In the novel "Eugene Onegin" the first chapter (a summary of which is below) is of great importance for the characterization of the protagonist. The article will tell you why it is so important for understanding the actions and behavior of Eugene, his lifestyle and decisions made. Also, we will provide the reader with the general content of the entire novel and in more detail - the second chapter.
A novel in verse is a pearl of Russian poetry
In the article we offer the reader a summary of the first two chapters of "Eugene Onegin", as well as criticism of them and the general content of the work.
The value of "Eugene Onegin" for Russian culture, literature, culturologists and even history is difficult to overestimate. The description of the life of the nobility, its foundations and traditions, the action-packed love line make the novel truly valuable and informative. The psychologism in the depiction of the characters of the novel is conveyed subtly and professionally in the stanzas. These features made the work the property of world literature, putting it on the same shelf with the world geniuses of the pen.
"Eugene Onegin" (first chapter): Summary
The first chapter of the work is entirely devoted to the childhood and adolescence of Eugene. It begins with the thoughts of the hero - the "young rake" - about a letter from a sick uncle. Reluctantly, the nephew gathers and goes to him, unable to refuse the last will. Already imagining the insane boredom in the village near his deathbed, he sets off. In the meantime, the author introduces himself to us as a “good friend” and introduces readers to Yevgeny, along the way talking about his childhood.
Summary of the first chapter of "Eugene Onegin" tells about the upbringing of the hero. At first, his tutor was a governess, then she was replaced by a “wretched Frenchman”, who “taught jokingly”, that is, not seriously and not answering for the morality of a frisky, but sweet child.
It immediately becomes clear that the sense of such upbringing is not great, as can be seen from the lifestyle of the young hero. He keeps going to balls and entertainment, breaking the hearts of gullible ladies along the way. Eugene lives in pleasure, but such a life eventually led him to "spleen" and hopeless boredom. Being very young, he was already tired of everything. Few things can bring him joy and moral satisfaction.
The meaning of the first chapter of the novel
In the novel "Eugene Onegin" the first chapter (its summary is necessary for understanding the hero) is the foundation of the whole work. Evgeny's actions no longer seem reckless and incomprehensible. Giving a detailed description of the origin of the moral foundations of the character, Pushkin seems to say: “He is not the only one. All of us, the nobles, were brought up in the same way…”.
The hero "danced the mazurka easily and bowed at ease" and "the world decided … that he was smart and very nice." That is, the upbringing was miserable not only for Eugene, but also for society contemporary to him and the author.
Summary of the first chapter of the novel "Eugene Onegin" cannot convey the whole atmosphere of the novel and the description of the poet's environment, but even brief moments can show the problems of the young nobility. Lack of spirituality, life for the sake of pleasure and pleasure will not lead to anything good. Even if the hero is not guilty of his changed values, he will still have to answer for the mistakes.
Second chapter
Summary of the first chapter of "Eugene Onegin" gives an idea only of the beginning of the novel. The action develops from the second chapter, the first is a kind of preface.
Eugene is bored and spends his days in the countryside. He changes the laws for serfs, which causes discontent and surprise of the neighbors.
Soon, the young romantic poet Vladimir Lensky settles next to Onegin. They do not immediately find a common language, but subsequently become inseparable friends. Lensky calls a friend to the family of his fiancee - Olga Larina, who has a sister. The author describes the girls. Olga is beautiful, cheerful, andTatyana is melancholic and strict. She is a mysterious and throwing girl.
The role of the second chapter in the development of the plot of the novel
In the novel "Eugene Onegin" the first chapter (see summary above) showed us the hero's childhood and youth in St. Petersburg. The second chapter tells about the life of Eugene in the village.
Speaking of the hero's concern for the serfs, reducing their dues, Pushkin points to the instability of serfdom and prophesies its imminent fall.
The description of the life of the Larins in the village is a picture of the life of rural landowners at the end of the 19th century. It is stable, flowing calmly and measuredly, a little dull and hopeless.
"Eugene Onegin" content
The events of the novel develop in eight chapters. The first is a brief but detailed sketch of the youth and childhood of the poet, we talked about it above. The second is dedicated to Yevgeny's life in the village.
In the third chapter, the hero meets the Larin family. Tatyana is nice to him. Deprived of attention and communication, the girl falls in love with the hero and writes a letter to her lover. However, no response follows.
The fourth chapter tells about Evgeny's thoughts about writing. He is surprised and stunned by him. The hero values his freedom and is not ready to reciprocate the girl. At the meeting, he explains with her and claims that if it were time to get married, he would definitely choose Tatiana.
The fifth chapter begins with a description of the winter holidays and the mystical time of divination. Tatyana has a terrible dream where Lensky is killed by Yevgeny. All this, tounfortunately, it will come true later.
Lensky and Evgeny come to visit the Larins. Tatyana's behavior, the presence of many guests annoys Yevgeny, and in spite of his friend he flirts with Olga. Vladimir in anger challenges him to a duel.
The sixth chapter is about the duel. Friends shoot at the same time, but Evgeny's shot hits the target. The former friend is dead, and Eugene leaves the village.
The seventh chapter tells that Olga did not long to be sad about the dead fiancé and got married. Tatyana accidentally got into the estate of Eugene, reads his books and notes. This gives her the opportunity to learn more about the inner world of her lover.
The girl's mother, seeing that she is drying up and sad, takes her to Moscow. Here the girl meets an important general.
The eighth chapter of the novel is the most intense. This is where the love story reaches its climax. One day at a ball, Eugene meets a young woman who impresses him with her modest, cool beauty. In it, he recognizes the changed Tatyana. It turns out that she is the wife of the prince, a friend of Eugene.
Feelings overwhelm our hero. Now it's his turn to write letters and get no response. In the end, unable to bear the suspense, Onegin comes to the house of his beloved without an invitation and sees her crying over his letters. He throws himself at her feet, but Tatyana coldly says that it is already too late, she has been given to another and will be "faithful to him for a century." The plot ends at this point, leaving the characters in this two-digit position.
In closing
The novel "Eugene Onegin" (you had the opportunity to read the summary of the first chapter earlier) is a real storehouse of knowledge about the life of the nobility, and its love line will give odds to any modern drama. This is another proof of the relevance of Pushkin's works, their value both for writers and for ordinary readers who are able to draw life wisdom from the poet's immortal lines.
