N.V. Gogol "Dead Souls": description, characters, analysis of the poem

Show skill N.V. Gogol in the description of the characters of the landlords in the poem "Dead Souls".

  • To form the ability to read, think about the text, find key words, significant details in a literary text, draw conclusions.
  • To cultivate love for Russian literature, interest in studying the work of N.V. Gogol.
  • Decor:

    1. Portraits of Chichikov and landowners.
    2. The text of the poem "Dead Souls".
    3. Presentation “Images of landowners in the poem by N.V. Gogol's Dead Souls. (Attachment 1)
    4. Fragments of the video film "Dead Souls". (DVD series “Russian Classics”)

    DURING THE CLASSES

    I. Organizing moment (greeting).

    The message of the topic of the lesson, goal setting.

    II. Introduction by the teacher.

    In the poem Dead Souls, images of landlords, these “masters of life”, who are responsible for its economic and cultural state, for the fate of the people, are drawn close-up.

    What are they, the masters of life? A plan is proposed to analyze the images of the landowners. slide 2

    III. Analysis of the image of Manilov.

    Which of the landowners does Chichikov visit first? slide 3

    When does the first meeting between Chichikov and Manilov take place? View in ideofragment “Chichikov at Manilov”

    Task: using the plan-reminder, tell about Manilov. Performance of the 1st group of students.

    What detail in the description of the hero is predominant?

    What is hidden behind Manilov's smile? How does the author characterize the hero? ?

    A pleasant Manilov smile for everyone is a sign of deep indifference to everything around; such people are not capable of experiencing anger, sorrow, joy.

    With the help of what details does Gogol give a comic coloring to the images of his characters?

    An integral part of Gogol's portrait drawing are poses, clothes, movements, gestures, facial expressions. With their help, the writer enhances the comic coloring of the images, reveals the true essence of the hero. Manilov's gestures testify to mental impotence, the inability to comprehend what goes beyond the limits of his miserable little world.

    What is the distinguishing feature of Manilov?

    His main psychological trait is the desire to please everyone and always.

    Manilov is a calm observer of everything that happens; bribe-takers, thieves, embezzlers of public funds - all the most respectable people for him. Manilov is an indefinite person, there are no living human desires in him. This is a dead soul, a “so-so, neither this nor that” person.

    Conclusion. slide 4

    Instead of a real feeling, Manilov has a “pleasant smile”, sugary courtesy and a sensitive phrase; instead of thought - some kind of incoherent, stupid reflections, instead of activity - either empty dreams, or such results of "labor", as "hills of ash knocked out of a pipe, placed not without diligence in very beautiful rows."

    IV. Analysis of the image of the Box.

    Give a brief summary of Chapter 3.

    What can you learn about Korobochka's main character trait from a direct author's description?

    Gogol does not hide the irony regarding her mental abilities: she thought, opened her mouth, looked almost with fear. “Well, the woman seems to be strong-browed!”

    The essence of Korobochka's character is especially visible through the dialogic speech of the characters. The dialogue between Korobochka and Chichikov is a masterpiece of comedy art. This conversation can be called a dialogue of the deaf.

    Watching the video fragment “Dialogue between Korobochka and Chichikov”

    What character traits of Korobochka came to light in the bargaining scene?

    She was not embarrassed by the trade in dead souls, she is ready to trade in the dead, only she is afraid to sell too cheap. It is characterized by tedious slowness and caution. She went to the city to find out how much "dead souls" are being sold these days.

    What is the position of the peasants near Korobochka?

    The village is a source of honey, bacon, hemp, which Korobochka sells. She also trades with peasants.

    Draw a conclusion about the meaning of housekeeping Boxes .

    It turns out that landlord thrift can have the same vile, inhuman meaning as mismanagement.

    What made the Box like this?

    Traditions in the conditions of patriarchal life suppressed Korobochka's personality, stopped her intellectual development at a very low level; all aspects of life not connected with hoarding remained inaccessible to her.

    Task: using the plan-reminder, tell about the Box. Performance of the 2nd group of students

    Conclusion : slide 6

    The "Cudgel-Headed" Box is the embodiment of those traditions that have developed among provincial small landowners who are engaged in subsistence farming.

    She is a representative of the outgoing, dying Russia, and there is no life in her, since she is turned not to the future, but to the past.

    V. Analysis of the image of Nozdryov.

    It consists of separate fragments that tell about the habits of the hero, episodes from his life, manners and behavior in society. Each of these sketches is a concise story that reveals one or another trait of his character: drunken revelry, a passion for changing everything, an addiction to playing cards, empty vulgar talk, sheer lies.

    How is Nozdryov's desire to lie revealed?

    Turkish daggers are shown in Nozdryov's office, one of which was carved: master Savely Sibiryakov.

    What is the character's speech ?

    Swearing speech: fetyuk, piggy, scoundrel, rubbish. And this reveals not only a personal, but also a social trait. He is sure that he is allowed to offend and deceive with impunity - after all, he is a landowner, a nobleman, the master of life.

    What are the life goals of Nozdrev ?

    Profit is not dear to Nozdryov: this tavern hero is in no way suitable for the role of an acquirer. He is possessed by a thirst for pleasures - those that are available to his dirty soul. And Nozdryov harms his neighbor with pleasure, without any malicious intentions, even good-naturedly, since his neighbor is only a means or source of pleasure for him. Pleasure denied or it did not take place: “fetyuk”, “scoundrel”, “rubbish”

    Assignment: using the plan-memo, tell about Nozdryov Presentation of the 3rd group of students

    Conclusion. Slide 8

    In general, Nozdryov is an unpleasant person, since he completely lacks the concepts of honor, conscience, and human dignity.

    Nozdryov's energy turned into a scandalous fuss, aimless and destructive.

    VI. Analysis of Sobakevich's image.

    What details-things does Gogol use when characterizing Sobakevich ?

    Description of the manor house: “…a wooden house with a mezzanine was seen…”…In a word, everything he looked at was stubbornly, without shaking, in some kind of strong and clumsy order.

    The Greek heroes in the pictures in his living room were sturdy, with thick sunbeds unheard of mustache.

    Is there a difference in the characterization of Sobakevich in the 1st and 5th chapters?

    In the 1st chapter, Sobakevich is characterized as a person "clumsy in appearance." This quality is emphasized and deepened in chapter 5: he is like "a medium-sized bear." The author persistently plays with the word “bear”: a bear-colored tailcoat, his name was Mikhail Semyonovich.

    What strikes in the portrait of Sobakevich?

    In the portrait, first of all, the complexion is striking: “..stone, hot, which happens on a copper penny”;

    “It is known that there are many such persons in the world, over the decoration of which nature did not think long, did not use any small tools, such as files, gimlets and other things, but simply chopped from the whole shoulder: she grabbed with an ax once - her nose came out, she had enough in the other - her lips came out, she poked her eyes with a large drill ... "

    “Chichikov glanced sideways at him once more as they passed into the dining room: a bear! Perfect bear!”

    Why is Chichikov careful in his conversation with Sobakevich: he did not call the souls dead, but only non-existent?

    Sobakevich immediately “felt” that the proposed deal was a scam. But he didn't even blink.

    “Do you need dead souls? Sobakevich asked very simply, without the slightest surprise, as if they were talking about bread.

    Assignment: using the memo plan, tell about SobakevichSpeech of the 4th group of students

    Chichikov is right when he thinks that Sobakevich would have remained a kulak even in St. Petersburg, although he was brought up in fashion. Yes, it would have turned out even worse: “if he tried a little the tops of some science, he would let you know later, taking a more visible place. To all those who actually learned some kind of science.

    Sobakevich, like Korobochka, is smart and practical in a businesslike way: they do not ruin the peasants, because it is unprofitable for them. They know that in this world everything is bought and sold.

    VII. Analysis of the image of Plushkin.

    The theme of moral decline, the spiritual death of the "masters of life" ends with a chapter dedicated to Plyushkin.

    Plyushkin is the last portrait in the gallery of landowners. Before us is the complete collapse of the human in man.

    How and why a hard-working owner turned into a “hole in humanity” ?

    Why does the chapter on Plyushkin begin with a digression about youth?

    Why Gogol details the story of Plyushkin's life ?

    Gogol refers to the past of the hero, since the moral ugliness is the same as that of other landlords: soul ownership, which gives rise to soullessness, loss of ideas about the meaning of life, about moral duty, about responsibility for everything that happens around. The tragedy of Plyushkin is that he lost touch with people. He sees in everyone, even in his own children and grandchildren, enemies who are ready to plunder good.

    The image of Plyushkin is the embodiment of extreme dilapidation and moldiness, and in the description of objects associated with him, Gogol reflected these qualities.

    Find in the text the artistic means by which the author reveals the essence of the image of Plyushkin .

    Dilapidation on all the buildings, the log on the huts was dark and old, the roofs pierced through like a sieve, the fence was broken ...

    Assignment: using the memo plan, tell about Plyushkin. Performance of the 5th group of students

    Conclusion. slide 12

    Mold, dust, rot, death just wafts from the Plyushkin estate. Other details also chill the heart: the old man did not give a penny to either his daughter or his son.

    So, for what purpose is the image of Plyushkin displayed in the poem ?

    Consistently, from hero to hero, Gogol exposes the worthless life of the landowners.

    The images of the landlords are given in proportion to their spiritual impoverishment and moral decline.

    It is shown how the disintegration of the human personality gradually took place.

    Once Plyushkin was only a thrifty owner. The thirst for enrichment turned him into a miser, isolated him from society.

    In his image, one of the varieties of spiritual death is revealed. Plyushkin's image is typical.

    Gogol exclaimed bitterly: “And a person could descend to such insignificance, pettiness, vileness! Could have changed! And does it look like it's true? Everything looks like the truth, everything can happen to a person.

    VIII. Similarities between Chichikov and the landowners.

    The landowner, his distinguishing feature

    How does this trait manifest itself in Chichikov

    Manilov - sweetness, cloying, uncertainty All residents of the city recognized Chichikov as a pleasant man in every way.
    Box - petty stinginess Everything in the box is laid out with the same diligent pedantry as in Nastasya Petrovna's chest of drawers.
    Nozdryov - narcissism Desire and ability to please everyone
    Sobakevich - rude stinginess and cynicism No “…no straightforwardness, no sincerity! Perfect Sobakevich”
    Plushkin - collecting unnecessary things and storing them carefully During the inspection of the city, he tore off the poster, read it, folded it and put it in a chest

    The character of Chichikov is multifaceted, the hero turns out to be a mirror of the landowner he meets, because he has the same qualities that form the basis of the characters of the landowners.

    IX. Crossword . Slides 15 to 24

    X. Summing up.

    XI. Homework.

    1. Fill in the table according to the plan:

    • brief description of the landowner;
    • description of the estate of the landowner;
    • description of a joint meal;
    • how the landowners react to Chichikov's proposal;
    • further actions of the landowners.

    2. Write an essay - a miniature “Why did Chichikov visit the landowners in such a sequence?”

    The so-called gallery of landowners Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol begins with the landowner Manilov. It is to him that the main character goes in the first place. The reader immediately notes the pretentiousness of manners and sugary speech of this man, although outwardly he is quite attractive. The meaning of Manilov's whole life is fantastic dreams. He likes to lie on the sofa or sit in a rickety gazebo, dreaming of an underground passage. He does not care at all about the peasants, who suffer from the carelessness of this landowner. Manilov is a flatterer, in his words everyone in the city is "most amiable." As it turned out, the image of Manilov is so typical of that time that the concept of Manilovism arose.

    Korobochka appears next in the gallery before the reader. Her life is an eternal accumulation. She is stingy and even stupid, since Chichikov has to spend both time and nerves to get her to sell the dead peasants. This image also turned out to be typical for Russian landowners of those times.

    Nozdryov - an avid gambler and drunkard, brawler and reveler - calls himself a friend of Chichikov. Hot-tempered, boastful, this landowner is disorderly in character, which even reflects his dwelling. Some kind of chaos is going on in the house, the owner himself keeps a real wolf cub, and a goat in the stable. Nozdryov at first refuses to sell peasants to Chichikov, and then plays checkers with him for dead souls. Of course, it is not complete without fraud on the part of the owner. Chichikov, who is indignant at this, is saved from reprisal by Nozdryov only by the visit of the police captain.

    Sobakevich appears to readers as a huge, clumsy landowner, rude and uncouth. The drive is also visible in it, as in the Box. He speaks extremely unflatteringly about the townspeople, but praises his peasants. He is surprisingly calm about Chichikov's request to buy peasants from him. Sobakevich himself is shown as a kind of ruler over the peasants.

    The last landowner is Plyushkin. If in the person of Manilov the reader sees the process of an idle life, then Plyushkin is its result. This landowner is extremely rich, he has more than a thousand souls, but he lives in a dilapidated dwelling, dressed like a beggar. In his soul, he is also a hoarder, and this trait led him to the loss of a real perception of things. He is ready to save (and thereby spoil) the products, just not to waste them. And the reader, studying the description of his dirty room, sees the spiritual death of a person in front of him - something that the rest of the landowners are slowly but surely moving towards.

    Images of landowners in the poem Dead Souls

    Gogol, this excellent writer, very well described and showed the whole real essence of all rich people, mostly landowners. This is especially pronounced in his poem Dead Souls. It is in this work of Gogol that it is clearly seen what people are just not capable of, for the sake of easy wealth. The landlords at that time of the nineteenth century in Russia played a very important role in the life of the peasants and society in general. How many people have suffered because of the unimportant whims of these, oddly enough, illiterate people.

    The landlords in Gogol's poem are shown with all the nakedness of their morals - real, not hypocritical. Landlords are people who profited from ordinary and poor people for their own benefit. For the peasants, it was like slavery, because they received neither money nor land, only kicks and reproaches, if not worse. The landlords were the head of the fortress, so they become even worse from this.

    Gogol's poem "Dead Souls" shows how one landowner decided to make his wealth even greater, and therefore began to use even dead people, or rather, their name and age, supposedly they actually exist, and are in his fortress, then is in the service of his estate. None of the auditors, and in general, could have known whether those people were alive or not - but on the other hand, the landowner received incredible benefits for this.

    Gogol shows how insignificant people can be, and it does not matter whether they are landowners or not. In this work, the landowners decided to cash in even on the dead souls of people who had already left this world. But even they were not left alone, even here they decided to draw some benefit for themselves.

    That is why Gogol could not sleep peacefully until he showed the real essence of all landowners, who are not real rich people, but those who profit from everything they can.

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    In the image of Manilov, Gogol begins the gallery of landowners. Before us there are typical characters. In each portrait created by Gogol, according to him, "the features of those who consider themselves better than others" are collected. Already in the description of the village and the estate of Manilov, the essence of his character is revealed. The house is located on a very unfavorable place open to all winds. The village makes a miserable impression, since Manilov does not take care of the household at all. Pretentiousness, sweetness are revealed not only in the portrait of Manilov, not only in his manners, but also in the fact that he calls the rickety arbor "the temple of solitary reflection", and gives the children the names of the heroes of ancient Greece. The essence of Manilov's character is complete idleness. Lying on the couch, he indulges in dreams, fruitless and fantastic, which he will never be able to realize, since any work, any activity is alien to him. His peasants live in poverty, disorder reigns in the house, and he dreams of how good it would be to build a stone bridge across the pond or lead an underground passage from the house. He speaks favorably of all, all of whom are most preferable and most amiable. But not because he loves people and has an interest in them, but because he likes to live carefree and comfortable. About Manilov, the author says: "There is a kind of people known by the name: people are so-so, neither this nor that, neither in the city of Bogdan, nor in the village of Selifan, according to the proverb." Thus, the author makes it clear that the image of Manilov is typical for his time. It is from the combination of such qualities that the concept of "Manilovism" comes.

    The next image in the gallery of landlords is the image of the Box. If Manilov is a wasteful landowner, whose inactivity leads to complete ruin, then Korobochka can be called a hoarder, since hoarding is her passion. She owns a subsistence economy and trades in everything that is available in it: lard, bird feathers, serfs. Everything in her house is arranged in the old fashioned way. She neatly stores her belongings and saves money by putting them in bags. Everything works for her. In the same chapter, the author pays great attention to Chichikov's behavior, focusing on the fact that Chichikov with Korobochka behaves more simply, more cheekily than with Manilov. This phenomenon is typical of Russian reality, and, proving this, the author gives a lyrical digression about the transformation of Prometheus into a fly. The nature of the Box is especially clearly revealed in the scene of sale. She is very afraid of selling cheap and even makes an assumption, which she herself is afraid of: “what if the dead ones will come in handy for her on the farm?”, And again the author emphasizes the typicality of this image: “Another and respectable, and statesman, even a person, but in reality it turns out a perfect Box” . It turns out that Korobochka's stupidity, her "club-headedness" is not such a rare occurrence.

    The next in the gallery of landowners is Nozdrev. A carouser, a gambler, a drunkard, a liar and a brawler - this is a brief description of Nozdryov. This is a man, as the author writes, who had a passion "to spoil his neighbor, and for no reason at all." Gogol claims that the Nozdryovs are typical of Russian society: "The Nozdryovs will not leave the world for a long time. They are everywhere between us..." Nozdryov's disorderly nature is also reflected in the interior of his rooms. Part of the house is being repaired, the furniture is arranged somehow, but the owner does not care much about all this. He shows the guests the stable, in which there are two mares, a stallion and a goat. Then he boasts of a wolf cub, whom he keeps at home for no reason. Dinner at Nozdryov's was poorly prepared, but alcohol was plentiful. An attempt to buy dead souls almost ends tragically for Chichikov. Together with the dead souls, Nozdryov wants to sell him a stallion or a hurdy-gurdy, and then offers to play checkers against the dead peasants. When Chichikov is outraged by the dishonest game, Nozdryov calls the servants to beat the intractable guest. Only the appearance of the police captain saves Chichikov.

    The image of Sobakevich occupies a worthy place in the gallery of landowners. "A fist! Yes, and a beast to boot" - Chichikov gave him such a description. Sobakevich is undoubtedly a hoarding landowner. His village is large and well-organized. All buildings, though clumsy, are strong to the extreme. Sobakevich himself reminded Chichikov of a medium-sized bear - big, clumsy. In the portrait of Sobakevich, there is no description of the eyes at all, which, as you know, are the mirror of the soul. Gogol wants to show that Sobakevich is so rude, uncouth, that in his body "there was no soul at all." Everything in Sobakevich's rooms is as clumsy and large as he is. The table, the armchair, the chairs, and even the thrush in the cage seemed to say: "And I, too, Sobakevich." Sobakevich takes Chichikov's request calmly, but demands 100 rubles for each dead soul, and even praises his goods like a merchant. Speaking about the typicality of such an image, Gogol emphasizes that people like Sobakevich are found everywhere - in the provinces and in the capital. After all, the point is not in appearance, but in the nature of a person: "no, whoever is a fist cannot straighten into a palm." Rough and uncouth Sobakevich is the lord over his peasants. And if such a person could rise higher and give him more power? How much trouble could he do! After all, he adheres to a strictly defined opinion about people: "A scammer sits on a scammer and drives a scammer."

    Plyushkin is the last in the gallery of landowners. Gogol assigns this place to him, since Plyushkin is the result of the idle life of a person who lives off the labor of others. "This landowner has more than a thousand souls," but he looks like the last beggar. He became a parody of a person, and Chichikov does not even immediately understand who is standing in front of him - "a man or a woman." But there were times when Plyushkin was a thrifty, wealthy owner. But his insatiable passion for gain, for acquisitiveness, leads him to complete collapse: he has lost a real idea of ​​​​objects, has ceased to distinguish the necessary from the unnecessary. He destroys grain, flour, cloth, but saves a piece of stale Easter cake, which his daughter brought a long time ago. On the example of Plyushkin, the author shows us the disintegration of the human personality. A pile of rubbish in the middle of the room symbolizes Plyushkin's life. This is what he has become, this is what the spiritual death of a person means.

    Plyushkin considers the peasants to be thieves and swindlers, starving them. After all, the mind has long ceased to guide his actions. Even to the only close person, to his daughter, Plyushkin does not have paternal affection.

    So consistently, from hero to hero, Gogol reveals one of the most tragic aspects of Russian reality. He shows how under the influence of serfdom the human element perishes in man. "My heroes follow one after another, one more vulgar than the other." That is why it is fair to assume that, giving the title to his poem, the author had in mind not the souls of dead peasants, but the dead souls of landowners. Indeed, in each image one of the varieties of spiritual death is revealed. Each of the images is no exception, since their moral ugliness is shaped by the social system, the social environment. These images reflect the signs of the spiritual degeneration of the local nobility and universal human vices.

    In this article we will describe the image of landowners created by Gogol in the poem "Dead Souls". The table compiled by us will help you remember the information. We will sequentially talk about the five heroes presented by the author in this work.

    The image of the landlords in the poem "Dead Souls" by N.V. Gogol is briefly described in the following table.

    landowner Characteristic Attitude towards the request for the sale of dead souls
    ManilovDirty and empty.

    For two years a book with a bookmark on one page has been lying in his office. Sweet and luscious is his speech.

    Surprised. He thinks that this is illegal, but he cannot refuse such a pleasant person. Gives free peasants. At the same time, he does not know how many souls he has.

    box

    Knows the value of money, practical and economic. Stingy, stupid, cudgel-headed, landowner-accumulator.

    He wants to know what Chichikov's souls are for. The number of dead knows exactly (18 people). He looks at dead souls as if they were hemp or lard: they will suddenly come in handy in the household.

    Nozdrev

    It is considered a good friend, but is always ready to harm a friend. Kutila, card player, "broken fellow." When talking, he constantly jumps from subject to subject, uses abuse.

    It would seem that it was easiest for Chichikov to get them from this landowner, but he is the only one who left him with nothing.

    Sobakevich

    Uncouth, clumsy, rude, unable to express feelings. A tough, vicious serf-owner who never misses a profit.

    The smartest of all landowners. Immediately saw through the guest, made a deal for the benefit of himself.

    Plushkin

    Once he had a family, children, and he himself was a thrifty owner. But the death of the mistress turned this man into a miser. He became, like many widowers, stingy and suspicious.

    I was amazed and delighted by his proposal, since there would be income. He agreed to sell the souls for 30 kopecks (78 souls in total).

    Depiction of landowners by Gogol

    In the work of Nikolai Vasilyevich, one of the main topics is the theme of the landlord class in Russia, as well as the ruling class (nobility), its role in society and its fate.

    The main method used by Gogol when depicting various characters is satire. The process of gradual degeneration of the landlord class was reflected in the heroes created by his pen. Nikolai Vasilievich reveals shortcomings and vices. Gogol's satire is colored with irony, which helped this writer to speak directly about what was impossible to speak openly under censorship conditions. At the same time, the laughter of Nikolai Vasilyevich seems to us good-natured, but he does not spare anyone. Each phrase has a subtext, a hidden, deep meaning. Irony in general is a characteristic element of Gogol's satire. It is present not only in the speech of the author himself, but also in the speech of the characters.

    Irony is one of the essential features of Gogol's poetics, it gives more realism to the narrative, it becomes a means of analyzing the surrounding reality.

    Compositional construction of the poem

    The images of the landowners in the poem, the largest work of this author, are given in the most multifaceted and complete way. It is built as the story of the adventures of the official Chichikov, who buys up "dead souls". The composition of the poem allowed the author to tell about different villages and the owners living in them. Almost half of the first volume (five of the eleven chapters) is devoted to characterizing different types of landowners in Russia. Nikolai Vasilievich created five portraits that are not similar to each other, but at the same time, each of them contains features that are typical of a Russian serf-owner. Acquaintance with them begins with Manilov and ends with Plyushkin. Such a construction is not accidental. This sequence has its own logic: the process of impoverishment of a person's personality deepens from one image to another, it unfolds more and more like a terrible picture of the disintegration of a feudal society.

    Acquaintance with Manilov

    Manilov - representing the image of the landowners in the poem "Dead Souls". The table only briefly describes it. Let's get to know this character better. The character of Manilov, which is described in the first chapter, is already manifested in the surname itself. The story about this hero begins with the image of the village of Manilovka, a few able to "lure" with its location. The author describes with irony the manor's courtyard, created as an imitation with a pond, bushes and the inscription "Temple of solitary reflection". External details help the writer to create the image of the landlords in the poem "Dead Souls".

    Manilov: the character of the hero

    The author, speaking of Manilov, exclaims that only God knows what kind of character this man had. By nature, he is kind, courteous, polite, but all this takes ugly, exaggerated forms in his image. sentimental and splendid to the point of cloying. Festive and idyllic seem to him the relationship between people. Various relationships, in general, are one of the details that create the image of landlords in the poem "Dead Souls". Manilov did not know life at all, reality was replaced by an empty fantasy with him. This hero loved to dream and reflect, sometimes even about things useful for the peasants. However, his ideas were far from the needs of life. He did not know about the real needs of the serfs and never even thought about them. Manilov considers himself a bearer of culture. He was considered the most educated person in the army. Nikolai Vasilyevich speaks ironically about the house of this landowner, in which "something was always missing", as well as about his sugary relationship with his wife.

    Chichikov's conversation with Manilov about buying dead souls

    Manilov in the episode of the conversation about buying dead souls is compared with an overly smart minister. Gogol's irony here intrudes, as if by accident, into a forbidden area. Such a comparison means that the minister differs not so much from Manilov, and "Manilovism" is a typical phenomenon of the vulgar bureaucratic world.

    box

    Let's describe one more image of landowners in the poem "Dead Souls". The table has already briefly introduced you to the Box. We learn about it in the third chapter of the poem. Gogol refers this heroine to the number of small landowners who complain about losses and crop failures and always keep their heads somewhat to one side, while gaining money little by little in the bags placed in the chest of drawers. This money is obtained through the sale of a variety of subsistence products. Korobochka's interests and horizons are completely focused on her estate. Her entire life and economy are patriarchal in nature.

    How did Korobochka react to Chichikov's proposal?

    The landowner realized that the trade in dead souls was profitable, and after much persuasion agreed to sell them. The author, describing the image of the landlords in the poem "Dead Souls" (Korobochka and other heroes), is ironic. For a long time, the "clubhead" cannot figure out what exactly is required of her, which infuriates Chichikov. After that, she bargains with him for a long time, fearing to miscalculate.

    Nozdrev

    In the image of Nozdryov in the fifth chapter, Gogol draws a completely different form of decomposition of the nobility. This hero is a man, as they say, "of all trades." There was something remote, direct, open in his very face. Characteristic for him is also the "breadth of nature." According to the ironic remark of Nikolai Vasilyevich, Nozdrev is a "historical person", since not a single meeting that he managed to attend was ever complete without stories. He loses a lot of money at cards with a light heart, beats a simpleton at a fair and immediately "squanders" everything. This hero is an utter liar and a reckless braggart, a real master of "pouring bullets". He behaves defiantly everywhere, if not aggressively. The speech of this character is replete with swear words, and at the same time he has a passion to "shame on his neighbor." Gogol created in Russian literature a new socio-psychological type of the so-called Nozdrevshchina. In many ways, the image of the landlords in the poem "Dead Souls" is innovative. A brief image of the following heroes is described below.

    Sobakevich

    The satire of the author in the image of Sobakevich, with whom we get acquainted in the fifth chapter, acquires a more accusatory character. This character bears little resemblance to previous landowners. This is a fisted, cunning merchant, a "landowner-fist". He is alien to the violent extravagance of Nozdryov, the dreamy complacency of Manilov, and also the hoarding of Korobochka. Sobakevich has an iron grip, he is laconic, he is on his mind. There are few people who could deceive him. Everything about this landowner is strong and durable. In all household items surrounding him, Gogol reflects the features of the character of this person. Everything surprisingly resembles the hero himself in his house. Each thing, as the author notes, seemed to say that she was "also Sobakevich."

    Nikolai Vasilyevich depicts a figure that strikes with rudeness. This man seemed to Chichikov like a bear. Sobakevich is a cynic who is not ashamed of moral ugliness either in others or in himself. He is far from enlightened. This is a stubborn feudal lord who only cares about his own peasants. It is interesting that, except for this hero, no one understood the true essence of the "scoundrel" Chichikov, and Sobakevich perfectly understood the essence of the proposal, which reflects the spirit of the times: everything can be sold and bought, you should benefit as much as possible. Such is the generalized image of the landowners in the poem of the work, however, it is not limited to the image of only these characters. We present you the next landowner.

    Plushkin

    The sixth chapter is devoted to Plyushkin. On it, the characteristics of the landowners in the poem "Dead Souls" are completed. The name of this hero has become a household name, denoting moral degradation and stinginess. This image is the last degree of degeneration of the landlord class. Gogol begins his acquaintance with the character, as usual, with a description of the estate and village of the landowner. At the same time, "special dilapidation" was noticeable on all buildings. Nikolai Vasilievich describes a picture of the ruin of a once rich serf-owner. Its cause is not idleness and extravagance, but the painful stinginess of the owner. Gogol calls this landowner "a hole in humanity." Its appearance itself is characteristic - it is a sexless creature resembling a housekeeper. This character no longer causes laughter, only bitter disappointment.

    Conclusion

    The image of the landowners in the poem "Dead Souls" (the table is presented above) is revealed by the author in many ways. The five characters that Gogol created in the work depict the versatile state of this class. Plyushkin, Sobakevich, Nozdrev, Korobochka, Manilov - different forms of one phenomenon - spiritual, social and economic decline. The characteristics of the landlords in Gogol's Dead Souls prove this.

    Traditionally, Gogol's "Dead Souls" are considered at school from the standpoint of V. G. Belinsky as a satirical and socially accusatory work. At the lessons, the characteristics of Manilov, Korobochka, Nozdrev, Sobakevich, Plyushkin are compiled according to the plan: a description of the house, village, owner, dinner, deal, since chapters 2-6 are distinguished by the generality of the composition.

    The general conclusions boil down to the fact that in the images of landowners Gogol showed the history of the impoverishment of the human soul. Freak landlords emerge: "a head of sugar, not a man" Manilov; "Cudgel-headed" Box; "historical man" and squanderer Nozdrev; a parody of the hero, "all of the tree cut down" Sobakevich; "a hole in humanity" Plyushkin.

    Such a way of studying under certain conditions may be appropriate and expedient. But, having looked at the poem from the standpoint of modern literary criticism, we will try to comprehend with schoolchildren its innermost meaning in a different way, adding new interpretations for the school to the traditional way. Following Gogol's plan - and his heroes go the way "hell - purgatory - paradise" - let's try to look at the world that was before him.

    Considering myself a prophet. Gogol sincerely believed that it was he who should point out to mankind its sins and help get rid of them. So what sins entangled our heroes? What evil are they preaching? To answer these questions, you can conduct a lesson "These insignificant people" using a group form of work. The class is divided into five groups (according to the number of chapters devoted to the description of the landlords) and, as part of an educational study, looks for parallels between the heroes of Gogol and Dante's Divine Comedy.

    The book by E. A. Smirnova "Gogol's poem" Dead Souls "" will help to complete these tasks.

    L., 1987. 1st group. Manilow (chapter 2) According to E.A.

    Smirnova, the landscape of the Manilov estate fully corresponds to the description of the first circle of hell - Limbo. Dante has: a green hill with a castle - and Manilov's house on a hill; twilight illumination of Limbo - and Gogol's "day ... not either clear, or gloomy, but some kind of light gray color"; the pagans living in Limba - and the bizarre Greco-Roman names of Manilov's children.

    Students may notice that there is a lot of smoke in Manilov's house, as the owner continuously smokes a pipe, and in the description of his office there are mounds of ash. And smoke and ash are associated with devilry.

    This means that the devil has already moved into the soul of the hero and it requires purification. When Chichikov leaves, Manilov draws his attention to the clouds, trying to distract the guest from completing his planned trip. But after all, even as you plunge into the underworld, the darkness grows! However, already in the scene of sale and purchase, in the words of Chichikov, the author’s hope for the resurrection of even the most lost and “cheesy” soul sounds. Manilov claims that dead souls are an insignificant commodity, while Chichikov objects and defends the dead, speaking of them: “Not very rubbish!” 2nd group. Box (chapter 3) There is an assumption that Chichikov's visit to Korobochka's house is a visit to the second circle of hell.

    Dante describes it this way: “Moaning, the circle of Shadows rushed, driven by an undefended blizzard.” Gogol - "the darkness was such, even gouge out the eye." And Korobochka confirms: "Such a turmoil and a blizzard." Where does the blizzard come from during a thunderstorm? Everything is possible in the underworld, and Dante's third circle of hell was generally a circle of rain.

    Korobochka's dwelling resembles the Witch's cave: mirrors, a deck of cards, paintings with birds. These objects are difficult to see, since the room is in twilight, and Chichikov's eyes are stuck together. In the buying and selling scene, Korobochka does not scold her dead peasants, as Manilov did, but expresses the hope that the dead "will somehow be needed on the farm somehow." Thus, Gogol's innermost thought begins to take on more distinct contours. The idea of ​​resurrection is also embedded in Korobochka's name - Anastasia - "resurrected". 3rd group. Nozdrev (chapter 4) The third circle of hell is gluttony (gluttony). Therefore, it is no accident that Chichikov ends up in a tavern from Korobochka.

    In this case, the analysis of the episode "In the tavern" is appropriate. "The Fat Old Woman" continues the theme of the Box. The whole story with Nozdryov corresponds to the fourth circle of hell, where stingy and wasteful souls are tormented. And Nozdryov, the reckless reveler, stupidly squandering his fortune, is the spendthrift. His passion for playing checkers emphasizes his gambling, he invites the guest to play.

    The barking of dogs is an important detail in the episodes of the chapter on Nozdryov. The dogs of Nozdryov are associated with the hellish dog Cerberus, who is on his mission. The transaction scene can be interpreted in this way. If in the previous chapters the ways of saving the soul are depicted allegorically, then the Nozdrev method is a dishonest deal, swindle, deceit, an attempt to get into the Kingdom of Heaven undeservedly, like a king. 4th group. Sobakevich (chapter 5) Antibogatyr Sobakevich is also ready for the resurrection.

    In the scene of sale and purchase, he, as it were, resurrects his dead peasants with praise. The “method of revival” here is not fraud, like Nozdryov’s, and not digging out of the ground, like Korobochka’s, but the pursuit of virtue and valor. An analysis of the episode will allow us to conclude that the salvation of the soul is expensive - it is bought by a life full of work and selflessness. Therefore, the owner “writes out” everyone “with the meaning of commendable qualities.” Next comes the “heroic” parallel. The exploits of Russian heroes and the "exploits" of Sobakevich.

    Sobakevich is a hero at the table. When analyzing the episode "Dinner at Sobakevich's" one can pay attention to the denunciation of such a human vice as gluttony. Again this sin rises in close-up in the poem: Gogol considered it especially grave. 5th group. Plushkin (chapter 6) Plyushkin is the last, fifth in the gallery of images of landlords.

    We know that Gogol wanted to make Plyushkin, like Chichikov, a character in the second volume, to lead him to a moral rebirth. That is why the author tells us in detail about the past of Stepan Plyushkin, drawing the story of the impoverishment of the human soul. What method of saving the soul is "offered" to Plyushkin? He found it immediately, but did not understand.

    Stepan Plyushkin saves things, lifting everything in his path, but you have to lift souls, save them. After all, the main idea of ​​"Dead Souls" is the idea of ​​the spiritual rebirth of a fallen person, "resurrection", the revival of his soul. Plyushkin says goodbye to Chichikov: “God bless you!” Plyushkin is ready for revival, he only needs to remember that it is not things that need to be raised, but the soul. After the presentations of the groups, the following questions can be discussed: 1. All landowners, as we have seen, are not alike, each of them is an individual.

    What brings them together? 2. Why does Chichikov begin his journey with a visit to Manilov and end it with a visit to Plyushkin? 3. Chapter 4 contains Gogol's thoughts on Nozdryov. For what purpose are they introduced by the writer? What worries him? 4. Why does the chapter on Plyushkin begin with a lyrical digression? 5. Plyushkin is not deader, but more alive than others, is it? Manilov lives among flowering lilac bushes, therefore, in May. The box at this time harvests, which means in September. At Plyushkin it is summer, the heat is unbearable all around (only it is cold in the house), and in the provincial town it is winter. Why is that? Chichikov comes to Korobochka when there is a blizzard in the yard, and the pig is eating watermelon peels in the yard. Is it by chance? Each landowner lives, as it were, in his own closed world. Fences, fences, gates, "thick wooden bars", the boundaries of the estate, the barrier - everything closes the life of the heroes, cuts it off from the outside world. It blows its own wind, its own sky, the sun, peace and comfort reign, here there is some kind of drowsiness, immobility. Everything is dead here. Everything stopped. Everyone has their own time of year. This means that there is no reality of time inside these worlds-circles. Thus, the heroes of the poem live, adapting time to themselves. Heroes are static, i.e. dead. But each of them can save his soul if he wants to.