About the product
The story “The Blind Musician” by Korolenko was first published in 1886. In the work, the author reveals the themes of the meaning of human life, art, love, education. Korolenko wrote to friends that in “The Blind Musician” his task was “not only to reproduce the psychology of the blind, but also to reflect the universal human dream for the ideal, the longing for the fullness of human existence.”
On our website you can read online a summary of The Blind Musician. The proposed retelling will be useful for schoolchildren when filling out a reading diary, in preparation for a literature lesson.
The material was prepared jointly with the highest category teacher Lyubov Alexandrovna Koroshchup.
Experience as a teacher of Russian language and literature - 30 years.
Summary
Chapter first
“A child was born into a wealthy family in the Southwestern region, in the dead of midnight.” At first, no one noticed that the boy was born blind. Only a few weeks after the examination, the doctor confirmed the mother’s fears that the child could not see anything.
Peter's family consisted of his mother, father and "Uncle Maxim". The child's father "was like a thousand other village landowners." Uncle Maxim was known as “the most dangerous bully”; he managed to visit Austria, “join” Garibaldi, and after being seriously wounded, return to his homeland again, but without his right leg and with a badly damaged left arm.
Uncle Maxim became interested in his blind nephew and advised his sister to show less “stupid solicitude.” The woman listened to his words, and soon the boy began to confidently crawl around the house. It was clear that his blindness was compensated by good hearing and touch.
One spring, his mother and uncle Maxim took Petya to the river. The new sensations, smells, and sounds greatly impressed the boy, and from excitement he fell into a “deep faint.”
Chapter two
When the boy was five years old, he already knew his way around the house well. From the outside, one might think that this is just a “strangely focused child.”
The boy became interested in playing the flute of the groom Joachim. Soon Petya began to come to Joachim’s stable and tried to play the pipe himself. Jealous of her son's groom, Anna bought a piano. However, Petya was not impressed by the complex play played by the woman. Over time, listening to Joachim's playing, Anna began to express her own feelings through music. Petya began to master playing the piano with interest.
Chapter Three
Thanks to Uncle Maxim's upbringing, in his sixth year Petya was able to clean his room himself and even learned to ride a horse under Joachim's guidance. However, he had no friends - the village boys were wary of the blind “panic”.
Soon old man Jaskulski and his wife Agnieszka settled on a neighboring estate. They had a daughter, almost the same age as Petya - Evelina. The girl spent most of her time on her own, and it seemed as if she was a “tiny grown woman.”
Once, when Petya was playing by the river, Evelina noticed him and tried to talk, but the boy drove her away. The next time the girl appeared only a few days later. They started talking. Evelina did not immediately realize that Petya was blind. When the boy, out of habit, began to feel the girl’s face, studying her, she recoiled in fear and burst into tears, but then she understood everything. The next day the girl herself came to visit Petya. From that day they began to be friends.
Chapter Four
Petya felt inner dissatisfaction, he wanted to see objects, light, distinguish colors, a desire appeared in him to “give shape to the forces dormant in the depths of his soul, which could not find an outcome.”
Chapter Five
Uncle Maxim invited his old comrade Stavruchenko, who was visiting young people: Stavruchenko’s sons, students of the philological faculty and conservatory, and a young cadet. The young people who arrived heatedly discussed various issues, but during the conversations they did not turn to Petya.
During one of the conversations, Petya quietly stood up and left. Evelina immediately hurried after him and found him at an abandoned mill. He shared with the girl that he felt like he was “completely superfluous in the world.” Touched by Evelina, she said that Petya should marry her, and the young man at first agreed, but then came to his senses: after all, he is blind. Evelina replied that it didn’t mean anything, because they loved each other. When they returned to the guests, the young man sat down at the piano and began to play. All the guests were fascinated by Peter's playing, which was mixed with folk music motifs. The eldest of the Stavruchenko brothers said that Peter has a “surprisingly unique manner” and he “needs a serious school.”
Chapter Six
In the fall, the Popelskys went to the Stavruchenki. The young people visited the grave of the robber Ignat Kary and the blind bandura player who accompanied the ataman on campaigns.
While visiting the monastery, they met the blind novice bell-ringer Yegor. Everyone noted the striking external resemblance between Peter and the novice. Peter was left alone with the blind bell ringer. Yegory said that he was also born blind, but they have a novice, Roman, who became blind at the age of seven. Yegory envied Roman because he managed to see the world and his mother. The bell ringer gave the impression of an embittered, angry man.
Telling Maxim about what happened in the monastery, Evelina shares her suspicion: it seems to her that Peter now believes that all those born blind are evil.
Winter came. “Peter’s soul was also cold and gloomy.” He asked questions: “Why live in the world?” and “why should a blind person live?” After meeting the bell ringer, Peter really believed that he was born evil by nature and could only torment the people around him.
During one of the conversations, Maxim began to explain to Peter the connection between the symbolism of sound and color. The blind man greedily caught every word and immediately tried to convey it through playing the piano. Peter expressed his annoyance that he could not see and would be glad to exchange with the last beggar - so he would be less unhappy, because he would only think about survival.
Not far from the Popelski estate there was a miraculous Catholic icon. On the day of her feast day, Maxim, Peter and Joachim came to the icon. Blind beggars sat at the exit and took turns singing a sad song. Peter seemed frightened by what he heard and wanted to leave quickly. Maxim noted that these were the same “lucky ones” whom he had recently envied, and forced his nephew to give alms.
It was decided that in the summer Peter and Maxim would go to Kyiv, so that in the fall the young man would begin to study with the famous pianist. One July night two blind men were walking along the road. They were called to the chaise. Soon there were three blind people: an old man with gray hair, Kandyba, a tall fellow, Kuzma, and a very young man in new peasant clothes. They were heading towards Pochaev. Maxim left for Kyiv himself and hid from his relatives that Peter had left with the blind.
With each new step of the journey with the beggars, “new sounds of the unknown, wide, immense world flowed towards Peter.” “The sightless eyes widened, the chest expanded, and the hearing became even more acute.” Soon he learned the song of the blind. Late autumn Peter returned home. “They said that he went to Pochaev on a vow to beg the Pochaev Mother of God for healing.” Although he remained blind, his “soul was undoubtedly healed.”
Chapter Seven
Evelina told her parents about her desire to marry Peter, they got married. From time to time the musician went to visit Fyodor Kandyba and talked with him for a long time. The news that Peter would soon become a father frightened him. Contrary to Peter's fears, the child was born sighted.
Epilogue
Three years have passed. Peter performed at the “Contracts” fair in Kyiv and played the piano. “The crowd was captivated by the deep sincerity of the expression,” the folk melody, “that flowed from the hands of the blind musician.” Listening to the music, Maxim clearly recognized the familiar tune of the blind men's song. Maxim thought that Peter “had received his sight and would be able to remind the happy of the unfortunate,” that “he [Maxim] did his job, and it was not for nothing that he lived in the world.”
“This is how a blind musician made his debut.”
Blind musician summary
The story “The Blind Musician” by Korolenko was first published in 1886. In the story, the author reveals the themes of the meaning of human life, art, love, education. Korolenko wrote to friends that in “The Blind Musician” his task was “not only to reproduce the psychology of the blind, but also to reflect the universal human dream for the ideal, the longing for the fullness of human existence.” On our website you can read online a summary of The Blind Musician. The proposed retelling will be useful for schoolchildren when filling out a reading diary, in preparation for a literature lesson.
Main characters Piotr Popelsky is a musician born blind, the central character of the work. Uncle Maxim (Yatsenko Maxim) – Peter’s uncle, Anna Mikhailovna’s brother; was raising his nephew. Evelina Yaskulskaya is Peter’s beloved. Other characters Anna Mikhailovna Popelskaya is Peter’s mother. Joachim is the Popelskis' groom, who played Petra on the pipe. Fyodor Kandyba, Kuzma - the blind men with whom Peter went to Pochaev. Egory is a blind bell ringer. The Stavruchenko brothers are students who stayed with the Popelskys. Summary
Chapter One “A child was born into a wealthy family in the Southwestern region, in the dead of midnight.” At first, no one noticed that the boy was born blind. Only a few weeks after the examination, the doctor confirmed the mother’s fears that the child could not see anything. Peter's family consisted of his mother, father and "Uncle Maxim". The child's father "was like a thousand other village landowners." Uncle Maxim was known as “the most dangerous bully”; he managed to visit Austria, “join” Garibaldi, and after being seriously wounded, return to his homeland again, but without his right leg and with a badly damaged left arm. Uncle Maxim became interested in his blind nephew and advised his sister to show less “stupid solicitude.” The woman listened to his words and soon the boy began to confidently crawl around the house. It was clear that his blindness was compensated by good hearing and touch. One spring, his mother and uncle Maxim took Petya to the river. The new sensations, smells, and sounds greatly impressed the boy, and from excitement he fell into a “deep faint.”
Chapter Two When the boy was five years old, he already knew his way around the house well. From the outside, one might think that this is just a “strangely focused child.” The boy became interested in playing the flute of the groom Joachim. Soon Petya began to come to Joachim’s stable and tried to play the pipe himself. Jealous of her son's groom, Anna bought a piano. However, Petya was not impressed by the complex play played by the woman. Over time, listening to Joachim's playing, Anna began to express her own feelings through music. Petya began to master playing the piano with interest.
Chapter Three Thanks to Uncle Maxim's upbringing, in his sixth year Petya could already clean his room himself and even learned to ride a horse under Joachim's guidance. However, he had no friends - the village boys were wary of the blind “panic”. Soon old man Jaskulski and his wife Agnieszka settled on a neighboring estate. They had a daughter, almost the same age as Petya - Evelina. The girl spent most of her time on her own, and it seemed as if she was a “tiny grown woman.”
Once, when Petya was playing by the river, Evelina noticed him and tried to talk, but the boy drove her away. The next time the girl appeared only a few days later. They started talking. Evelina did not immediately realize that Petya was blind. When the boy, out of habit, began to feel the girl’s face, studying her, she recoiled in fear and burst into tears, but then she understood everything. The next day the girl herself came to visit Petya. From that day they began to be friends.
Chapter Four Petya felt inner dissatisfaction, he wanted to see objects, light, distinguish colors, a desire appeared in him to “give shape to the forces dormant in the depths of his soul that could not find an outcome.”
Chapter Five Uncle Maxim invited his old comrade Stavruchenko, who was visiting young people: Stavruchenko’s sons, students of the philological faculty and the conservatory, and a young cadet. The young people who arrived heatedly discussed various issues, but during the conversations they did not turn to Petya.
During one of the conversations, Petya quietly stood up and left. Evelina immediately hurried after him and found him at an abandoned mill. He shared with the girl that he felt like he was “completely superfluous in the world.” Touched by Evelina, she said that Petya should marry her, and the young man at first agreed, but then came to his senses: after all, he is blind. Evelina replied that it didn’t mean anything, because they loved each other. When they returned to the guests, the young man sat down at the piano and began to play. All the guests were fascinated by Peter's playing, which was mixed with folk music motifs. The eldest of the Stavruchenko brothers said that Peter has a “surprisingly unique manner” and he “needs a serious school.”
Chapter Six In the fall, the Popelskys went to the Stavruchenki. The young people visited the grave of the robber Ignat Kary and the blind bandura player who accompanied the ataman on campaigns.
While visiting the monastery, they met the blind novice bell-ringer Yegory. Everyone noted the striking external resemblance between Peter and the novice. Peter was left alone with the blind bell ringer. Yegory said that he was also born blind, but they have a novice, Roman, who became blind at the age of seven. Yegory envied Roman because he managed to see the world and his mother. The bell ringer gave the impression of an embittered, angry man.
Telling Maxim about what happened in the monastery, Evelina shares her suspicion: it seems to her that Peter now believes that all those born blind are evil. Winter came. “Peter’s soul was also cold and gloomy.” He asked questions: “Why live in the world?” and “why should a blind person live?” After meeting the bell ringer, Peter really believed that he was born evil by nature and could only torment the people around him. During one of the conversations, Maxim began to explain to Peter the connection between the symbolism of sound and color. The blind man greedily caught every word and immediately tried to convey it through playing the piano. Peter expressed his annoyance that he could not see and would be glad to exchange with the last beggar - so he would be less unhappy, because he would only think about survival.
Not far from the Popelski estate there was a miraculous Catholic icon. On the day of her feast day, Maxim, Peter and Joachim came to the icon. Blind beggars sat at the exit and took turns singing a sad song. Peter seemed frightened by what he heard and wanted to leave quickly. Maxim noted that these were the same “lucky ones” whom he had recently envied, and forced his nephew to give alms. It was decided that in the summer Peter and Maxim would go to Kyiv, so that in the fall the young man would begin to study with the famous pianist. One July night two blind men were walking along the road. They were called to the chaise. Soon there were three blind people: an old man with gray hair, Kandyba, a tall fellow, Kuzma, and a very young man in new peasant clothes. They were heading towards Pochaev. Maxim left for Kyiv himself and hid from his relatives that Peter had left with the blind.
With each new step of the journey with the beggars, “new sounds of the unknown, wide, immense world flowed towards Peter.” “The sightless eyes widened, the chest expanded, and the hearing became even more acute.” Soon he learned the song of the blind. Late autumn Peter returned home. “They said that he went to Pochaev on a vow to beg the Pochaev Mother of God for healing.” Although he remained blind, his “soul was undoubtedly healed.”
Chapter Seven Evelina told her parents about her desire to marry Peter, they got married. From time to time the musician went to visit Fyodor Kandyba and talked with him for a long time. The news that Peter would soon become a father frightened him. Contrary to Peter's fears, the child was born sighted.
Epilogue Three years have passed. Peter performed at the “Contracts” fair in Kyiv and played the piano. “The crowd was captivated by the deep sincerity of the expression,” the folk melody, “that flowed from the hands of the blind musician.” Listening to the music, Maxim clearly recognized the familiar tune of the blind men's song. Maxim thought that Peter “had received his sight and would be able to remind the happy of the unfortunate,” that “he [Maxim] did his job, and it was not for nothing that he lived in the world.” “This is how a blind musician made his debut.”
Conclusion In the story “The Blind Musician,” Korolenko depicts the formation and maturation of the main character, blind Peter. The author masterfully describes the boy's gradual comprehension of the world, his difficulties and experiences along the way, awareness and acquisition of true values. Despite his physical handicap, Peter was able to realize himself as a talented musician and find personal happiness. In 1960, based on the story, the film “The Blind Musician” was created (directed by Tatyana Lukashevich). A brief retelling of “The Blind Musician” will allow you to quickly become familiar with the plot of the work and will be of interest to anyone interested in the work of Vladimir Galaktionovich Korolenko.
