, a bribe taker, embezzler and swindler is unlikely to be able to become different.

The writer did not find during his life the answer to main question: Where is Rus' rushing like a fast troika? But "Dead Souls" remains a reflection of Russia in the 30s of the XIX century and an amazing gallery satirical images , many of which have become household names. "Dead Souls" is a striking phenomenon in Russian literature. The poem opened a whole direction in it, which Belinsky called "critical realism".

The idea of ​​the poem "Dead Souls" and its embodiment. Meaning of the title of the poem. Subject

The idea of ​​the poem dates back to 1835. The plot of the work was suggested to Gogol by Pushkin. The first volume of Dead Souls was completed in 1841 year and published in 1842 year under the title "The Adventures of Chichikov, or Dead Souls".

Gogol conceived a grandiose work in which he was going to reflect all aspects of Russian life. Gogol wrote to V.A. Zhukovsky about the concept of his work: "All Rus' will appear in it."

The concept of Dead Souls is comparable to that of Dante's Divine Comedy. The writer intended to write a work in three volumes. In the first volume, Gogol was going to show the negative aspects of life in Russia. Chichikov - the central character of the poem - and most of the other characters are depicted in a satirical manner. In the second volume, the writer sought to outline for his heroes the path to spiritual rebirth. In the third volume, Gogol wanted to embody his ideas about the true existence of man.

Connected with the writer's intention is the meaning of the title works. The very name "Dead Souls" contains, as you know, a paradox: the soul is immortal, which means that it cannot be dead in any way. The word "dead" is used here in a figurative, metaphorical sense. Firstly, we are talking here about the dead serfs, who are listed as alive in the revision tales. Secondly, speaking of "dead souls", Gogol means representatives of the ruling classes - landowners, officials, whose souls "dead", being in the grip of passions.

Gogol managed to complete only the first volume of Dead Souls. The writer worked on the second volume of the work until the end of his life. Gogol apparently destroyed the last version of the manuscript of the second volume shortly before his death. Only separate chapters of the two original editions of the second volume have survived. Gogol did not start writing the third volume.

In his work, Gogol reflected Russia's first life thirds of XIX century, life and customs of landowners, officials of the provincial city, peasants. In addition, in digressions and other non-plot elements of the work, topics such as Petersburg, war of 1812, Russian language, youth and old age, writer's vocation, nature, future of Russia and many others.

The main problem and ideological orientation of the work

The main problem with Dead Souls is spiritual death and spiritual rebirth of man.

At the same time, Gogol, a writer with a Christian worldview, does not lose hope for the spiritual awakening of his heroes. Gogol was going to write about the spiritual resurrection of Chichikov and Plyushkin in the second and third volumes of his work, but this plan was not destined to come true.

"Dead Souls" is dominated by satirical pathos: the writer denounces the morals of landowners and officials, pernicious passions, vices of representatives of the ruling classes.

Approving start in a poem related to the theme of the people: Gogol admires him heroic strength and a lively mind, his apt word, all kinds of talents. Gogol believes in a better future for Russia and the Russian people.

Genre

Gogol himself subtitle to "Dead Souls" called his work poem.

In the prospectus of the "Educational Book of Literature for Russian Youth" compiled by the writer, there is a section "Smaller genera of the epic", which characterizes poem How a genre intermediate between the epic and the novel.Hero such a work - "a private and invisible face". The author leads the hero of the poem through adventure chain, to show a picture of "shortcomings, abuses, vices."

K.S. Aksakov saw in the work of Gogol features of the ancient epic. “The ancient epic rises before us,” wrote Aksakov. The critic compared Dead Souls with Homer's Iliad. Aksakov was struck by both the grandiosity of Gogol's idea and the grandeur of its embodiment already in the first volume of Dead Souls.

In Gogol's poem, Aksakov saw a wise, calm, majestic contemplation of the world, characteristic of ancient authors. One can partly agree with this point of view. Elements of the poem as a glorifying genre we find primarily in the author's digressions about Rus', about the troika bird.

At the same time, Aksakov underestimated the satirical pathos of Dead Souls. V.G. Belinsky, entering into a polemic with Aksakov, emphasized first of all satirical orientation"Dead Souls". Belinsky saw in Gogol's work a wonderful sample of satire.

In "Dead Souls" there are also features of an adventure novel. The main storyline of the work is built on the adventure of the protagonist. At the same time, the love affair, so important in most novels, is relegated to the background in Gogol's work and sustained in a comic vein (the story of Chichikov and the governor's daughter, rumors about her possible abduction by the hero, etc.).

Thus, Gogol's poem is complex in genre plan work. "Dead Souls" combines the features of an ancient epic, adventure novel, satire.

Composition: general construction works

The first volume of Dead Souls is complex artistic whole.

Consider plot works. As you know, it was presented to Gogol by Pushkin. The plot of the work is based on the adventurous story of Chichikov's acquisition of dead souls peasants who, according to the documents, are considered alive. Such a plot is consistent with Gogol's definition of the genre of the poem as "a lesser kind of epic" (see the section on genre). Chichikov turns out storyline character. The role of Chichikov is akin to the role of Khlestakov in the comedy "The Inspector General": the hero appears in the city of NN, makes a commotion in it, hastily leaves the city when the situation becomes dangerous.

Note that the composition of the work is dominated by spatialmaterial organization principle. Here we find a fundamental difference between the construction of "Dead Souls" and, say, "Eugene Onegin", where "time is calculated according to the calendar", or "Hero of Our Time", where the chronology, on the contrary, is broken, and the narrative is based on the gradual disclosure of the inner world Main character. In Gogol's poem, the basis of the composition is not the temporal organization of events and not the tasks psychological analysis, and spatial images - provincial cities, landowners' estates, and finally, all of Russia, the boundless expanses of which appear before us in digressions about Rus' and about the troika bird.

The first chapter can be seen as exposure the whole action of the poem. Reader meets Chichikov– central character works. The author gives a description of Chichikov's appearance, makes several remarks about his character and habits. In the first chapter, we are introduced to appearance provincial city NN, as well as with its inhabitants. Gogol gives a short but very capacious satirical picture of the life of officials.

Chapters 2 to 6 the writer presents the reader gallery of landowners. In the image of each landowner, Gogol adheres to a certain compositional principle (a description of the landowner's estate, his portrait, the interior of the house, comic situations, the most important of which are the dinner scene and the scene of the sale of dead souls).

In the seventh chapter the action is again transferred to the provincial city. The most important episodes of the seventh chapter - scenes in the treasury And description of breakfast at the police chief.

Central episode the eighth chapter - a ball at the governor. Here it develops love affair , outlined in the fifth chapter (the collision of Chichikov's britzka with a carriage in which two ladies were sitting, one of whom, as it turned out later, was the governor's daughter). In the ninth chapterrumors and gossip about Chichikov grow. Ladies are the main distributors. The most persistent rumor about Chichikov is that the hero is going to kidnap the governor's daughter. Love affair passes Thus from the realm of the real to the realm of rumors and gossip about Chichikov.

In the tenth chapter, the central place is occupied by scene in the house of the police chief. A special place in the tenth chapter and in the work as a whole is occupied by an insertion episode - "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin". The tenth chapter ends with the news of the death of the prosecutor. Prosecutor's funeral scene in the eleventh chapter completes the theme of the city.

Chichikov's flight from the city of NN in the eleventh chapter ends the main storyline poems.

Characters

Gallery of landowners

Central to the poem is gallery of landowners. Their characteristics are devoted five chapters first volume - from the second to the sixth. Gogol showed close-up five characters. This Manilov, Korobochka, Nozdrev, Sobakevich and Plyushkin. All landowners embody the idea of ​​the spiritual impoverishment of man.

When creating images of landowners, Gogol makes extensive use of means of artistic expression, bringing together literary creativity with painting: it is description of the estate, interior, portrait.

Also important speech characteristics heroes, proverbs revealing the essence of their nature, comic situations, first of all the dinner scene and the scene of the sale of dead souls.

A special role in Gogol's work is played by details- landscape, subject, portrait, details of speech characteristics and others.

Let us briefly characterize each of the landowners.

Manilov- Human outwardly attractive, benevolent, located to acquaintance, communicative. This is the only character who speaks well of Chichikov to the end. In addition, he appears to us as good family man, loving wife and caring for children.

But still main features Manilova is empty daydreaming, projecting, inability to manage the household. The hero dreams of building a house with a belvedere, from where a view of Moscow would open. He also dreams that the sovereign, having learned about their friendship with Chichikov, "granted them generals."

The description of the Manilov estate leaves the impression of monotony: “The village of Manilovka could lure a few with its location. The master's house stood alone in the south, that is, on a hill, open to all the winds, whichever it takes to blow. Interesting detail landscape sketch- a gazebo with the inscription "Temple of solitary reflection." This detail characterizes the hero as a sentimental person who likes to indulge in empty dreams.

Now about the details of the interior of the Manilov house. His study had fine furniture, but two armchairs had been upholstered in matting for several years. In the same place lay some kind of book, all the time laid on the fourteenth page. On both windows there are “heaps of ash knocked out of a pipe”. Some rooms had no furniture at all. A dandy candlestick was placed on the table, and some kind of copper invalid was placed next to it. All this speaks of Manilov's inability to manage the household, that he cannot complete the work he has begun.

Consider the portrait of Manilov. The appearance of the hero testifies to the sweetness of his character. In appearance he was a rather pleasant person, "but this pleasantness seemed to have been transferred too much sugar." The hero had attractive facial features, but in his eyes it was "transferred to sugar." The hero smiled like a cat that has been tickled behind the ears with a finger.

Manilov's speech is wordy, ornate. The hero loves to say beautiful phrases. "May day... name day of the heart!" he greets Chichikov.

Gogol characterizes his hero, resorting to the proverb: "Neither this nor that, neither in the city of Bogdan, nor in the village of Selifan."

Note also the scene of the dinner and the scene of the sale of dead souls. Manilov treats Chichikov, as usual in the village, with all his heart. Chichikov's request to sell dead souls causes surprise in Manilov and high-flown arguments: “Will this negotiation be inconsistent with civil decrees and further views of Russia?”

box distinguishes love of hoarding and at the same time clubhead". This landowner appears before us as a woman limited, with a straightforward character, slow-witted, thrifty to the point of stinginess.

At the same time, Korobochka lets Chichikov into her house at night, which speaks of her responsiveness And hospitality.

From the description of Korobochka's estate, we see that the landowner cares not so much about the appearance of the estate, but about successful housekeeping and prosperity. Chichikov notices the well-being of peasant households. Box - practical hostess.

Meanwhile, in Korobochka's house, in the room where Chichikov fit in, "behind every mirror there was either a letter, or an old deck of cards, or a stocking"; all these substantive details emphasize the landowner's passion for collecting unnecessary things.

During lunch, all kinds of homemade supplies and pastries are placed on the table, which testifies to the patriarchal customs and hospitality of the hostess. Meanwhile, the Box cautiously accepts offer Chichikov about selling dead souls to him and even goes to the city to find out how much dead souls are now. Therefore, Chichikov, using a proverb, characterizes Korobochka as a "mutt in the hay", who does not eat herself and does not give to others.

Nozdrev–spendthrift, swindler, swindler,"historical man" because some kind of story always happens to him. This character is distinguished by constant lies, gambling, dishonesty,familiarity with the people around him boastfulness, a penchant for scandalous stories.

The description of the Nozdryov estate reflects the original character of its owner. We see that the hero is not engaged in farming. So, in his estate "the field in many places consisted of hummocks." Only Nozdryov's kennel is in order, which testifies to his passion for dog hunting.

The interior of Nozdrev's house is interesting. In his office hung “Turkish daggers, on one of which was mistakenly carved: “Master Savely Sibiryakov”.” Among the details of the interior, we also note Turkish pipes and a hurdy-gurdy - objects that reflect the range of interests of the character.

Curious portrait detail, speaking of the propensity of the hero to a wild life: one sideburn at Nozdrev was somewhat thicker than the other - a consequence of a tavern fight.

In the story about Nozdryov, Gogol uses hyperbole: the hero says that he, being at the fair, “alone drank seventeen bottles of champagne during dinner,” which indicates the hero’s tendency to brag and lie.

At dinner, during which disgustingly cooked dishes were served, Nozdryov tried to get Chichikov drunk with cheap wine of dubious quality.

Speaking about the scene of buying and selling dead souls, we note that Nozdrev perceives Chichikov's offer as an excuse for gambling. As a result, a quarrel arises, which only by chance does not end with the beating of Chichikov.

Sobakevich- This landowner-fist who leads a strong economy and at the same time is distinguished rudeness And straightforwardness. This landowner appears before us as a man surly,clumsy,speaking badly of everyone. Meanwhile, he gives unusually well-aimed, albeit very rude, characteristics to the officials of the city.

Describing the estate of Sobakevich, Gogol notes the following. During the construction of the master's house, "the architect constantly fought with the taste of the owner", so the house turned out to be asymmetrical, although very durable.

Let's pay attention to the interior of Sobakevich's house. Portraits of Greek generals hung on the walls. “All these heroes,” notes Gogol, “were with such thick thighs and unheard-of mustaches that a shiver passed through the body,” which is quite consistent with appearance and character of the landlord. In the room stood "a walnut office on absurd four legs, a perfect bear ... Every object, every chair seemed to say:" And I, too, Sobakevich "".

Gogol's character and his appearance also resembles a "medium-sized bear", which indicates the rudeness, uncouthness of the landowner. The writer notes that “the tail coat on him was completely bearish in color, the sleeves were long, the pantaloons were long, he stepped with his feet and at random and stepped incessantly on other people's legs.” It is no coincidence that the hero is characterized by the proverb: "It is not right, but it is tightly sewn." In the story about Sobakevich, Gogol resorts to the technique hyperbole. Sobakevich's "heroism" is manifested, in particular, in the fact that his foot is shod "in a boot of such gigantic size, which is unlikely to be found anywhere to meet the foot."

Gogol also uses hyperbole when describing dinner at Sobakevich's, who was obsessed with a passion for gluttony: a turkey "as tall as a calf" was served at the table. In general, lunch in the hero's house is distinguished by unpretentious dishes. “When I have pork - put the whole pig on the table, lamb - drag the whole ram, goose - just the goose! I'd rather eat two dishes, but eat in moderation, as my soul requires, ”says Sobakevich.

Discussing the terms of the sale of dead souls with Chichikov, Sobakevich is diligently bargaining, and when Chichikov tries to refuse the purchase, he hints at a possible denunciation.

Plushkin personifies stinginess carried to the point of absurdity. This is an old, unfriendly, untidy and inhospitable person.

From the description of the estate and Plyushkin's house, we see that his farm is in complete desolation. Greed ruined both the well-being and the soul of the hero.

The appearance of the owner of the estate is nondescript. “His face was nothing special; it was almost the same as that of many thin old men, only one chin protruded very far forward, so that he had to cover it with a handkerchief every time so as not to spit, ”writes Gogol. “The little eyes had not yet gone out and were running from under high-growing eyebrows like mice.”

Of particular importance when creating the image of Plushkin is subject detail. On the bureau in the hero's office, the reader finds a mountain of various trifles. There are a lot of objects here: “a bunch of small papers covered with small papers, covered with a green marble press with an egg on top, some old book in leather binding with a red edge, a lemon, all dried up, no larger than a hazelnut, a broken arm of an armchair, a glass with some kind of liquid and three flies, covered with a letter, a piece of sealing wax, a piece of some kind of raised rag, two feathers stained with ink, dried up, as in consumption, a toothpick, completely yellowed, with which the owner, perhaps, picked his teeth even before the invasion of Moscow the French." We find the same pile in the corner of Plyushkin's room. As you know, psychological analysis can take different forms. For example, Lermontov draws a psychological portrait of Pechorin, revealing the inner world of the hero through the details of his appearance. Dostoevsky and Tolstoy resort to extensive internal monologues. Gogol recreates character's state of mind predominantly through the subject world. The "tina of trifles" surrounding Plyushkin symbolizes his stingy, petty, "dried" soul, like a forgotten lemon.

For lunch, the hero offers Chichikov crackers (leftovers Easter cake) Yes, the old liqueur, from which Plyushkin personally extracted the worms. Upon learning of Chichikov's proposal, Plyushkin is sincerely happy, since Chichikov will relieve him of the need to pay taxes for the numerous peasants who died or fled from the stingy owner who starved them.

It is very important to note that Gogol resorts to such a technique as excursion into the past of the hero(retrospection): it is important for the author to show how the hero used to be and to what meanness he has now sunk. In the past, Plyushkin was a zealous owner, a happy family man. In the present - "a hole in humanity", in the words of the writer.

Gogol in his work satirically depicted the various types and characters of Russian landowners. Their names have become household names.

We also note the significance of the gallery of landowners symbolizing the process of spiritual degradation of a person. As Gogol wrote, his heroes are "one more vulgar than the other." If Manilov has some attractive features, then Plyushkin is an example of the extreme impoverishment of the soul.

The image of the provincial city: officials, ladies' society

Along with the gallery of landowners, an important place in the work is occupied by image of the provincial city NN. city ​​theme opens in the first chapter,resumes in the seventh chapter the first volume of "Dead Souls" and ends at the beginning of the eleventh chapter.

In the first chapter Gogol gives general description of the city. He's drawing appearance of the city, describes streets, hotel.

The urban landscape is monotonous. Gogol writes: "The yellow paint on the stone houses was strong in the eyes and the gray on the wooden houses was modestly dark." Some signs are curious, for example: "Foreigner Vasily Fedorov."

IN hotel description Gogol uses bright subjectdetails, resorts to artistic comparisons. The writer draws the darkened walls of the "common hall", cockroaches peeking out like prunes from all corners of Chichikov's room.

The urban landscape, the description of the hotel help the author to recreate an atmosphere of vulgarity reigning in the provincial city.

Already in the first chapter, Gogol calls the majority officials cities. These are the governor, vice-governor, prosecutor, police chief, chairman of the chamber, inspector of the medical board, city architect, postmaster, and some other officials.

In the description of the city, provincial officials, their characters and mores, a pronounced satirical focus. The writer sharply criticizes the Russian bureaucratic system, the vices and abuses of officials. Gogol denounces such phenomena as bureaucracy, bribery, embezzlement, gross arbitrariness, and idle lifestyle, gluttony, propensity to card game, idle talk, gossip, ignorance, vanity and many other vices.

In "Dead Souls" officials are depicted much more generally than in The Inspector General. They are not named by their last names. Most often, Gogol indicates the position of an official, thereby emphasizing the social role of the character. Sometimes the name and patronymic of the acting person are indicated. We learn that chairman of the chamber name is Ivan Grigorievich,police chief - Alexei Ivanovich, postmaster - Ivan Andreevich.

To some officials Gogol gives brief characteristics. For example, he notices that governor was "neither fat nor thin, had Anna around his neck" and "sometimes embroidered on tulle." Prosecutor had thick eyebrows and winked his left eye, as if inviting the visitor to go into another room.

Police Chief Alexei Ivanovich, "father and philanthropist" in the city, like the mayor from "The Government Inspector", to shops and gostiny dvor visited, as in his own pantry. At the same time, the police chief knew how to win the favor of the merchants, who said that Alexei Ivanovich "although he will take it, he will certainly not give you away." It is clear that the police chief covered up the machinations of the merchants. Chichikov speaks of the police chief as follows: “What a well-read person! We lost to him in whist ... until the very last cocks. Here the writer uses irony.

Gogol gives a vivid description of a petty bribery official Ivan Antonovich "jug snout", who knowingly takes Chichikov's "gratitude" for the registration of the deed of sale. Ivan Antonovich had a remarkable appearance: the entire middle of his face "came forward and went into the nose", hence the nickname of this official - the master of bribery.

And here postmaster"almost" did not take bribes: firstly, they did not offer him: the wrong position; secondly, he raised only one little son, and the state salary was basically enough. The character of Ivan Andreevich was sociable; according to the author, it was "wit and philosopher".

Concerning chairman of the chamber, then he knew by heart "Lyudmila" Zhukovsky. Other officials, as Gogol notes, were also "enlightened people": some read Karamzin, some "Moskovskie Vedomosti", some even read nothing at all. Here Gogol again resorts to the device irony. For example, about the game of officials in cards, the author notes that this is "a sensible occupation."

According to the writer, there were no duels between officials, because, as Gogol writes, they were all civil officials, but one tried to harm the other where possible, which, as you know, is sometimes harder than any duel.

In the center of the "Tale of Captain Kopeikin", told by the postmaster in the tenth chapter, there are two characters: this is an invalid of the war of 1812, « small man» Captain Kopeikin And "significant person"- a senior official, a minister who did not want to help the veteran, who showed callousness and indifference towards him.

Persons from the bureaucratic world also appear in Chichikov's biography in the eleventh chapter: this Chichikov himself, povytchik, whom Chichikov deftly deceived by not marrying his daughter, commission members for the construction of a government building, colleagues Chichikov at customs, other persons from the bureaucratic world.

Consider some episodes poems, where the characters of officials, their way of life are most clearly revealed.

The central episode of the first chapter is the scene parties at the governor's. Already here such features of the provincial bureaucracy are revealed, such as idleness, love of a card game, idle talk. Here we find digression about fat and thin officials, where the writer hints at the unrighteous incomes of the fat ones and the extravagance of the thin ones.

In the seventh chapter, Gogol returns to the theme of the city. Writer with irony describes Treasury Chamber. This is "a stone house, all white as chalk, probably to depict the purity of the souls of the positions placed in it." About the court, the author notes that it is "an incorruptible zemstvo court"; about judicial officials, he says that they have "the incorruptible heads of the priests of Themis." An apt characterization of officials is given by the mouth of Sobakevich. “They all burden the earth for nothing,” the hero remarks. Close-up showing bribe episode: Ivan Antonovich "jug snout" masterfully accepts "white" from Chichikov.

In the scene breakfast at the police chief reveals such traits of officials as gluttony And love for booze. Here Gogol again resorts to the technique hyperbole: Sobakevich alone eats a nine-pood sturgeon.

With undisguised irony, Gogol describes ladies' society. The ladies of the city were presentable", according to the author. Women's society is especially vividly depicted in the scenes ball at the governor's. Ladies perform in "Dead Souls" as trendsetters and public opinion. This becomes especially obvious in connection with Chichikov's courtship of the governor's daughter: the ladies are outraged by Chichikov's inattention to them.

The subject of ladies' gossip is further developed in ninth chapter, where the author showed a close-up Sofia Ivanovna And Anna Grigorievna - "just a nice lady" And "a lady pleasant in every way." Thanks to their efforts, a rumor is born that Chichikov is going to kidnap the governor's daughter.

Central episode of the tenth chapter–meeting of officials at the police chief, where the most incredible rumors about who Chichikov is are discussed. This episode is reminiscent of the scene in the mayor's house in the first act of The Government Inspector. The officials gathered to find out who Chichikov was. They remember their "sins" and at the same time utter the most incredible judgments about Chichikov. Opinions are expressed that this is the auditor, the manufacturer of counterfeit banknotes, Napoleon, and finally, Captain Kopeikin, about whom the postmaster tells the audience.

Death of a prosecutor, which is mentioned at the end of the tenth chapter, is a symbolic result of the author's reflections on the meaningless, empty life of the city. Mental impoverishment touched, according to Gogol, not only landowners, but also officials. The "discovery" of the inhabitants of the city, made in connection with the death of the prosecutor, is curious. “Then only with condolences did they find out that the deceased had, for sure, a soul, although he, due to his modesty, never showed it,” the writer notes with irony. Painting of the prosecutor's funeral in the eleventh chapter completes the story about the city. Chichikov exclaims, watching the funeral procession: “Here, prosecutor! Lived, lived, and then died! And now they will print in the newspapers that he died, to the regret of his subordinates and all of humanity, a respectable citizen, a rare father, an exemplary spouse ... but if you take a good look at the matter, then in fact you only had thick eyebrows.

Thus, creating the image of a provincial city, Gogol showed the life of the Russian bureaucracy, its vices and abuses. The images of officials, along with the images of landlords, help the reader understand the meaning of the poem about dead souls distorted by sin.

Petersburg theme. "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin"

Gogol's attitude to Petersburg has already been considered in the analysis of the comedy The Inspector General. Recall that St. Petersburg was for the writer not only the capital of an autocratic state, the justice of which he did not doubt, but also the focus of the worst manifestations of Western civilization - such as the cult of material values, pseudo-enlightenment, vanity; moreover, Petersburg in Gogol's view is a symbol of a soulless bureaucratic system that humiliates and suppresses the "little man".

We find references to St. Petersburg, comparisons of provincial life with life in the capital, already in the first chapter of Dead Souls, in the description of a party at the governor's. The author discusses the insignificance of the gastronomic subtleties of St. Petersburg in comparison with the simple and plentiful food of the provincial landowners, "gentlemen of the middle hand", at the beginning of the fourth chapter. Chichikov, thinking about Sobakevich, tries to imagine who Sobakevich would become if he lived in St. Petersburg. Talking about the governor's ball, the author notes with irony: "No, this is not a province, this is the capital, this is Paris itself." The theme of St. Petersburg is also connected with Chichikov’s remarks in the eleventh chapter on the ruin of the landowners’ estates: “Everything climbed into St. Petersburg to serve; estates are abandoned.

The theme of St. Petersburg is most clearly revealed in "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin", which the postmaster tells in the tenth chapter. "The Tale..." is based on folk traditions. One of her sources–folk song about the robber Kopeikin. Hence the elements skaz: we note such expressions of the postmaster as “my sir”, “you know”, “you can imagine”, “in some way”.

The hero of the story, a disabled veteran of the war of 1812, who went to St. Petersburg to ask for “monarchal mercy”, “suddenly found himself in the capital, which, so to speak, does not exist in the world! Suddenly there is a light in front of him, so to speak: a certain field of life, a fabulous Scheherazade. This description of Petersburg reminds us of hyperbolic images in the scene of Khlestakov's lies in the comedy "The Inspector General": the captain sees in luxurious shop windows “cherries - five rubles each”, “huge watermelon”.

In the center of the "Tale" - confrontation "little man" Captain Kopeikin And "significant person" - the minister, who personifies the bureaucratic machine, indifferent to the needs ordinary people. It is curious to note that Gogol himself protects the tsar from criticism: at the time of Kopeikin's arrival in St. Petersburg, the sovereign was still on foreign campaigns and did not have time to make the necessary orders to help the disabled.

It is important that the author denounces the Petersburg bureaucracy from the position of a man from the people. The general meaning of the "Tale ..." is as follows. If the government does not turn its face to the needs of the people, a revolt against it is inevitable. It is no coincidence that Captain Kopeikin, not finding the truth in St. Petersburg, became, according to rumors, the chieftain of a gang of robbers.

Chichikov, his ideological and compositional role

The image of Chichikov performs two main functions - independent And compositional. On the one hand, Chichikov is a new type of Russian life, a type of acquirer-adventurer. On the other hand, Chichikov is plot-forming character; his adventures form the basis of the plot of the work.

Consider the independent role of Chichikov. This, according to Gogol, owner, purchaser.

Chichikov - a native of the environment poor and humble nobility. This official, who served the rank of collegiate adviser and accumulated his initial capital, engaging in embezzlement and bribes. At the same time, the hero acts as Kherson landowner who he claims to be. Chichikov needs the status of a landowner to acquire dead souls.

Gogol believed that the spirit of gain came to Russia from the West and acquired ugly forms here. Hence the hero's criminal paths to material well-being.

Chichikov distinguishes hypocrisy. By doing lawlessness, the hero declares his respect for the law. "The law - I am dumb before the law!" he says to Manilov.

It should be noted that Chichikov is attracted not by money per se, but by the opportunity rich and beautiful life. “He dreamed ahead of life in all contentment, with all prosperity; carriages, a house perfectly arranged, that's what constantly rushed about in his head", - writes Gogol about his hero.

Chase after material values distorted the soul of the hero. Chichikov, like landlords and officials, can be classified as "dead souls".

Consider now compositional the role of the image of Chichikov. This central character"Dead Souls". His main role in the work is plot-forming. This role is associated primarily with the genre of the work. As already noted, Gogol defines the poem as "a lesser kind of epic." The hero of such a work is “a private and invisible person”. The author leads him through a chain of adventures and changes in order to show a picture of modern life, a picture of shortcomings, abuses, vices. In "Dead Souls" the adventures of such a hero - Chichikov - become the basis of the plot and allow the author to show the negative aspects of contemporary Russian reality, human passions and delusions.

In the same time compositional role the image of Chichikov is not limited to one plot-forming function. Chichikov turns out, paradoxically, author's confidant. In his poem, Gogol looks at many phenomena of Russian life through the eyes of Chichikov. A vivid example is the hero's reflections on the souls of the dead and fugitive peasants (Chapter 7). These thoughts formally belong to Chichikov, although the author's own view is clearly felt here. Let's take another example. Chichikov talks about the extravagance of provincial officials and their wives against the backdrop of national disasters (chapter eight). It is clear that the denunciation of the exorbitant luxury of officials and sympathy for the common people come from the author, but are put into the mouth of the hero. The same can be said about Chichikov's assessment of many characters. Chichikov calls Korobochka a "clubhead", Sobakevich a "fist". It is clear that these judgments reflect the view of the writer himself on these characters.

The unusualness of this role of Chichikov lies in the fact that "confidant" author becomes a negative character. However, this role is understandable in the light of Gogol's Christian worldview, his ideas about the sinful state of modern man and the possibility of his spiritual rebirth. At the end of the eleventh chapter, Gogol writes that many people have vices that make them no better than Chichikov. “Isn’t there some part of Chichikov in me too?” - the author of the poem asks himself and the reader a question. At the same time, intending to bring the hero to spiritual rebirth in the second and third volumes of his work, the writer thereby expressed the hope for the spiritual rebirth of every fallen person.

Consider some artistic means creating the image of Chichikov

Chichikov - type averaged. It's underlined description appearance hero. Gogol writes about Chichikov that he is "not handsome, but not bad-looking, not too fat, but not too thin, one cannot say that he is old, but not so that he is too young." Chichikov wears lingonberry-colored tailcoat with a sparkle. This detail appearance the hero is emphasized by his desire to look decent and at the same time make a good impression of himself, sometimes even shine in the light, splurge.

The most important character trait of Chichikov is adaptability to others, a kind of "chameleon". It's confirmed speech hero. “Whatever the conversation was about, he always knew how to support it,” writes Gogol. Chichikov knew how to talk about horses, and about dogs, and about virtue, and about making hot wine. With each of the five landowners, Chichikov speaks differently. He talks to Manilov in a florid and grandiloquent way. Chichikov does not stand on ceremony with Korobochka; at the decisive moment, irritated by her stupidity, he even promises her the devil. Chichikov is cautious with Nozdryov, business-like with Sobakevich, and laconic with Plyushkin. curious Chichikov's monologue in the seventh chapter (the scene of breakfast at the police chief). The hero reminds us of Khlestakov. Chichikov imagines himself a Kherson landowner, speaks of various improvements, of a three-field economy, of the happiness and bliss of two souls.

Chichikov's speech often contains proverbs. "Don't have money, have good people for conversion,” he says to Manilov. “Hooked - dragged, broke - do not ask,” the hero argues in connection with an unsuccessful scam in the commission for the construction of a government building. “Oh, I’m Akim-simplicity, I’m looking for mittens, and both are behind my belt!” - Chichikov exclaims on the occasion of the idea that came to his mind to buy up dead souls.

An important role in creating the image of Chichikov plays subject detail. casket the hero is a kind of mirror of his soul, obsessed with a passion for acquisitions. chaise Chichikov is also a symbolic image. It is inseparable from the way of life of the hero, prone to all sorts of adventures.

Love affair in Dead Souls, as in The Government Inspector, it turns out in the background. At the same time, it is important both for revealing the character of Chichikov and for recreating the atmosphere of rumors and gossip in the provincial town. Talk about the fact that Chichikov allegedly sought to kidnap the governor's daughter opens up a series of fables that accompany the hero until the moment he leaves the city.

It turns out that gossip and rumors about the hero also an important means of creating his image. They characterize it from different angles. According to the inhabitants of the city, Chichikov is both an auditor, and a manufacturer of fake banknotes, and even Napoleon. Napoleon theme in "Dead Souls" is not accidental. Napoleon is a symbol of Western civilization, extreme individualism, the desire to achieve the goal by any means.

Of particular importance in the poem is biography Chichikov, placed in the eleventh chapter. Let's name the main stages and events of Chichikov's life path. This joyless childhood, life in poverty, in an atmosphere of family despotism; leaving the parental home and the beginning of studies, marked parting words of the father: "Most of all, take care and save a penny!". IN school years the hero was carried away petty speculation, he did not forget about toadying before the teacher, to whom later, in Hard time, reacted very callously, soullessly. Chichikov hypocritically taking care of the daughter of an elderly for the purpose of promotion. Then he worked "ennobled" forms of bribery(through subordinates), theft in the commission for the construction of a government building, after exposure – fraud while serving at customs(story with Brabant lace). Finally, he started dead souls scam.

Recall that almost all the heroes of "Dead Souls" are depicted by the writer statically. Chichikov (like Plyushkin) is an exception. And this is no coincidence. It is important for Gogol to show the origins of the spiritual impoverishment of his hero, which began in his very childhood and in early youth, to trace how the passion for a rich and beautiful life gradually destroyed his soul.

The theme of the people

As already noted, the idea of ​​the poem "Dead Souls" was to show in it "all of Rus'". Gogol paid the main attention to representatives of the nobility - landowners and officials. At the same time, he touched themes of the people.

The writer showed in "Dead Souls" dark sides the life of the peasantry rudeness, ignorance, drunkenness.

The serfs of Chichikov are a footman Parsley and coachman Selifan– unclean, uneducated, limited for their own mental interests. Petrushka reads books without understanding anything in them. Selifan is addicted to drinking. Fortress Wench Pelagia does not know where the right side is, where the left side is. Uncle Mityai and Uncle Minyay they cannot unravel the harness of horses harnessed to two carriages.

At the same time, Gogol notes talent, creativity Russian people, his heroic strength And free spirit. These features of the people are especially clearly reflected in author's digressions (about the well-aimed Russian word, about Rus', about the troika bird), as well as in Sobakevich's reasoning about the dead peasant craftsmen(This bricklayer Milushkin, Eremey Sorokoplekhin, who, being engaged in trade, brought quitrent of 500 rubles, carriage maker Mikheev, carpenter Stepan Cork, shoemaker Maxim Telyatnikov); in Chichikov's reflections on purchased dead souls, which express the position of the author himself (in addition to the already named peasants of Sobakevich, the hero mentions the fugitive peasants of Plyushkin, in particular Abakuma Fyrova, which was probably brought to the Volga; he became a barge hauler and gave himself up to the revelry of a free life).

Gogol also notes rebellious spirit people. The writer believes that if the arbitrariness of the authorities is not stopped, if the needs of the people are not satisfied, then a revolt is possible. This view of the author is evidenced by at least two episodes in the poem. This murder men assessor Drobyazhkin who, being possessed by fornication, molested girls and young women, and the story of captain kopeikin, who probably became a robber.

An important place in the poem is copyright digressions:satirical,journalistic,lyrical,philosophical and others. In their content, some are close to digressions. Chichikov's reasoning, conveying the author's position. How can a digression be considered and such an off-plot element, How parable about Kif Mokievich and Mokiya Kifovich in the eleventh chapter.

In addition to retreats, plays an important role in identifying the author's position "The Tale of Captain Kopeikin" told by the postmaster (chapter ten).

Let us name the main digressions contained in the first volume of Dead Souls. These are the thoughts of the author. about fat and thin officials(first chapter, scene of a party at the governor); his judgment about the ability to deal with people(third chapter); witty editorial remarks about a healthy stomach gentlemen of the middle class(beginning of the fourth chapter). We also note the digressions about a well-aimed Russian word(end of chapter 5) about youth(the beginning of the sixth chapter and the passage “Take it with you on the road ...”). Of fundamental importance for understanding the author's position is a digression about two writers(beginning of the seventh chapter).

Retreats can be equated Chichikov's reasoning about purchased peasant souls(the beginning of the seventh chapter, after a digression about two writers), and also reflections hero about the idle life of the mighty of the world against the backdrop of the misfortunes of the people (end of the eighth chapter).

Note also the philosophical digression about the delusions of mankind(tenth chapter). The author's reflections in the eleventh chapter complete the list of digressions: about Rus'(“Rus! Rus!.. I see you…”), about the road, about human passions. We especially note parable about Kif Mokievich and Mokiya Kifovich and retreat about the trio bird, which concludes the first volume of Dead Souls.

Let's look at some of the deviations in more detail. Author's reflections about a well-aimed Russian word completes the fifth chapter of the poem. In the strength and accuracy of the Russian word, Gogol sees a manifestation of the mind, creative abilities, and talent of the Russian people. Gogol compares the Russian language with the languages ​​of other peoples: “The word of a Briton will echo with the knowledge of the heart and the wise knowledge of life; The short-lived word of a Frenchman will flash and scatter like a light dandy; the German will intricately invent his own, not accessible to everyone, cleverly thin word; but there is no word that would be so bold, brisk, so burst out from under the very heart, so seething and vibrant, as aptly said Russian word". Discussing the Russian language and the languages ​​of other peoples, Gogol resorts to the technique figurative parallelism: the multitude of peoples living on earth is likened to the multitude of churches in Holy Rus'.

At the beginning of the sixth chapter we find a digression about youth. The author, telling the reader about his road impressions in his youth and in his mature years, notices that in youth a person is characterized by a freshness of world perception, which he subsequently loses. The saddest thing, according to the writer, is that over time a person can lose those moral qualities that were laid in him in his youth. It is not for nothing that Gogol continues the theme of youth in the further narrative, in connection with the story of Plyushkin, about his spiritual degradation. The author addresses the youth with tremulous words: “Take it with you on the road, leaving the soft youthful years into severe hardening courage, take with you all human movements, do not leave them on the road, you will not raise them later!

Retreat about two writers, which opens the seventh chapter, is also built on figurative parallelism. Writers are like travelers: a romantic writer is like a happy family man, a satirist writer is like a lonely bachelor.

The romantic writer shows only the bright side of life; satirist portrays "terrible mire of trifles" and exposes her to the eyes of the people.

Gogol says that romantic writer accompanies lifetime glory, satirist are waiting reproaches and persecution. Gogol writes: “This is not the fate of the writer who dared to bring out everything that every minute is before his eyes and that indifferent eyes do not see, all the terrible, amazing mire of trifles that have entangled our life, the whole depth of cold, fragmented, everyday characters.”

In a digression about two writers, Gogol formulates own creative principles which later became known as realism. Here Gogol says about the meaning of high laughter- the most valuable gift of a satirist writer. The fate of such a writer “look around” life “through laughter visible to the world and invisible, unknown to it tears”.

in retreat about the delusions of mankind in the tenth chapter the main idea of ​​"Dead Souls", component the essence of Gogol's Christian worldview. According to the writer, mankind in its history often deviated from the true path outlined by God. Hence the delusions of both past generations and the present. “What twisted, deaf, narrow, impassable, drifting roads mankind has chosen, striving to achieve eternal truth, while the whole straight path was open before it, similar to the path leading to the magnificent temple appointed by the king to the palaces. It is wider and more luxurious than all other paths, illuminated by the sun and illuminated by lights all night, but people were flowing past it in the dead darkness,” writes Gogol. The life of Gogol's heroes - landowners, officials, Chichikov - is a vivid example of human delusions, deviation from the right path, loss of the true meaning of life.

in retreat about Rus'(“Rus! Rus! I see you, I see you from my wonderful, beautiful far away…”) Gogol contemplates Russia from distant Rome, where, as we remember, he created the first volume of Dead Souls.

The author of the poem compares the nature of Russia with the nature of Italy. He is aware that Russian nature, unlike the luxurious Italian, no external beauty; at the same time, endless Russian expanses cause in the mind of a writer deep feeling.

Gogol says about the song in which the Russian character is expressed. The writer also thinks O boundless thought And about heroism characteristic of the Russian people. It is no coincidence that the author concludes his thoughts about Rus' with the words: “Is it not here, in you, that an infinite thought is born, when you yourself are without end? Is it not possible for a hero to be here when there is a place where he can turn around and walk around? And menacingly embraces me mighty space, with terrible force reflected in my depth; my eyes lit up with an unnatural power: wow! what a sparkling, wonderful, unfamiliar distance to the earth! Rus!.."

Parable about Kif Mokievich and Mokiya Kifovich both in form and content resembles the author's digression. The images of father and son - Kifa Mokievich and Mokiy Kifovich - reflect Gogol's understanding of the Russian national character. Gogol believes that there are two main types of Russian people - type of philosopher And type of hero. According to Gogol, the misfortune of the Russian people lies in the fact that both thinkers and heroes in Rus' degenerate. The philosopher in his state of the art can only indulge in empty dreams, and the hero can destroy everything around him.

Completes the first volume of "Dead Souls" digression about the trio bird. Here Gogol expresses his faith in a better future for Russia, he connects him with the Russian people: it is not for nothing that the craftsman is mentioned here - "Yaroslavl agile man"- Yes dashing coachman, famously managing the rushing troika.

Questions and tasks

1. Give the full title of Dead Souls. Tell us about the history of the poem. What did Gogol write about the idea of ​​his creation to Zhukovsky? Did the writer manage to fully realize his plan? In what year was the first volume of the work completed and in what year was it published? What do you know about the fate of the second and third volumes?

Comment on the title of the piece. What is the paradox here? Why is the phrase "dead souls" interpreted as metaphorical?

Name the main themes of Gogol's poem. Which of these topics are covered in the main narrative, which in digressions?

2. How can you determine the main problem of the piece? How is it related to Gogol's Christian worldview?

What pathos prevails in Gogol's poem? What is the theme of the affirmative beginning?

3. What genre definition did Gogol give to "Dead Souls" in the subtitle to the work? How did the writer himself interpret this genre in the prospectus of the Educational Book of Literature for Russian Youth? Features of what genres did K.S. Aksakov and V.G. Belinsky see in “Dead Souls”? How does Gogol's work resemble an adventurous adventure novel?

4. Who gave Gogol the plot of "Dead Souls"? How is the plot of the work connected with Gogol's understanding of the genre of the poem? Which character is the main character in the story and why?

What principle of material organization prevails in Gogol's work? What spatial images do we find here?

What elements of the first chapter are relevant to the exposition? What place does the gallery of landowners occupy in the work? Name the main episodes of the subsequent chapters, revealing the image of the provincial city. What place does love intrigue occupy in the composition of the work? What is its peculiarity in the poem?

What place does Chichikov's biography take in Dead Souls? What extra-plot elements of the poem can you name?

5. Briefly describe the gallery of landowners. According to what plan does Gogol tell about each of them? What artistic means does the writer use to create their images? Tell us about each of the landowners depicted by Gogol. Reveal the value of the entire gallery.

6. Which chapters of Dead Souls cover the topic of the city? Tell us about the exposure of the image of the city in the first chapter. What descriptions, characteristics does it include?

List the maximum number of city officials, naming their positions and surname and patronymic, if they are indicated by the author. Give general characteristics officials and each individual. What human passions, vices do they personify?

List the main episodes that reveal the theme of the city, identify the ideological and compositional role of each of them.

7. In what chapters and in what episodes of "Dead Souls" are Petersburg, Petersburg life mentioned? In which chapter, which of the characters and in what connection does the Tale of Captain Kopeikin tell? What folklore source does it go back to? What is the originality of the narration in the story about Kopeikin? How is Petersburg depicted here? What literary device is the author using here? What is the main conflict in The Tale...? What idea did the author want to convey to the reader by including the story of Kopeikin in the main text of Dead Souls?

8. What functions does the image of Chichikov perform in Dead Souls? What type of Russian life does he represent? What is the compositional role of Chichikov, what is the unusualness of this role? Consider the artistic means of creating the image of a hero, give examples of these means; pay special attention to the biography of the hero.

9. What aspects of the life of the people are revealed in Dead Souls? Tell us about the serf servants of Chichikov, about episodic characters - representatives of the people. Name the crafty peasants from among the "dead souls" sold to Chichikov by Sobakevich, briefly describe them. Name the fugitive peasant Plyushkin, who loved the free life. Which episodes of Dead Souls contain hints of the people's ability to revolt?

10. List all the author's digressions and other extra-plot elements of Dead Souls known to you. Consider in detail the digressions about the apt Russian word, about youth, about two writers, about the delusions of mankind, about Rus', the parable about Kif Mokievich and Mokiya Kifovich, as well as the digression about the trinity bird. How does the author of the work appear in these digressions?

11. Make a detailed outline and prepare an oral report on the topic: "Artistic means and techniques in the poem" Dead Souls "" (landscape, interior, portrait, comic situations, speech characteristics of heroes, proverbs; figurative parallelism, comparison, hyperbole, irony ).

12. Write an essay on the topic: “Varieties and artistic functions Details in “Dead Souls” by N.V. Gogol”.