Summary of "Childhood of the Theme" by N. G. Garin-Mikhailovsky

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

"The Childhood of Theme" is the first story of an autobiographical work, consisting of four parts. Talking about himself, the writer protects the personality of each child from bureaucracy and heartlessness in the family and society.

N. G. Garin-Mikhailovsky, "Childhood of the Theme": a summary of chapters I-II

The action takes place in the Kartashev family. Its head is retired General Nikolai Semenovich. Mother - Aglaida Vasilievna. The father, a former military man, strongly opposes the sentimental upbringing of Theme, the eldest of the boys in the family. The mother, on the contrary, believes that the child should not be intimidated, punished corporally, so as not to destroy human dignity in him. The first meeting with Theme occurs when he accidentally broke his father's favorite flower. The boy does not confess because he is afraid of punishment. This fear turns out to be higher than the trust in the justice of the mother. He directs all the actions of the Theme. On the first day of the story, he also tore the skirt of the bonnet, galloped on a stallion, broke a sudok and stole sugar. As a result, the father severely punished his son - flogged. He will remember such executions forever. So, when almost 20 years later he ended up in his father's house, he remembered the place where he was flogged as a child. Feelings of hostility towards the father did not change.

N. G. Garin-Mikhailovsky, "Childhood of the Theme": a summary of chapters III-IV

During this period, it was important for the mother that, despite the whims, pranks and rash acts, her son's heart remained hot. He feels this attitude and willingly tells her about his misfortunes. After repentance and recognition, Theme is overwhelmed with lofty feelings. But at the same time, he is still under the influence of physical punishment, because of which he gets sick, and then commits a real act. He thinks of Bug, his beloved dog.

Nanny says someone threw her into a well. The theme saves the Beetle, first in a dream, and then in reality. This impressed the boy so much that he considers many future events of adult life through the prism of what happened to him in childhood. This time, Theme's feat ended in a fever and several weeks of illness. But he pulled through.

Summary of "Childhood Themes": Chapters V-VI

After his recovery, the boy was allowed to play in the vacant lot, which belonged to his father and was rented out. So, in games, outings and walks, two more pre-gymnasium years passed. Subject passed the exam in the first class successfully. The boy trembled before the Latinist, but he adored the teacher of natural history. Here he first learned what friendship is.

Summary"Childhood Themes": Chapters VII-VIII

Soon the emotional uplift is replaced by a more everyday mood. The days became smooth, monotonous. Kind and meek classmate Ivanov became a good friend of the topic. In addition, he turned out to be more well-read. Thanks to him, Kartashev met new writers in the second grade.

Summary of "Childhood Themes": Chapters IX-X

But soon an unpleasant story happened, after which Ivanov was expelled from the gymnasium. Friends stopped talking. And not only because there were no common interests.

Ivanov witnessed the cowardly act of the topic. Since then, he and the class have been given the reputation of "giving away". For several days the boy was completely alone. When Kartashev studied in St. Petersburg, he also had a chance to meet Ivanov. But at that time he made many new friends. They were filled with adventurous and romantic dreams. They wanted to escape to America, so as not to be like everyone else. This, of course, affected academic performance: less zeal for study led to worse grades in the magazine. From home Theme carefully hides this. The escape did not work out, the friends got the nickname "Americans".

Summary of "Childhood Themes": XI-XII chapters

When it came time to take the exams, it turned out that no one was ready for them. Kartashev is very afraid of failing. Out of fear, he thinks about suicide. These thoughts, fortunately, left without consequences. The subject still passes exams, he is transferred to the third grade. At the same time, the rapprochement of the boy with his father takes place. He becamemore affectionate and gentle, he strove to be with his family more often. Before, he was more silent, but now he tells Tema about his campaigns, military comrades and battles. Soon the father dies.