Sergey Alekseev, "The history of the serf boy": a summary

As you know, in the Russian Empire for many centuries there was a phenomenon similar to slavery. It was called serfdom. At the same time serfs were the most ordinary people, who simply were not lucky enough to be born in peasant families.

The well-known writer Sergei Alekseev devoted his story "The History of the Serf Boy" to this topic. The brief content of this work, let's find out, and also get acquainted with the biography of its creator.

Russian writer S. Alekseev

Sergei Petrovich Alekseev spent most of his life writing children's and historical books. And it is not surprising, because he was born in an intelligent doctoral family (1922).

Due to the fact that his father had an internship in the village of Pliskov in the Kiev province (today it is the territory of Ukraine), the future writer has been accustomed to communicate with peasants since his childhood and knew firsthand about their burdens.

When Alexeyev was 10, his parents moved to Moscow, where he finished school. Purposeful young man dreamed of becoming a pilot, for which he entered the aviation school of the city of Postava (today the territory of Belarus) in 1940.

With the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, Sergei Alekseev, along with other cadets, was transferred to the Orenburg Flight School. Living in Orenburg, Alekseev became interested in history and, in parallel with the school, began to study at the evening courses of the faculty of the local pedagogical institute.

After graduation, the young man began to teach in it. However, because of the injury received during the training flight, soon had to leave the flying business and started to work on literature.

At first, the future writer edited other people's works, and from 1955 began to publish his own. His works were awarded many prizes (the USSR State Prize, the Lenin Komsomol Prize, the International Diploma of G. Kh. Andersen) and were translated into 50 languages of the world.

The main theme of the work of Sergei Alekseev was the military history of the Russian Empire, since the middle of the 16th century.

The most famous books of this author are "One Hundred Stories from Russian History", "Bogatyrsky Surnames", "The History of a Serf Boy" (a summary of chapters in VI - IX points), "Stories about Suvorov and Russian Soldiers" and others.

Sergei Petrovich died in May 2008 at the age of 86 years. His grave is on the Peredelkino cemetery, where even today connoisseurs of art can lay flowers.

The story "The history of the serf boy"

In Alekseev's works, historical events are often shown through children's perceptions. For example, in the book "The Life and Death of Grishatka Sokolov" tells about the Pugachev Uprising through the history of the boy who took part in it.

However, the most striking story of this type is "The History of the Serf Boy" (a short summary - in VI - IX points).

First published this work was in 1958 and marked the emergence of a new writer-historian in children's literature.

Structure of the story

This book consists of 4 chapters. In each of them the period of the main character's stay with the next owner is described. In this case, each of the chapters is divided into several parts: "Mamma Ermolaevna Marya" (7), "Dasha" (12), "Guards Lieutenant" (8), "Good Master" (7).

Prehistory of the story

Before considering the summary of the book "The History of a Serf Boy", it is worthwhile to learn about the historical period during which all events take place.

The time frame can be limited to the period of the late 80's - early 90's. XVIII century. This is evidenced by the fact that Mitya Myshkin meets with a former rebel from the army of Emelian Pugachev, as well as with the great commander Alexander Suvorov in the capture of Ishmael. Before the abolition of serfdom (1861) is still about 70 years, which means that the slaveholding estate of Tsarist Russia (hardly calmed down after the Pugachevschina) not only does not perceive serfs as people, but treats them with increased severity. Most likely, that is why this period was chosen by Alekseev to show all the abomination of serfdom.

The protagonist of the book

Before you get acquainted with the short content of the story "The story of a serf boy", it is worth learning more about his main character.

The plot is focused on the fate of a ten-year-old fellow named Dmitry (Mitya) Myshkin from the village of Zakopanka. Despite his young age and lack of education, he is smart, resourceful and bold. In this case, the boy has a sharp sense of self-worth and justice. He is ready to help an expensive person, even risking his own life.

Each time, moving to a new master, he evolves, learning from past mistakes. Thanks to this in the last chapters, Mitya actually already chooses his own masters.

It is especially worth noting the devotion that this boy is capable of. So, revenge for the death of his girlfriend Dasha, he burns the living guilty of this. And having become attached to the lieutenant Vyazemsky, the boy pulls him out of the battlefield. However, when this man breaks his word and loses the guy to his cruel and close friend, Myshkin shakes his master without a twinge of conscience.

Despite all this, despite his valor and resourcefulness, Mitya remains a child dreaming of returning to his parents. But by the end of the story, Myshkin is turning into such a potential Pugachev, who realized that good masters do not exist.

"The history of the serf boy": a brief summary of the chapter "The Mistress of Mav Ermolaevna"

At the beginning of the story, Mitya is a happy, carefree child who does not fully realize what it means to be serf. Unexpected news for him is that he and his parents are being trafficked.

Due to the fact that the auctions took place in the autumn (when serfs were not particularly valued), none of the Zakopane was bought. However, before the closing of the fair, the old lady put an eye on the boy and bargained for 3 rubles.

The new mistress, the widow of an army officer, was very poor. The only source of her income was her husband's pension. However, the money was barely enough to contain a tiny little house for 3 rooms, a shed, a barn and a bathhouse.

In addition to Mitya, the hostess had 2 more serfs: Varvara and Arkhip.

Lived in the estate of Mavra Ermolaevna poor and boring. The main entertainment of this woman was the flogging of slaves on Saturdays. This was done not for duty, but for order. The child did not like this attitude, and, trying to protect himself and others, he hid the rods.

To the boy confessed where they are, the lady planted him in a gosyatnik. Frightened, Mitya accidentally killed one of the geese. For this mistress brutally flogged him when she found the rod.

Later, Myshkin's life only worsened, so he decided to flee.

Summary of the story "The History of the Serf Boy": Chapter Two ("Dasha")

Next to the modest possessions of Mitya's mistress was the magnificent Novgorod estate of Count Alexei Gushchina (Barabiha). This nobleman appeared there rarely, so almost all the time in the estate was run by his German-manager Franz Neiman.

Once the count demanded from the manager to prepare a fortress orchestra and the theater for the New Year. Neiman began to collect peasants who were inclined to play music throughout the district. One day he happened to hear how Mitya (whom by that time they had put the geese to put on) was playing on the pipe. Evaluating the talent of the guy, Franz bought him from Mavra Ermolaevna for 2 bags of oats and an old feather bed.

The estate in Barabiha was great. There lived many serfs, and the attitude towards them was several times better than that of the former mistress. Gradually, the boy got used to and became friends with a young artist named Dasha.

Despite all the good things, Mitya started running. He was overtaken by the terrible mute fox Fedor, sent into the pursuit. However, he did not give the fugitive a German, but for a long time hid it in his kennels. Soon the boy made friends with the peasant and learned that his tongue was torn out because of his participation in the Pugachev region.

When Myshkin discovered Franz, the guy really got it. But it came out Dasha and Fedor.

New Year was approaching, and the dress rehearsal was at the theater. Dasha played one of the main roles and accidentally fell. The manager wanted to beat her, but Mitya interceded. Running away from the Germans' anger, the children jumped out into the cold. Dressed in light theatrical clothes, the girl caught a cold and died of illness in a few days.

In an effort to avenge her, Mitya set fire to the house in which the German lived. The Yards did not particularly try to save the manager, and those who tried were stopped by the dumb Fyodor, who, because of a misunderstanding, was considered the culprit of the fire.

Myshkin, taking advantage of the situation, fled.

"Guards Lieutenant"

After reviewing the summary of The History of the Serf Boy of the first two chapters, it is worthwhile to find out what the third is about.

Once on the road after the escape, the main character almost froze - after all, winter. He was saved by an officer passing by. He wanted to hand over the fugitive to the authorities, but Mitya managed to get a military man to him, and he left the boy at home.

The new owner, Alexander Vasilyevich Vyazemsky, was the lieutenant of the Life Guards of the Imperial Regiment. The boy became his orderly and became very attached to him.

Because of the duel Vyazemsky sent to the war with the Turks. Fearing for the life of a young servant, he wanted to leave it on his estate, but Mitya decided to stay with the master.

I participate in the battle for the capture of Ishmael, a young officer showed courage, but was traumatized and almost died. Fortunately, Myshkin made his way to the battlefield and pulled out a wounded host from there. This was learned by Suvorov himself and awarded the young hero a medal.

Returning to Petersburg, Vyazemsky, in gratitude for his salvation, vowed never to sell the boy. But one day, playing cards, the officer put Mitya at stake. Disappointed boy did not wait for the outcome of the party and fled.

"Kind gentleman"

Having learned "The stories of the serf boy" a brief summary of the three chapters, it's time to understand what this book ended with.

After the escape Myshkin wandered around the capital in search of food. In the bazaar, he happened to meet a serf from Zakopanka - Curved Savva. He said that the former owners went broke and sold almost all the peasants and land. The boy's parents are now owned by General Yusupovsky, who is known for his good temper.

Savva drove the boy to his father and mother, who considered him dead.

The new master, because of a wound in the head, had some problems with the psyche. Therefore, he constantly forced the boy to play his strange games and pretend to be a soldier, then a queen. Despite this, Mita lived well.

A year later, the master remembered that he had not issued any documents for the purchase of Myshkin and had sent his manager to Count Gushchin. From there came a soldier to arrest the boy for arson. Realizing that the good does not end, the boy escaped on the master's harness.

Problems of the story

Having become acquainted with the brief content of "The History of the Serf Boy" Alekseev, it is worth considering the problems of this work.

First of all, the author tried to show the inhumanity of serfdom and the beastly attitude towards peasants on the part of their masters.

In addition, the story clearly shows the social difference between rich and poor landlords. The author tells how brutally recouped the ruined landowners on their serfs. So Mavra Ermolaevna weekly slaughtered slaves, and the first owners of Mitya sold their peasants without regret, without fear of separating the families.

No less vividly portrayed, provoked by all-permissiveness cruelty. If the old lady punished the hero for his attempts to escape, then the incapacitated master of the boy planned to humiliate and insult him simply because Mitya had a medal for courage, and he did not.

Another episode illustrating the inhumanity of gentlemen was the story of the barbaric treatment of Fyodor ("The History of the Serf Boy": a brief summary of the second chapter).

In addition to all of the above, Sergei Alekseev in his book tells that talent and nobility do not depend on titles. The story draws a parallel between Suvorov and Mitya, whom the St. Petersburg staff officers considered upstarts. But meanwhile they are both brave and noble people, despite their not quite noble origin.

The story of Sergey Alekseev "The History of the Serf Boy" (a summary in VI - IX points) is one of the pearls of Soviet and Russian literature. In it, the author managed not only to talk about the everyday life of serfs, but also to make it so interesting that even modern schoolchildren continue to read this book.