Caring for the happiness of others, we increase our own. This common truth has been taken more than once as the basis of literary works. And can be considered as their summary. Paustovsky, whose Steel Ring also falls into this category, surprisingly touching and affectionately describes the experiences of a little girl. A literary fairy tale sends us a lot of instructive urges: kindness, faith, a vision of beauty in everything, even in melting snow ...
Restless childhood and youth
The great Russian, and later Soviet, writer K. G. Paustovsky was born on May 31, 1892 in Moscow, in a family of employees. Due to the restless nature of his father, the Paustovsky family quite often traveled throughout the Russian Empire. In 1898 they ended up in Kiev. This city has become a landmark for little Constantine. It was here that he went to the first class of the city gymnasium.
The boy's interest in literature woke up in the middle classes; around this time he wrote his first short story. The creativity of the gymnasium student was noticed - the work was even printed. Since 1911, Paustovsky studies at the Faculty of History and Philology of Kiev University. In 1913 he was transferred to Moscow, already at the law faculty.
However, the First World War prevented the future writer from getting a full education. Since he was the youngest son in the family, he was not drafted into the army. But the young man became a car driver in a medical train. During the February Revolution, Paustovsky returns to Moscow. Despite the changes in the country, the writer nevertheless does not forget his mission and gets a job as a reporter for the newspaper. Creative and restless nature makes him travel a lot in his native land. For example, Paustovsky met the Civil War in Kiev, where he was drafted into the Petliura army, and after a while - into the Red Army.
After all the military trials, the writer settles in Odessa, where he works in the newspaper "Sailor". But in search of new experiences, he breaks off and goes to the Caucasus. In 1923, Paustovsky returned to Moscow, where he became editor-in-chief of Rost. And already in 1928 he published his first collection of short stories.
Writer Paustovsky
It should be noted that the formation of Paustovsky as a writer happened with the release of his first book, Shining Clouds. In the 1930s, he was already a rather well-known journalist who travels around the country a lot and even prints in Pravda. In 1932, the story “Kara Bugaz” was published, after the publication of which Paustovsky decided to become a professional writer. He leaves all newspapers to truly do what he loves.
During the Great Patriotic War, he works as a war correspondent on various fronts, often risking his life for the sake of his reporting. It should be noted that even in this difficult time, Konstantin Georgievich Paustovsky (whose Steel Ring we are interested in today) found the strength to engage in literature.
After the war, he receives world fame. His stories and novels were read in Europe and America, and the writer himself was able to travel around the world in search of impressions and inspiration.
Chanting nature
All his stories and tales are devoted to the unity of nature and man. They are filled with the deep meaning of being, illuminating simple and accessible truths. Paustovsky (The Steel Ring, critics' reviews are unanimous here - the clearest example of this) really knew and loved nature. When you read his stories, you are completely immersed in her magical world. We give tribute to the grandmother of Konstantin Georgievich, who was very sensitive and sensitive to the world, told her grandson fascinating stories and tales and tried her best to develop in him responsiveness to the beauty of the things around us.
Perhaps that is why the writer's legacy also has literary tales. How to convey in a few words their summary? Paustovsky “Steel Ring”, for example, what is he dedicated to? What problems were affected? What was he writing about? About children's kindness and unlimited faith in miracles? Or that beauty and magic around us, you just need to take a closer look? ..
main characters
What does the fairy tale “Steel Ring” say in its uncomplicated and kind plot? What does Paustovsky teach us by telling a relatively simple story? Let's discuss.
In one small village called Mokhovoy, grandfather Kuzma lives with his granddaughter Varyusha. Their modest house is located on the very edge of the village.
The action takes place in the winter, which turned out to be quite severe. The weather was so frosty that even wolves began to come closer to the village, as if hoping to get warm from people. That is how Konstantin Paustovsky begins his work .
The Steel Ring, whose main characters are poor and simple people, shows a quiet and calm village life. But once there was an attack. My grandfather ended in the middle of winter shag. The old smoker was very sad; so sick. Although the cause of the disease was not at all in the absence of shag, but my grandfather explained it that way. Varyusha is very worried.
Campaign for shag for grandfather
And now the girl goes for shag to the neighboring village of Perebori. Having bought and securely tied it in a bundle, the girl decided to look at the railway, which passed nearby. Especially Varyusha wanted to see trains racing at high speed. When Konstantin Paustovsky wrote “The Steel Ring”, trains were not yet commonplace in the life of village inhabitants. They went to look at them as a curiosity.
At the station, right on the platform, the girl meets two military men waiting for the train. Seeing that Varyusha had inadvertently come close to the edge of the platform, the senior soldier warns the girl about the danger. The train will fly so fast that it can simply blow away directly under the wheels.
The kindness and disinterestedness of a simple person
We continue to study the summary. Paustovsky, whose “Steel Ring” describes in great detail not only the beauty of nature, focuses on simple human values. For example, you cannot resell something, but you can share. Here's how this situation was defeated by Konstantin Grigoryevich.
The attention of the military was attracted by the plain little knot of the girl. One of the soldiers decided to clarify if this is a shag, and asks to sell them a little. However, Varyusha does not agree, arguing that the grandfather does not allow such actions. Instead of selling, she simply unfolds her tuesk and offers the soldiers to take as much tobacco as they need.
The soldier readily agreed and lit a cigarette with pleasure. He asked: what would she want for her kindness? The girl replied that she, in general, did not need anything. But the fighter decided to thank the girl and gave her the usual steel ring.
Magic gift
Why do we say: the tale "Steel Ring"? Paustovsky could well describe the simplicity and charm of a child’s soul and not invent anything supernatural. But no. A fighter does not just give a ring, he talks about his magical qualities.
Say, if you wear it on your middle finger, then the ring will immediately bring health to the relatives of Varyusha; on the nameless - tremendous joy will happen in her life; Well, if you wear it on your index finger - the girl is waiting for long journeys through wonderful countries. Varyusha took the ring, but expressed distrust. The second fighter convincingly said that his friend was a sorcerer.
Big choice
On the way home, the girl wondered which finger to put on the ring. Once again looking at the gift, she remembered that the sorcerer did not say anything about what would happen if you put the ring on the little finger. Having come to the conclusion that magical properties do not extend to the smallest finger, the girl decided to postpone the adoption of important decisions. She just put a little ring on her little finger.
But her finger was so small that the ring could not resist and fell into the snow. The snow in that place was deep, and the ring immediately fell to the bottom. Varyusha grieved for a long time, tearing snow with her hands. But there was no ringlet. Having marked this place with a spruce branch, she decides to postpone the search until spring.
Sparrow Sidor
However, it was insulting to tears. Already at home, giving the shag to her grandfather, she told him about this strange incident. Old Kuzma, pacified by tobacco, reassures the girl, saying that in the spring a ring will certainly be found. In the meantime, he suggests introducing Sidor, who lived in their house, into the search for the old sparrow.
It should be noted that the sparrow lived with our heroes all winter almost as a master, with little regard for the opinions of people. Kashi strove to peck directly from the bowls on the table, tore the bread out of his hands, and if he was not allowed to do this, he got angry, swelled like a bubble, and tried to bite. At the same time, Sidor tweeted so viciously that he was heard even by ordinary birds that flew into the noise.
The next day, Varyusha, catching a sparrow, carried him to the scene. Having planted it on the tip of the spruce branch, the girl asked him to look for the ring. But the sparrow laughed and immediately flew back into the warm hut. Varyusha despaired of finding a ring before spring. And they healed, as before.
What is Paustovsky talking about? The "steel ring", the main idea of which is literally invisible, is filled with the most accurate descriptions of the state of nature. It seems that with a change of mood, Varyusha also changes the colors outside the window of their house.
Thaw
Here comes the end of the summary. Paustovsky “Steel Ring” finishes optimistically and life-affirming. Once Varyusha woke up from the fact that the sparrow joyfully banged its beak out the window. Going up to him, the girl saw that the thaw had finally arrived. The snow began to melt, icicles fell, bizarre streams formed on the ground, and the sun shone somehow especially kindly, and it was felt that it was warming.
A few days later, when it finally got warmer, Varia goes to the place where the ringlet was lost. Gently raking damp soil and sod, the girl discovered a lost ringlet. Varya, without hesitation, puts it on his middle finger and returns home. Already approaching the hut, the girl with amazement sees her grandfather on the mound. He is blush and cheerful and very optimistic that the ailment has receded. The girl thanks her little ring for curing her grandfather.
There is nothing better than the native land
However, Varyusha is in no hurry to put a ring on other fingers and travel. She understands that, better than her land, there is probably nothing in the world. This is how Paustovsky finishes The Steel Ring. The main idea becomes clear: there is nothing eternal in the world. Necessarily the period of despair will be replaced by hope. The author’s images stunningly reveal the subtlety and harmony of human relationships. After reading The Steel Ring, you are charged with optimism and faith in the future. And, of course, the tale very expressively conveys patriotic feelings, love for the native land.