“The Peasant Young Lady”: a summary of Pushkin’s story

Muromsky and Berestov

The work begins by describing how two neighbors ran their farm - Grigory Ivanovich Muromsky and Ivan Petrovich Berestov. The latter owns the Tugilovo estate, and the former owns Priluchino. Berestov conducts his farming prudently and wisely. He makes good money from it. Ivan Petrovich is hostile to innovation, so he often makes fun of Muromsky, who squandered most of his estate, but continues to be extravagant. Grigory Ivanovich tries to imitate the British in everything. On his estate there is an English garden, which absorbs the bulk of his income. Moreover, his grooms are dressed like English jockeys. He also arranged for an English governess for his daughter. Muromsky tries to adhere to farming methods that were developed in his beloved country. However, this does not bring any tangible profit. Muromsky is even forced to mortgage his estate. The relationship between the two neighbors is hostile, so they don’t visit each other.

Alexey Berestov

The work “The Peasant Young Lady” continues with the following events (the summary, of course, describes only the main ones). Pushkin tells us that Muromsky has a daughter, Liza, and Berestov has a son, Alexey. The latter has already graduated from university and wants to become a military man. However, the father prevents these plans, because he wants to see his son as an official.

Alexey wants to present himself as sad and disappointed, which greatly impresses the district young ladies. The black ring, as well as mysterious correspondence that seems to exist, are attributes of his game. But the author destroys this romantic gloomy image. He talks about this with a touch of irony, and then completely tears off Alexei’s mask.

Scene

Two neighboring provinces located nearby differ in their way of life. In Tugilovo everything is strictly military. Retired military guard Ivan Petrovich Berestov is in charge here. He does not leave his estate. The master considers himself the smartest and most educated person. The neighbors love him, but are a little afraid of him. The Priluchino estate belongs to another master - Grigory Ivanovich Muromsky. He runs his farm in the English manner and has introduced a huge number of innovations: an English garden, jockey clothes. Two neighbors are in a quarrel, the cause of which is hidden by time. The neighbors have a lot in common: they are widowers raising children. The owner Tugilov, Berestov has a son Alexey, in Priluchino he has a daughter Liza.

Trick invented by Lisa

Muromsky's daughter, Lisa, like other local young ladies, is eager to meet her neighbor's son. But their fathers don’t want to communicate. What should she do? Nastya, her maid, comes to the rescue. Lisa trusts her with her secrets. Having visited the village of Berestova, Nastya tells her mistress that the young master is not at all thoughtful and sad, but a cheerful and cheerful young man. Nastya and Lisa immediately figure out how to introduce the young lady to him. Lisa will go to Berestov's estate, disguised as a peasant woman.

Meeting Alexey and Akulina

It’s as if the heroes meet by chance. Lost in thought, a peasant young lady walks along a path in the forest. This girl foresaw a summary of further events. Suddenly a dog runs up to her, scaring Lisa with its barking. Here Alexey Berestov, the dog’s owner, appears. Lisa's masquerade was a great success: the young man thinks that in front of him is Akulina, a peasant woman from a neighboring village, the daughter of the blacksmith Vasily. Alexey is used to behaving freely with pretty girls, but his new acquaintance inspires involuntary respect with her behavior, so he gives up his attempts to hug Akulina. Alexey longs to see her again. He promises to come to Vasily. Fearing that her trick will be revealed, the girl promises to be in the same place the next day.

The main characters and their characteristics

1. Liza Muromskaya is the main character of the story, the daughter of the landowner Grigory Ivanovich Muromsky, a beautiful and cheerful girl. Playful and frivolous, she, on the one hand, is capable of pranks, and on the other, of bold and decisive action. “She was an only and therefore spoiled child.” Having received a good education, the girl is well versed in music and the arts, studies languages, but deep down, Lisa is a romantically inclined person. She believes in love, so she has a genuine interest in Alexei Berestov, who, according to rumors, has concentrated in himself a whole set of truly romantic qualities. Disguised as a peasant woman, Lisa shows miracles of imagination, and for a long time passes herself off as the uneducated daughter of a blacksmith. Her funny and easy-going character is combined with an amazing ability to love. She is devoid of stiffness and arrogance, therefore, in the image of a peasant girl, Lisa is so organic that Alexey does not catch her in a lie. The naturalness of her behavior, sharp mind and amazing beauty - everything in general attracts the hero.
2. Alexey Berestov is Berestov’s son, who after university came to the village to visit his father. He dreams of becoming a military man, which is quite consistent with his appearance: a tall, stately, attractive young man becomes the main reason for gossip among the district girls. “The young ladies looked at him, and others looked at him.” Alexey himself puts on an even greater aura of mystery, appearing gloomy and disappointed in front of the girls, telling them “about lost joys and about his faded youth” and generally showing himself as an experienced womanizer. But, in general, Alexey is a simple and good person, honest and kind. Having fallen in love with the peasant woman Akulina, the hero is so sincere in his feelings that he is ready to take her as his wife against the will of his father.

Development of the relationship between Alexey and Akulina (Lisa)

A peasant young lady returns safely to her parents' house. We will continue the summary with a description of how her relationship with Alexei developed. The governess and father do not suspect anything. However, the girl thinks that her prank is risky. She decides not to go on a date, but her fear of exposure forces her to keep her promise. Lisa, having met Alexei again, says that they should not meet again, since it is frivolous and will not lead to good. The depth of the peasant woman’s feelings and thoughts amazes Alexei, and the hero is already enchanted. Berestov asks her to meet with him at least occasionally and agrees not to look for other dates other than those that Akulina herself assigns to him. They communicate for some time. These heroes, created by Pushkin (“The Young Lady-Peasant”), gradually fall in love with each other. The summary of the work becomes more and more interesting.

Reconciliation of fathers

Chance changes the fate of the heroes. One morning, Lisa and Alexei's fathers accidentally bump into each other. Muromsky, chasing a hare, fell from his horse. Alexei's father invites a neighbor to his estate. In response, he invites him to come with his son to his estate the next day.

Lisa, having learned about this, was afraid that Alexei would recognize her. She says that she won’t come out to the guests. The father chuckles that his daughter harbors a hereditary hatred of her neighbors, like the heroine of a novel. However, Lisa stands her ground. The father stops the pointless argument, realizing that she cannot be convinced.

Topics and issues

• The main theme of the story , of course, is love. Love becomes the main driving force behind the development of action. All external circumstances pale before the mutual inclination of the heroes.
• Humor. In addition, in “The Peasant Young Lady” the reader will discover the obvious comedy of the situation. But the humor of the story is kind and bright, making you smile at the happy absurdity of the events taking place, in the center of which the heroes find themselves. For example, Pushkin very ironically draws the image of Muromsky in his desire to build life in English manners. Anglomania is also a peculiar manifestation of the stereotyping of noble life.
• The problematics of “The Young Lady-Peasant Woman” are closely connected with the denial of the prejudices of society, in this case the district. Stereotypes and conventions of the environment are also manifested in the lives of the heroes: their noble status obliges them to lead a life that they do not like, to marry against their own will.
• Conflict . In order to be truly sincere, the heroes are forced to constantly fight with the way of life that reigns around them. The heroes themselves, Lisa and Alexey, are very trivial characters, they have not escaped the imprint of the vulgarity of county life, but they are both capable of bold and decisive actions in the name of love, which undoubtedly deserves respect.

Lisa's new plan

Lisa’s new plan is described by Pushkin (“The Young Lady-Peasant”). We will not describe the summary of the trick invented by this heroine now. You will learn about it a little later. Lisa consults with Nastya on what to do. Together they develop a plan and put it into action. What exactly did the girls come up with? You will learn about this by reading the summary of the story “The Young Lady-Peasant Woman”. In the morning, Lisa declares that she will receive guests, but her father should not be indignant or surprised by her actions. Suspecting his daughter's new trick, the father agrees.

The Berestovs visiting the Muromskys

The Berestovs are coming. Muromsky shows them his menagerie and park. All these whims do not make a favorable impression on the prudent landowner. However, he is silent out of politeness, and the son does not care - he wants to see the owner’s daughter. Although Berestov is captivated by the mysterious peasant woman, he is still interested in looking at the young lady. Then the guests and the owner enter the house. Muromsky and Berestov talk about their lost youth. Alexey thinks about how he should behave in the presence of Lisa. He puts on his mask again: he pretends to be absent-minded and cold. Here comes Lisa. Seeing his daughter in an unusual appearance, the father is amazed. Lisa is playing a cutesy socialite. She made a hairstyle out of fake curls, bleached her hair, put on a formal dress and diamonds. Of course, Alexey does not recognize his beloved in this doll. The Englishwoman, realizing that her pupil took the whitewash without asking, gets angry with her. Lisa and Alexey continue to play their roles during lunch. He behaves thoughtfully and absent-mindedly, and Lisa pretends to be a cutesy young lady.

The essence

The main events of the story unfold around two noble families - the Berestovs and the Muromskys, living next door. The fathers of families do not get along with each other, since the conservative Berestov condemns his neighbor's Anglomania. Muromsky's daughter, Liza, wants to meet Alexei Berestov, but a quarrel between her fathers creates an obstacle to the meeting.

Disguised as a peasant woman, Lisa meets Alexei in the forest and introduces herself as Akulina, the daughter of the village blacksmith. Inspired by the acquaintance, Alexey teaches the uneducated girl to read and write, amazed at the speed with which she learns. Meanwhile, Father Berestov fails to control his horse during a hunt and accidentally ends up in the Muromskys’ house. As a result, the fathers get to know each other in detail and make peace.

Lisa's father invites Berestov and his son to his place. Lisa manages to avoid detection. She goes out to dinner, dressed in ridiculous clothes, made up and bleached. Alexey doesn't recognize her. The fathers, who have become close friends in a short time, decide to marry their children. Alexey is determined to go against his father’s will and secretly marry Akulina. He goes to the Muromskys’ house and recognizes his Akulina in young lady Liza. This is the plot of the story.

The upcoming marriage of Lisa and Alexey

After some time, correspondence begins between the young people. The oak hollow acts as a mailbox. Meanwhile, the fathers decide to marry their children. A summary of Pushkin’s story “The Young Lady-Peasant Woman” is approaching its climax. The landowners quickly agreed among themselves about the marriage, but now they also needed to persuade the children. Muromsky believed that the neighbor's son and his daughter did not like each other. However, he hoped that this would change for the better over time. His neighbor had a much simpler view of this matter. He called his son and asked why he no longer wanted to join the hussars. The son replied that his father was against it, so he did not insist. Berestov praises his obedience and says that he will not force Alexei into civil service for now, but intends to first marry him to his neighbor’s daughter.

Happy ending

The summary of the story “The Peasant Young Lady” ends, like the work itself, with a happy ending. The next day the young man goes to a neighbor to talk frankly about his proposed marriage to Lisa. But Muromsky’s servant reports that the master has left. Alexey asks if he can see his daughter. Finding out that the girl is at home, he decides to talk to her. However, when Alexey enters, he recognizes the peasant woman Akulina, who captured his heart, in Lizaveta Grigorievna.

Lisa was reading his letter at that time. The girl, seeing Alexei, tries to run away. However, Berestov holds her back. Lisa is still trying to behave like a well-bred young lady. She breaks away from Alexei’s hands and speaks French. An Englishwoman, completely at a loss, is also present at this scene. Suddenly, at this time, Lisa’s father appears, who is glad that the feelings of Alexei and his daughter coincide with his plans. It is clear that Alexey and Lisa will get married.

History of creation

Many researchers believe that the plot of the story largely repeats another famous work written by Pushkin’s contemporary, N.M. Karamzin. “Poor Liza” is one of the first works of sentimentalism in Russian literature. Written in 1792, the story caused controversy in literary and social circles. The tragic love story of the peasant woman Lisa for the young nobleman Erast was enthusiastically received by readers and was later repeatedly interpreted by other authors.

However, many plots of Pushkin’s cycle migrated to the pages of the book from life. Memories and everyday stories heard and noted by the writer formed the basis of “The Shot,” “Blizzard” and other stories. But “The Young Lady-Peasant Woman” is more connected with the refraction in Pushkin’s consciousness of existing literary traditions, which the writer modified according to his author’s intention.

“Belkin’s Tales” were first published in 1931 in the collection “Tales of the late Ivan Petrovich Belkin, published by A.P.”

Cycle "Belkin's Tales"

This concludes the summary. “The Peasant Young Lady” is a story by Ivan Petrovich Belkin. You will probably be surprised - after all, the work was written by Pushkin! This is true. However, it is included in the cycle “Belkin’s Tale”. “The Peasant Young Lady,” a brief summary of which we have reviewed, is the fifth and last story from this cycle. Other works from it: “The Shot”, “The Undertaker”, “The Station Agent”, “Blizzard”.

In 1830, Pushkin wrote “Belkin’s Tales”. “The Peasant Young Lady,” a summary of which you just read, as well as other works from this series were first published in 1831.

“The Young Lady-Peasant Woman” - a reader’s diary based on the story by A. Pushkin

The story of Alexander Pushkin «

The Young Lady-Peasant" is part of the cycle "Tales of the late Ivan Petrovich Belkin", was written in 1830, and published in 1831.

Description of the book for the reader's diary

Author:

Pushkin Alexander Sergeevich
Title of the work: “
The Peasant Young Lady”
Genre:
story
Year of writing:
1830
Publisher:
AST
Year of publication:
2014
Number of pages:
26

The main characters and their brief characteristics

Lisa Muromskaya (Betsy, Akulina) is a 17-year-old girl. Very beautiful, cheerful, playful and romantic. Alexey Berestov is a romantic and gentle handsome man who tried to seem disappointed in life. Grigory Ivanovich Muromsky is a real gentleman and an Anglomaniac. Resourceful and resourceful. Ivan Petrovich Berestov is a prudent business executive. Nastya is Lisa's maid. Cheerful and enterprising.

Image system

The images of Lisa and Alexei are in unity after meeting in the grove. A mutual feeling flares up between the young master and Lisa-Akulina.

The images of neighbors Berestov and Muromtsev are two opposite types of people. One of them is a practical person, smart and active, standing firmly on his feet. The other is a dreamer, implementing unrealistic projects, striving for innovations that have not yet been tested by life. Muromtsev is impractical, but it is he who gives birth to such an extraordinary daughter.

Two polar images at the beginning of the story are at odds. Then the neighbors make peace, and their images manifest themselves in unity, as opposites that complement each other.

One can feel the unity of the images of Lisa and her maid Nastya. The girls come from different backgrounds, but are very similar in character and interests.

Time and place of action

The action of the story takes place in the first half of the 19th century in the Russian province, on two estates of neighboring landowners Berestov and Muromsky. The story is “told” from the perspective of Ivan Petrovich Belkin, and is named after the main character, who, in order to win the heart of the main character, had to simultaneously combine two roles - a young lady and a peasant woman.

Summary and plot

For many years now, two noble families who lived in the neighborhood - the Berestovs and the Muromskys - did not get along with each other. The reason for this was the different views on life of Ivan Petrovich and Grigory Ivanovich. They did not communicate and slandered each other at every opportunity.

However, the neighbors had something in common - both were widowers and raised children alone. So, Muromsky, being a great admirer of Foggy Albion, invited an English governess for his only daughter Lisa. While Berestov sent his heir Alexei to study at the capital's university. Due to the silent enmity of their fathers, Lisa and Alexey did not even know each other.

One day a son came to Berestov who dreamed of becoming a hussar, but his father was categorically against this. The arrival of the young man stirred up the quiet, calm life of the provincial nobles. Local young ladies were deeply impressed by the handsome handsome man, who tried in every possible way to give himself the appearance of a world-weary conqueror of hearts.

Lisa really wanted to look at Alexei, and for this she decided on an adventure - to dress up as a peasant and meet the young master. The maid Nastya turned out to be a faithful assistant, providing her mistress with a reliable alibi.

Alexey was so fascinated by the young, beautiful, naive and trusting peasant woman Akulina that he himself did not notice how he fell in love with her. The young people met every day in the forest, becoming more and more convinced that they loved each other with all their hearts.

Meanwhile, their fathers, thanks to an accident while hunting, not only found a common language, but even became strong friends. In their dreams, they even became related, and decided to quickly introduce Alexey and Lisa. Berestov announced to his son his desire to marry him to Liza, but to his surprise he received a decisive refusal. To find justice for Alexei, he threatened to deprive him of his inheritance. In an impulse, the young man went to the Muromsky estate to have an explanation with Lisa. So the girl’s secret was revealed, and the lovers got married to the delight of their parents.

A very brief summary for a reader's diary

Liza Muromskaya was very interested in the recently arrived Alexei Berestov, but could not meet him due to the enmity of her fathers. She disguised herself as a peasant woman and began dating Alexei under the name Akulina. An accident became the reason for the reconciliation of neighbors and Alexey saw Lisa, but did not recognize her in makeup. Alexei taught Lisa to read and write and fell more and more in love with the girl. The parents decided to marry the children, and Alexey asked Akulina’s hand in a letter. Alexey came to the Muromskys and saw Lisa without makeup, he recognized his beloved in her.

Retelling plan

• Enmity between two landowners
• The appearance of Alexey Berestov
• Curiosity of Lisa Muromskaya.
• Nastya reports on the holiday
• Peasant outfit
• Meeting in the grove
• Second date
• Lovers
• Accident
• Reconciliation of enemies
• Lunch at the Muromskys
• Literacy lessons
• Matrimonial plans
• Alexey offers his hand to Akulina
• Nice revelation.

Main thought

Prejudices and social conventions are the main enemies on the path to happiness. To keep your love, you need to listen only to your heart.

What does it teach

This story teaches that you need to live in peace with your neighbors. Teaches that real feelings cannot be hidden. Teaches you to believe in the best and be able to wait. Teaches that there are no barriers to true love.

Review and what you liked

I really liked this good story. It is easy to read and leaves a pleasant impression. The story is very romantic and the main characters are all positive. I liked Lisa more for her pranks and inventions, but Alexey also showed himself to be a real person, ready to go against his father’s will for the sake of his love.

Conclusion and my opinion

A light, exciting work with a happy ending leaves a pleasant feeling after reading. It once again reminds us of those eternal values ​​that are often forgotten in the everyday bustle: love, friendship, family. Sincere love is a powerful driving force that gives meaning to existence and gives great happiness. Alexey Berestov, who was ready to be left without an inheritance and his father's blessing for the sake of love for a simple peasant girl, evokes special respect.

Proverbs

• There would be no happiness, but misfortune would help.
• No matter how the rope twists, it will end.
• A close neighbor is better than distant relatives.
• Whitewash won't make you cute.
• Don't take a dowry, take your sweetheart.

Quotes from the text

“...Conscience grumbled louder than her reason...” “...He decided that cold absent-mindedness is, in any case, the most decent thing...” “... But Russian bread will not be born in someone else’s manner...” “... the jokes of a superficial observer...” “... Household exercises soon consoled him. ..." "...You, Darling, look good in all your outfits..." "...For a young lady, the ringing of a bell is already an adventure, a trip to a nearby city is considered an era in life, and a visit to a guest leaves a long, sometimes eternal memory..."

Dictionary of new and unfamiliar words

Okolotok

- an urban area in pre-revolutionary Russia, which was in charge of a local police officer.
Sertuk
or
frock coat
is a caftan of German cut.
Stremyanny
is a servant who is with the master at the time of the hunt, or a groom-servant who looks after the horse.
A droshky
is a light pleasure carriage designed for two passengers.
A jockey
is a professional horseman who participates in horse racing.