About the product
Turgenev wrote the story “The Singers” in 1850. The work is included in the collection of essays by the writer “Notes of a Hunter.”
The story reflects the features of the author's style: there are many descriptions of landscapes, deep psychologism, an interesting image of the narrator, much attention is paid to the Russian man and his fate. The main idea of the work is that there is a clear line between the beauty of art and ordinary entertainment.
On the site you can read a summary of “Singers” online, as well as take a test for knowledge of the work. The retelling is suitable for a reader's diary, for preparing for a literature lesson.
The material was prepared jointly with a teacher of the highest category, Kuchmina Nadezhda Vladimirovna.
Experience as a teacher of Russian language and literature - 27 years.
Summary Turgenev Singers
The story is included in the collection Notes of a Hunter
Continuing to travel around the world, along the way the hunter Ivan Turgenev meets completely different people. This time he decides to stay in a small tavern, the owner of which was not very talkative, but perfectly understood the sense of entertaining guests. His assistant was his wife, a stern woman, whom all the local drunkards and even noisy children were afraid of. There were other visitors there too. Obolduy is a constant guest, a bachelor who walks around all the time. The always gloomy-looking Wild Master. An interesting man named Morgach used to be a coachman, then he went on a spree, ran away from the lady, and after having a good time, returned to her again. And he worked so well that he became a clerk. And then, when the lady died, he became liberated and even became rich.
Now the hunter has entered a singing competition in this tavern. And this event is very significant for all the regulars of the tavern, this can be seen from their mood. It was clear to all participants that they were professional performers, singing in such a way that their imagination simply played. A boy named Yashka won the competition; he was the son of a Turkish woman who was in captivity. He was so exhausted that it was not clear where he got the strength from to sing so powerfully and soulfully.
Most likely, his mother passed on this style of singing to him. Although he could hear her singing since childhood and unconsciously imitated her. According to the feelings of the person who told this story, as soon as Yashka began to sing, tears welled up in everyone’s eyes, from an overabundance of feelings. When it is performed, even men cry like children. People, as they said in ancient times, experienced catharsis. Wild Bain was even touched to the depths of his soul.
Feeling something is wrong, trying to maintain joy in his soul, the hero immediately leaves the inn. And he just walks. He enjoys the beautiful evening and goes to bed in the hayloft. By morning he still comes back to the tavern. From it you can hear the already hoarse winner singing. The hunter enters the tavern and sees Yashka, drunk as he is, in an unbuttoned shirt, singing a vulgar song. The hunter left in sadness.
Unfortunately, this often happens in Rus': incredibly talented people first do great and wonderful things, and then drive themselves into an indecent state with alcohol, which ruins everything.
The story teaches that one should not be too fascinated by human insight; the pendulum always returns and reminds that people cannot be elevated and perfect all the time. This is exactly what the author wanted to remind us of.
You can use this text for a reader's diary
Other characters
- Nikolai Ivanovich is a kisser (as the salesman in a tavern was previously called), the owner of the “Prytynny” tavern.
- Wild Master (Perevlesov) – 40 years old, “broad-shouldered, wide-cheeked” with Tatar eyes.
- Stupid (Evgraf Ivanov) - “a spree, single man” who was abandoned by the gentlemen.
- Morgach - tradesman, former coachman; “a grated kalach who knows people.”
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The main characters of "Singers"
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Reader's diary "Singers"
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Read “Singers” in full
Main characters
The narrator is a hunter who accidentally finds himself in a singing competition in a village tavern.
Nikolai Ivanovich is the owner of the tavern, a strong and cunning owner.
Yashka-Turok is a young (about 23 years old), “impressionable and passionate” person of a sickly appearance; a factory worker who became famous throughout the area for his singing.
Ryadchik is Yashka’s rival, “a man of about thirty,” probably a tradesman.
Wild Master is a very strong, gloomy man, about whose origin nothing is known.
Summary
In the small village of Kolotovka, lying on the “slope of a bare hill”, a small hut stood separately from the others - the “Prytynny” tavern. It was famous thanks to its owner, the kisser Nikolai Ivanovich.
Nikolai Ivanovich was “quick and quick-witted” and had the gift of “attracting and keeping guests.” He knew a lot about everything that was “important or interesting for a Russian person.” Nikolai Ivanovich was respected by his neighbors, he was a “man of influence,” he had a wife and children.
On a hot July day, the narrator decided to go to a tavern. Even on the threshold I heard the men talking about how Turok-Yashka and the rower would compete in singing - they had bet on an octam of beer. The narrator has heard more than once about Yashka the Turk “as the best singer in the area.”
In the tavern “a fairly large company had gathered,” which the narrator describes in detail. The stunner did not have any position, did not receive a salary, but knew how to “have fun at someone else’s expense.” It was known about Morgach that “he was once a coachman” for an old lady, he ran away from her, then returned, after the death of the landowner he was released, registered as a bourgeois and soon became rich. Yakov the Turk “was an artist by heart <…> and by rank a scooper at a paper factory.” The past of the Wild Master was unknown, but the man “enjoyed enormous influence throughout the entire district.”
The narrator noticed that Yashka was worried. To determine who would sing first, lots were cast. It fell to the rower. The rower stepped forward and “sang in the highest falsetto.” “His voice was quite pleasant and sweet.” The rower sang a cheerful dance song. Those present sang along with him and afterwards praised him very much.
Next we should sing to Yakov. He covered his face with his hand, and when he opened it, “it was pale, like a dead man’s.” Sighing, Yakov started the mournful song “There was more than one path in the field.” His voice “ringed as if cracked.” “The Russian, truthful, ardent soul sounded and breathed in him and just grabbed you by the heart, grabbed you right by its Russian strings.” The narrator's eyes welled up with tears. Everyone understood that Yakov had won.
In order not to spoil the impression, the narrator went to sleep in the hayloft. At night, passing by the tavern again, he heard that the festivities were continuing there: Yakov was singing some kind of dance song. The narrator “with quick steps began to descend from the hill on which Kolotovka lies,” from a distance some boy loudly called Antropka.
Brief story
The story begins with a description of the small, remote village of Kolotovka . There was a tavern called “Prytynny”, which became popular thanks to its owner. He knew how to attract and retain guests. One fine evening the narrator went into a tavern and heard a conversation between Yashka the Turk and Ryadchik. The men decided to compete in singing.
Further in the story there is a detailed description of the visitors. In particular, it tells in detail about the Wild Master, Morgach, and Stupid. Yashka and Ryadchik cast lots; it fell to the second to speak.
The rower was not worried, he easily sang a cheerful song, everyone applauded him and expressed approval.
The narrator had little faith in Yashka’s victory, but as soon as he started singing, his opinion changed . He sang a sad song that made everyone cry, worry and worry. It would seem that Yashka is losing in quality of performance, but he had the talent to convey his feelings to the audience.
The narrator decided not to spoil the impression and went to sleep in the hayloft. At night he again passed by the tavern and heard that Yashka continued to sing, but this time it was something funny. The narrator was inspired by this and quickly went down the hill.
Singers Turgenev I.S. - reader's diary
A reading diary based on Turgenev’s work “The Singers” will help you get the maximum benefit from what you read. You will focus on the important points of the story, which will allow you to better understand the work.
Living on the Spasskoye-Lutovinovo estate, located in the Oryol province, the author observed the life of the peasants. The author reflected his impressions of what he saw in his stories. The work “The Singers” was written in 1850. The time of the story itself coincides with this same period. The events described in the story take place in the village of Kolotovka.
Narrator
- a kind, smart, insightful person.
Yashka the Turk
is a peasant guy from a poor family.
He can sing, his songs excite people and penetrate the soul. The rower
is a man, about 30 years old. He sings well and technically, but he lacks sincerity and emotionality.
The narrator, looking at the landscape of the village of Kolotovka, enters a rural tavern. In it, two singers compete - Yashka the Turk and the rower. The rower sings first, his song sounds beautiful, but not everyone present is satisfied. When Yakov starts a song, no one remains indifferent to his singing, and he wins. Even the impassive Wild Master, listening to his soulful song, sheds a tear. Such a wonderful pastime ends in general drinking.
The work shows how talented the common people are and, despite their lack of education, the peasants are able to perceive the sublime and beautiful. The singer Yashka, whose song flows from the very soul, allows the peasants to experience strong emotions. And the uneducated poor experience intense feelings. They know how to perceive beauty, to see the best that is in a person.
In “Singers” the author talks about the life of peasants, how they feel, how they spend their leisure time. The scene seen in the tavern reveals the characters and emotions of the serfs.
Among the peasants there were very talented people who knew how to find their calling. Such a Jacob, whose soul is like a beautiful seagull, opening itself towards the sea and the sun. Unfortunately, his talent will most likely remain known only to the villagers of Kolotovka. Moreover, he can destroy the guy if they pour him alcohol as a sign of gratitude. The episode with Antipka, described at the end of the story, points to the bitter fate of the talented singer. This is exactly how Turgenev sees the continuation of the life story of Yashka the Turk. In childhood, peasant children are often punished with a belt. And this scar largely determines their future life.
Plot
It was a hot July day when the narrator, tormented by thirst, headed to the Pritynny zucchini, the most popular establishment in the small village of Kolotovka. This zucchini was held by a very fat, gray-haired kisser, Nikolai Ivanovich. He was not particularly talkative or polite, but in some incomprehensible way he could attract and keep guests near him for a long time.
Approaching the tavern, the narrator realized that soon a competition of local singers would be held here, and Yashka the Turk, about whom there were many rumors, would participate in the competition. This would be a young guy, unusually thin, gray-eyed, with a cap of light brown curls, who had the reputation of the best singer in the neighborhood. Near Yashka sat a gloomy, broad-shouldered man of about forty, nicknamed Wild Master. Opposite him sat Yashka's rival - the rower Zhizdra, a thirty-year-old short, stocky man with curly hair and a thin beard.
In addition, in the tavern there were regulars of the Prytynny tavern - Evgraf Ivanov, nicknamed Stupid, and his friend Morgach. The stunner was deprived of talents, but at the same time not a single drinking party was complete without the participation of this bachelor on a spree. Morgach's past was unclear. It is only known that once upon a time he was a coachman for a lady, earned her trust, and became a clerk. Afterwards he received his freedom and became rich and started a family.
The competition has begun. According to the lot, the first to sing was the rower, who chose a dance song with amazingly beautiful and harmonious transitions. The audience liked his performance, and even the Wild Master smiled approvingly.
It was Yakov’s turn, who was noticeably worried. But when he started singing, it became clear that this was a natural, rare talent. In the voice of Yashka the Turk one could hear youth, strength, passion, and deep sadness. The Russian soul sounded so keenly in him that it grabbed everyone’s heart and made them shed involuntary tears. When Yakov finished singing, the tavern was still quiet for a long time - everyone was trying to control themselves, their emotions. The Turk's victory was unconditional.
The narrator hurried to leave the tavern so as not to spoil the impression. Having reached the hayloft, he could not fall asleep for a long time, remembering Yashka’s exciting singing. In the evening, when the heat subsided, the narrator saw a drunken Yakov, who was already singing some kind of street song in a hoarse, tired voice. This picture made the author very sad, and he left Kolotovka.
