Story childhood chapter letter summary. Childhood, Leo Tolstoy

The story "Childhood" is the beginning of the autobiographical trilogy of Leo Tolstoy. “Dialectics of the soul” is the main technique that the writer uses in his work. Thanks to the internal monologues of the protagonist, Nikolenka Irtenyev, we see how his character is formed, what he thinks about, what he experiences. In this book, it is not the plot that is more important, but what is happening in the soul and mind of the protagonist, these are the main events that are summarized here. Tolstoy skillfully showed the process of formation of the spiritual world of the child and his gradual maturation, and the Wise Litrekon tried to make a brief retelling at the appropriate level.

The protagonist of the story, ten-year-old Nikolenka, wakes up from the fact that his teacher Karl Ivanovich inadvertently kills a fly with a cracker, right above the boy's head. Believing that everyone was deliberately offending him because of his age, he hid under the covers and pretended to be asleep. From resentment and anger, the whole appearance of Karl Ivanovich seemed to him disgusting and stupid.

But the teacher sat down next to him and began to tickle the boy's heels, since it was seven o'clock in the morning, and it was already necessary to wake up. Nikolenka was ticklish, but he tried not to give himself away. At that very moment, he felt so ashamed that he was angry with this kind and caring person that tears flowed from his eyes.

Lying that he was crying because of a bad dream about his mother, the boy soon forgot this ridiculous incident and began to dress. After that, Nikolenka, together with his brother Volodya, went downstairs, where their mother (maman) was already waiting for them.

Chapter 2: Maman

Mother was already in the living room pouring out tea. Her image is filled with boundless kindness and love. This is an affectionate and beautiful woman who is very gentle and kind to children. To the left of the sofa at the piano sat Nikolenka's eleven-year-old sister Lyubochka, together with her governess Marya Ivanovna.

As usual, in the morning, maman asked Karl Ivanovich if the children slept well. When she looked at Nikolenka, she immediately realized that he was crying. Then the children went to their father's office to say hello.

Chapter 3: Dad

Nikolenka's father was in his office and heatedly discussed something with the clerk Yakov Mikhailov. It was about the distribution of money for expenses. Nikolenka saw an envelope on the table with the words "To Karl Ivanovich Mauer" written on it.

His father put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him away from the table. When the conversation with the clerk was over, Nikolenka and his brother found out that they were already old enough and it was time for them to go to study in Moscow. The boy felt sad because of his mother and the unfortunate Karl Ivanovich, who would most likely be released from the yard.

At the same time, he could not but rejoice at the thought of growing up. Complicated feelings both saddened and pleased the boy.

Chapter 4: Classes

It's time for practice. Karl Ivanovich was in a bad mood and listened gloomily to the children reading. Nikolenka could not concentrate on his studies because of thoughts about the upcoming departure from home and separation from mama, sisters and teacher. During the calligraphy, his tears fell on the notebook, turning the letters into blots. Karl Ivanovich punished him and went into another room, where Uncle Nikolai was sitting.

Their conversation was heard by the boys. In desperation, Karl Ivanovich did not understand how they could do this to him and simply drive him away. He was offended by ingratitude, because for twelve years he worked in the Irtenevs' house, loved the children with all his heart and took care of them. Nikolenka's heart was filled with blood and longing. He wanted dad and teacher not to swear.

Karl Ivanovich returned and continued the lesson. The boys wrote from dictation, “Of all the vices, the most terrible is ingratitude.” Dinner time came, and Nikolenka was waiting for the butler Fok, who always calls the children to the table. But a figure who was completely unfamiliar to the boy entered the classroom.

Chapter 5: Foolish

He was a tall, gray-haired man with a crooked eye, who looked to be about fifty years old. His speech was meaningless and incoherent. It was the holy fool Grisha. He traveled from the fifteenth year and always went barefoot. Grisha was a believer who often visited monasteries. Some people mistook his mutterings for predictions.

When Foka finally appeared on the threshold, the holy fool Grisha went downstairs with the children, where everyone was already assembled. According to the rules, the boys first had to say hello to Mimi (governess Marya Ivanovna), and then talk to the girls. Nikolenka did not like the fact that she constantly bothered everyone with her stupid instructions. Marya Ivanovna's daughter and Lyuba's friend Katya asked the boy to persuade his parents to take the girls hunting.

During dinner, all attention was riveted on Grisha and his way of life. Nikolenka's father is skeptical about the holy fool and his wanderings. Maman, on the other hand, gently smoothed over the dispute. When dinner was coming to an end, Volodya decided to ask the girls to go hunting too. The children received a positive response, and maman decides to join them.

Chapter 6: Preparations for the Hunt

When dessert was served on the table, Yakov was given an order about the ruler. Volodya's horse was not suitable for hunting, and then his father ordered that a hunting horse be saddled for him, which greatly upset mama. She was worried that the boy might crash and die.

Lunch came to an end, the children went to the garden to chat, and the adults drank coffee in the office. The guys talked about everything except the upcoming separation.

When they noticed that the line with horses was ready, they went upstairs with a squeal to dress like real hunters. When at last everything was ready, and the ladies were sitting in the line wagon, and the men were on horseback, they went hunting.

Chapter 7: The Hunt

Having left the gate, everyone went along the road, and Nikolenka's father turned towards the rye field, where the grain harvest was in full swing. He, a strict and diligent owner, went there to check the work of the peasants.

When everyone drove up to the forest, Nikolenka noticed a cart, where there were a lot of delicacies. This meant that after the hunt they would drink tea in the forest and eat ice cream. Hunters with dogs go for game, and the father tells his son not to return without a hare.

Nikolenka took Zhiran's dog with him and ran to a clearing, where he found a flat place in the shade, under a tall oak. He lay and imagined that he was already hunting for the third hare. He was distracted by everything that was possible. Ants, butterfly with yellow wings.

Suddenly, Zhiran, noticing the hare, abruptly ran forward. Nikolenka was so confused that he forgot all the rules of hunting. Blood rushed to his head, he ran sharply and shouted something in a frantic voice. Before Nikolenka had time to come to his senses, the hare had already disappeared. He felt sad and ashamed that the hunters and the Turk saw his mistake.

Chapter 8: Games

After the hunt, everyone sat on the carpet and enjoyed the meal. When the children got bored, and all the most delicious was over, they went to play.

For a long time they could not come to a unanimous decision. At the suggestion of Lyubochka to play Robinson, Volodya began to put on airs and say that he was bored with this game. Nikolenka realized that his brother had simply grown up. Reason began to prevail over imagination, and any game no longer brought him happiness and joy.

However, Volodya decided to condescend to his younger comrades and reluctantly agreed. But the game did not give them pleasure, as one of the participants stubbornly pretended that all this was not real. It was very ugly, but in his heart Nikolenka understood his brother and agreed with him.

Chapter 9: Something Like First Love

During the game, Katenka tore off the leaves and on one of them was a huge worm. The girl got scared and threw him to the ground. Having abandoned the game, the children began to watch him with interest. Nikolenka was more attracted to Katenka.

He noted that all the girls twitch their shoulders in the same way so that the dress that has fallen down returns to its original place. Watching her, he suddenly kissed her hand sharply. Volodya was outraged by such tenderness, but Nikolenka was moved to the depths of his soul. He realized that he had always loved her.

Returning to their parents, they learned that the trip to Moscow was postponed until tomorrow. On the way back, Nikolenka wanted to impress Katenka (to rush past on his horse in a relaxed pose), but the horse let him down and stopped abruptly.

Chapter 10: What kind of person was my father?

He was a handsome man with a bald head, irregularly shaped lips, small eyes and a large nose. Even despite all the flaws and the peculiar habit of dressing, Nikolenka's father always looked elegant and knew how to please everyone. We can say that he was a very lucky person and made acquaintances with authoritative people. His character was strong, elusive and even chivalrous. He used originality as his main weapon, which replaced him with wealth and secularism.

In old age, he formed a constant view of things and unchanging rules - but only on a practical basis: those actions and lifestyle that brought him happiness or pleasure, he considered good and found that everyone should always act like that.

He was a sensitive, even tearful person, he loved music and literature. However, for great things he needed spectators, and his convictions depended on their opinion. Partly for this and for this, he was a good orator.

Chapter 11: Living Room Study

When everyone returned from the hunt, the day was coming to an end. The children began to draw, and the mother played the piano.

Nikolenka decided to portray the hunt despite the fact that he only had blue paint. As a result, the drawing failed, and the boy decided to take a nap.

An hour later he woke up from the creak of boots. Wiping the tears from his face, Karl Ivanovich left his father's office and went upstairs. Papa appeared in the room and told maman that the teacher was going to Moscow with the children.

Before dinner, Grisha came down and said that the next morning he was going to travel further. The children decided to quietly go to his room and look at the chains.

Chapter 12: Grisha

They silently sat in a dark closet and watched Grisha pray. It was an intimate moment for the wanderer, because he was talking to God. Nikolenka thought it would be funny, but his heart sank. The Stranger made an indelible impression on the boy. His faith and devotion delighted the boy.

But still he was tired of it, and his legs were numb. Suddenly Katenka accidentally took his hand, and Nikolenka kissed her. In surprise, the girl knocked over a chair, and the children ran out of the closet noisily.

Chapter 13: Natalia Savishna

In the village of Khabarovka lived a cheerful woman whom everyone simply called Natashka. She was fat, with red cheeks, and always went about in a tattered sundress. Nikolenka's grandfather took her to be among his grandmother's female servants.

When maman was born, the diligent Natashka became her nanny. She cared for and cared for her with distinction. But fell in love with the waiter Fok. Then she went to the boy's grandfather and asked for permission to marry, but she was kicked out of the yard, considering this act ingratitude.

Six months later, the woman was returned to the house, since no one could replace her. She was now called Natalya Savishna, and for twenty years she raised the young lady with trepidation and love. Later, she became the head of the house and watched everything. Maman wanted to thank the woman and give her freedom. But in tears, Natalya Savishna tore up this paper and remained in the Irtenev family.

Later, she began to take care of the children of Natalya Nikolaevna, devoting all her time to them. Nikolenka realized only with time how he did not appreciate her work and love. Once, he got angry with her because she scolded him for a broken jug of kvass. Nikolenka was so offended that he even cried. Anger overwhelmed the child, and he began to think about how to take revenge on her. But he did not have time to come to his senses, as Natalia Savishna returned, handed over two sweets and apologized. Nikolenka sobbed again, but now from shame and love.

Chapter 14: Separation

The next morning everything was ready for departure. Uncle Nikolai was packing the boys' clothes and pillows. Nikolenka waited impatiently for everything to be ready. The whole family gathered in the living room to spend some time together before parting.

Due to his age, the boy did not understand how sad this event was. Various empty thoughts flashed through his head. Natalya Savshina, who entered the living room, could not hold back her tears, and Nikolenka's heart ached. When Foka announced that everything was ready, mamma turned pale and shuddered. As is customary before leaving, the whole family sat silently “on the path” for ten seconds. After that, everyone began to say goodbye and hug, and Nikolenka continued to remain childishly carefree.

But suddenly, hearing his mother's trembling voice and seeing her trembling lips, the boy felt anguish, he felt pain and fear. Embracing her, he wept bitterly. When it was time to go, Nikolenka quickly got into the line so as not to see mama's grief. But he still decided to look at her for the last time and did not notice how she was already standing near the carriage. After kissing her son for the last time, she returned to the porch.

The boys left for Moscow with their father.

Chapter 15: Childhood

Nikolenka's childhood memories are filled with carefree happiness and awe. Evenings at the tea table and long conversations of adults that made them drowsy. The armchair in which he fell asleep, and his mother gently woke him up. Bedtime prayers and childhood dreams.

Nikolenka understands that all the most sincere emotions and feelings remain in childhood, which cannot be returned.

Chapter 16: Poems

Almost a month has passed since the children lived in Moscow with their grandmother. Her name day was approaching, and they were preparing gifts for her. Volodya, under the guidance of a teacher, drew the head of some Turk in a turban, and Nikolenka decided to write twelve poems.

But when preparing a gift, the boy had difficulties. Either there was no inspiration, or when copying the text on vellum paper, he realized that the words came out crooked. When the poems were completed, he decided to read them aloud, but he didn’t like one line “... and we love like our own mother.” Nikolenka immediately began to worry that everyone might think that he had completely forgotten maman. There was no time to redo the poem again. They brought festive clothes, and it was time to go downstairs to the grandmother, who was praying in the hall.

Volodya presented his drawing, and Karl Ivanovich presented a homemade box. When the time came for Nikolenka's gift, fear and embarrassment began to overcome him. He handed a crumpled piece of paper to his grandmother, and with bated breath began to wait for a reaction to that very phrase. But all his fears were in vain. The elderly woman was touched by the gift and affectionately kissed Nikolenka on the forehead. They were interrupted by a footman who announced the arrival of the Princess.

Chapter 17: Princess Kornakova

She looked and spoke dryly and had an unhealthy complexion. Her eyes seemed to Nikolenka unpleasant, but at the same time she looked quite noble. She had a habit of talking emotionally and not paying attention to the interlocutor.

During the story of the Princess about her children, especially about her eldest son, Etienne, whom she was proud of, it was clear that her grandmother was dissatisfied with her methods of education. Then Princess Varvara Ilyinishna turned her attention to the boys and began to get to know them.

The father introduced Volodya as a secular youth, and the youngest son Nikolenka as a poet. He made an emphasis on his hairstyle, which greatly offended the boy. From early childhood, he knew that his face did not have a special beauty. Nikolenka remembered how one day, after dinner, his mother told him about it. He tried to be a kind and smart boy, as no one will love him for his appearance.

Chapter 18: Prince Ivan Ivanovich

The princess listened with delight to Nikolenka's poems and went home, promising to return in the evening with the children. Many people came that day to congratulate their grandmother, but the boy especially remembered Prince Ivan Ivanovich.

It was an elderly man dressed in a military uniform. Nikolenka was struck by the simplicity and freedom of his actions. He was smart and educated. When everyone left the room, the boy stayed with his grandmother and Prince Ivan Ivanovich. He witnessed not the most pleasant conversation for a child.

Grandmother, with tears in her eyes, complained that Natalya Nikolaevna (maman) was not free in her actions and obeyed her father, who only did what he had fun. Because of this, she did not even come to the name day. Grandmother was indignant that the children should have been sent to Moscow earlier, because they were not at all trained in manners. Also, an elderly woman spoke about her assumptions about her father's infidelity, but the Prince disputed her arguments. After Nikolenka accidentally witnessed their conversation, he quietly left.

Chapter 19: Ivins

Nikolenka noticed three boys in the window, who were accompanied by a young German tutor named Herr Frost. These were the Ivins, whom the hero was always happy about. Especially the second of them - Seryozha.

Nikolenka admired his beauty and character and loved him with childish awe. He even tried to adopt his most bad habits. Seryozha felt his superiority and power over Nikolenka, but at the same time he preferred to communicate with Volodya.

The children went to play in the front garden. Seryozha was one of the robbers, and Nikolenka was a gendarme. Suddenly, Ivin accidentally stumbled and hit his knee on a tree. Nikolenka, instead of catching the boy, decided to make sure everything was all right with him. Serezha got angry because the game was interrupted. But the main character is not offended at all. On the contrary, he considered it the highest indicator of masculinity.

Soon Ilenka Grap joined them. He was the son of a poor foreigner who once lived with his grandfather Nikolenka and owed him something. The children did not like the boy and often laughed at him. When the game in the front garden was over, they went upstairs to fool around. The guys showed each other different gymnastic tricks, and Ilenka sat on the sidelines. Seryozha decided to force the boy to stand on his head. The children grabbed Grapa and began to turn over. He tried to escape and accidentally hit Seryozha with his boot in the eye.

After that, Ilenka collapsed lifelessly on the ground and sobbed bitterly from resentment and misunderstanding, for which he was being mocked. All the children fell silent, but Seryozha decided to break the silence by calling the boy a girl. At one point, Nikolenka felt sorry for Ilenka, but nevertheless, he considered Seryozha's act to be true and admired him again.

Chapter 20: Gathering for a visit

Nikolenka waited impatiently for the Ivins. Instead, a woman with a child entered the house. It turned out to be Mrs. Valakhina with her lovely daughter Sonechka. The girl was beautiful and immediately liked Nikolenka.

Grandmother introduces him to the Valahins personally and sends the children to have fun and dance. At this time, Princess Kornakova arrives with her children. Her daughters were completely ugly, and her son Ertien was spoiled and disgusting. When they began to talk with Nikolenka, he began to brag about the fact that he rides goats. The lackey of the Kornakovs appeared and reprimanded Ertien for the lost whip and lies.

The house gradually filled with people. The Ivins have finally arrived. But instead of joy, Nikolenka felt annoyed that Seryozha would meet Sonya.

Chapter 21: Before the Mazurka

Seryozha took out a new pair of gloves and happily announced that the dancing was about to begin. Nikolenka abruptly ran upstairs. He realized that he and his brother had nothing with them. The boy rummaged through the entire chest of drawers. All he found were travel mittens and one glove of Karl Ivanovich, in which one finger was cut off.

Returning downstairs, he asked his grandmother what to do. But this only amused her, and she sent him to dance with Sonechka. Nikolenka's glove made the girl laugh, and the boy's shyness immediately disappeared.

When they finished dancing and sat next to each other, Nikolenka felt awkward and did not know what to say. He decided to tell about himself and laughed at Karl Ivanovich, for which he was later ashamed of himself.

At the end of the dance, Sonya thanked Nikolenka and left. The boy was left without a mate, and noticing one big girl, he decided to take her right from under the young man's nose.

Chapter 22: Mazurka

Nikolenka sat and watched the guests dance. He was surprised that they didn't move the way Mimi had taught him. Nikolenka's mood was excellent. The large girl with whom he danced the country dance decided to bring Sonechka and one of the princesses to him. Before Nikolenka had time to come to his senses, he was already dancing with the second.

The boy was confused and did not know how to move correctly. When Nikolenka decided to kneel, the princess looked at him with curiosity. This confused the boy, and he was completely at a loss. He stopped and noticed that everyone was looking at him. The angry father takes the princess away and tells Nikolenka that there was no need to dance. The boy was upset and embarrassed. He immediately wanted to be at home, next to maman, who always supported her son.

Chapter 23: After the Mazurka

The young man, from whom Nikolenka stole the big girl, decided to sit down at the children's table to cheer up the boy. Unnoticed by adults, he poured wine on him and tried to cheer him up. At the end of dinner, their friendship ended.

The young man returned to the adults, and Nikolenka felt slightly intoxicated. The boy heard that Valakhina allowed Sonya to stay for another half an hour, and went to dance with her. Drinking wine made Nikolenka forget about all the failures and embarrassment. He danced, had fun and made his new lover laugh.

When Nikolenka walked past the mirror, he noticed that he looked good. But despondency returned to him again, at the thought that Sonya was too beautiful for him, and they were not destined to be together. As they walked down the corridor, the girl suggested that he change to "you", which greatly excited the boy.

When the holiday came to an end, the boys watched in love as Sonya left. In parting, the girl nodded her head. At that moment Nikolenka was sure that it had been done for him. When the Ivins were leaving, the boy said goodbye to Seryozha with a chill. All his thoughts were now occupied only by Sonechka.

Chapter 24: In bed

Nikolenka decided to discuss with Volodya all the charm and beauty of the girl. The boy shared with his brother that he was ready to do anything for her, even jump out of the window. Volodya, on the other hand, considered Nikolenka's desires stupid and childish, and said that if he were in his place, he would talk to her, and then kiss her.

Chapter 25: Letter

The children live in Moscow for almost half a year. That day, my father came and said that at night they were all going to the village. The reason for leaving is a letter that maman wrote to her father. In it, she talks about the house, her love, children, and that she has recently been ill, but everything will be fine, and the doctor is looking after her.

Included in the letter was a piece of paper on which maman had written in French. In it, without a lie, she tells her father that her illness is serious, and she does not have long to live. He asks to bring the children to hug them for the last time.

In confirmation of the seriousness of the situation, a letter was attached from the governess Marya Ivanovna, where she writes that her father should hurry up with his arrival while maman is still alive.

Chapter 26: What awaited us in the village

Two days later, the children and their father came home to the village. Foka's butler said that my mother had not been out of bed for several days. Nikolenka felt excitement and fear. As they walked towards maman's room, the boy noticed that his father was all pale.

Once in her bedroom, Nikolenka paid attention even to the smell of mint, which he later recalled with pain. Maman was in oblivion. She rushed about, saw nothing and scattered things. The children were taken away, and maman Nikolenka learned about the last minutes of his life from Natalia Savishna. The boy learned that she had suffered terribly before her death.

Chapter 27: Woe

The day after maman's death, Nikolenka decided to sneak into the hall where the coffin stood in order to look at her again. Looking at her face, he shuddered in horror. Her eyes were sunken, her skin was pale and had a yellowish tint. But after a while, he saw all the same cute features. His imagination began to draw happy scenes with the living mamma, and he completely forgot himself. That moment was a real heartbreak. All his subsequent tears were not the same. He felt that he was deceiving himself and was trying to show others his grief and pain.

The next day there was a memorial service. During the service, the boy constantly cried, but not because of the death of his mother. Tears flowed involuntarily, and he was thinking about something completely different. Now he was worried that he would stain his pantaloon, then he rubbed a new half-shirt under his armpits.

Nikolenka did not believe the tears of others either. He believed that they did not understand true grief and had no right to cry about maman. When the memorial service was over, everyone began to come up and venerate the coffin. One of the last was a peasant woman with a small child in her arms. Nikolenka was brought back to reality by the terrible cry that this five-year-old girl uttered. He was frightened by the fact that maman's face could cause fear and horror in people.

Chapter 28: Last Sad Memories

Despite the death of maman, the life of the Irtenev family continues to go on as usual. Nikolenka believed that this was an insult to her memory. Every day after dinner, the boy went to Natalya Savishna's room to talk, and not to sleep, as before. He knew that she, like him, sincerely loved maman.

An elderly woman told Nikolenka about the childhood of the deceased and began to cry softly. So they spent their days until the children went back to Moscow. Grandmother found out about maman's death only with their arrival. She fell into despair and unconsciousness. The elderly woman did not believe that Natalya Nikolaevna was no more.

Only a week later she was able to cry, and this made her feel a little better. After the death of her mother, a new stage began in the life of Nikolenka, adolescence. At the end of the story, he again mentions Natalia Savishna. When the children went back to Moscow, she fell ill and died. But she was not afraid of death, but waited for it. After all, she lived a decent and honest life.

The path to the world of high literature was opened to the writer thanks to the story "Childhood", the magazine "Contemporary" and its astute editor Nikolai Alekseevich Nekrasov.

In 1851, Lev Nikolaevich, together with his brother Nikolai, went to the Caucasus, where there were fierce battles with the highlanders. The atmosphere there inspires the 23-year-old Tolstoy to be creative. However, he does not create a work on a military theme, which would be quite natural, but a nostalgic story "Childhood", written in the genre of pseudo-autobiography.

A year later, after a series of proofreadings, the first work is ready. Tolstoy sends the manuscript to the editors of the cult magazine Sovremennik, which at that time was headed by Nikolai Alekseevich Nekrasov. An experienced writer immediately notes a talented story and publishes a work by an unknown author on the pages of his journal. Thus, an outstanding writer appeared in Russia, not a novice, but a mature, mature prose writer.

History of the trilogy
Later in Sovremennik they will publish Boyhood (1854) and Youth (1857), which will continue the life story and the formation of the personality of the protagonist Nikolenka Irtenyev. However, it all began with "Childhood".

Acquaintance with the Irtenevs' house

The morning of August 12 began badly for Nikolenka Irtenyev. He was awakened by a loud bang right under his ear. It was the teacher Karl Ivanovich who started hunting for flies at the bedside of the little gentleman. Nikolenka is terribly angry with the teacher. He hates Karl Ivanychev, the colorful dressing gown and the red cap that he wears so as not to catch cold sore ears, his German speech and the sugar paper fly swatter.

Chuckling, Karl Ivanovich tickles the heels of his little pupil. The sleepy dope dissipates, and Nikolenka can no longer imagine how he could hate the kind Karl Ivanovich just a few moments ago. The German has been living in their house for 12 years and has taught Nikolenka and his older brother Volodya everything he knows.

Thus begins another day in the life of Nikolenka Irtenva. Three days ago he passed ten years. And this is his childhood.

After some preparations, Karl Ivanovich takes the boys (Nikolenka and Volodya) out to greet their mother, Natalya Nikolaevna. Nikolenka perfectly remembers her kind brown eyes, the mole on her neck, located in the place where her hair begins to curl, the tender dry hand with which mother so often caressed her sons. Natalya Nikolaevna pours tea into mugs. In the same room, Nikolenka's younger sister Lyubochka and her governess Mimi (Marya Ivanovna) play music - the most unpleasant person, according to young Irtenyev.

After kissing her mother's hand, Nikolenka goes to her father's office. His father, Pyotr Alekseevich, was a large landowner. From the very morning he decides economic affairs with the clerk Yakov. Nikolenka admires how tall and stately his dad is, what a big sinewy hand and even, calm voice he has. The father reminds his son that they are leaving for Moscow that night.

The fact is that Nikolenka and Volodya are already adults. They can no longer stay in the village. Their father will take them to a big city, where they will receive a decent education, learn secular manners. Nikolenka is glad to leave for mysterious Moscow. He is upset only by the upcoming parting with his mother and the kind Karl Ivanovich, whom he loves no less than his father. After many years of service, teachers are fired. He is no longer needed by the grown-up Irtenevs.

Morning experiences do not allow Nikolenka to tune in to the lesson. He completely forgets the dialogue he learned the day before, and turns his penmanship notebook into an ink puddle because of the tears that have dripped onto it. In addition to the chaotic morning, the holy fool Grisha, a frequenter of the Irtenev estate, appears on the threshold of the classroom. He says some incoherent predictions, taps with a crutch and, as usual, asks for dinner from the good Natalya Nikolaevna.

Hunting, first love and the triumph of justice

The Irtenev family in full force goes hunting. Nikolenka is very fond of such trips, especially since today mother and girls went with them - sister Lyubochka and the governess's daughter Katenka, for whom young Irtenyev has his first tender feelings.

After an unsuccessful hunt (Nikolenka inadvertently frightened off a hare), the adults sit down for dinner, and the children go to play Robinson. All this time, Nikolenka awkwardly shows signs of attention towards Katenka, but the girl does not indulge the courtship of the young master.

Upon returning home, the children are occupied with drawing. Nikolenka gets only blue paint, and he tries to depict the events of today. First, the boy draws a blue hare, then he turns the animal into a bush, a bush into a tree, a tree into a stack, a stack into a cloud. As a result, the drawing is recognized as unusable and thrown away.

At this time, a drama is played out in the house with the teacher Karl Ivanovich, whom it was decided to dismiss the day before. The offended German came to complain to Pyotr Nikolaevich about their ingratitude, and got so excited that he forgot all the Russian words, burst into tears and promised to serve without pay, so long as he would not be separated from his beloved pupils. Taking pity on the old man, Pyotr Nikolaevich decided to take the teacher to Moscow and secure his former salary. Justice has been restored. Nicholas is happy.

Young lady and peasant woman

The narrator introduces the reader to another permanent resident of the Irtenevs' house - the housekeeper Natalia Savishna. Once upon a time, she was just Natasha, a yard girl in the village of Khabarovka, where her mother Natalya Nikolaevna grew up. At the request of her clarinetist father, a young peasant woman was taken into the house. When Nikolenka's mother was born, she became her nanny. Thus began the warm affection of two Natalias - a young lady and a serf. And when, in gratitude for the years of service, Natalya Nikolaevna wrote free to Savishna, she burst into tears and did not want to leave the yard at all.

Looking through the years, Nikolenka admits that then, in childhood, he did not appreciate Savishna's love. So today, saying goodbye before leaving, he briefly kisses the tear-stained old woman on her cap. He can't wait to go to Moscow for adventure. Looking out of the carriage, Nikolenka sees her mother, beautiful in a fluttering blue scarf, which she holds with her hand. Then the boy did not yet suspect that he was looking at his mother like this for the last time.

Moscow, relatives and second first love

A new period begins in the life of the young Irtenevs, Moscow. And the first disturbing test on the way of the boys is acquaintance with the city relatives. First things first, Nikolenka and Volodya go to meet their grandmother, the princess. Everyone prepares a gift for a relative. Nikolenka composes a poem. At first it seems to him quite tolerable, but by the time of the public reading, he is practically convinced that the poems came out bad and, moreover, false. He is especially worried about the last line - "And we love you like your own mother." After all, this is not true! Not true! Nikolenka, of course, loves and respects her grandmother, the countess, but not at all in the same way as her mother, the most adored creature in the world.

In the house of Countess Irtenyeva, they get acquainted with distant relatives - the bilious Princess Kornakova and very stately and handsome, despite his seventy, Prince Ivan Ivanovich. A little later, Nikolenka and Volodya make acquaintance with the Ivin brothers, their peers, take part in games, attend real dances, and Nikolenka also falls in love again. Now the object of his adoration is Sonechka Valahina, whom he thinks about every time before going to bed. And this, young Irteniev is convinced, is serious.

End of childhood

The Irtenievs have been living in the Moscow house of the Countess's grandmother for six months now. Their new hectic life is disturbed by a letter from the village. Natalya Nikolaevna writes that she is seriously ill, her days are numbered, and asks her husband to bring the children to the village as soon as possible. Pyotr Alekseevich, without hesitation, rushes to his wife. However, relatives find the patient delirious, she sees nothing, does not recognize anyone, and dies the same day in terrible agony.

Mother's funeral left the most difficult memories in the soul of young Nikolenka Irtenyev. Many people gathered, for some reason everyone cried, prayed, pitied the poor orphans. “What right did they have to talk and cry about her?” Nikolenka cries out through the years. After all, no one really cared about her death and their grief. Yes, and the boy himself could not realize what was happening: "... I despised myself for not experiencing only one feeling of sorrow."

Among those present, one gray-haired old woman stood out. She didn't cry, she just knelt in a corner and silently prayed. It was the faithful Natalya Savishna, a man who truly loved the deceased. Some time later, Savishna passed away. She died quietly and peacefully, having prepared for her own funeral a month in advance. Her grave is now in the estate, not far from the place where Natalya Nikolaevna was buried.

And the life of the Irtenevs continued in the same sequence: they got up in the morning in their rooms, ate at the dinner table, walked along familiar paths and fell asleep with the arrival of night in their warm beds. It seems that nothing has changed ... only mother is gone. And with her, her childhood was gone.

Wrote a wonderful trilogy Childhood. Adolescence. Youth. It is studied at school, starting with the first book called Childhood. Just its summary for the reader's diary, we offer our readers. This will allow you to get acquainted with the work of Leo Tolstoy Childhood in a short time.

Childhood in abbreviation introduces us to a ten-year-old boy who celebrated his birthday just two days ago. In the yard is the morning of 18 .., which for the child begins as usual. Out of habit, the German Karl Ivanovich wakes him up to take him to his mother to say hello.

The heroes go downstairs, where Nikolenka, on whose behalf the story is being told, meets her mother. She is kind and caring and her smile is amazing. Every day, mom is interested in her son's health and after a couple of kind words, the boy goes to his father's office to wish him good morning.

However, this day was different. Going into his father's office, Nikolenka learns that their father wants to take them to the capital with him, where the boys will continue their studies. It becomes clear to the hero that soon Karl Ivanovich will not have a job, as he will be fired. He is very worried, because he will have to leave his parents' house and part with his mother.

Then the day went on as usual, so the children go to the class where the German taught history and languages. Today, however, everyone was in a mood. There was resentment in the teacher's eyes, as he was about to be fired for twelve years of devotional service. Nikolenka was also bitter, for he felt sorry for the old man.

Grishka comes to the house. He was a holy fool whom his mother helped in spite of her husband's displeasure. He often spoke incomprehensible words, which many took for predictions. This time the man smelled trouble that he would soon come to the Irtenevs' house. The holy fool was treated to dinner, after which Irteniev Sr. got ready to go hunting. The children are also asked to go with him.

After preparations, the Irtenievs and their servants go hunting. They hunt a hare, for this each participant takes his position. And now the hare runs straight to Nikolenka. The boy was so excited that he set the dog on him ahead of time. As a result, the animal ran away, for which the hero was angry with himself.

After the hunt, they organized a kind of picnic with snacks. The children played their games, although Volodya was bored this time, so the games did not fit.
Katya, the daughter of a governess, was also with the Irtenev children. Nikolenka likes her for a long time. Just during the games, the boy manages to kiss Katya on the cheek, for which he received a reproach from his brother.

Then the hero talks about his father and his character. From this we learn that this is an enterprising and self-confident person. He knew how to please everyone and often succumbed to passions. His passions were women and playing cards.

In the evening everyone was at home. The children took up drawing, Nikolenka's mother played the piano, and the German went to the owner's office. There he offers his services as a teacher for free, saying that he is very used to boys. Nikolenka's father decides not to fire the man, but to take him with him.
When the children were playing, they noticed the holy fool Grishka, who had stayed overnight at the Irtenevs' house. They began to watch the man and saw how he began to pray. His prayer was so sincere that it amazed the boy.

In his memoirs, the hero remembered the former nanny of Nikolenka's mother, who had already grown old and began to play the role of a housekeeper. The boy loved Savishna, this sweet, caring woman.

And then the day of departure arrived. Everyone is going on the road. Before leaving, Nikolenka says goodbye to his mother and sister, to all the people he knows and is close to him. He is sad because he does not want to part with them. But the carriage moved. Here the hero begins to remember his childhood, a cheerful and carefree time.

Further, from the work of L. Tolstoy Childhood in brief, we learn that a month has already passed, as the boys live in Moscow. They stayed with their grandmother. She has a holiday - a birthday. Since there was nothing to give, Nikolenka composes a verse, but is very worried, because he did not like it. However, the grandmother appreciated the gift and read the verse out loud.

Guests began to arrive at the grandmother's house. Among them were relatives of Princess Kornakova, Prince Ivan Ivanovich, to whom the grandmother complained about her son that he had come to the capital not on business, but for entertainment. The grandmother had suspicions about her son's infidelity. Nikolenka overheard this conversation.
Together with adults, grandmothers and children come to the house. So the Ivin family arrived, where there were three sons. Just one of them, Seryozha, liked Nikolenka. During the entertainment, the children decided to play a trick on one of them. It was Ilenka. Jokes lead to resentment and crying of the child. This event diminished Nikolenka's admiration for Sergei.

The guests continue to arrive, and in the late afternoon Sonya arrived with her parents. The hero really liked the twelve-year-old girl and he tried to attract her attention. Dancing began and Nikolenka invited Sonya to a quadrille. After the dance, he wanted to strike up a conversation, but the sounds of a mazurka were heard. Nikolenka again wanted to invite Sonya, but he had to dance with the ugly daughter of the Kornakovs. The boy is upset because of what he confused the figures and became the laughing stock of the ball.

When everyone had left, Nikolenka and his brother went into the room to sleep, but sleep did not come. The guys simultaneously thought about Sonya, who both liked.

Six months later they receive a letter. It was from Nikolenka's mother. She reported her illness, where she expressed her hope for a speedy recovery. However, she attributed to her father that her death was inevitable, so she asked him to come and bring the children.

The husband and children return to the village, where the wife is unconscious. She does not recognize the children, and on the second day after their arrival, she dies in suffering.
The death of his mother was a great grief for the boy. Further, in a brief retelling of Tolstoy's Childhood, a collision with death destroys a serene life. Now Nikolenka is entering a new stage in his life.

Childhood is over. The Irtenievs move to the capital, only Savishna remains in the house in the village, who soon also dies quietly. Irteniev, having matured, visits the estate every year, each time visiting the grave of his mother and her nanny.

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Tolstoy "Childhood" summary

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Summary Epilogue Part One "War and Peace" Tolstoy Composition: the image of the mother in Tolstoy's story "Childhood"

This story is based on memories of his childhood, family and people around him at that time. The events described in it take place in the middle of the 19th century. Below is Tolstoy's story "Childhood", a brief summary.

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Chapters I to IV (Teacher Karl Ivanovich, maman, dad, classes)

1. Nikolenka, who turned 10 three days ago, and his brother were brought up and taught science by Karl Ivanovich . The boy loved his teacher although this morning Karl Ivanitch had angered him. The teacher also loved his students, but while in the classroom, he tried to be strict. Karl Ivanovich liked to read a lot, because of this he even ruined his eyesight. After waiting for the boys to take the morning toilet, he led them to greet their mother.
2. In his story, Tolstoy is very sorry that he cannot remember in detail his mother of those times. He remembered only her brown eyes and dry hands, with which she caressed Nikolenka in childhood. After saying hello to the children, mom sent them to dad to tell him to come to her.
3. Dad had a serious conversation with the clerk, so he asked me to wait a bit. saying hello, dad told the boys his plan that he leaves for Moscow at night and takes them with him for more serious study. Contrary to Nikolenka's expectations, then dad sent them to study with Karl Ivanovich, promising to take the boys hunting later.
4. Karl Ivanovich was very upset by the resignation received, in connection with the departure of his wards. He constantly complained to Uncle Nikolai about his future fate. Lessons that day, it seemed to Nikolenka, would never end, but then steps were heard on the stairs.

Chapters V to VIII (The Holy Fool, preparations for hunting, hunting, games)

Chapters IX to XII (Something like first love. What kind of person was my father? Classes in the office and living room. Grisha)

1. The game immediately stopped after Nikolinka's sister, Lyubochka, plucked a worm from the tree along with a leaf. The children began to watch the worm, and Nikolenka liked to look at Katenka (the daughter of Lyubochka Mimi's governess) more. He had always liked her, but now he realized that he loved her even more. At this time, the boys' father announced that, at the request of the mother, the departure was postponed until the morning.
2. In the X chapter of his story Tolstoy talks about the character of his father. He characterizes his parent as a self-confident, enterprising person, with shades of courtesy and revelry. His favorite pastime was playing cards, and he also loved women. His father was a happy man, Tolstoy believed. He liked to be in public, he knew how to tell all sorts of stories very interestingly.
3. When they returned home from hunting, dad, after talking with Karl Ivanovich, decided to take him with him to Moscow. Maman approved of this news, saying that the children would be better with him, and they got used to each other. Already before going to bed, the children decided to look at the chains of Grisha, who spent the night on the second floor.
4. Watching Grisha pray before going to bed made such an impression on the boy that Tolstoy writes about the impossibility of forgetting these feelings for the rest of his life.

Chapters XIII to XVI (Natalya Savishna, separation, childhood, poetry)

Chapters XVII to XX (Princess Kornakova, Prince Ivan Ivanovich, Ivins, guests are gathering)

1. Then the grandmother received Princess Kornakova with her congratulations. Their conversation was about the methods of raising children. The princess welcomed corporal punishment in education. Nikolenka thought it was good that he was not her son.
2. There were a lot of guests with congratulations that day. But Nikolenka was struck by one of them - This is Prince Ivan Ivanovich. He looked at the prince with admiration and respect. He liked that his grandmother was glad to see the prince. After listening to the boy's poems, he praised him and said that he would be another Derzhavin.
3. Next, Ivin's relatives came. They had a son, Seryozha, who Nikolenka really liked. He sometimes even tried to imitate him. Children began to play their favorite game - robbers.
4. Meanwhile, guests began to gather in the living room and hall. Among them was Mrs. Valakhina with her daughter Sonechka. Nikolenka was not indifferent to Sonya and she occupied all his attention.

On August 12, 18**, ten-year-old Nikolenka Irteniev wakes up on the third day after his birthday at seven o'clock in the morning. After the morning toilet, the teacher Karl Ivanovich leads Nikolenka and his brother Volodya to greet their mother, who is pouring tea in the living room, and with their father, who is giving housekeeping instructions to the clerk in his office.

Nikolenka feels in himself a pure and clear love for his parents, he admires them, making accurate observations for himself: “... in one smile lies what is called the beauty of the face: if a smile adds charm to the face, then it is beautiful; if she does not change him, then the face is ordinary; if she spoils it, then it is bad.” For Nikolenka, mother's face is beautiful, angelic. The father, due to his seriousness and severity, seems to the child a mysterious, but undeniably beautiful person who "likes everyone without exception."

The father announces to the boys about his decision - tomorrow he takes them with him to Moscow. All day: studying in classes under the supervision of Karl Ivanovich, upset by the news received, and hunting, on which the father takes the children, and meeting with the holy fool, and the last games, during which Nikolenka feels something like first love for Katenka - everything this is accompanied by a woeful and sad feeling of the impending farewell to his native home. Nikolenka recalls the happy time spent in the village, the courtyard people who are selflessly devoted to their family, and the details of the life lived here appear vividly before him, in all the contradictions that his childish consciousness is trying to reconcile.

The next day at twelve o'clock the carriage and the britzka stood at the entrance. Everyone is busy with preparations for the road, and Nikolenka is especially keenly aware of the discrepancy between the importance of the last minutes before parting and the general fuss that reigns in the house. The whole family gathers in the living room around a round table. Nikolenka hugs her mother, cries and thinks of nothing but her grief. Having left for the main road, Nikolenka waves a handkerchief to his mother, continues to cry and notices how tears give him "pleasure and joy." He thinks of his mother, and all Nikolenka's memories are filled with love for her.

For a month now, the father and children have been living in Moscow, in the grandmother's house. Although Karl Ivanovich was also taken to Moscow, new teachers teach the children. On grandmother's name day, Nikolenka writes his first poems, which are read in public, and Nikolenka is especially worried about this moment. He meets new people: Princess Kornakova, Prince Ivan Ivanovich, relatives Ivins - three boys, almost the same age as Nikolenka. When communicating with these people, Nikolenka develops his main qualities: natural subtle observation, inconsistency in his own feelings. Nikolenka often looks at himself in the mirror and cannot imagine that someone can love him. Before going to bed, Nikolenka shares his experiences with his brother Volodya, admits that he loves Sonechka Valakhina, and all the childish genuine passion of his nature is manifested in his words. He admits: "... when I lie and think about her, God knows why I feel sad and I want to cry terribly."

Six months later, my father receives a letter from my mother from the village that she caught a severe cold during a walk, fell ill, and her strength is fading every day. She asks to come and bring Volodya and Nikolenka. Without delay, the father and sons leave Moscow. The most terrible forebodings are confirmed - for the last six days, mother has not gotten up. She can’t even say goodbye to the children - her open eyes no longer see anything ... Mommy dies on the same day in terrible suffering, having only had time to ask for blessings for the children: “Mother of God, don’t leave them!”

The next day, Nikolenka sees her mother in a coffin and cannot come to terms with the idea that this yellow and waxy face belongs to the one whom he loved most in life. The peasant girl, who is brought to the deceased, screams terribly in horror, screams and runs out of Nikolenka's room, struck by the bitter truth and despair before the incomprehensibility of death.

Three days after the funeral, the whole house moves to Moscow, and with the death of her mother, Nikolenka's happy time of childhood ends. Later, when he comes to the village, he always comes to the grave of his mother, not far from which they buried Natalia Savishna, who was faithful to their house until the last days.