The story "Queen of Spades" was completed by Pushkin in the autumn of 1833. This is the most mysterious work of the poet. The plot is connected with mysticism, with the unpredictability of fate, with the choice of human values. The story was innovative for its time and was a resounding success. At receptions, when they played cards, they put it on mystical cards from The Queen of Spades.
A. Pushkin "Queen of Spades": a summary of the first chapter
At the evening, which was arranged by the horse guard Narumov, an amazing story was told. Count Tomsky told her. Once his grandmother was a beautiful, masterful and popular woman in her circles.
And then one day she lost a large sum of money in cards. The husband, who usually indulged her, flatly refused to pay that amount. Then the countess turned to the Count Saint-Germain for help. He possessed at that time considerable means. Only the count didn’t give her money, but suggested a different way - to recoup. He revealed to the countess the secret of three cards.
That evening, the countess put one card after another and repaid all the debt. She did not trust her secret to anyone. And only once helped someone Chaplitsky win back, but on condition that he would not play anymore.
The whole story was listened to by a young officer named Herman. He was from a poor family, so he could not afford to play. But always sought to be present at the game. And this story struck him to the core.
The Queen of Spades: Summary of Chapter Two
The old countess was still in the grip of her time. She carefully monitored the etiquette of her youth; it took several hours to decorate her.
Together with her lived a poor pupil Lizanka. It was she who had to endure the absurd temper of the Countess of Tomsk. Lizanka dreamed that a deliverer would appear who would one day take her away from this life. Only all young people were prudent, and did not pay much attention to her.
But soon some events happened. They made Lisa perk up and believe in the world around her. In front of her window one unfamiliar young man began to appear constantly. This young man was German. That is how, using Lisa, he decided to get to the old countess.
The Queen of Spades: Summary of Chapter Three
Every day Herman sends Lisa lovely love notes. She is very tormented, but always rejects them. But soon Lisa surrenders and makes an appointment for him until the countess is at home.
Herman sneaks into the house, and at this time the countess returns. He hides in her office and waits for all the handmaids to disperse. Having left the shelter, Herman is trying to explain to Tomskaya why he needs this secret. But the countess did not seem to hear him. Herman is angry, begins to threaten her, only the countess unexpectedly dies.
The Queen of Spades: Summary of Chapter Four
The young man leaves a dead old woman and rises to Lizanka. There he confesses everything to her. The girl was very upset, she realized that she was mistaken in him. Only Herman did not touch her tears. He regrets only the lost secret.
The Queen of Spades: A Summary of the Fifth Chapter
Countess’s funeral. German also came to say goodbye to her. Remorse did not torment him, but a voice of conscience still told him that he was a murderer.
At night, the countess appeared to Herman. She was in the same shape as during their meeting. The old woman revealed a secret to him. She called three cards: three, seven, ace. But she named the condition: he must marry Lisa.
The Queen of Spades: abridged chapter six
Having learned the secret, Herman decides to check his fate. He sits at the gaming table in the society of "Rich Players". He puts everything at stake that he had. And two days in a row he returns to his apartment with a huge gain. Only on the third day, instead of an ace, the Queen of Spades comes across. From the fact that everything is lost, Herman goes crazy.