A.P. Platonov, "The Magic Ring": summary, reviews

Our article will be devoted to the fairy tale “The Magic Ring”, a summary of which we will describe. Many of us have been familiar with the wonderful cartoon of the same name by Leonid Nosyrev since childhood. But few people know that the author of the original text is Andrei Platonov, widely known for such serious works as “Pit” or “Chevengur”.

About the book

In 1950, the collection “The Magic Ring” was released, which, in addition to the work of the same name, included several more Russian folk tales in the author's editing. This was not the first such book by Platonov, he had readily written for children before.

However, the fairy tale “The Magic Ring” (a brief summary will be presented below) gained the greatest fame and quickly won the hearts of readers, retaining its popularity to this day. Moreover, more recently, the work began to be included in the primary school curriculum.

Now let us consider in more detail the content of the work.

A. P. Platonov, “The Magic Ring”: summary

A peasant mother and her son Semyon lived under the tsar. There was no prosperity in the house: the clothes were poor from linen, and bread was not always there. The only family income is a penny for the deceased father, who was given to Semyon once a month in the city.

And once Semyon returns from the city with a penny received. And he sees on the road a man who is going to strangle a puppy. The guy could not stand it, regretted the belly bought for a single penny.

Mother was not happy with the purchase: there are no cows in the house, but he dragged the dog. But Semyon did not lose heart and answered that the puppy would be of use.

A month passed, Semyon again went to the city and this time received as much as two kopecks - they added a pension. He comes back, again sees the same man who this time torments the cat. I had to redeem it, giving both pennies. Mother became even more angry, cursing at her bad son.

Scarapea

How do the events of the fairy tale “Magic Ring” develop further? The summary will soon tell you about the fateful meeting in the life of Semyon.

So, another month passed, our hero went to the city and this time he received three pennies - they added pension again. He walks along the same road and sees the same man who this time harasses the snake. I had to give all the money this time.

However, the snake turned out to be a talking one and, comforting Semyon, said that her name was Scarapea, and the serpent king would definitely reward the guy for saving his daughter.

Seeing the snake, the mother was frightened and immediately climbed onto the stove. She didn’t even swear. She only did not like this snake: that is, it will not give, then it will not pour water, it will come. Then Scarapea asked to take her to the serpent kingdom, where her father, the serpent king, dwells. And ahead of time, she warned that Semyon did not take gold as a reward, but asked for a ring from the king’s hand. The ring is noticeable - on it a snake head is squeezed out and instead of eyes, green stones burn.

The king at first did not want to part with the ring, but then he gave it and said how to use it.

Home with a gift

As you can see, a lot of folklore borrowed for his fairy tale Platonov. The “Magic Ring”, a brief summary of which is presented here, has all the signs of a fairy tale of the people: magic assistants whom the protagonist saved, the miraculous acquisition of wealth, the repetition of the same action three times.

We return to the story. Semyon returned home and the same night used the ring. As soon as the magic thing was removed and put on again, twelve young men appeared in front of it. The guy ordered them to bring flour, sugar and butter to the barn overnight. Wakes up in the morning, let mother wake up, ask to bake pies. She replies that the pantries are empty. Semyon sends his mother to the barn, where she finds everything she needs, to her surprise. Since then, they began a different life, in abundance and satiety.

Royal daughter

But this does not end the work that Platonov wrote (The Magic Ring). The summary describes what Semyon decided to marry the royal daughter. He sent his mother a matchmaker, and he himself ordered the fellows to build mansions for him.

The king did not want to give his daughter away for a simple peasant, but Semen's mother insisted. Then he replied that he would give the princess for the one who would build the crystal bridge.

During the night, the fellows completed the royal task, and even made a car, which itself drives a bridge.

The king had to give his daughter for Semyon. At first, family life went well. But once the newlyweds went for a walk, wandered into the forest and fell asleep there. Passed by Aspid, the brother of Scarapei, who himself wanted to get a magic ring. Then the serpent decided to turn into a damsel and take away Seeds from his wife along with the ring. But it did not work, the guy drove him away.

Cheating

We continue to describe the events of the fairy tale “The Magic Ring”. The summary now describes the queen's temptation. This time, Aspid turns around as a young man and goes to his wife Semyon. The girl could not resist the spell, and the serpent asked her to find out how the magic ring works.

Unaware of a trick, Semyon told his wife everything and even gave her a magical thing for a while. However, the princess, as soon as she received the ring, ordered to transfer both the mansions and the bridge to Aspid.

In the morning, Semyon woke up with his mother - and they have nothing else, only the old hut, and the cat with the dog. Having learned about this, the king ordered the guy to be thrown in jail. Mother, out of hopelessness, went to fight.

Then we realized a cat and a dog that Seeds needed to be saved, and went to get a ring. They found out the road to Aspid, climbed into the house at night and received the treasured thing.

Denouement

The fairy tale that Andrei Platonov wrote is coming to an end. The magic ring (a brief summary has already described this) turned out to be in the dogs and cats, who rushed back home from all paws.

The cat keeps the ring under his tongue all the way. Friends ran to the river, beyond which Semyon’s house. To cross the water, the dog had to put a cat on its back. A dog is swimming in the water and reminds the cat to be silent. The cat could not stand it and answered. The ring immediately fell into the river.

They turned out to be on the beach and let's argue who is to blame for everything. Here, not far away, fishermen cleaned their catch and threw offal to the animals. A cat and a dog began to eat them, and suddenly they came across something solid - a ring!

The cat got into the prison to the owner and gave the ring. Semyon immediately freed himself, returned the mansions and the bridge, and gave the royal daughter back.

After this incident, the guy decided to marry a simple, rustic girl.

Reviews

And so he finished his fairy tale Platonov (summary). The Magic Ring (reviews of the fairy tale remain positive today) is incredibly popular among parents and children. The tale also has long been included in the circle of compulsory children's reading. As for the time of publication, even then criticism took the work very complacently.