Garnet bracelet. Kuprin A.I.

K. Paustovsky called this story a “fragrant” work about love, and researchers compared it with a Beethoven sonata. We are talking about “Garnet Bracelet” by A. Kuprin. Schoolchildren get to know him in 11th grade. The story captivates the reader with its exciting plot, deep images and original interpretation of the eternal theme of love. We offer an analysis of the work, which will be a good assistant in preparing for the lesson and the Unified State Exam. For convenience, the article provides a brief and complete analysis of the plan.

Brief Analysis

Year of writing - 1910

History of creation- A. I. Kuprin was inspired to write the work by a story he heard in a family of friends.

Subject- The story reveals traditional themes of unrequited love, a sincere feeling that all women dream of.

Composition- The semantic and formal organization of the story has its own peculiarities. The work begins with an epigraph addressed to Beethoven’s “Sonata No. 2.” This same musical masterpiece acts as a symbol in the final part. The author wove small love stories told by Vasily Lvovich into the outline of the main plot. The story consists of 13 parts.

Genre- A story. The writer himself considered his work a story.

Direction- Realism.

History of creation

The story of the creation of the story is connected with real events. A. Kuprin was a friend of Governor Lyubimov’s family. While viewing the family album, the Lyubimovs told Alexander Ivanovich an interesting love story. A telegraph official was in love with the governor's wife. The woman collected his letters and made sketches for them. Once she received a gift from an admirer: a gold-plated chain and a pendant in the shape of an Easter egg.

Work on the work began in September 1910, as evidenced by the author’s letters addressed to his colleagues. At first, Alexander Ivanovich was going to write a story. But he was so inspired by the artistic transformation of the story he heard that the work turned out to be much more than it was intended. Kuprin created the “Garnet Bracelet” for about 3 months. He wrote to Batyushkov about the progress of the work. In one of the letters, the writer admitted that he had difficulties associated with his “ignorance in music.” However, Alexander Ivanovich valued the “Garnet Bracelet” very much, so he did not want to “crumple” it.

The work was first seen by the world on the pages of the magazine “Earth” in 1911. Criticism of the work focused on its ideas and expressive “psychological situations.”

Subject

In order to grasp the ideological sound of the story “Garnet Bracelet,” its analysis should begin with a description of the main problem.

Motif of love has always been common in literature. Masters of the pen have revealed different facets of this feeling, trying to understand how it affects a person. In the work of A. Kuprin, this motif takes pride of place. main topic“Pomegranate Bracelet” - unrequited love. The problematics of the work are dictated by the specified topic.

The events of the story unfold at the Sheins' dacha. The author begins the work with landscape sketches. The end of summer was not encouraging with good weather, but at the beginning of September nature compensated for the gloomy August with sunny days. Reading the work further, it is not difficult to guess that the landscapes not only help to immerse oneself in the countryside atmosphere, but also symbolize changes in the life of the main character, Vera Nikolaevna Sheina: her life with her husband was gray and boring until the woman received an unusual gift.

At the beginning of the work, the reader observes only two characters - the Sheins. The author focuses on the fact that the love between these people faded away, or rather, “turned into a feeling of lasting, faithful, true friendship.”

The system of images is complemented in an episode reproducing the celebration of the princess’s name day.

The holiday is remembered by the stories of Prince Vasily Lvovich about the unrequited love of a telegraph operator for his wife. On the same day, Vera Nikolaevna received a garnet bracelet and a letter signed with her initials as a gift. The woman told about the strange gift to her husband, father's friend and brother. They decided to find the author of the letter.

It turned out that the gift was presented by the official Zheltkov, who was madly in love with the princess. Vera Nikolaevna's brother returned the bracelet to the man. After explanations with the Sheins, Zheltkov committed suicide. He left a note to his beloved in which he asked to play a Beethoven sonata if Vera remembered him. In the evening, the woman fulfilled the request of the deceased and finally felt that the man had forgiven her.

“The Pomegranate Bracelet” is filled with reflections on love that come from the lips of the characters. These thoughts are like keys to a door behind which are hidden answers about the essence of a tender, but sometimes ruthless feeling. However, the author does not try to impose his point of view. The reader must draw his own conclusions. To understand what the writer teaches, you need to analyze the actions of the heroes, their characters and destinies.

The work of A. Kuprin is filled with symbols. Main role a garnet bracelet plays, hence the title of the story. The decoration symbolizes true love. The bracelet contains five precious stones. In one of King Solomon's parables, they meant love, passion and anger. An interpretation of the meaning of the title of the story will be incomplete without taking into account the symbolic component. Also, special attention is drawn to Beethoven's sonata, which in this context can be interpreted as a symbol of unhappy but eternal love.

The work develops idea that true love does not disappear from the heart without a trace. Main thought- sincere love exists, you just need to be able to notice and accept it.

Composition

The compositional features of the work are manifested both at the formal and semantic levels. First, A. Kuprin draws the reader to Beethoven’s sonnet through an epigraph. In the finale, it turns out that the musical masterpiece plays the role of a symbol. With the help of this symbolic image, a frame is created that enhances the ideological sound.

The order of the plot elements is not broken. The exhibition includes landscape sketches, an introduction to the Shein family, and a story about the upcoming holiday. The beginning is Vera Nikolaevna receiving a gift. The development of events - a story about the name day, the search for the recipient of the gift, a meeting with Zheltkov. The climax is Zheltkov’s recognition that only death will kill his feelings. The denouement is the death of Zheltkov and the story of how Vera listens to the sonata.

Main characters

Genre

The genre of “The Garnet Bracelet” is a story. The work reveals several storylines, the system of images is quite branched. In terms of volume, it also approaches the story. A. Kuprin was a representative of realism, and the story under analysis was written in this direction. It is based on real events; in addition, the author expressively conveyed the atmosphere of his era.

Work test

Rating analysis

Average rating: 4.4. Total ratings received: 2312.

"Garnet bracelet"- The story of Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin, written in 1910. The plot was based on a real story, which Kuprin filled with sad poetry. In 1915 and 1964, a film of the same name was made based on this work. The main characters of the story Garnet Bracelet They live bright moments of life, they love, they suffer.

Garnet bracelet main characters

Vasily Lvovich Shein - prince, provincial leader of the nobility
Vera Nikolaevna Sheina - his wife, Zheltkov’s beloved
Georgy Stepanovich Zheltkov - official of the control chamber

Anna Nikolaevna Friesse - Vera's sister
Nikolai Nikolaevich Mirza-Bulat-Tuganovsky - Vera’s brother, comrade prosecutor
General Yakov Mikhailovich Anosov - grandfather of Vera and Anna
Lyudmila Lvovna Durasova - sister of Vasily Shein
Gustav Ivanovich Friesse - Anna Nikolaevna's husband
Jenny Reiter - pianist
Vasyuchok is a young rogue and reveler.

Garnet bracelet characteristics Zheltkov

The main character of "Garnet Bracelet"- a petty official with a funny surname Zheltkov, hopelessly and unrequitedly in love with Princess Vera, the wife of the leader of the nobility.

Zheltkov G.S. The hero is “very pale, with a gentle girlish face, blue eyes and a stubborn childish chin with a dimple in the middle; he was about 30, 35 years old.”
7 years ago J. fell in love with Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina and wrote letters to her. Then, at the princess’s request, he stopped bothering her. But now he again confessed his love to the princess. J. sent Vera Nikolaevna a garnet bracelet. In the letter, he explained that garnet stones used to be in his grandmother’s bracelet, but later they were transferred to a gold bracelet. In his letter, J. repented that he had previously written “stupid and impudent letters.” Now “only reverence, eternal admiration and slavish devotion” remained in him. This letter was read not only by Vera Nikolaevna, but also by her brother and husband. They decide to return the bracelet and stop the correspondence between the princess and J. When they meet, J., asking permission, calls the princess, but she asks to stop “this story.” J. is experiencing a “tremendous tragedy of the soul.” Later, from the newspaper, the princess learns about the suicide of J., who explained his act as government embezzlement. Before his death, Zh. wrote a farewell letter to Vera Nikolaevna. In it, he called his feeling “tremendous happiness” sent to him by God. J. admitted that, apart from his love for Vera Nikolaevna, “he is not interested in anything in life: neither politics, nor science, nor philosophy, nor concern for the future happiness of people... As I leave, I say in delight: Hallowed be Thy name.” Having come to say goodbye to J., Vera Nikolaevna notices that his face after death shone with “deep importance”, “deep and sweet secret”, as well as a “peaceful expression”, which was “on the masks of the great sufferers - Pushkin and Napoleon”.

Garnet bracelet characteristics of Vera

Vera Nikolaevna Sheina- Princess, wife of Prince Vasily Lvovich Shein, beloved of Zheltkov.
Living in a seemingly prosperous marriage, the beautiful and pure V.N. fades away. From the first lines of the story, in the description of the autumn landscape with the “grassy, sad smell” of the southern pre-winter, there is a feeling of withering. Like nature, the princess also fades, leading a monotonous, drowsy lifestyle. It is based on familiar and convenient connections, activities, and responsibilities. All the heroine’s emotions have long been dulled. She “was strictly simple, cold with everyone and a little patronizingly kind, independent and royally calm.” In the life of V.N. there is no true love. She is connected with her husband by a deep sense of friendship, respect, and habit. However, in the entire circle of the princess there is no person awarded with this feeling. The princess's sister, Anna Nikolaevna, is married to a man whom she cannot stand. V.N.’s brother, Nikolai Nikolaevich, is not married and does not intend to get married. Prince Shein's sister, Lyudmila Lvovna, is a widow. It’s not for nothing that the Sheins’ friend, the old general Anosov, who also never had true love in his life, says: “I don’t see true love.” Royal calm V.N. destroys Zheltkov. The heroine experiences the awakening of a new spiritual mood. Outwardly, nothing special happens: guests arrive for V.N.’s name day, her husband ironically talks about the princess’s strange admirer, a plan to visit Zheltkov arises and is carried out. But all this time the heroine’s internal tension is growing. The most intense moment is V.N.’s farewell. with the deceased Zheltkov, their only “date”. “At that second she realized that the love that every woman dreams of had passed her by.” Returning home, V.N. finds a pianist she knows playing her Zheltkov’s favorite excerpt from Beethoven’s second sonata.

Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin is a Russian writer who, without a doubt, can be classified as a classic. His books are still recognizable and loved by the reader, not only under the compulsion of a school teacher, but at a conscious age. A distinctive feature of his work is documentary, his stories were based on real events or real events became the impetus for their creation - among them the story “Garnet Bracelet”.

“The Garnet Bracelet” is a true story that Kuprin heard from friends while looking through family albums. The governor's wife made sketches for letters sent to her by a certain telegraph official who was unrequitedly in love with her. One day she received a gift from him: a gold-plated chain with a pendant in the shape of an Easter egg. Alexander Ivanovich took this story as the basis for his work, turning these meager, uninteresting data into a touching story. The writer replaced the chain with the pendant with a bracelet with five garnets, which, according to what King Solomon said in one story, mean anger, passion and love.

Plot

“The Pomegranate Bracelet” begins with preparations for the celebration, when Vera Nikolaevna Sheina suddenly receives a gift from an unknown person: a bracelet with five garnets flecked in green. On the paper note that came with the gift, it is indicated that the gemstone is capable of endowing the owner with foresight. The princess shares the news with her husband and shows a bracelet from an unknown person. As the action progresses, it turns out that this person is a petty official named Zheltkov. He first saw Vera Nikolaevna at the circus many years ago, and since then the suddenly flared up feelings have not faded away: even her brother’s threats do not stop him. However, Zheltkov does not want to torment his beloved, and he decides to commit suicide so as not to bring shame on her.

The story ends with the realization of the strength of the stranger’s sincere feelings, which comes to Vera Nikolaevna.

Love theme

The main theme of the work “Garnet Bracelet” is undoubtedly the theme of unrequited love. Moreover, Zheltkov is a shining example of selfless, sincere, sacrificial feelings that he does not betray, even when his loyalty cost his life. Princess Sheina also fully feels the power of these emotions: years later she realizes that she wants to be loved and love again - and the jewelry donated by Zheltkov marks the imminent appearance of passion. Indeed, she soon falls in love with life again and feels it in a new way. you can read on our website.

The theme of love in the story is frontal and permeates the entire text: this love is high and pure, a manifestation of God. Vera Nikolaevna feels internal changes even after Zheltkov’s suicide - she learned the sincerity of a noble feeling and willingness to sacrifice herself for the sake of someone who will give nothing in return. Love changes the character of the entire story: the princess’s feelings die, fade, fall asleep, having once been passionate and ardent, and turned into a strong friendship with her husband. But Vera Nikolaevna still continues to strive for love in her soul, even if this has become dulled over time: she needed time to let passion and sensuality come out, but before that her calmness could seem indifferent and cold - this puts a high wall for Zheltkov.

Main characters (characteristics)

Zheltkov worked as a minor official in the control chamber (the author placed him there to emphasize that the main character was a small man). Kuprin does not even indicate his name in the work: only the letters are signed with initials. Zheltkov is exactly how the reader imagines a man of low position: thin, pale-skinned, straightening his jacket with nervous fingers. He has delicate facial features and blue eyes. According to the story, Zheltkov is about thirty years old, he is not rich, modest, decent and noble - even Vera Nikolaevna’s husband notes this. The elderly owner of his room says that during the eight years that he lived with her, he became like family to her, and he was a very nice person to talk to. “...Eight years ago I saw you in a box at the circus, and then in the first second I said to myself: I love her because there is nothing like her in the world, there is nothing better...” - this is how the modern fairy tale about Zheltkov’s feelings for Vera Nikolaevna, although he never cherished hopes that they would be mutual: “...seven years of hopeless and polite love...”. He knows the address of his beloved, what she does, where she spends her time, what she wears - he admits that he is not interested in anything but her and is not happy. you can also find it on our website.
Vera Nikolaevna Sheina inherited her mother's appearance: a tall, stately aristocrat with a proud face. Her character is strict, uncomplicated, calm, she is polite and courteous, kind to everyone. She has been married to Prince Vasily Shein for more than six years; together they are full members of high society, organizing balls and receptions, despite financial difficulties.
Vera Nikolaevna has a younger sister, Anna Nikolaevna Friesse, who, unlike her, inherited her father’s features and his Mongolian blood: narrow eyes, femininity of features, flirtatious facial expressions. Her character is frivolous, perky, cheerful, but contradictory. Her husband, Gustav Ivanovich, is rich and stupid, but he idolizes her and is constantly nearby: his feelings seem to have not changed from the first day, he looked after her and still adored her just as much. Anna Nikolaevna cannot stand her husband, but they have a son and a daughter, she is faithful to him, although she treats him quite contemptuously.
General Anosov is Anna’s godfather, his full name is Yakov Mikhailovich Anosov. He is fat and tall, good-natured, patient, hard of hearing, he has a large, red face with clear eyes, he is very respected for the years of his service, fair and courageous, has a clear conscience, always wears a frock coat and cap, uses a hearing horn and a stick.
Prince Vasily Lvovich Shein is the husband of Vera Nikolaevna. Little is said about his appearance, only that he has blond hair and a large head. He is very soft, compassionate, sensitive - he treats Zheltkov’s feelings with understanding, and is unshakably calm. He has a sister, a widow, whom he invites to the celebration.

Features of Kuprin's creativity

Kuprin was close to the theme of the character’s awareness of life’s truth. He saw the world around him in a special way and sought to learn something new; his works are characterized by drama, a certain anxiety, and excitement. “Educational pathos” is called the hallmark of his work.

In many ways, Kuprin’s work was influenced by Dostoevsky, especially in the early stages, when he writes about fatal and significant moments, the role of chance, the psychology of characters’ passions - often the writer makes it clear that not everything can be understood.

It can be said that one of the features of Kuprin’s work is a dialogue with readers, in which the plot is traced and reality is depicted - this is especially noticeable in his essays, which in turn were influenced by G. Uspensky.

Some of his works are famous for their lightness and spontaneity, poeticization of reality, naturalness and authenticity. Others are the theme of inhumanity and protest, the struggle for feelings. At some point, he begins to be interested in history, antiquity, legends, and thus fantastic stories are born with motives of the inevitability of chance and fate.

Genre and composition

Kuprin is characterized by a love of plots within plots. “The Garnet Bracelet” is further proof: Zheltkov’s note about the qualities of the jewelry is the plot within the plot.

The author shows love from different points of view - love in general terms and Zheltkov’s unrequited feelings. These feelings have no future: Vera Nikolaevna’s marital status, differences in social status, circumstances - everything is against them. This doom reveals the subtle romanticism invested by the writer in the text of the story.

The entire work is ringed by references to the same piece of music – a Beethoven sonata. Thus, the music that “sounds” throughout the story shows the power of love and is the key to understanding the text, heard in the final lines. Music communicates the unsaid. Moreover, it is Beethoven’s sonata at the climax that symbolizes the awakening of Vera Nikolaevna’s soul and the awareness that comes to her. Such attention to melody is also a manifestation of romanticism.

The composition of the story implies the presence of symbols and hidden meanings. So the fading garden implies the fading passion of Vera Nikolaevna. General Anosov tells short stories about love - these are also small plots within the main narrative.

It is difficult to determine the genre of “Garnet Bracelet”. In fact, the work is called a story largely due to its composition: it consists of thirteen short chapters. However, the writer himself called “The Garnet Bracelet” a story.

One of the most famous works of Alexander Kuprin is “Garnet Bracelet”. What genre is the story about the unrequited love of the modest official Zheltkov? More often this work is called a story. But it also contains features characteristic of the story. It turns out that defining the genre of “Garnet Bracelet” is not easy.

In order to do this, one should remember the content of Kuprin’s work, and also consider the features of both the story and the story.

What is a story?

This literary term refers to the composition of short prose. A synonym for this word is “short story”. Russian writers usually called their works stories. A short story is a concept that is more common in foreign literature. There is no significant difference between them. In both the first and second cases, we are talking about a work of small volume, in which there are only a few heroes. An important feature is the presence of only one storyline.

The structure of such a work is quite simple: beginning, climax, denouement. In Russian literature of the 19th century, a story was often called what today is commonly called a story. A striking example is the well-known works of Pushkin. The writer created several stories, the plot of which was allegedly told to him by a certain Belkin, and called them stories. In each of these works there are few characters and only one storyline. So why didn’t Pushkin call his collection “Belkin’s Stories”? The fact is that the literary terminology of the 19th century is somewhat different from the modern one.

But the genre of Chekhov’s works is beyond doubt. Events in the stories of this writer revolve around some seemingly minor incidents that allow the characters to look at their lives differently. There are no unnecessary characters in Chekhov's works. His stories are clear and concise. The same can be said about the prose of later authors - Leonid Andreev, Ivan Bunin.

What is a story?

A work of this genre occupies an intermediate position between a short story and a novel. In foreign literature, the concept of “story” is absent. English and French authors created either short stories or novels.

In Ancient Rus', any prose work was called a story. Over time, the term acquired a narrower meaning. Until the middle of the 19th century, it was understood as a work of small size, but larger than a story. There are usually significantly fewer heroes in the story than in the epic "War and Peace", but more than in Chekhov's "Wallet". Yet modern literary scholars sometimes find it difficult to determine the genre of a work written more than 200 years ago.

In the story, events revolve around the main character. Actions take place over a short period of time. That is, if the work tells how the hero was born, graduated from school, university, made a successful career, and then, closer to his seventieth birthday, died safely in his bed, then this is a novel, but not a story.

If only one day in the life of a character is shown, and the plot contains two or three characters, it is a story. Perhaps the clearest definition of a story is the following: “a work that cannot be called either a novel or a story.” What is the genre of "Garnet Bracelet"? Before answering this question, let's remember the content.

"Garnet bracelet"

A work can be confidently classified as a short story if it involves two or three characters. There are more heroes here.

Vera Sheina is married to a kind and well-mannered man. She doesn't care about the telegraph operator who regularly writes her love letters. Moreover, she had never even seen his face. Vera's indifference gives way to a feeling of anxiety, and then pity and regret after she receives a garnet bracelet as a gift from the telegraph operator.

The genre of this work could be easily determined if Kuprin had excluded from the narrative such characters as General Anosov, Vera’s brother and sister. But these characters are not just present in the plot. They, and especially the general, play a certain role.

Let us recall several stories included by Kuprin in “Garnet Bracelet”. The genre of a work can be determined in the process of its artistic analysis. And to do this, you should again turn to the content.

Crazy Love

The officer fell in love with the wife of the regimental commander. This woman was not attractive, and she was also a morphine addict. But love is evil... The romance did not last long. The experienced woman soon became tired of her young lover.

Garrison life is boring and monotonous. The military wife, apparently, wanted to brighten up her everyday life with thrills, and she demanded proof of love from her former lover. Namely, throw yourself under a train. He did not die, but remained disabled for life.

Love triangle

Another incident from garrison life is told in another story included in the “Garnet Bracelet.” Its genre could be easily determined if it were a separate work. It would be a classic story.

The wife of a brave officer, highly respected by the soldiers, fell in love with the lieutenant. A passionate romance ensued. The traitor did not hide her feelings at all. Moreover, the husband was well aware of her relationship with her lover. When the regiment was sent to war, she threatened him with divorce if something happened to the lieutenant. The man went to sapper work instead of his wife's lover. I checked the guard posts for him at night. He did everything to preserve the health and life of his opponent.

General

These stories are not given by chance. They were told to Vera by General Anosov, one of the most striking characters in “The Garnet Bracelet.” The genre of this work would not be in doubt if it were not for this colorful character. In that case it would be a story. But the general distracts the reader from the main storyline. In addition to the above stories, he also tells Vera about some facts from his biography. In addition, Kuprin paid attention to other minor characters (for example, Vera Sheina’s sister). This made the structure of the work more complex, the plot deeper and more interesting.

The stories told by Anosov make an impression on the main character. And his thoughts about love make the princess look differently at the feelings of the faceless telegraph operator.

What genre does “Garnet Bracelet” belong to?

It was said above that in literature previously there was no clear division between such concepts as story and story. But this was only the case at the beginning of the 19th century. The work discussed in this article was written by Kuprin in 1910. By that time, the concepts used by modern literary scholars had already been formed.

The writer defined his work as a story. Calling "The Garnet Bracelet" a story is incorrect. However, this mistake is forgivable. As one famous literary critic said, not without a bit of irony, no one can perfectly distinguish a story from a story, but philology students like to argue on this topic.

Kuprin with his Garnet bracelet will be interesting for our reader's diary, which tells the story of one official and his love for a society lady. Kuprin's work, The Garnet Bracelet, touches on the theme of love, based on a plot from life.

Kuprin's story Garnet bracelet history

The history of the creation of the story Kuprin's Garnet Bracelet began in the fall of 1910, when the writer conceived his work, which was supposed to be a story. But Kuprin got carried away with writing and did not notice how the work grew and grew, and here the story of the creation of Kuprin’s Garnet Bracelet suggests that the story grew into a story. The story brought success to the author. What plot was taken from life?

Once Lyubimov told Kuprin a story about an official who fell in love with his mother. He constantly wrote letters, and then in one of the letters he sent a garnet bracelet, which was a daring act at that time. So Lyubimova’s fiance went to the fan’s home, where he wrote another letter. In the conversation, the men asked the fan not to write again and not to appear in the life of Lyubimov’s mother. The fan disappeared and no one else knew about his fate. Kuprin, having heard this story, decided to write his own work with his own ending.