Analysis of the work "Lefty" (N. S. Leskov). Leskov, analysis of the work of a left-hander, plan What is the theme in the story of a left-hander

Time of creation

The work of Nikolai Semenovich Leskov was created in 1881. The idea arose three years earlier, when the writer was visiting an employee of one of the weapons factories in the vicinity of St. Petersburg. According to the writer's contemporaries, somehow at the table in a general conversation they remembered a joke about an oblique left-hander who shod an English flea and sent it back to the British. Perhaps this served as the starting point for the creation of the work.

Genre of the work

Researchers attribute it to the genre of a tale: the narration is conducted on behalf of a person from the people with his usual turns of speech, distortions of foreign words and a corresponding assessment of what is depicted.

Plot

Emperor Alexander, having visited England, brought back a gift from English masters - a silver miniature flea that starts up with a key and performs a dance. One of the emperor's close associates, General Platov, is sure that Russian craftsmen are able to perform even finer work. He takes the flea to the Tula masters. Two weeks later, he took the flea, in which, at first glance, nothing had changed. However, the masters managed to put it on horseshoes. Platov brings a flea and master Lefty to Petersburg to the emperor. Everyone admires the subtlety of the work, but the horseshoes have made the flea's legs heavier, and she can no longer dance.

Lefty is sent to study in England. There he sees respect for educated workers. The left-hander is offered to stay abroad, but he cannot leave his elderly parents without care and cannot change the Orthodox faith.

Lefty returns on the ship in Saint Petersburg. On the way, he caught a cold and became seriously ill. Being near death, he is very eager to inform the emperor that the British do not clean their guns with bricks. One of the doctors, who heard these words, passes them on to one of the military, but he believes that the generals know better, and these words do not reach the emperor.

Issues

In his work, N.S. Leskov poses and solves a wide range of problems

The problem of the powerless position of the people is connected with the image of the central character, his living conditions, and the attitude of those in power towards him.
The problem of lack of education among the common people is also associated with the image of Lefty. His master talent is unique, but he lacks elementary knowledge.
The problem of underestimated talents of representatives of the people. The educated class often does not even realize how many gifted talented people live in the wilderness. Their abilities could glorify the country.
The problem of admiration for foreign masters and their skill is raised by Leskov when he depicts the stay of the Russian emperor in England.
The problem of patriotism in representatives of different classes. How do the emperor, general and simple Tula master Lefty understand love for the Fatherland and service to the Motherland?

Subject

The story about the amazing talent of the Tula master includes Russian emperors Alexander Pavlovich, Nicholas I, Empress Elizabeth General Platov as equal actors - quite real historical figures. But the main subject of the image is the talent of the folk master, and many characters in one way or another show their attitude to the talents of simple masters. Some tend to bow to foreigners and underestimate their craftsmen, while others, on the contrary, believe in the superiority of Russian masters.

Image system

The central character of the work is an unnamed Russian craftsman who did an unusually fine job: he and his comrades managed to forge miniature horseshoes for a steel flea, which they presented to the Russian emperor when he was abroad. The left-hander made tiny carnations, with the help of which horseshoes were attached to the paws of a mechanical toy. Leskov does not describe the process of performing this delicate work, he only says that it is done in an extraordinary secret: the masters work in depth, with concentration, with complete self-denial, it seems that even a fire could not make them stop. They are simple Russian people, not accustomed to showing off, not promising an excellent result. Before a responsible task, they go to bow to the miraculous icon, to ask God's blessing. Lefty's patriotism manifests itself during his stay in England, where he learns about the working conditions of foreign workers, about their training, about how they spend their days off. He refuses all requests to stay abroad, get married, and study. On the other hand, he greedily absorbs everything that can and should be transferred to Russian soil, everything that can be useful in Russia.

Among other images of the tale, one can distinguish the Don Cossack Platov, who is very worried when Emperor Alexander admires the skill of foreign masters. Platov is sure that in Russia they can and are able to do fine work, to make weapons no worse. He does everything to prove it to the British.

Emperor Alexander Pavlovich is full of admiration for foreign masters and their work. He believes that Russians should learn from them, and is willing to pay huge sums for a diamond nut containing a steel flea and its key.

Nikolai Pavlovich, on the contrary, believes in the skill of the Tula gunsmiths and asks Platov to take the flea, a product of English craftsmen, to our craftsmen.

The left-hander perfectly finds a common language with the English half-skipper, with whom he goes on a ship to Russia together. A simple, friendly sailor becomes Lefty's buddy.

It is impossible not to feel the author's sympathy for the talented Russian master, sympathy for his plight. Narrator just like main character The work is heartbroken for the interests of the country, regretfully says that the last words of Lefty did not reach the Russian emperor.

The relevance of the work

Questions of personality and power, the attitude of representatives of power to the people and its outstanding, talented representatives remain relevant to this day. The work teaches a responsible attitude to one's duties, honesty and love for the Fatherland.

Option 2

The main theme of the work is the creative talent of an ordinary Russian peasant, presented by the writer in the form of a Tula gunsmith, endowed not only with talent, but also with a spiritual core and moral human strength.

The key character of the story is Lefty, depicted as an unsightly beggar peasant, a blacksmith master, distinguished by a strong character, self-confidence not only in relation to life, but also in relation to the work he performs and its quality.

The hero communicates with dignity and courage not only with the Russian sovereign, but also with representatives of foreign powers. Being sent to a foreign land, he enthusiastically studies the outlandish products of foreign masters, trying to comprehend their wisdom, as well as demonstrate his own ingenuity and skill in order to prove the great possibilities of his homeland.

The work is a narrative in the form of a story, but it differs from the traditional tale genre, which is aimed at oral speech and storytelling on behalf of a direct participant in what is happening.

Leskov's story uses in its content a unique author's originality, expressed in the use of fables, a change in the manner of presenting events throughout the narrative, as well as the use of various artistic and literary devices that convey the motifs of folk poetic creativity (tautologies, verbs with a prefix, diminutive words and expressions, modified sayings).

In addition, the writer uses in the work numerous neologisms contained in the description of objects, actions, states. Emotions that allow you to demonstrate a special literary game.

Written in the folk language, the story is filled with subtle authorial irony, consonant with the Russian national character.

Sample 3

This work of Nikolai Leskov is the most popular in his work. The work was published in 1891, was presented in the collection "The Righteous". The full name has several more words. Namely, "The Tale of the Tula Oblique Lefty and the Steel Flea."

It is worth noting that Nikolai Leskov in this work affects the life common man. The author himself proposes to perceive this work as a folk work. The reader's attention is focused on the plot, including main character works acts as a hero, as in the old epics. This arrangement confirms the “popularity” of the composition. The author tries to avoid his own opinion in order to add realism as in folk tales.

The genre of the work. Many attribute "Lefty" to the genre of critical realism. But not everything is so simple. The author of the story sometimes uses fairy-tale motifs. Although they are not the main criterion for evaluating the genre. The realism of the work is fully revealed by the author, mentioning the Russian people, their traditions and character. It tells about a simple working people who, like the main character, in some situations shows his originality and skills. The narrative also touches upon the role of autocracy as the main form of government by the state. The reader will see two sides of the coin. Two worlds, monarchical and Western in comparison. Where the king tries his best to resist modern principles board. A very striking literary device of this work is the interweaving of tragic motifs with comedy, reality with a fairy tale.

It is worth noting in detail the stylistic devices in the essay. The author does not skimp on comparisons. Almost all work is based on data literary compositions. On the one hand, there is life in Russia and England, and a parallel is drawn between the simple and the influential population. In the tension of the whole narrative, the author reveals the image of the main person of the state. Small sketches clearly convey all the required information.

It would be wrong to ignore the main character. In the work, he is presented as a hardworking and very talented person. The author presented the main character in a very detailed and colorful way to the reader. He speaks in an extremely positive manner. Practically a national hero and a man loyal to his Fatherland. Much attention is focused on his patriotism and righteousness. A man who will not sell his homeland to any Englishmen, as noted in the story, there were such proposals.

The product clearly shows true patriot of his state. Who, under any circumstances and conditions, does not betray and does not lose love for his native land. One feels deep love and devotion to the interests of their state. Even being on the verge of death, this man thought about how to pass on to his ruler the secret of better storage of weapons, taking care of his state with sincere enthusiasm. The author tries to convince everyone that ordinary people create a state and thanks to them it exists.

The main character is a man who has abilities. In appearance, this is an ordinary guy and he works in his forge from morning until late evening. If he has taken up a task, then until he finishes it to the end, he does not calm down.

People come to him from different countries and cities, and that's all, because everyone knows that he just has golden hands. Also, the sovereign came to him in order to see what he creates with his hands.

And even when he ended up in a foreign land, he does not stop doing his favorite thing and introduces his ideas into new technologies, which are then used by people. In addition, in foreign lands, he tries to comprehend their talents and learn from them. But he does not forget about his homeland and constantly misses her. More than anything, he wants to go back and therefore he asks the emperor to let him go home.

He went home by ship. There he met with one half-skipper, who knew how to speak Russian perfectly, and also understood everything that was said to him in this language. It all ended with a big booze and they both ended up in the hospital. There, everything that can be pulled out of his pockets, and then they leave him to die. In the end, Lefty tries to make sure that all his words reach the emperor, because this is important information, but no one wants to listen to him.

Our main character dies right in the hospital on the floor, and his thoughts are in his homeland, which they will never see again and will never be able to come there again.

For all the time, a huge number of problems and misfortunes have fallen on Lefty, but a man with honor and his head held high withstands all this.

The work contains not only magical adventures and a fable, but also various idioms as well as folk satire.

From this work, we can conclude that the country does not think about its heroes at all and cannot appreciate their talents. But in other countries it is accepted quite differently.

So the emperor, having learned that Lefty had created a flea, only remembered about it for a while, and then forgot. And when they found out about this in other countries, they ordered their masters to come up with, and then create something that would be much better than a flea, but they did not succeed.

The essence, meaning and idea of the story Levsha

A story called Lefty, authored by Leskov, is a tale, that is, a legend that is based on true events. In fact, it is not entirely known whether the work is a pastiche or is really based on some genuine events. There is reason to believe that Leskov invented a lot, but at the same time he provided the story with genuine historical figures and also added his own deep knowledge of the people.

Leskov's works are characterized by a fairly accurate understanding of various communities, a clear vision of people, but often in all this there is some kind of refinement mixed with longing. After all, Lefty (meaning hereinafter the hero of the story) is a tragic figure, and he is the personification of the whole people. In torn rags, preserving dignity and working only for the country.

This ant-like pride and dedication is perceived by Leskov as something natural, just like Platov is exactly the way the reader wants to see Cossack generals. These figures are a little hypertrophied and too stereotyped, although we have a tale before us. Therefore, some allowance should be made in this sense.

The author tries to present to the reader the idea of undivided devotion to the people. In many ways, his thoughts are expressed both through Platov and through Levsha. Platov is a stern ataman who believes in everything Russian and has dog-like devotion to the tsar.

Of course, it is possible that today's officials were simply being crushed and hypocrisy has become more widespread, but something tells us that there were no such pure Platovs before, there were only outwardly Platovs. It is also difficult to believe in Lefty in such a selfless representative of the people, who, at the level of a saint, forgets about himself and works only for the sake of his own country, shoeing a flea so that the country is better than others, and the king rejoices.

Such a cheerful and foldable fatherland comes out of Leskov, and you can’t call such a work anything other than a kind of propaganda or, as they say now, work for the Kremlin (although in Leskov’s time the capital was in St. Petersburg). However, in fact, this is all Leskov, he simply idealized a lot, tried to write honestly and openly, as far as it was possible for him. Therefore, Leskov's truth about the people in the country and about the superiors looks so sad and dreary.

His Lefty is Alexander Matrosov, who climbs into the embrasure with a smile, although it is possible to take the bunker without it, his Lefty is sincere trust in the hypocrisy of those in power. His Platov is the stupid patriotism of an official in a country that wants to be better than Europe, but spits on its own people and raises an intelligentsia that speaks French since childhood. And the meaning of this story is very sad.

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The colorful character of the gifted Russian man, the measure of his creative potential and his fate in Russia are the focus of Leskov's attention in his later work, the famous tale of the oblique Lefty (1882).

Recognizing the well-known affinity of this story to The Enchanted Wanderer, Leskov intended to subsequently publish both of these works together under the general title "Well Done."

However, if in The Enchanted Wanderer the main character is taken by the author far beyond the boundaries of his “biographical” time, Lefty, on the contrary, is incomparably more rigidly attached to him, and this circumstance significantly changes the overall tone of the work.

In revealing the nature of this remarkable Russian nugget, Leskov actively uses the traditions of folk tales, oral tradition, jokes. Following his constant striving for the authenticity of the depiction of folk life, the writer especially cherishes those specific methods of narration developed by folklore, which almost nullify possible partiality in the coverage of persons and events, ensuring maximum objectivity of the story.

The plot of the tale is based on the motif of competition, rivalry, struggle, which affects the interests of the entire nation, which is characteristic of the folk epic.

Such a broad content of the conflict, which is hidden behind the outwardly eccentric and amusing story of the English curiosity, determines in the tale the whole system of author's assessments, which are significantly different from those to which the benevolent narrator is inclined.

True to his conviction that the social vocation of the artist is to “reset points of view” (false in the light of the highest truth), Leskov organizes the movement of the plot in his tale in such a way that those who are most far from caring for the national and state interests of Russia are those who first of all, one should take care of the prestige of the country - its highest rulers, kings.

The laudatory characteristics of the monarchs, expressed in the spirit of patriarchal morality, not only do not receive later confirmation in the development of events, but, on the contrary, from the very beginning of the narrative, they come into sharp conflict with the objective meaning of the specific situations in which these crowned persons appear before the reader.

So, the victorious Tsar Alexander, making his entertaining journey through Europe, as if forgetting about the great forces of his people, easily and thoughtlessly succumbs to the influence of the British, who want to “captivate him with foreignness” and “distract him from the Russians.” Trustingly he looks at all their specially prepared rarities. Sooner than they themselves hope, he begins to cheer for their interests and with amazing speed comes to the categorical conclusion that "we Russians are no good with our significance."

In all the vicissitudes of his relations with the British, he appears as a man without nature, easily controlled by someone else's will, in this case, by the will of those who, in a future war, will act as enemies of Russia and inflict a severe defeat on it. In his later satirical work, Leskov would call people like Alexander "damn dolls" and make them the main target of his satire.

Enthusiastically accepting the "insidious" gift of the British - a metal flea, Alexander is far from thinking about a possible rivalry with them in such outlandish art. He capitulates without a fight.

The incomparably more active attitude towards the English flea, which is shown by another Russian tsar (Nicholas I), nevertheless conceals a certain compromising meaning: this is a special kind of activity, dictated most of all by petty personal motives, a thirst for self-affirmation, vanity, aplomb.

The delight of Nikolai, which he expresses at the sight of a flea savvy with tula, is far from proper patriotic enthusiasm, from disinterested admiration for the miracle of human labor, art, resourcefulness.

The true background of this delight is given out by the remark of Nikolai himself: “You see, I knew better than anyone that my Russians would not deceive me.” The flea subjected to “Russian revisions” for the tsar is, most of all, material evidence of the loyal devotion to him of all Russian people, the new manifestations of which his soul, wounded by the recent “confusion”, is so hungry for.

The true arbiters of events aimed at exalting the glory of Russia are Lefty and his comrades in the tale - those Tula masters, whose art is entrusted with the English curiosity. It is they who show by their behavior true dignity, calm firmness of spirit, the full creation of national responsibility.

Thinking over the current situation, they judge it, not allowing any overlap in assessments in one direction or another: “... the English nation is also not stupid, but rather cunning, and art in it has great meaning Against it,” they say, “one must take thinking and with God's blessing. Such behavior, free from empty vanity, contrasts especially vividly with the pettiness of the motives of the Russian tsars.

This turn of the plot expresses the writer's favorite thought about "little great people" who, standing apart from historical events decide the historical destinies of the country. “These direct and reliable people,” Leskov would speak of them with respect and warmth in his later story “The Man on the Clock”, approaching L. Tolstoy in his assessment of the democratic masses.

However, this extremely respectful attitude of the writer towards the Tula masters does not at all exclude mild irony towards them in the tale. Leskov is far from idealizing people's possibilities here, he soberly assesses them. The writer took into account the role of socio-historical circumstances that limit the creative forces of the people, imposing on many Russian inventions the stamp of clownish eccentricity or practical incongruity.

From this point of view, for understanding the general meaning of the tale, it is fundamentally important that the very result of the “breathless”, selfless and inspired work of the Tula masters is fraught with an “insidious” duality of impression: they really manage to create a miracle - to shoe a “nymphosoria”. However, their dominance is not absolute. An eye-savvy flea cannot dance anymore. The "improved" English curiosity is at the same time hopelessly broken.

In the development of the plot, this moment, deplorable for the prestige of Russian invention, receives its definite explanation, which is important for understanding the general idea of the tale. As the British rightly judge, the Russian masters, who showed amazing audacity of imagination, obviously did not know the “calculation of strength”, and Lefty has to agree with this: “There is no doubt about this, that we did not go into the sciences ...” .

So in the picture amazing work Tula masters, which at the same time elevates them above their overseas rivals and reveals their well-known weakness, expresses itself, alien to any conciliatory and apologetic tendencies, Leskov’s bitter, disturbing thought about Russian ignorance, which cruelly oppresses and fetters the great forces and opportunities of the people, dooming him to a series of defeats and setbacks.

The question of what a Russian person can do immediately entails in Leskov’s tale other no less important questions: how this person lives, does he, like the English masters, have "absolute circumstances" for the development of his talent, what attitude he encounters from those in power, how his fate develops.

True, neither the narrator nor Lefty himself, who have become accustomed to a certain order of things that has long been established in Russia (contrasting with the one that Platov and Lefty saw in England), do not ask themselves these questions, but the writer takes special measures to ensure that they inevitably inevitability rose in the minds of his readers.

Telling, for example, with what "ceremony" Platov traveled, fulfilling the sovereign's order, Leskov paints the figures of "whistling" Cossacks, who sit on both sides of the coachman's box and throughout the entire journey constantly douse their driver with blows of whips. “These incentive measures were so successful that nowhere could the horses be held at any station, and always a hundred jumps jumped past the stopping place ...”.

Against the background of such an image of “fast Russian driving”, contrasting with the famous Gogol description, the narrator’s explanatory remark seems very ambiguous: “So at that time everything was required very neatly and rigorously, so that not a single minute of Russian usefulness was wasted.” The degree of causticity of this formula becomes even more obvious when compared with Shchedrin's similar remark.

In the "History of a City", which even more sharply denounces Russian despotism, the appearance of the mayor Brudasty says this: within the limits of the city pasture, as right there, on the very border, he crossed a lot of coachmen.

The narrator himself does not emphasize such details, he talks about them in passing, casually, as if by the way. However, all these “little things” of Russian life included in his narrative - the cunning cutting of coachmen, Platov’s rude abuse of Tula masters, the almost arrest of Levsha, who was being taken to St. order, accumulating in themselves the general spirit of Russian life of the Nikolaev times with its unbridled autocracy of some and the lack of rights of others, a spirit that inspires the author with the most bitter feeling.

Saturated with sorrowful details of the death of Lefty, the last chapters of the story focus the reader's attention even more insistently on the situation of the individual in Russia, where "it's scary for a person."

A talented master, an artist of his craft, deeply devoted to his homeland, dies forgotten by everyone in the corridor of the Obukhov hospital for the poor, without having time to serve his country with the last advice. Such a completion of the plot, containing a bitter paradox, enhances the sound of the humanistic theme of the tale - the tragic fate of a talented person in Russia, doomed to kill a lot of opportunities in himself without a worthy application.

The idea of defenselessness in Russia of a talented person was one of the writer's most bitter and relentless thoughts, appearing in various variations in his artistic creativity, articles and letters. ABOUT tragic fate serf artist tells Leskov in one of his most famous and powerful stories - "Dumb Artist" (1883). In Russian Public Notes (1869) he laments that in no other European country is such a disrespectful attitude towards a writer as in Russia unthinkable.

In a late letter to A. I. Faresov, he makes a significant remark (regarding the harsh assessments of critical articles by M. O. Menshikov): “In general, one can and should adhere to such a rule that smart and gifted people should be protected, and not thrown by them , anyhow; but we don't. Pushkin said about us:

Here a person is protected,

Like a Turkish shootout

That's why there are so many of them! However, literature torments me more than it interests me. I can always see from it that we are a wild people and cannot handle anything with care: “we bend - we do not soar, we break - we do not grieve.”

The general concept of the story about Lefty, despite the mournful ending, is optimistic. The "secret" of this optimism lies in the author's understanding of Lefty's personality, her creative and moral resources. No matter how hard it is for Lefty to endure the “surprises” of Russian life, and in these circumstances he not only shows amazing audacity of imagination and fanatical obsession with work, but also moral strength, true self-esteem, purity of patriotic feeling.

He is not shy in front of Platov, who inflicts a cruel scolding on him. And in the palace, where he is forced to appear before the king in the most untidy form, unlike the cowardly courtiers, he not only does not show any signs of timidity, but behaves with dignity and simply, like a person who knows the true value of himself and his work; speaks calmly with the king himself.

Lefty remains mentally unbroken even in the bitter circumstances of his untimely death: until the last minute he is focused on the thought not of his possible salvation, but on that military secret that he learned from the British, which can serve Russia. As if certifying the importance of this last thought of his life, folk legend, which the narrator conveys, connects the defeat of Russia in Crimean War precisely with the fact that no one then heeded the voice of Lefty.

In the "Literary Explanation" about this story, Leskov agreed with the opinion of one of the reviewers that where "Levsha" stands, one should read "Russian people." At the end of the tale itself, the character of the protagonist of the legend is not accidentally called epic, the personification of a myth created by folk fantasy.

In the great wealth of spiritual and creative possibilities of the people, which retains great vitality and humanity in spite of all the circumstances that constrain it, Leskov drew his faith in the future, which his tale about Lefty is imbued with.

History of Russian literature: in 4 volumes / Edited by N.I. Prutskov and others - L., 1980-1983

"Lefty" is a touching story about a master who devoted his whole life to working for the good of his homeland. Leskov creates many literary images living and acting in the atmosphere of bygone days.

In 1881, the magazine "Rus" published "The Tale of the Tula Lefty and the Steel Flea." Later, the author will include the work in the collection "The Righteous".

Fictional and real are intertwined in a single whole. The plot is based on true events that allow one to adequately perceive the characters described in the work.

So, Emperor Alexander I, accompanied by the Cossack Matvey Platov, really visited England. In accordance with his rank, he was accorded due honors.

The true story of Lefty unfolded in 1785, when two Tula gunsmiths, Surnin and Leontiev, by order of the emperor, went to England in order to familiarize themselves with arms production. Surnin is tireless in acquiring new knowledge, while Leontiev "plunges" into a disorderly life and "gets lost" in a foreign land. Seven years later, the first master returns home to Russia and introduces innovations to improve weapons production.

It is believed that the master Surnin is the prototype of the protagonist of the work.

Leskov widely uses the folklore layer. So, the feuilleton about the miracle master Ilya Yunitsyn, who creates tiny locks, no larger than a flea, is the basis for the image of Lefty.

Real historical material is harmoniously integrated into the narrative.

Genre, direction

There are differences in terms of genre. Some authors prefer the story, others prefer the tale. As for N. S. Leskov, he insists that the work be defined as a tale.

"Lefty" is also characterized as a "weapons" or "shop" legend that has developed among people of this profession.

According to Nikolai Semenovich, the source of the tale is the "fable" he heard in 1878 from some gunsmith in Sestroretsk. The legend became the starting point that formed the basis of the idea of the book.

The writer's love for the people, admiration for his talents, ingenuity found its embodiment in relief characters. The work is full of elements fairy tale, winged words and expressions, folk satire.

essence

The plot of the book makes you think about whether Russia can truly appreciate its talents. The main events of the work clearly indicate that both the authorities and the mob are equally blind and indifferent towards the masters of their craft. Emperor Alexander I visits England. He is shown an amazing piece of work by the English craftsmen - a dancing metal flea. He acquires a "curiosity" and brings it to Russia. For a while, the "nymphosoria" is forgotten. Then Emperor Nicholas I became interested in the “masterpiece” of the British. He sent General Platov to the Tula gunsmiths.

In Tula, a "courageous old man" orders three craftsmen to do something more skillful than the "English" flea. The craftsmen thank him for the sovereign's trust and set to work.

Two weeks later, Platov, who arrived for the finished product, without understanding what exactly the gunsmiths did, grabs Lefty and takes him to the palace to the king. Appearing before Nikolai Pavlovich, Lefty shows what work they have done. It turned out that the gunsmiths had shod the "English" flea. The emperor is happy that the Russian fellows did not let him down.

Then follows the order of the sovereign to send the flea back to England in order to demonstrate the skill of Russian gunsmiths. The left-hander accompanies the "nymphosoria". The British welcome him warmly. Interested in his talent, they do everything possible so that the Russian craftsman remains in a foreign land. But Lefty refuses. He is homesick and asks to be sent home. The British are sorry to let him go, but you can't keep him by force.

On the ship, the master meets the half-skipper, who speaks Russian. Acquaintance ends with drinking. In St. Petersburg, a half-skipper is sent to a hospital for foreigners, and Lefty, who is sick, is imprisoned in a "cold quarter" and robbed. Later, they are brought to die in the common people's Obukhov hospital. The left-hander, living out his last hours, asks Dr. Martyn-Solsky to inform the sovereign important information. But it does not reach Nicholas I, since Count Chernyshev does not want to hear anything about it. Here's what the piece says.

Main characters and their characteristics

Emperor Alexander I- "the enemy of labor." Differs in curiosity, a very impressionable person. Suffering from melancholy. Bows before foreign miracles, believing that only the British can create them. Compassionate and compassionate, building a policy with the British, carefully smoothing out sharp corners.
Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich- ambitious "soldafon". Has an excellent memory. He does not like to yield to foreigners in anything. He believes in the professionalism of his subjects, proves the failure of foreign masters. However, the common man does not interest him. He never thinks about how hard this skill is achieved.
Platov Matvei Ivanovich- Don Cossack, Count. Heroism and sweeping prowess emanates from his figure. A truly legendary person, who is the living embodiment of courage and courage. He has great endurance, willpower. He loves his native land immensely. A family man, in a foreign land he misses his native household. Insensitive to foreign creations. He believes that the Russian people will be able to do everything, no matter what they look at. Impatient. Without understanding, he can beat a commoner. If he is wrong, then he will certainly ask for forgiveness, since a magnanimous heart is hidden behind the image of a tough and invincible chieftain.
Tula masters is the hope of the nation. They are well-versed in the "metal business". They have a bold imagination. Excellent gunsmiths who believe in miracles. Orthodox people are full of church piety. They hope for God's help in solving difficult problems. They honor the gracious word of the sovereign. Thank you for the trust placed in them. They personify the Russian people and their good qualities, which are described in detail Here.
oblique southpaw- Skilled gunsmith There is a birthmark on the cheek. He wears an old "ozyamchik" with hooks. In the modest appearance of a great worker, a bright mind is hidden and kind soul. Before taking on any important business, he goes to church to receive a blessing. The characteristics and description of Lefty are detailed in this essay. He patiently endures Platov's bullying, although he did nothing wrong. Later, he forgives the old Cossack, not harboring resentment in his heart. The left-hander is sincere, speaks simply, without flattery and cunning. Immensely loves the fatherland, never agrees to exchange his homeland for well-being and comfort in England. It is difficult to endure separation from their native places.
half-skipper- an acquaintance of Levsha, who speaks Russian. We met on a ship bound for Russia. We drank a lot together. After arriving in St. Petersburg, he takes care of the gunsmith, trying to rescue him from the terrible conditions of the Obukhov hospital and find a person who would convey an important message from the master to the sovereign.
Dr. Martyn-Solsky- a true professional in his field. He tries to help Lefty overcome the disease, but does not have time. He becomes that confidant to whom Lefty tells a secret intended for the sovereign.
Count Chernyshev- a narrow-minded Minister of War, with great conceit. He despises the common people. He has little interest in firearms. Because of its narrow-mindedness, narrowness of thinking, it substitutes Russian army in battles with the enemy in the Crimean War.

Topics and issues

The theme of Russian talents runs like a red thread through all of Leskov's work. The left-hander, without any glass enlargers, was able to make small studs to nail horseshoes to a metal flea. His imagination has no limits. But it's not just about talent. Tula gunsmiths are hard workers who do not know how to rest. With their diligence, they create not only outlandish products, but also a unique national code that is passed down from generation to generation.
The theme of patriotism deeply worried Leskov. Dying on the cold floor in the hospital corridor, Lefty thinks about his homeland. He asks the doctor to find an opportunity to inform the sovereign that it is impossible to clean the guns with bricks, since this will result in their unsuitability. Martyn-Solsky is trying to convey to the Minister of War, Chernyshev, this information, but everything turns out to be fruitless. The words of the master do not reach the sovereign, but the cleaning of guns continues until the very Crimean campaign. Outrageous is this unforgivable disregard of the tsarist officials for the people and for their fatherland!
The tragic fate of Lefty is a reflection of the problem of social injustice in Russia. Leskov's tale is both cheerful and sad at the same time. The story of how Tula craftsmen shoe a flea, demonstrating a selfless attitude to work, is captivating. In parallel with this, serious reflections of the author about the difficult fate of brilliant people from the people sound. The problem of attitude to folk craftsmen at home and in a foreign land worries the writer. In England, Lefty is respected, they offer him excellent working conditions, and they also try to interest him in various curiosities. In Russia, he is faced with indifference and cruelty.
The problem of love for one's native places, To native nature. The native corner of the earth is especially dear to man. Memories of him captivate the soul and give energy to create something beautiful. Many, like Lefty, are drawn to their homeland, since no foreign blessings can replace parental love, the atmosphere of their home and the sincerity of faithful comrades.
The problem of the attitude of talented people to work. Masters are obsessed with finding new ideas. These are workers who are fanatically passionate about their work. Many of them “burn out” at work, because they give their all to the implementation of their plans without a trace.
Issues of power. What is the true strength of a person? Representatives of the authorities allow themselves in relation to ordinary people to go beyond the “permitted”, shout at them, use their fists. Craftsmen with calm dignity endure such an attitude of the masters. The true strength of a person is in balance and steadfastness of character, and not in the manifestation of incontinence and spiritual impoverishment. Leskov cannot stay away from the problem of a heartless attitude towards people, their lack of rights and oppression. Why is so much cruelty applied to the people? Doesn't he deserve humane treatment? The poor Lefty is indifferently left to die on the cold hospital floor, without doing anything that could somehow help him get out of the strong bonds of the disease.

the main idea

Lefty is a symbol of the talent of the Russian people. Another bright image from Leskov's gallery of "righteous people". No matter how hard it is, the righteous always fulfills the promise, gives himself to the fatherland to the last drop, without demanding anything in return. Love for the native land, for the sovereign works wonders and makes you believe in the impossible. The righteous rise above the line of simple morality and unselfishly do good - this is their moral idea, their main idea.

Many statesmen do not appreciate this, but in the memory of the people there always remain examples of selfless behavior and sincere, disinterested deeds of those people who lived not for themselves, but for the glory and well-being of their Fatherland. The meaning of their life is in the prosperity of the Fatherland.

Peculiarities

Having brought together bright flashes of folk humor and folk wisdom, the creator of "The Tale" wrote piece of art reflecting a whole era of Russian life.

In places in "Lefty" it is difficult to determine where good ends and evil begins. This shows the "cunning" of the writer's style. He creates characters, sometimes contradictory, carrying positive and negative traits. So, the courageous old man Platov, being a heroic nature, could never raise his hand against a “little” person.

"Wizard of the word" - this is how Gorky called Leskov after reading the book. The folk language of the heroes of the work is their bright and accurate description. The speech of each character is figurative and original. It exists in unison with his character, helping to understand the character, his actions. The Russian person is characterized by ingenuity, so he comes up with unusual neologisms in the spirit of “folk etymology”: “trifle”, “busters”, “thump”, “valdakhin”, “melkoskop”, “nymphosoria”, etc.

What does it teach?

N. S. Leskov teaches a fair attitude towards people. All are equal before God. It is necessary to judge each person not by his social affiliation, but by Christian deeds and spiritual qualities.

Only then can one find a diamond that glows with righteous rays of warmth and sincerity.

The theme of patriotism was often raised in the works of Russian literature of the late 19th century. But only in the story "Lefty" is it connected with the idea of the need for careful attitude to the talents that ennoble the face of Russia in the eyes of other countries.

History of creation

The story "Lefty" first began to be published in the magazine "Rus" Nos. 49, 50 and 51 from October 1881 under the title "The Tale of the Tula Lefty and the Steel Flea (Shop Legend)". The idea for creating the work by Leskov was a well-known joke among the people that the British made a flea, and the Russians "shod it, but sent it back." According to the testimony of the writer's son, his father spent the summer of 1878 in Sestroretsk, visiting a gunsmith. There, in a conversation with Colonel N. E. Bolonin, one of the employees of the local arms factory, he found out the origin of the joke.

In the preface, the author wrote that he was only retelling a legend known among gunsmiths. This well-known technique, once used by Gogol and Pushkin to give special credibility to the narrative, in this case did Leskov a disservice. Critics and the reading public literally accepted the words of the writer, and subsequently he had to specifically explain that he was still the author, and not the reteller of the work.

Description of the artwork

Leskov's story in terms of genre would be most accurately called a story: it presents a large temporal layer of the narrative, there is a development of the plot, its beginning and end. The writer called his work a story, apparently in order to emphasize the special “narrative” form of narration used in it.

(The emperor with difficulty and interest examines a savvy flea)

The action of the story begins in 1815 with the trip of Emperor Alexander I with General Platov to England. There, the Russian tsar is presented with a gift from local craftsmen - a miniature steel flea that can “drive with its antennae” and “twist with its legs”. The gift was intended to show the superiority of English masters over Russian ones. After the death of Alexander I, his successor Nicholas I became interested in the gift and demanded to find craftsmen who would be "no worse than anyone". So in Tula, Platov called three craftsmen, among them Lefty, who managed to shoe a flea and put the name of the master on each horseshoe. The left-hander, however, did not leave his name, because he forged carnations, and “no small scope can take it there anymore.”

(But the guns at the court cleaned everything in the old fashioned way)

Lefty was sent to England with a "savvy nymphosoria" so that they would understand that "we are not surprised." The British were amazed by the jewelry work and invited the master to stay, showed him everything they had been taught. Lefty himself knew how to do everything. He was struck only by the condition of the gun barrels - they were not cleaned with crushed bricks, so the accuracy of firing from such guns was high. The left-hander began to get ready to go home, he had to urgently tell the Sovereign about the guns, otherwise "God forbid, they are not good for shooting." From longing, Lefty drank all the way with English friend“half-skipper”, fell ill and, upon arrival in Russia, was near death. But until the last minute of his life, he tried to convey to the generals the secret of cleaning guns. And if the words of Lefty were brought to the Sovereign, then, as he writes

Main characters

Among the heroes of the story there are fictional and there are personalities who really existed in history, among them: two Russian emperors, Alexander I and Nicholas I, ataman of the Don Army M.I. Platov, prince, agent of Russian intelligence A.I. Chernyshev, Doctor of Medicine M. D. Solsky (in the story - Martyn-Solsky), Count K. V. Nesselrode (in the story - Kiselvrode).

(Left-handed "nameless" master at work)

The main character is a gunsmith, left-handed. He has no name, only a craftsman's feature - he worked with his left hand. Leskovsky Lefty had a prototype - Alexei Mikhailovich Surnin, who worked as a gunsmith, was studying in England and passed on the secrets of the case to Russian masters after returning. It is no coincidence that the author did not give the hero his own name, leaving the common noun - Lefty, one of the types of the righteous depicted in various works, with their self-denial and sacrifice. The personality of the hero has pronounced national traits, but the type is shown to be universal, international.

It is not for nothing that the only friend of the hero, about whom it is told, is a representative of another nationality. This is a sailor from the English ship Polskipper, who served his "comrade" Levsha a bad service. In order to dispel the longing of a Russian friend for his homeland, Polskiper made a bet with him that he would outdrink Lefty. A large number of drunk vodka and became the cause of the illness, and then the death of the yearning hero.

Lefty's patriotism is opposed to the false commitment to the interests of the Fatherland of other heroes of the story. Emperor Alexander I is embarrassed in front of the British when Platov points out to him that Russian masters can do things no worse. Nicholas I's sense of patriotism is based on personal vanity. Yes, and the brightest "patriot" in Platov's story is such only abroad, and having arrived at home, he becomes a cruel and rude feudal lord. He does not trust Russian craftsmen and is afraid that they will spoil the English work and replace the diamond.

Analysis of the work

(Flea, savvy Lefty)

The work is distinguished by its genre and narrative originality. It resembles in genre a Russian tale based on a legend. It has a lot of fantasy and fabulousness. There are also direct references to the plots of Russian fairy tales. So, the emperor hides the gift first in a nut, which he then puts in golden snuffbox, and the latter, in turn, hides in a travel box, almost in the same way as the fabulous Kashchei hides the needle. In Russian fairy tales, tsars are traditionally described with irony, just as both emperors are presented in Leskov's story.

The idea of the story is the fate and place in the state of a talented master. The whole work is permeated with the idea that talent in Russia is defenseless and not in demand. It is in the interests of the state to support it, but it rudely destroys talent, as if it were a useless, ubiquitous weed.

Another ideological theme of the work was the opposition of true patriotism folk hero the vanity of characters from the upper strata of society and the rulers of the country themselves. Lefty loves his fatherland selflessly and passionately. Representatives of the nobility are looking for a reason to be proud, but they do not bother to make the life of the country better. This consumer attitude leads to the fact that at the end of the work the state loses one more talent, which was thrown as a sacrifice to the vanity of the general, then the emperor.

The story "Lefty" gave literature the image of another righteous man, now on the martyr's path of serving the Russian state. The originality of the language of the work, its aphorism, brightness and accuracy of the wording made it possible to parse the story into quotations that were widely distributed among the people.

Literature lesson in grade 7 Topic “The main idea of the work of N.S. Leskov "Lefty" Objectives: to consolidate the idea of the genre of the tale; help students understand the characteristics of the characters, understand the main idea of the author Equipment: portrait of N.S. Leskov, textbooks, student notebooks, writing on the board, illustrations by N. Kuzmin and Kukryniksy for "Levsha" Methodological techniques: conversations on questions; analytical reading; selective quotation characteristics of heroes; expressive reading, work with the table Epigraph of the lesson I did not study the people through conversations with St. Leskov 1. Organization of the class for learning activities. Teacher: Hello guys! Smile at each other, greet our guests. 2. Creating a situation of success Teacher: I will read the proverbs to you, guessing them, you will remember which hero will be discussed. a) With great patience comes skill. b) It’s good to be away, but it’s better at home c) What we have, we don’t store, having lost it by crying. (Student response) 3. introduction teachers - Guys, today we have a general lesson according to the tale of N.S. Leskov "Lefty". And the purpose of our lesson is to determine main idea works. And the epigraph to the lesson will be the words of N.S. Leskov, which reflect the author's closeness to the people, his love for them. Write the epigraph in your notebook. 4. Repetition of what has been learned. Literary Theory Teacher: Before we move on to homework , let's remember what a tale is? What is a tale in literature? 1 student: (A tale is a narrative based on folk tales, legends, in which sketches of folk life and customs. The narration is on behalf of the narrator, a person with a special character and way of speech) Conclusion: It is not just the narrator who tells, but the participant in the events. 5. Checking homework Characteristics of the characters (analytical conversation) Teacher: - At home, the task was to answer the question, what kind of person, in your opinion, is telling the story about Lefty. And according to quotes prepared at home, characterize the kings: Alexander Pavlovich and Nikolai Pavlovich. - So, what kind of person tells the story of Lefty? 2 student: (The narrator is a very interesting person. He is not educated, but a hardworking, artisan man). 3 student: He seems to be laughing at Tsar Alexander Pavlovich, at Platov. He alters foreign words and names that are unknown to him. For example, tabledolbit; burometers instead of barometers, a smallscope instead of a microscope and other words) 4 student: (The narrator may have worked with Lefty. He is an old gunsmith, respected Tsar Nikolai Pavlovich. He observes Russian customs. The narrator looks like Lefty, only he is dressed neater and more cunning than Lefty Left-hander is very kind and simple) - Describe the tsars Alexander Pavlovich and Nikolai Pavlovich from the recorded quotes. So, Tsar Alexander Pavlovich. Let's read the quotes first. 5 student: a) “He traveled all over the world and everywhere, through his affectionateness, he always had the most internecine conversations with all sorts of people”; b) “We Russians are no good with our meaning”; c) “The sovereign rejoices at all this”; 6 student: d) “The sovereign looked at the pistol and cannot look enough”; e) “Why did you embarrass them very much, I feel very sorry for them now”; e) "Please don't spoil my politics"; 7 student: g) “You are the first masters in the whole world, and my people cannot do anything against you” h) “The sovereign thought that the British had no equal in art”; - How do these quotes characterize Alexander Pavlovich? 8 student: (Alexander Pavlovich was a too soft person. He did not believe in his people, that Russian people were also talented. It seemed to him that everything was worse in Russia than in other countries) 9 student: (He did not have pride for his country. And he was little interested in how ordinary people live) - Describe Tsar Nikolai Pavlovich. We read quotes. 10 student: a) “Tsar Nikolai Pavlovich was very confident in his people and did not like to yield to any foreigner”; b) “I hope on my own that they are no worse than anyone. They will not utter my word and will do something”; c) “he was terribly wonderful and memorable - he didn’t forget anything”; 11 student: d) “I know that my people cannot deceive me. Here something beyond the concept has been done” e) “Look, please, because they, rogues, have shod an English flea on horseshoes”; - How do these quotes characterize Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich? 12 student: (Tsar Nikolai Pavlovich had a completely different character. He believed in Russian masters, hoped for them. He knew that they were no worse than overseas ones. And they did not let the king down) Teacher: - Guys, what do the tsars Alexander and Nicholas? Conclusion: But the sovereign Alexander Pavlovich and Nikolai Pavlovich cared little about their people. They were not interested in how they live, in what conditions they work. - Guys, we know that the Don Cossack Platov Matvey Ivanovich is a military figure, an ally of Suvorov and Kutuzov. Member of the Patriotic War of 1812, hero. Think about how this message differs from the image of Platov in the tale "Lefty"? 13 student: (Platov in the tale is shown as a cruel, cowardly person. He is cunning, nervous, afraid. He did not allow Lefty to take the document. Then Platov, instead of answering, showed his fist - Here's a tugament for you! He acted badly towards Lefty) Conclusion: Courage in war and political courage are two different things. Platov's actions are lawlessness, disrespect for ordinary people, arbitrariness. Platov always stood up for Russian masters, for the talent of the people. And here in front of him is a representative of a simple artisan people. Where is his love? It turns out that it is easier to love the whole people than a specific, ugly master who has a birthmark, hair torn out over the years of teaching, and slanting eyes. Platov in the tale is seen through the eyes of a simple person. 6. Work with the textbook. Reading individual chapters by roles and discussion - And now get ready to read chapters 13, 14 selectively. We read the scene between the king and Lefty. "Lefty in the Palace" Chapter 13 with the words “Bring this gunsmith here to me and to the end. - Read chapter 14 from beginning to end. - Emphasize the main qualities of the character of Lefty 14 student: (Lefty spoke very simply with the king, did not fawn, was not afraid of his courtiers) - Let's read in the faces one of the scenes of the tale "Lefty among the English" from the words "The British have all the wines in front of him .. to pets ...) - What causes the admiration of the British in the Tula craftsman and what do they see as his weakness? 15 student: (The British see that Lefty is very talented, but he does not know literacy, simple mathematical calculations) Conclusion: On the one hand, Lefty's genius, and on the other, complete ignorance. 7. Fizminutka (the class performs physical exercises) 8 Conversation on questions - Why did the flea stop dancing? 16 student: (The horseshoes with which the Tula masters shod the flea changed its weight. And the exact mathematical calculation was violated. But the Tula masters did not know this) - Why was Lefty bored in England and hurried home? What mystery of the old English weapons did he unravel? 17 student (Lefty missed his home. And he also guessed that it was impossible to clean the barrels of guns with bricks, because the exact mathematical calculation is violated: the brick grinds off the metal surface, the bullet will roll out of the muzzle) Conclusion: Tula Lefty, despite persuasion to stay in England , to live much better than in Russia, remains faithful to his ungrateful, but dear Motherland. - How did the story of Lefty end after arriving in St. Petersburg? 18 student: (Sick Lefty was brought to the police station, “dumped on the floor”, searched, watches and money were taken away, dragged to hospitals. They brought him almost alive to the hospital for the poor. They didn’t accept him in the hospital without documents. Lefty is dying) - About what thinks before death Lefty? 19 student: (Before his death, Lefty does not think about himself, but how to bring to the king that guns cannot be cleaned with bricks, otherwise they are not suitable for shooting) Conclusion: Lefty's dying words were not conveyed to the sovereign. Count Chernyshev is shown as a self-confident and narrow-minded person. According to the narrator, it was he who did not listen to Lefty's dying order, and because of this, Russia was defeated in the Crimean War - Who is to blame for Lefty's terrible fate? 20 student: (Irresponsible and criminal attitude towards him on the part of the authorities from the courtier to the policeman, reaching not only beatings and robbery, but in fact to the murder of a brilliant master) ". Many talented people were ruined by insignificant officials. But the people appreciate craftsmanship, and proof of this is the tale of the Tula oblique Lefty and the steel flea. 9. Theory of literature. Contrast is a technique that helps to reveal the main idea of a work. - Try to find contrasts, i.e. sharp contrast. These are special techniques that N.S. Leskov. And I will help you. (One student works at the blackboard) a) Genius, skill on the one hand and ...... b) Having such talent, being such a mister, ...... c) Lefty loves his people. Dying, he thinks about the Motherland (ignorance on the other hand) (Left-handed beggar) (the soulless attitude of the authorities towards him, false patriotism, indifference to the cause Conclusion: It is not the supreme power that is concerned about the honor and fate of the Russian people, the Motherland, but ordinary Tula peasants. They protect the honor and glory of Russia and constitute its hope. And the Russian land is based on such people. - What is the main idea of the work? (student response) Conclusion: The Russian Land is rich in talents. There are people of such skill that they can even shoe a flea on their shoulder. They live hard, but for them the main thing has always been their favorite work and homeland. And there have always been a lot of hunters to see "surprises" only in overseas countries. 10. Description of illustrations - Consider the illustrations for "Lefty" by the artist N. Kuzmin and Kukryniksy - How is Platov depicted? What does Lefty look like here? 11. Summing up Derivation of grades for the lesson 12. Homework Prepare for extracurricular reading based on the story of N.S. Leskov "The Man on the Clock"