In this article we will consider one of the works of the great classic, we will especially analyze the brief content. "Holstomer" - a little-known novel by L.N. Tolstoy. It was written in 1886, although it was conceived back in the mid-19th century. Then the writer’s familiar horse breeder told him the story of a horse nicknamed Holstomer. But almost 30 years passed before the work was finally recorded and published.
“Kholstomer” (Tolstoy): summary. Tie
In the morning, a gentleman is driven from the horse yard to drive horses to graze on the meadow. From the herd stands out pensive and serious look pied pied aged gelding. He, unlike other horses, patiently waits until Nester saddles him. Merin knows everything in advance, because everything is repeated day after day. Nester often scratches a horse under his neck, believing that he likes it. But Holstomer, that is the name of the gelding, suffers these strokes only out of politeness. Suddenly, a man hits his leg with a whip. The horse is at a loss, he is offended and cannot understand what he has done. But Holstomer is not touchy. He does not pay attention to the ridicule and nit-picking of other horses. With pride and dignity, he silently forgives others.
Perfectly conveys the character of the protagonist summary. The strider is no longer young, his body is decrepit, but still retains signs of former strength and beauty. His old age is both majestic and ugly. This causes contempt and indignation in other horses.
At night, the herd drives the gelding around the horse yard. Finally, he cannot stand it and begins a story about his life, which lasts five nights.
Beginning of the gelding story
Tells about the life of a simple lordly horse Leo Tolstoy. Holstomer (a brief summary of which is presented here) is an excellent example of a work that makes you think about the life of animals.
So, the gelding was born from the Baba and the Amiable First. According to the pedigree, his nickname is Man First, but usually his name is simply Holstomer. He received this nickname for his sweeping and long move. From birth, he is distinguished by a pinto suit. He feels his mother’s love, begins to feel attracted to mares. But his life changes dramatically when the horse is emasculated, so that the genus pied pintles would not continue. The habit of being different from others led him to thoughtfulness and seriousness.
The young gelding closely watches people and understands that they value words, not deeds. And the main thing for them is the word “mine”. It changes their behavior and makes them lie. Hostomera, despite the fact that he goes around even trotters, is sold to a young lady.
Driven horse
We continue our brief summary. Holstomer gets to the hussar officer, here the best time in life begins for him. His new master is rich, handsome, cruel and cold. But this is precisely what made the gelding love him. And the owner needed just such a horse that would be different from others. So they will notice a person, they will begin to look back at him, to shun. The strider served the owner selflessly. He was happy and even ready to die for the sake of this man. Merin admires himself and his master.
But once the mistress leaves the hussar and leaves with another officer. Wanting to catch her, the owner drives his horse. The strip meter trembles all night and cannot even eat. In the morning he is allowed to get drunk, but since then he has ceased to be that fast horse as before. After this, the gelding is sold several times until it is at the local clerk.
The next evening after the end of the story, the herd returns from the meadow. The clerk leads the guest to the courtyard, showing him the most expensive and best horses. He reluctantly praises the animals. A guest walks past Holstomer, slams a horse on the croup and says that he once had the exact same horse. Merin is surprised to recognize the hussar master in this flabby old man.
Denouement
The summary is coming to an end ("Strider"). The action is transferred to the master's house. In the luxuriously furnished living room, the owner and the hostess and their guest are sitting. Former officer Nikita Serpukhov is 40 years old. He was once a handsome young man, but now he has lowered morally, physically and financially. He managed to squander all his fortune and still had to. Serpukhov is unpleasant to look at the happiness of the owners. He tries to remember the past when he was rich and beautiful, and not think about the present. But the owner does not allow the guest to turn around, interrupts and shows off his life. Boring conversation for both continues until the morning, although they do not listen to each other. Then Serpukhov gets drunk and, staggering, goes to bed.
Herder Vasya at night takes Holstomer and goes to the tavern. The gelding spends all night on a leash next to a peasant horse, which infects its scab. Five days pass, and Holstomer is taken out of the barn. There they cut the gelding of the throat. When the blood leaves him, he thinks that with it the severity of his life also leaves. They remove the skin from the horse, and its flesh goes to domestic animals, and even a she-wolf comes at night. After a week, only the bones remain from the gelding. But the men find use for them.
Heroes
We have finished retelling the story “Holstomer” (a brief summary of the chapters), now let's talk about the main characters. The focus is on the gelding and a herd of horses, while people are assigned the role of secondary heroes.
Tabun is a metaphor for a contemporary author of a public organization. Therefore, horses are humanized and possess qualities inherent only to people - pity, cruelty, sadness, fun, pride, etc. Such is the main character, whose biography is devoted to almost the entire work. The strider is the embodiment of a Russian peasant-farmer. The fate of the gelding reflects the fate of the humiliated, trampled peasant, whom only "humiliation and labor" await in life.
People act in the story by the very force that tramples on the dignity of those who are devoted to them. These are the same gentlemen and gentlemen who do not spare or love anyone but themselves.
Reviews
We can say that L. N. Tolstoy (“Holstomer”) wrote about the fate of the common people. The summary once again confirms this idea, but what do readers think about the work? Reviews about the story are only positive. There is no point in talking about Tolstoy’s skill as a writer, but many appreciated the topics he raised. This is not only a matter of animal cruelty, but also a problem of abuse of people. All readers agree on one thing - Tolstoy told a sad story that makes you think about life.