The writer Andrei Platonov was born in 1899, September 1. His father worked as a locksmith in the railway workshops of the city of Voronezh and as a steam locomotive engineer. Therefore, the writer knew the basics of this profession from childhood. It is not surprising that in his story “The Cow” he introduces the reader to a boy whose father was a traveling watchman. Vasily himself, the hero of the story, knew how to make sure that the engine did not slip on the rise; I was able to determine by the noise of the brakes whether they are working. This is told by Andrey Platonov. Summary (a cow of the Circassian breed - one of the main characters of the story) will give us some idea of this touching work.
The beginning of the story. Andrey Platonov, “Cow”: summary
The boy comes to his cow in the barn, talks with his beloved, wants to hug her, but she is indifferent to affection. She concentrated on chewing dry grass and thinking about her. The thoughts of the animal that day were directed towards the son - the calf. He choked, began to feel bad, and the boy’s father Vasya Rubtsova took the calf to the station to show him to the doctor. Vasya loved his cow, he stroked her udder, which gave milk. It is from this episode that Plato begins his narrative. The summary (“The Cow”, as is already clear, is a touching story about love for animals) takes the reader to the station. Since Vasily’s father was absent, the mother asked her son to meet the train. He immediately agreed and went to wait for the composition. But the boy really wanted the train to come faster, because it was time to do homework. He studied at a seven-year school and was a diligent student. Studying was a pleasure for the child, as each time he learned something new.
And finally, the train showed up. He walked with difficulty, as the road went uphill. The assistant driver poured sand under the wheels so that they would not slip. These are the subtleties in the work of steam locomotives described by Andrei Platonov.
Summary (“The Cow” is a rather sad story), unfortunately, cannot fully reveal the character of the boy Vasily. However, we can get a general idea of it.
Description of the character of the protagonist
Vasya went to the assistant driver and said that he climbed into the cab, and he himself would pour sand onto the rails. So they did. The assistant driver looked at the child with respect and thought that if he did not have his own son, he would adopt this boy. Vasya himself liked this kind of work. Not only that, he gave practical advice, saying that it is necessary to order a tin box for a larger sand box, since this one can accommodate a little. Then Vasily was asked to see if the brakes were clamped somewhere in the car. He coped with this task. Here such a business guy draws us Platonov. Summary (“The Cow” - a story that talks about the serious nature of this little man) allows us to present the character of the boy in general terms.
Tragic denouement
The cow often mumbled plaintively, as if calling her son. Father Basil came only the next day and alone. The son asked him where the calf was. Father said that the doctor helped the calf, but he sold it for meat at a good price. All this time the cow moaned piteously. She did not eat the bread and salt that the boy brought her. Next, a brief summary of the story “The Cow” proceeds to the saddest moment. Platonov writes that on an animal family sometimes plowed the land. Since her son disappeared, the cow has become indifferent to everything. She looked for him, often went out onto the railway tracks and walked there. Once she was hit by a train. This tragic incident is said in his work by Platonov.
Summary: the cow died - what happened next?
Father and son sold it for meat, the boy wrote about his favorite in a school essay. Vasya wrote that the cow plowed, gave them milk, gave him a son, and then his own meat. This ends the story ...