Positive and negative actions in the story are left-handed. The image and characteristics of Lefty in Nikolai Leskov’s work “Lefty

Nikolai Leskov sought to comprehend and reflect life in his work different classes, groups and classes. And he managed to create a complex and multicolored, not fully studied image of Russia in one of the most difficult periods for it - in the second half of the 19th century. An excellent example of this is the story “Lefty”.

Briefly about the plot

Before we begin the analysis of “Lefty” by N. Leskov, let us remember the story itself. The events of "Tale" take place in early XIX century. During one of his trips to England, Emperor Alexander was shown a tiny flea that could dance. He brought her to Russia. After the death of the emperor, this curiosity was discovered in his belongings, and the Cossack Platov explained that the sovereign had brought this flea as an example of the skill of English mechanics, and noted that the Russians could do no worse. Emperor Nicholas, who believed in the superiority of the Russians, instructed Platov to go to the Don and visit Tula factories, to look for a craftsman who would answer the call of the British.

Platov called three famous gunsmiths, including Lefty, showed them a strange flea and asked them to come up with something that would surpass English work. The craftsmen answered the call - they shod the flea on all its legs. Everyone was delighted and sent the savvy flea back to England to demonstrate the skill of Russian craftsmen. In England, Lefty was shown factories and offered to stay. The artisan refused, but way back I started an argument with the half-skipper about who would outdrink whom. Upon arrival in St. Petersburg, the half-skipper was brought back to life in a rich hospital, and Lefty died without medical care in a hospital for the poor.

Nikolai Leskov’s story “Lefty” ends with the fact that even on his deathbed, Lefty thinks about his homeland. Before his death, he reveals the secret of cleaning guns, but they didn’t tell the sovereign anything and continued to clean the guns with crushed bricks. If they then listen to Lefty's advice, Crimean War there would have been a completely different outcome.

Main character

Main character story - a talented Russian artisan Lefty. He and other craftsmen were commissioned to create a masterpiece to surprise the British. They decided that the nails for the horseshoes were created by Lefty. The author does not give a description of appearance special significance, indicating that he had a birthmark on his cheek, was cross-eyed in one eye, and had a receding hairline. The skill and skill of Lefty were more important - this is what the author paid attention to. He does not feel like someone significant; when the British offer to stay with them, he refuses. This is caused not so much by love for the homeland, but by disbelief in a better life.

An analysis of the story “Lefty” by N. S. Leskov would not be complete without the image of the main character, so let’s look at his characteristics in more detail. A person so downtrodden that the thought of somehow resisting circumstances does not occur to him, Lefty dies an absurd death. Here the author contrasts Lefty with the English skipper. He was immediately taken to the British embassy, ​​surrounded by care. The author emphasizes how indifferent people in the country to which Lefty returned are human life. In fact, a rare craftsman has died, and no one cares. There is a lot of comedy in the description of this character. For example, the master used his squint and left-handedness to good effect - he could do the finest work, which could not be seen with the naked eye.

Other heroes

Let’s continue the analysis of Leskov’s “Lefty” by introducing us to other characters in the work. The main characters of “Lefty” are the emperors Alexander and Nicholas, the Cossack ataman Platov and the Russian craftsman Lefty. Alexander Pavlovich is a big fan of Western culture and technology. He admired the works of Western craftsmen, and they invariably pleased him. Having visited England and seen a miracle flea there, he immediately bought it and brought it to St. Petersburg. Patriot Platov said that ours can do just as well. But Alexander, being a shrewd politician, still refrains from showing the work of Russian artisans in England.

Nikolai Pavlovich is the brother of Emperor Alexander and his complete opposite. He is inquisitive and patriotic. If Alexander was sure that Western craftsmen were the best, then Nikolai had no doubt that no one could surpass Russian masters. Having seen the flea and listened to Platov’s explanations, he was not slow to find masters who could surpass the British. Soon the craftsmen showed their work, the emperor was very upset when he did not see anything unusual. But, looking through the microscope, I saw that the flea was savvy. And he immediately sent Lefty with the curiosity to England to demonstrate Russian skill.

Accompanied the Emperor during his trip to England. Platov was distinguished by his love for everything Russian; he did not understand Alexander’s enthusiasm and exposed the treachery of foreigners. When the British boasted about their weapons, he unscrewed the lock and showed them the inscription that it was made by Russian craftsmen, and sincerely rejoiced at the frustration of the British. But not everything was smooth in Platov’s character - he was cruel to those who depended on him and treated them with contempt.

History of writing

If you analyze Leskov’s work “Lefty” according to plan, you should start with the date and history of writing. The tale of Lefty was first published in 1881 in the magazine “Rus”. In a separate edition, the author made amendments that enhance the severity of the story, emphasizing the arbitrariness of the authorities and the ignorance of the common people. Leskov initially excluded the preface from the collected works; the introduction to the story first appeared in the 1894 edition. Until this time, the reader was given the opportunity to taste all the charm of a story told by a fictional character. By removing the preface, the author wants to puzzle the reader and becomes the narrator’s crafty companion, and in last chapter replaces him.

In “Lefty” Leskov’s innovation was once again demonstrated: he does not use the word “fairy tale”, since it does not correspond to the writer’s intentions. After all, there are no fantastic characters here, real ones are mentioned here historical figures- Emperors Alexander and Nicholas, Empress Elizabeth, Cossack ataman Platov. The clarification of “legend” allows us to better understand the author’s intention - to look at history through the eyes of a person from the people, in in this case- gunsmith. Leskov once again emphasizes the ability of the people to compose legends and myths based on real events.

Means of expression

Continuing the analysis of “Lefty” Leskov, let us dwell on artistic means which the author used in his work. A play was filmed based on Leskov’s story, and there is a ballet version of “Lefty.” But the tragic component of the tale is missing here. The narrator in "Lefty" gives free rein to his imagination and word game, to further excite the listeners. Hyperbole is used as one of the techniques to convey the comic component - the colorful chieftain Platov snores so much that not one Englishman in the house can sleep. An English flea made of pure steel dances a country dance and cannot be seen with the naked eye.

In literature lessons in the 6th grade, enough time is devoted to the analysis of Leskov’s work “Lefty”. They study in detail the character and actions of the characters, the author's intention, and the means of expression used by the author. Let's look at them in more detail. An example of the use of hyperbole is Platov’s return from the Don to Tula: a description of impatience Cossack chieftain and the work of Tula craftsmen who shoed a flea and wrote their name on the horseshoe. The writer's play with language in this story goes much further than in other works - it is a celebration of neologisms and baroque phrases. As A. Volynsky noted: “The whole tale seems to be a set of clownish expressions.”

Leskov uses many techniques here, including combinations of two words that sound the same, but have different meaning. This technique is based on the tendency of the common people to remake unfamiliar or foreign words so that it is clear. In addition, in “Lefty” there are verbal absurdities: “gags” are socks, “wind cap” is a hood from the wind. The story is dominated by colloquial expressions, strange phrases, dialectisms.

The main idea of ​​the work

After this story, critics attacked Leskov, saying that he, in the person of the Tula gunsmith, belittled the Russian people. And only the “Bulletin of Europe” understood the main theme and conflict in the tale “Lefty”, as well as the writer’s intention. Leskov portrayed the Russian people, who reject European recipes, and at the same time look limited and dependent on social conditions. It must be admitted that “Lefty” is replete with ironic remarks worthy of attention. When the tsar and his ataman travel across Europe, Platov distracts his attention in every possible way - it’s no worse with us. The chieftain does not want to speak French: “I considered all French conversations to be trifles.” While the British demonstrate their weapons, he says that his fellows won without it.

“Lefty” through the eyes of the author

Of course, the ataman is a comedic character, and he common sense smacks of limitation. He treats his messengers cruelly. Treats Lefty inhumanely in the episode with “nymphosoria” and royal daughter. When the half-skipper asks him to help, he refuses to do anything for the English master. Without a doubt, the story "Lefty" proves Russian superiority. Lefty says that Orthodox faith the most correct one, because “our books are thicker than yours.” The author's mockery of nationalism is visible throughout the work; people obsessed with it are unable to see the true value of things. But Leskov wanted to good-naturedly ridicule the bragging of the Russian people, their inability to recognize the value of what was done on the other side.

Continuing the analysis of Leskov’s “Lefty”, it is impossible not to dwell on the opinion of critics. In the years Soviet power critics did not fail to emphasize the bitter satire in the story of Lefty. His end is tragic - the flourishing of folk talent is impossible in Russia. The author portrays both kings as comedic characters. Alexander tries to please the British in everything and looks at Russian life superficially. Nicholas does not trust foreigners, but succumbs to the flattery and cunning of the courtiers, who hide the death of Lefty from him. The dying Lefty asked him to tell the king not to clean his guns with crushed bricks, but no one listened to him. The Tsar did not know anything, and the Crimean campaign was lost.

True reality

People's life I wouldn’t call it gratifying either. Platov treats the Cossacks cruelly and commits arbitrariness with impunity. He beats up Lefty and gets off with an apology. Lefty was thrown in front of the police station, he lay in the cold for a long time, then he was taken half-naked from hospital to hospital and finally brought to a hospital for the poor. The author shows in what ignorance the people vegetate, they are captive of their prejudices and customs. Leskov wrote that he initially wanted to portray Lefty as a symbol of the Russian people with all its shortcomings and advantages: intelligence and ingenuity.

Concluding the analysis of Leskov’s “Lefty”, let’s summarize - did the author succeed in realizing his plan? Was the reader able to understand it? Probably yes. Many amazing things were created by illiterate people, not knowing arithmetic, only the Psalter and the Dream Book. Lefty is like a bird that flew too close to the sun and scorched its wings. And the Russian people are unable to use their talents not only because of ignorance, but also because they are possessed by a sense of superiority. And common sense and prudence are Western concepts. In “Lefty,” the author says that Russian people have two tenacious habits that are ingrained in their blood: drunkenness and fanfare.

“The Tale of the Left-Hander” cannot be called either a pamphlet against the Russian people, or an openly nationalistic work. Leskov talentedly presented here a living and truthful image of reality.

The genre is determined by the author himself - this is a tale, a work of oral folk art based on traditions and legends. The language of the tale is unusual: many words are distorted, as if they were pronounced by an illiterate person: “melkoskop” (microscope), “ceramides” (pyramids), etc. This is one of the means of humorous depiction.

This is a story about the unprecedented skill of Tula gunsmiths, about the simple Russian people who believe in God and diligently do their work not for money and fame, but for the sake of the prosperity of their Fatherland. Leskov shows different Russian characters worthy of all respect. Many characters the tales are real, but described from the point of view of a commoner. For example, General Platov is represented Don Cossack. He is opposed to the king.

Tsar Alexander is a man interested in foreign things, surprised and rejoicing at the merits of others. Platov is a strict Cossack, for whom everything native is the highest value, and he is sure that there are more miracles in Russia.

Sovereign Nikolai Pavlovich - just king, trusting Russian craftsmen and knowing that they will not let him down.

Lefty is a Tula gunsmith, an inconspicuous-looking man, endowed with enormous talent and skill, tolerant of others and grateful. He was not seduced by the tempting offers of the British, returned to his homeland, and there he turned out to be of no use to anyone and died in a hospital for the poor.

This is one of Leskov's most popular works. Written in the form of a folk tale in 1881 and then published in the magazine “Rus” under the title “The Tale of the Tula Oblique Left-Handed Person and the steel flea(Workshop legend)." Subtitle: “The Shop Legend”...

One of the themes that occurs quite often in the works of N.S. Leskov is the theme of the Russian working man, a talented craftsman, a master with golden hands. This is the hero of the work Lefty, the Tula master who shod the steel flea. Work...

1. New!

   How does this work express the author’s patriotic feeling? The patriotic feeling is expressed primarily by the creation of the image of Lefty. The author sees the talent of a Russian person, a high professional, and mourns the fact that in other countries...

More than any Russian writers of the 19th century c., Leskov left traces of a stylistic play with the properties of the Russian language. He observed and found these properties in home-grown representatives of such strata of society, whose nationalism has not yet been discolored by world cultural...

1880s - the heyday of N. S. Leskov’s creativity. He spent his whole life and all his strength trying to create a “positive” type of Russian person. He defended the interests of peasants, defended the interests of workers, denounced careerism and bribery....

2. watch in full

Lefty and his role in the story

In Nikolai Semenovich Leskov’s story “Lefty,” pride for the Russian people and bitterness for the attitude of officials towards ordinary people.

IN brief description Lefty from the story “Lefty” the author speaks of him as one of the gunsmiths who promised to fulfill the royal order. The work doesn't even contain Lefty's real name.

Together with two other craftsmen, Lefty took on the task to prove to the British that our craftsmen are no worse than English craftsmen and can do any complex work.

Lefty's appearance and his relationship with the characters in the story

N. S. Leskov Lefty, whose description the author gives very briefly, introduces him as the main character almost in the middle of the story. Here is what the author writes: “there are three gunsmiths, the most skilled of them, one is left-handed with an oblique eye, there is a birthmark on his cheek, and the hair on his temples has been torn out during training.” And only from this moment the plot already revolves around Lefty.

In the work, the gunsmiths appear before the reader as calm and self-confident craftsmen, respectful of the king and each other. The phrase “for our sake the king’s word will not be put to shame” says a lot. It seems that only the “royal word” sounds, but behind this expression one can hear “the honor of the Motherland,” for which the masters, without saying loud words, are ready to stand up.

Platov’s bad attitude towards Lefty changed only after Lefty explained how you need to look at a flea in order to see and appreciate the skill of Tula gunsmiths.

When sending Lefty with a messenger to England, neither the Tsar nor Platov even thought about the fact that a person was traveling so far without documents. And no one bothered to write out some paper for Lefty just in case. The main thing is that the British understand “that this is not surprising to us.”

Disdain for ordinary people from outside Russian authorities runs through the entire story. They didn’t even bother to feed the left-hander, so they sent him to England hungry, only they gave him a caftan so that “it would look like he had some kind of paid rank.”

Lefty as the personification of Russian masters

All the simple working people of Russia appear in the description of Lefty from Leskov’s story “Lefty”. Hard-working, reverent of authority, ready to obey any order from his superiors, and at the same time full of dignity, patriotism and self-confidence, Lefty seems to personify Russian masters.

No English blessings tempt Lefty. He remains faithful to his homeland to the end.

Lefty's Patriotism

Returning to Russia, Lefty fully felt the “love” of his Motherland. Not having a “tugament” with him, he ended up in the “common people’s Obukhvin hospital, where everyone of an unknown class is admitted to die.”

Neither Platov nor anyone else even moved to save the master, and only thanks to the English half-skipper they brought him to Lefty good doctor. But before they had time, having caught a cold from lying on the cold floor, with a split head, Lefty died in the doctor’s arms.

And in the scene where the death of Lefty is described, the author fully reveals the character of the master. After all, even dying such a terrible death, Lefty remained faithful to his homeland. AND last words: “Tell the sovereign that the British don’t clean their guns with bricks: let them not clean ours either, otherwise, God forbid war, they are not suitable for shooting” - the best confirmation of the patriotism of a Russian craftsman.

Work test

Distinctive properties of N.S.’s prose Leskov - fairy-tale motifs, the interweaving of the comic and tragic, the ambiguity of the author's assessments of the characters - appeared in full in one of the most famous works writer “Lefty”. The title character, who outwardly does not stand out in anything special (“there is a birthmark on his cheek, and the hair on his temples was torn out during training”), is at the same time, according to the author himself, the most skillful among the Tula gunsmiths. However, Leskov does not idealize the hero, showing that despite his excellent skill, he is not strong in the sciences, “and instead of the four rules of addition from arithmetic, he takes everything from the Psalter and the Half-Dream Book.”

Lefty is a skilled craftsman, one of those who participated in shoeing the flea, personifying the talent of the Russian people. But the savvy flea stops dancing: Russian craftsmen do not have the basic technical knowledge that any English master has. Leskov does not give a name to his hero, thereby emphasizing the collective meaning and significance of his character (“Where “Lefty” stands, one must read the Russian people,” Leskov said). Lefty, while in England, rejects lucrative offers from the British and returns to Russia. He is unselfish and incorruptible, but he is “downtrodden” and feels his own insignificance next to officials and nobles. Lefty is used to constant threats and beatings.

One of the main themes in the story is the theme of the creative talent of the Russian person, which has been depicted more than once in Leskov’s works (stories “The Stupid Artist”, “The Imprinted Angel”). Talent, according to Leskov, cannot exist independently; it must necessarily be based on the moral and spiritual strength of a person. Lefty, an unprepossessing little man, is not afraid to go to the sovereign, because he is confident in his rightness and in the quality of his work.

The image of Lefty stands among other images of the righteous created by Leskov. He sacrifices himself for the sake of the Fatherland, in the name of the Cause. He goes to England without documents, hungry (on the road, “at each station, his belt was tightened by one badge so that his intestines and lungs would not get mixed up”) to show foreigners his Russian ingenuity and skill, and earns the respect of the British with his reluctance to stay in their country . Lefty has a number of qualities inherent in Leskov’s gallery of righteous people: he true patriot, a patriot at heart, gifted from birth, he is characterized by high morality and religiosity. He went through many trials, but even in his death hour he remembers that he must tell the military secret of the British, ignorance of which negatively affects the combat effectiveness of the Russian army.

According to Leskov, the inattention of the authorities to the fate of national talents, the denseness and lack of education of the Russian people themselves constitute the reason for the backwardness of Russia. It is interesting to compare Nicholas’s conversation with Lefty, to whom the emperor condescends, and the hero’s meeting with the British, who respect him as a master and speak as equals. When Lefty returns to his homeland, he falls ill and dies, useless to anyone. Thrown on the floor in a “common” hospital, he personifies inhumanity, short-sightedness and ingratitude royal power– the reason for Russia’s unsettled state, according to the author.

From the entire story it becomes obvious that Leskov sympathizes with Lefty and takes pity on him; the author's comments are filled with bitterness. The image of Lefty reflected Leskov’s search for positive hero, and I think this image is closest to this goal.

“All sounds glow, and all colors sound…” (Analysis of sound-color correspondences in D. Gorevanov’s poem “Baikal”)

Before starting work, I studied the literature I needed to conduct the experiment. I found out how sound is characterized from the point of view of physics, physiology, linguistics, and psychology. I observed...

Analysis lyrical works Russian poets

There was an old man from Hong Kong who danced to the music of the gong. But they told him: “Stop this or get out of Hong Kong completely!” An elderly gentleman from Iowa thought, backing away from a scary cow: “Maybe...

Having summarized the characteristics, we can determine the type of linguosotonic personality of Professor Preobrazhensky. This is an intuitive-logical extrovert (in socionic terms - Don Quixote, or the Seeker). Having analyzed his speech and the author’s statements...

Heroes of Bulgakov's story " dog's heart"

Sharik and Sharikov are one hero. They are distinguished by the fact that Sharik is a dog, and Sharikov is the person that Sharik turned into after the operation. The dynamics from Sharik to Sharikov are such that Sharik is rational, and Sharikov is irrational...

The humanistic system of education in the work of N.S. Leskova " Cadet Monastery"

The Artillery and Engineering Gentry Corps is a closed educational institution for children of nobles, which existed in the 18th and 19th centuries. in St. Petersburg...

Description physical phenomena V fiction

The main themes of K.M.’s creativity Simonov in the 1950-1970s

The following statement by K. Simonov is indicative. “It seems to me that just as the power of artillery is not determined by the impressiveness of its appearance...

The other world in the works of N.V. Gogol. Its role in expressing the author’s position

Gogol mythology work monster 1. In Slavic mythology Viy is a devilish monster that lives in swamps, wandering in the fogs near villages and cities. He has a special look that can penetrate the human soul...

Russian national character in the work of N.S. Leskova "Lefty"

Leskov does not give a name to his hero, thereby emphasizing the collective meaning and significance of his character. The image of Lefty combines the main features of the Russian national character...

Semantic color field in poetic texts Marina Tsvetaeva

There is a world of “color” - a purely mental phenomenon. It is known that in nature there are only light waves, and color is a product of our eyes and brain. This system of the “world of color” is reflected in language and, somehow, structured in language...