Gorky Maxim - Old Year. Gorky M

Municipal secondary education state-financed organization

"Vostochnenskaya average comprehensive school»

Literature lesson in 7th grade

A.M.Gorky

Philosophical tale "Old Year"

Conducted by teacher of Russian language and literature Elena Pavlovna Dolgova

Lesson summary.

Date: 02/17/2016

Lesson topic: Philosophical fairy tale by M. Gorky " Old year».

Lesson type: conversation with elements of research work

Goals:

Educational : repeat types of fairy tales, features of literary and folk tales, introduce the term “philosophy”, concepts characterizing personal traits person.

Developmental : develop oral speech students, the ability to speak monologically. conduct a dialogue, listening skills to the teacher’s story, broaden the horizons of students.

Educating: cultivate interest in inner world person, state of mind, tolerant attitude to people, to be able to see the positive and negative in people, to be able to take into account the opinions of others.

Equipment:presentation for the lesson, fairy tale texts, workbooks

Lesson plan:

    Organizing time

    Checking homework

    Learning new material

    Fizminutka

    Summing up the lesson

    Homework

1.Organizational moment: communication of the topic and goals of the lesson, the mood for the lesson.

Today in class we will analyze a fairy tale, but an unusual fairy tale. - How many of you have read fairy tales? All? Let's remember distinctive features fairy tale text.

What is a fairy tale? (slide No. 3)

What types of fairy tales do you know?

Folklore and literary.

What kind of fairy tales are there? (slide 4)

Name the signs of a fairy tale.

Signs folk tale

    A combination of the real and the magical (magical creatures and objects)

    Main events take place at midnight

    Happy ending

    Instructive character

These are signs of a folk tale. IN literary fairy tale, which has an author, some elements may change or disappear altogether. Especially if it is a philosophical fairy tale. Today we will work with a philosophical fairy tale A.M. Gorky "Old Year".

The work we are studying relates to early period his creativity. The fairy tale “Old Year” was first published on January 1, 1899 in the Samara Newspaper.

"Old Year" - a philosophical fairy tale .

What is philosophy? (slide No. 5)

The science of people's lives in society.

Reading the poem by Eduard Asadov “Always be cheerful”

Always be cheerful
Never be sad.
It will be difficult - brace yourself,
There will be wind - don't bend,
It will hurt - don't cry
Don't hide your eyes in your palm.
If there are thunderstorms, go
If there are tears, wipe them away,
If you're scared, hold on.
Remember, life is life!

Analysis of the tale:

What is unusual for you in this fairy tale?

Heroes who are human qualities.

So, on the last day of his life, the Old Year, before returning to Eternity, arranges something like a solemn meeting for his successor. He collects everything in front of him human qualities and talks with them until twelve o’clock - until the fateful moment of his death, until the birth of the New Year.

How do you understand the word “eternity”? Read the definition of this word from homework.

Eternity is something that will go away forever and there is no coming back.

In the evening, strange and vague creatures began to gather to visit the Old Year, whose names and forms are known to us, but whose essences and meanings we cannot yet clearly imagine.
- Tell me who came to visit?

Came first Hypocrisy, Humility, Ambition, Stupidity

Qualities

Their meaning

Hypocrisy

Lack of sincerity

Humility

The ability to obey someone

Ambition

Thirst for fame

Stupidity

Limited mental abilities

Assignment: work with the table and the meaning of the human qualities that came first.

Why do you think they came among the first?

These are all those qualities of a person that so interfere with his life, characterize the negative sides of a person.

Find in the text a description of their arrival, what details did you notice?

Why did they come first?

Because they are widespread among people.

.Intelligence, Love, Faith, Hope and Wisdom, Truth shown by the author as gray, powerless and persecuted creatures.

Let's determine the value of these human qualities using your tables.

Qualities

Their meaning

Human ability to think

A feeling of mutual affection for someone or something

Confidence in someone or something

Waiting for something pleasant

Wisdom

Having a great mind

What is true

Task: find a description of the Wisdom, Love, Faith, Hope of Truth of all those who came second:
- Wisdom she was dressed in bright and light fabrics, decorated with a lot of fake stones, and as bright and shiny as her costume was, she herself was so dark and sad.

Love scantily clad, rude, with eyes in which there was not a spark of thought

Faith a broken and wavering creature

Hope flashed and disappeared

Is it true , timid and downtrodden, as always, sick and sad, she, quietly and unnoticed by anyone, walked into the corner and sat there alone.

Physical exercise (1-2 minutes )

Why do you think the truth came last and why does it look like this?
- Nobody likes the truth, it ruins life, relationships, people are used to hiding it.

Reading the dialogue of the Old Year with guests and analysis.

What is the attitude of the Old Year towards guests?

He pities them, calls them “pale” and “worn out people”, “ugly”.

What should happen after the 12th strike of the clock?

Reading the episode "The Emergence of Mercury"

At midnight, the Old Year was about to leave forever, but Mercury, the messenger of Eternity, appeared and announced that the Old Year would live until new people were born. Why?

Until people renew their thoughts and feelings, the Old Year must remain with them.

The Old Year died in triumph. Why?

Because it’s hard to always be around such qualities.

What are these qualities?

Most negative qualities

Name them

Hypocrisy, Humility, Ambition, Stupidity

And if it's not fairy-tale heroes, and what about people?

Then it’s even harder, it’s very bad to live with such qualities. - Who did Old Year stay with?

He was left to live again with Dejection smiling mournfully into his wrinkled face.

If he remained to live with Dejection, what awaited him?

Sadness, boredom, melancholy.

So, all the human Properties that arrived for the Old Year began to disperse and the Old Year was left alone, already dressed in the dress of the New.

The idea of ​​a work is the main fundamental meaning of the work,

A call to something.
Positive and negative qualities. And while negative qualities are in the first place, time and life will not be able to move forward.

What do all these characters have in common? - - What image connects them together?

-The central image is the person. To reveal this image, M. Gorky resorts to the use of allegory. What is an allegory?

- Allegory is an allegory.

- Reading by role of the episode “Conversation of the Old Year with your guests.” The task is to find a characteristic human world in a fairy tale- Let's generalize the human image, presented in the work:

    People are pitiful and colorless;

    They have forgotten how to dream;

    They have lost real feelings and are left with lusts;

    They are no longer original;

    There is nothing worthy of being human about them.

Name positive traits people (from homework) who can improve the world.

Kindness, camaraderie, sympathy, empathy, joy, affection, trust, mutual assistance, responsiveness, compassion, mercy, cooperation, tenderness, love, responsibility.

Research

Filling out the second part of the home table:

Qualities

How do I imagine

What I found in the text

Humility

Monk, severity, humility

Hand in hand with Hypocrisy

Glasses, book, hat, computer

Sick figure, melancholy and powerlessness

Beauty, tenderness, light

Wisdom

Elderly, gray-haired, quiet, thoughtful

Rough, not a spark of thought, dumb, the blood is thin and cold

Bright, open, loud, leader, brave

Timid and downtrodden, sick and sad

Summing up the lesson: So, we talked at the beginning of the lesson about philosophy,

then we analyzed the person's qualities. What can be concluded? - You need to be honest, be truthful, fight those qualities that prevent a person from living, because it is negativity that makes a person and his life gray, boring and monotonous.

People should live in a world of kindness and harmony, and as Dostoevsky said: “Only beauty will save the world.” This beauty is in man himself .

- Commenting on lesson grades.

- Homework: 1. Finish the work on the table

2. Draw illustrations for the fairy tale “Old Year”

Maksim Gorky

Old year

On the last day of his life, the Old Year - before returning to Eternity - arranges something like a solemn meeting for his successor - he gathers all human Properties in front of him and talks with them until twelve o'clock - until the fateful moment of his death, until the birth of the New Year.

It was the same yesterday - in the evening, strange and vague creatures began to gather to visit the Old Year - creatures whose names and forms are known to us, but whose essences and meanings for us we cannot yet clearly imagine.

Hypocrisy came first, hand in hand with Humility, behind it came Ambition, respectfully accompanied by Stupidity, and after this pair slowly walked a majestic, but emaciated and obviously sick figure - it was Intelligence, and although in his deep and penetrating eyes there was a lot They sparkled with pride in themselves, but even more there was melancholy about their powerlessness.

Behind him walked Lyubov - a half-naked and very rude woman, with eyes in which there was a lot of sensuality and not a spark of thought.

Luxury, following her, said in a warning whisper:

- O love! How are you dressed? Fi, does such a suit suit your role in life?

- Bah! - Suspiciousness responded, - what do you want from Love, madam? You have always been and still remain a romantic, I’ll tell you what. For me, the simpler, the clearer, the better, and I am very pleased that I managed to tear away from Love the veils of fantasy in which the dreamers dressed her. We live on earth, it is hard, and its color is dirty, and the heavens are so high that there will never be anything in common between them and the earth! Is not it?

And Love itself was silent - her tongue has long been almost mute, she does not have the former ardent words, her desires are rude, and her blood is liquid and cold.

Vera also appeared - a broken and wavering creature. She cast a glance of irreconcilable hatred towards Um and quietly disappeared from his eyes in the crowd that had come to celebrate the Old Year.

Then behind her, Hope flashed like a spark, flashed and disappeared somewhere.

Then Wisdom appeared. She was dressed in bright and light fabrics, decorated with a mass of fake stones, and no matter how bright and shiny her costume was, she herself was so dark and sad.

And then Despondency came, and everyone bowed to it respectfully, because it is in the honor of Time.

The last to come was Truth, timid and downtrodden, as always, sick and sad; she, quietly and unnoticed by anyone, walked into the corner and sat there alone.

Old Year came out, looked at his guests and grinned with Mephisto's grin.

- Hello and goodbye! - he spoke. - Farewell because I am dying, as prescribed by Fate. I am mortal, and I am glad that I am mortal, for if the time of my life had continued even for one day, I would not have endured the melancholy of my pale life. It's so boring to live always dealing only with you! I sincerely feel sorry for you - you are immortal. And for this I also regret that on my birthday you were all stronger, fresher and more whole than today, on the day of my death. Yes, I sincerely pity you - you are all terribly worn out by people, discolored by them, crushed, and you are all so close to each other in your common ugliness. And is it you – human properties? You are without strength, without color, without fire! I feel sorry for you and the people.

And the Old Year grinned and then again, looking around the guests, asked Vera:

- Faith! Where is your power, which moved people to great deeds and inspired life?

- He robbed me! – Vera said dully, pointing in the direction of Uma.

“I owe it to her that to this day people are still confident in my power.” In the fight against her I wasted best forces my! - Um responded angrily.

- Don't quarrel, unfortunates! – the dying Old Man smiled dispassionately again and, after a pause, said again: “Yes, you are all terribly pale and worn out.” How sickening it must be to be human and have to deal with you day after day for years? Who is that shaking his head affirmatively? Oh, it's you, True! You are still the same... not in honor among people... Well, what?.. Farewell, my former companions. Goodbye, I have nothing more to say to you... But... I don’t see anyone among you? Yes? Where is the Originality?

“She’s been gone for a long time,” Pravda answered timidly.

- Poor earth! - Old Year regretted. - How bored she is! People are pathetic and colorless if they have lost the originality of their thoughts, feelings, and actions.

“They don’t even know how to create a costume for themselves that would at least somewhat brighten up the ugliness of their forms, devoid of ancient beauty,” Pravda quietly complained.

- What's wrong with them? – Old Year asked thoughtfully.

“They lost their desires and were left to live only with lusts...” Pravda explained.

- Do they die too? - Old Year was amazed.

“No,” said Pravda. - They are still living. But how do they live? Most out of habit, some out of curiosity, and all without realizing why they live.

Old Year laughed coldly.

- It's time! Another minute and my hour will strike - the hour of my liberation from life. As I leave, I'll say a little... I existed and found it very sad. Farewell once again and for the last time. I feel sorry for you, I regret that you are immortal and that peace is not available to you. Son of Time - I am impassive, but still I feel sorry for you and people. First hit! Two…

Having struck twice, the clock stopped chiming.

Everyone looked at them in amazement, and they saw something strange.

Someone, with wings on his head and legs, stood at the clock, beautiful, like one of the gods of Hellas, and, holding the minute hand of the clock with his hand, looked into the eyes of the Old Year, fading in anticipation of death.

“I am Mercury and was sent here from Eternity,” he said. - She said why? New Year old people? Tell them that there will be no New Year until new people are born. The one who was already there will remain with them - let him change from the shroud into the dress of a young man and live.

- But this is torture! - said the Old Man.

- You will stay! – Mercury repeated adamantly. - And until people renew their thoughts and feelings, you will remain with them, Old Man! That's what Eternity said - live!

And he disappeared - the messenger of Eternity... And when he disappeared, the clock threw ten dull blows into the silence of amazement.

And the Old Year, dying in triumph, remained to live again with Dejection smiling mournfully into his wrinkled face.

The guests of the Old Year were leaving quietly and sadly.

And Nadezhda, leaving, was silent, and Hypocrisy, expressing sorrow on her face, flirted with Supremacy, talking to him something about Mind, something about Patience, and, speaking, she was still afraid that Dejection would overhear his speeches and did not reproach him for his speeches.

And finally everyone left.

Only the Old Year remained, already dressed in the dress of the New Year, yes True

A.M.Gorky

Old year. Fairy tale

On the last day of his life, the Old Year - before returning to Eternity - arranges something like a solemn meeting for his successor - he collects all human Properties in front of him and talks with them until twelve o'clock - until the fateful moment of his death, until the birth of the New Year.

It was the same yesterday - in the evening strange and vague creatures began to gather to visit the Old Year - creatures whose names and forms are known to us, but whose essences and meanings for us we cannot yet clearly imagine.

Hypocrisy came first, hand in hand with Humility, behind it came Ambition, respectfully accompanied by Stupidity, and after this pair slowly walked a majestic, but emaciated and obviously sick figure - it was Intelligence, and although in his deep and penetrating eyes there was much They sparkled with pride in themselves, but even more there was melancholy about their powerlessness.

Behind him walked Lyubov - a half-naked and very rude woman, with eyes in which there was a lot of sensuality and not a spark of thought.

Luxury, following her, said in a warning whisper:

O love! How are you dressed? Fi, does such a suit suit your role in life?

Bah! - Suspiciousness responded, - what do you want from Love, madam? You have always been and still remain a romantic, I’ll tell you what. For me, the simpler, the clearer, the better, and I am very pleased that I managed to tear away from Love the veils of fantasy in which the dreamers dressed her. We live on earth, it is hard, and its color is dirty, and the heavens are so high that there will never be anything in common between them and the earth! Is not it?

And Love itself was silent - her tongue has long been almost mute, she does not have the former ardent words, her desires are rude, and her blood is liquid and cold.

Vera also appeared - a broken and wavering creature. She cast a glance of irreconcilable hatred towards Um and quietly disappeared from his eyes in the crowd that had come to celebrate the Old Year.

Then behind her, Hope flashed like a spark, flashed and disappeared somewhere.

Then Wisdom appeared. She was dressed in bright and light fabrics, decorated with a mass of fake stones, and no matter how bright and shiny her costume was, she herself was so dark and sad.

And then Despondency came, and everyone bowed to it respectfully, because it is in the honor of Time.

The last to come was Truth, timid and downtrodden, as always, sick and sad; she, quietly and unnoticed by anyone, walked into the corner and sat there alone.

Old Year came out, looked at his guests and grinned with Mephisto's grin.

Hello and goodbye! - he spoke. - Farewell because I am dying, as prescribed by Fate. I am mortal, and I am glad that I am mortal, for if the time of my life had continued even for one day, I would not have endured the melancholy of my pale life. It’s so boring to live always dealing only with you! I sincerely feel sorry for you - you are immortal. And for this I also regret that on my birthday you were all stronger, fresher and more whole than today, on the day of my death. Yes, I sincerely pity you - you are all terribly worn out by people, discolored by them, crushed, and you are all so close to each other in your common ugliness. And it is you who are human Properties? You are without strength, without color, without fire! I feel sorry for you and the people.

And the Old Year grinned and then again, looking around the guests, asked Vera:

Faith! Where is your power, which moved people to great deeds and inspired life?

It was he who robbed me! - Vera said dully, pointing in the direction of Uma.

I owe it to her that to this day people are still confident in my power. In the fight against her, I wasted my best strength! - Um responded angrily.

Don't quarrel, you unfortunates! - the dying Old Man smiled dispassionately again and, after a pause, said again: - Yes, you are all terribly pale and worn out. How sickening it must be to be human and have to deal with you day after day for years? Who is that shaking his head affirmatively? Oh, it's you, True! You are still the same... not in honor among people... Well, what?.. Farewell, my former companions. Goodbye, I have nothing more to say to you... But... I don’t see anyone among you? Yes? Where is the Originality?

“She’s been gone for a long time,” Pravda answered timidly.

Poor earth! - Old Year regretted. - How bored she is! People are pathetic and colorless if they have lost the originality of their thoughts, feelings, and actions.

“They don’t even know how to create a costume for themselves that would at least somewhat brighten up the ugliness of their forms, devoid of ancient beauty,” Pravda quietly complained.

What's wrong with them? - Old Year asked thoughtfully.

They lost their desires and were left to live only with lusts... Truth explained.

Do they die too? - Old Year was amazed.

No, said Pravda. - They are still living. But how do they live? Most out of habit, some out of curiosity, and all without realizing why they live.

Old Year laughed coldly.

It's time! Another minute and my hour will strike - the hour of my liberation from life. As I leave, I'll say a little... I existed and found it very sad. Farewell once again and for the last time. I feel sorry for you, I regret that you are immortal and that peace is not available to you. Son of Time - I am impassive, but still I feel sorry for you and people. First hit! Two...

Having struck twice, the clock stopped beating.

Everyone looked at them in amazement, and they saw something strange.

Someone, with wings on his head and legs, stood at the clock, beautiful, like one of the gods of Hellas, and, holding the minute hand of the clock with his hand, looked into the eyes of the Old Year, fading in anticipation of death.

“I am Mercury and was sent here from Eternity,” he said. - She said why do old people need New Year? Tell them that there will be no New Year until new people are born. The one who was already there will remain with them - let him change from the shroud into the dress of a young man and live.

But this is torture! - said the Old Man.

You will stay! - Mercury repeated adamantly. - And until people renew their thoughts and feelings, you will remain with them, Old Man! That's what Eternity said - live!

And he disappeared - the messenger of Eternity... And when he disappeared, the clock threw ten dull strikes into the silence of amazement.

And the Old Year, dying in triumph, remained to live again with Dejection smiling mournfully into his wrinkled face.

The guests of the Old Year were leaving quietly and sadly.


Gorky Maxim

Old Year (Fairy Tale)

A.M.Gorky

Old year. Fairy tale

On the last day of his life, the Old Year - before returning to Eternity - arranges something like a solemn meeting for his successor - he collects all human Properties in front of him and talks with them until twelve o'clock - until the fateful moment of his death, until the birth of the New Year.

It was the same yesterday - in the evening strange and vague creatures began to gather to visit the Old Year - creatures whose names and forms are known to us, but whose essences and meanings for us we cannot yet clearly imagine.

Hypocrisy came first, hand in hand with Humility, behind it came Ambition, respectfully accompanied by Stupidity, and after this pair slowly walked a majestic, but emaciated and obviously sick figure - it was Intelligence, and although in his deep and penetrating eyes there was much They sparkled with pride in themselves, but even more there was melancholy about their powerlessness.

Behind him walked Lyubov - a half-naked and very rude woman, with eyes in which there was a lot of sensuality and not a spark of thought.

Luxury, following her, said in a warning whisper:

O love! How are you dressed? Fi, does such a suit suit your role in life?

Bah! - Suspiciousness responded, - what do you want from Love, madam? You have always been and still remain a romantic, I’ll tell you what. For me, the simpler, the clearer, the better, and I am very pleased that I managed to tear away from Love the veils of fantasy in which the dreamers dressed her. We live on earth, it is hard, and its color is dirty, and the heavens are so high that there will never be anything in common between them and the earth! Is not it?

And Love itself was silent - her tongue has long been almost mute, she does not have the former ardent words, her desires are rude, and her blood is liquid and cold.

Vera also appeared - a broken and wavering creature. She cast a glance of irreconcilable hatred towards Um and quietly disappeared from his eyes in the crowd that had come to celebrate the Old Year.

Then behind her, Hope flashed like a spark, flashed and disappeared somewhere.

Then Wisdom appeared. She was dressed in bright and light fabrics, decorated with a mass of fake stones, and no matter how bright and shiny her costume was, she herself was so dark and sad.

And then Despondency came, and everyone bowed to it respectfully, because it is in the honor of Time.

The last to come was Truth, timid and downtrodden, as always, sick and sad; she, quietly and unnoticed by anyone, walked into the corner and sat there alone.

Old Year came out, looked at his guests and grinned with Mephisto's grin.

Hello and goodbye! - he spoke. - Farewell because I am dying, as prescribed by Fate. I am mortal, and I am glad that I am mortal, for if the time of my life had continued even for one day, I would not have endured the melancholy of my pale life. It’s so boring to live always dealing only with you! I sincerely feel sorry for you - you are immortal. And for this I also regret that on my birthday you were all stronger, fresher and more whole than today, on the day of my death. Yes, I sincerely pity you - you are all terribly worn out by people, discolored by them, crushed, and you are all so close to each other in your common ugliness. And it is you who are human Properties? You are without strength, without color, without fire! I feel sorry for you and the people.

And the Old Year grinned and then again, looking around the guests, asked Vera:

Faith! Where is your power, which moved people to great deeds and inspired life?

On the last day of his life, the Old Year - before returning to Eternity - arranges something like a solemn meeting for his successor - he collects all human Properties in front of him and talks with them until twelve o'clock - until the fateful moment of his death, until the birth of the New Year.
It was the same yesterday - in the evening strange and vague creatures began to gather to visit the Old Year - creatures whose names and forms are known to us, but whose essences and meanings for us we cannot yet clearly imagine.
Hypocrisy came first, hand in hand with Humility, behind it came Ambition, respectfully accompanied by Stupidity, and after this pair slowly walked a majestic, but emaciated and obviously sick figure - it was Intelligence, and although in his deep and penetrating eyes there was much They sparkled with pride in themselves, but even more there was melancholy about their powerlessness.
Behind him walked Lyubov - a half-naked and very rude woman, with eyes in which there was a lot of sensuality and not a spark of thought.
Luxury, following her, said in a warning whisper:
- O love! How are you dressed? Fi, does such a suit suit your role in life?
- Bah! - Suspiciousness responded, - what do you want from Love, madam? You have always been and still remain a romantic, I’ll tell you what. For me, the simpler, the clearer, the better, and I am very pleased that I managed to tear away from Love the veils of fantasy in which the dreamers dressed it. We live on earth, it is hard, and its color is dirty, and the heavens are so high that there will never be anything in common between them and the earth! Is not it?
And Love itself was silent - her tongue has long been almost mute, she does not have the former ardent words, her desires are rude, and her blood is liquid and cold.
Vera also appeared - a broken and wavering creature. She cast a glance of irreconcilable hatred towards Um and quietly disappeared from his eyes in the crowd that had come to celebrate the Old Year.
Then behind her, Hope flashed like a spark, flashed and disappeared somewhere.
Then Wisdom appeared. She was dressed in bright and light fabrics, decorated with a mass of fake stones, and no matter how bright and shiny her costume was, she herself was so dark and sad.
And then Despondency came, and everyone bowed to it respectfully, because it is in the honor of Time.
The last to come was Truth, timid and downtrodden, as always, sick and sad; she, quietly and unnoticed by anyone, walked into the corner and sat there alone.
Old Year came out, looked at his guests and grinned with Mephisto's grin.
- Hello and goodbye! - he spoke. - Farewell because I am dying, as prescribed by Fate. I am mortal, and I am glad that I am mortal, for if the time of my life had continued even for one day, I would not have endured the melancholy of my pale life. It’s so boring to live always dealing only with you! I sincerely feel sorry for you - you are immortal. And for this I also regret that on my birthday you were all stronger, fresher and more whole than today, on the day of my death. Yes, I sincerely pity you - you are all terribly worn out by people, discolored by them, crushed, and you are all so close to each other in your common ugliness. And it is you who are human Properties? You are without strength, without color, without fire! I feel sorry for you and the people.
And the Old Year grinned and then again, looking around the guests, asked Vera:
- Faith! Where is your power, which moved people to great deeds and inspired life?
- He robbed me! - Vera said dully, pointing in the direction of Uma.
“I owe it to her that to this day people are still confident in my power.” In the fight against her, I wasted my best strength! - Um responded angrily.
- Don't quarrel, unfortunate people! - the dying Old Man smiled dispassionately again and, after a pause, said again: - Yes, you are all terribly pale and worn out. How sickening it must be to be human and have to deal with you day after day for years? Who is that shaking his head affirmatively? Oh, it's you, True! You are still the same... not in honor among people... Well, what?.. Farewell, my former companions. Goodbye, I have nothing more to say to you... But... I don’t see anyone among you? Yes? Where is the Originality?
“She’s been gone for a long time,” Pravda answered timidly.
- Poor earth! - Old Year regretted. - How bored she is! People are pathetic and colorless if they have lost the originality of their thoughts, feelings, and actions.
“They don’t even know how to create a costume for themselves that would at least somewhat brighten up the ugliness of their forms, devoid of ancient beauty,” Pravda quietly complained.
- What's wrong with them? - Old Year asked thoughtfully.
“They lost their desires and were left to live only with lusts...” Pravda explained.
- Do they die too? - Old Year was amazed.
“No,” said Pravda. - They are still living. But how do they live? Most out of habit, some out of curiosity, and all without realizing why they live.
Old Year laughed coldly.
- It's time! Another minute and my hour will strike - the hour of my liberation from life. As I leave, I'll say a little... I existed and found it very sad. Farewell once again and for the last time. I feel sorry for you, I regret that you are immortal and that peace is not available to you. Son of Time - I am impassive, but still I feel sorry for you and people. First hit! Two...
What is this?
Having struck twice, the clock stopped beating.
Everyone looked at them in amazement, and they saw something strange.
Someone, with wings on his head and legs, stood at the clock, beautiful, like one of the gods of Hellas, and, holding the minute hand of the clock with his hand, looked into the eyes of the Old Year, fading in anticipation of death.
“I am Mercury and was sent here from Eternity,” he said. - She said - why do old people need New Year? Tell them that there will be no New Year until new people are born. The one who was already there will remain with them - let him change from the shroud into the dress of a young man and live.
- But this is torture! - said the Old Man.
- You will stay! - Mercury repeated adamantly. - And until people renew their thoughts and feelings, you will remain with them, Old Man! That's what Eternity said - live!
And he disappeared - the messenger of Eternity... And when he disappeared, the clock threw ten dull strikes into the silence of amazement.
And the Old Year, dying in triumph, remained to live again with Dejection smiling mournfully into his wrinkled face.
The guests of the Old Year were leaving quietly and sadly.
And Nadezhda, leaving, was silent, and Hypocrisy, expressing sorrow on her face, flirted with Supremacy, talking to him something about Mind, something about Patience, and, speaking, she was still afraid that Dejection would overhear his speeches and did not reproach him for his speeches.
And finally everyone left.
Only the Old Year remained, already dressed in the dress of the New Year, and the Truth is always and everywhere the last!