"Basket with fir cones", Paustovsky: summary and analysis of the story

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

One of the most famous Russian authors - Konstantin Paustovsky. Many people remember his stories from childhood. They are always associated with the crunch of the first snow, colorful autumn foliage on trees or underfoot, ringing frosty air and the alluring depth of forest lakes. A light, light sadness is observed in all his works; without it, happiness is impossible, as Paustovsky believed. "Basket with fir cones" is fully consistent with this plot.

Writer's creative path

Paustovsky Konstantin Georgievich wrote his first works during his school years at the gymnasium, and they were published in 1912. Four years later, working in a boiler room, Konstantin Paustovsky takes on his first novel, which he will write for seven years. His stories in the form of a collection will be published much earlier - in 1928, under the title "Oncoming Ships".

The story "Kara-Bugaz" (1932) brought fame to the writer. According to critics of that time, this work immediately put him in the forefront of Soviet writers. Paustovsky is one of those Russian writers who are known not only in Russia, but also inall over the world. So, when his first book, published in English (“A Tale of Life”), appeared 40 years ago in the USA, the well-known critic O. Prescott wrote that this was the best book he had read this year.

Paustovsky's writing maturity fell on the era of hard Stalinist totalitarianism (1930-1950s), - not the best time for a writing career. Nevertheless, the author did not write a single word of praise dedicated to Stalin in any of his works, just as no slanderous letters were received from him. The writer was able to find his place: he looks at his native language and the nature of the country. Gradually, nature becomes a constant source for Paustovsky's work. He describes many beautiful places from various parts of Russia: the South and the Black Sea region, the middle zone of the Oka Territory, Meshchera … But Paustovsky's vision of nature is completely special. It is through the beauty of nature that he tries to show the beauty of the human soul, language and national culture.

The main goal of Paustovsky's life was to write two big books. One of them was supposed to be dedicated to various extraordinary people, both famous and little-known, as well as undeservedly forgotten - those whom K. G. Paustovsky admired. Stories dedicated to some of them will be published. These are, for example, picturesque biographies of M. Gorky, A. Green, A. Chekhov, I. Bunin, etc. All of them were distinguished by a special vision of the world, especially valued by Paustovsky. But, unfortunately, he did not have time to finish this work.

Another main idea that Paustovsky spent about twenty years on -writing an autobiographical story consisting of six books: Distant Years (1945), Restless Youth (1955), Beginning of an Unknown Age (1957), Time of Great Expectations (1959), Throw to the South (1960)), "The Book of Wanderings" (1963). Paustovsky died in Moscow in 1968 and was buried in the Tarusa cemetery, on a high hill surrounded by trees, on the banks of a small river. This place was chosen by the writer himself.

Why Norway?

As mentioned earlier, in the 30s of the twentieth century Paustovsky Konstantin Georgievich turned to the theme of nature. The appearance of the famous maple leaf miniature becomes a kind of prologue to the beginning of this new creative stage. The central idea of the writer's works is the idea of the beauty and poetry of the human soul. Paustovsky tries to awaken the most beautiful and tender feelings in his readers.

The story "Basket with fir cones" is fiction. However, at the same time, this is a true story about a man who subtly feels nature. The fairy tale "Basket with fir cones" is about the famous Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg.

Norway is a country of amazing nature: impregnable rocks, dense forests, winding sea bays, washed by the cold Arctic Ocean. The inhabitants of this country are proud and brave: they are accustomed to subjugate the elements and control it. The folk art of these people is as unique and beautiful as the life and nature that surrounds them. Norway is rich in songs, legends, legends and tales about the Vikings and the mysterious evil spirits that man has to deal with.to oppose and which he must defeat. Norway is also rich in music. The locals believe that the most beautiful tunes were stolen from evil spirits by daredevils. Such tunes can make not only a person dance, but even a forest and mountains. The original art of this country became known to the world thanks to the work of its most talented inhabitants, for example, Heinrich Johan Ibsen (a famous Norwegian playwright) or the composer Edvard Grieg. This composer reflected in his work life, customs, rituals, traditions of his native country and told the whole world about them.

Perhaps Grieg was actually Paustovsky's favorite composer, or perhaps he was simply close to the motives of his work or he admired him as a person… One way or another, but it's about him "Basket with fir cones". The author, having made the Norwegian composer the main character of his work, could not ignore the extraordinary nature of Norway. This is understandable.

Storyline

So, the story "Basket with fir cones" is a work about the famous composer Edvard Grieg. While walking through the autumn forest, he meets a little girl Dagny with beautiful green eyes - the daughter of a forester. This little girl, wonderful nature and clear weather affect him magically, and he promises to give her a gift when she grows up. Grieg fulfilled his promise. When the girl reached the age of eighteen, she first attended a symphony concert. At some point, Dagny suddenly heard her name from the stage. This was the composer's gift - a work written for hereighteenth birthday. The composer himself was no longer alive by that time. Joy, slightly overshadowed by light sadness - such is the Basket with Fir Cones.

Analysis of the product (briefly)

As already mentioned, there is a whole cycle of works dedicated to famous people, which was written by Paustovsky. "Basket with fir cones", obviously, from the same cycle. This is a small touching essay written for children. To teach his little readers to see the beauty of the nature around them and love it - that's what K. G. Paustovsky wanted. The writer shows people the beauty that cannot be overlooked and should be especially appreciated.

The unique charm of forests, rivers, lakes, fields, seas and oceans, naturalness, youth is the main motive of the work. And in order to see and feel this beauty, the author shows two ways at once: with the help of words and music. Music plays a central role in this story. Although the author is describing a Norwegian forest, it can be assumed that it could be any other forest anywhere in the world. And even the composer could not be Grieg. These images are very important, but even more important are the feelings and emotions of the characters that nature evokes in them. The leitmotif of this story, perhaps, can be called the love of life, which invariably awakens in the main characters. The author tries to show how beautiful life is. And you can understand this by observing nature, communicating with it. And as a symbol of the interaction between nature and man, a basket with fir cones acts.

Planstory

To understand all the intricacies of a wonderful story, let's try to highlight its individual parts. The piece "Basket with Fir Cones" can be divided as follows:

1. Forests near Bergen.
2. Meeting the composer and the girl.
3. Grig's promise.
4. Creating a piece.
5. First listeners.
6. A young girl's first trip to a concert.
7. Unexpected announcement.
8. Delight and gratitude.

Music in the story

According to the author, music is a mirror of genius. Music in the story invades the lives of the characters and becomes a participant in the events. The reader can hear it from the first sentences of the work - these are the sounds of the autumn forest. The meeting of the composer with the girl is also filled with its own music, it seems to be heard from a basket of fir cones. Perhaps the composer at that moment wanted it to be heard not only by him, but by the whole world, and especially by the little girl, who herself is part of the melody. Perhaps this desire prompted him to give the girl with sparkling green eyes such a gift. Grieg has been writing a composition for more than a month, which he was going to dedicate to Dagny. The composer believed that in ten years, having heard the sounds of the melody, the girl would recognize in them her forest and her native nature, familiar from childhood. He wanted to illuminate with his music all the charm and joy of girlhood. Grieg tried to convey through the pouring sounds the beauty of a young girl, which can be similar to a white night with a mysterious light, and the brilliance of dawn. The one that will become someone's happiness and from the sound of whose voice someone's heart will tremble. After all, he wanted to show the beauty of life through his music. And he did.

It was a truly valuable gift. The wind in the autumn crowns, rustling golden leaves underfoot and a large basket of fir cones laid the foundation for it. The great composer, who at the time of the meeting did not have in his pocket any dolls with moving eyes, no satin ribbons, no velvet hares - nothing that could be given to a little girl, presented her with something more. When Dagny heard his music, she discovered a new, amazingly bright, colorful, inspiring world. Feelings and emotions that were previously unfamiliar to her stirred up her whole soul and opened her eyes to still unknown beauty. This music showed Dagny not only the greatness of the surrounding world, but also the value of human life. Of particular significance to these moments is the fact that the author of the gift was no longer alive by that time.

Another important symbol in this story is the old piano, the only decoration of the composer's apartment. He and the white walls of the apartment allowed an imaginative person to see much more than an exquisite interior could show: huge waves of the Northern Ocean rolling towards the shores and beating against impregnable rocks, or, conversely, a little girl singing a lullaby to her rag doll, which she heard from mother. The old piano admires lofty human aspirations, mourns over his losses, rejoices in his victories, laughs and cries with him. He can be loudbelligerent, accusing and indignant, or, conversely, suddenly shut up. This piano is the living embodiment of the music in the story.

The image of Edvard Grieg

Bergen… One of the most beautiful and most ancient cities in Western Norway, washed by the waves of the Norwegian Sea. The harsh grandeur of the mountain nature is combined with the quiet peace of the valleys. Rocky peaks of mountains, complemented by deep lakes and clear fjords… It was here, among the fabulous beauty, on June 15, 1843, Edvard Grieg was born. Like any other person, he could not remain indifferent to these amazing landscapes. If he had been born an artist, he would have painted beautiful pictures reflecting the extraordinary nature of this region; if he had become a poet, he would have composed poems dedicated to his country. Grieg showed the nature of his beloved homeland with the help of music.

The author portrays Grieg as a man with a deep mental organization, subtly feeling the nature and people around him. This is how a composer should be. Grieg perceives every moment of his life with admiration, he finds beauty everywhere and rejoices in it. The composer discovers sources for his inspiration in the sounds of nature. He writes about simple human feelings: beauty, love and kindness, so it is understandable to everyone, even the most ordinary person.

The author's idea of the theater

In this story, the author expresses his opinion about the theater in the voice of Nils, Uncle Dagny, with the help of one phrase: “In the theater you need to believe everything,otherwise people will not need any theatres.” This single capacious phrase speaks volumes. The theater can teach a person a lot and show a lot to him, but without the faith of the viewer it will only be a waste of time.

The image of Nils in the story

Niels is the girl's uncle, a slightly dreamy and eccentric man who works as a hairdresser in the theater. He sees life in an unusual light and teaches Dagny to look at the world in the same way. His vision of the world is indeed quite unusual. This man likes to speak sublimely and with a slight understatement. He compares his niece with the first chord of the overture, and he endows Aunt Magda with witchcraft power over people, since it is she who sews new costumes for people, and with the change of costume, in his opinion, the person himself changes. He also advises the girl to dress in such a way as to stand out from the environment: in black when everything around is white, and vice versa. And the uncle turns out to be right, in the end. Perhaps, to some extent, it also shows the opinion of the author himself about the theater, music and beauty. And the inner world of Niels is a basket full of surprises with fir cones.

Short retelling of the piece

Edvard Grieg spent autumn in Bergen. He was especially fond of the coastal forests for their nebula brought from the sea and the abundance of moss hanging in long strands from the trees. During one of his walks through such a forest, he met there Dagny Pedersen, the daughter of a forester. She was collecting fir cones in a basket. A little girl with two pigtails charmed him, and he decided to give her something. But he did not have anything with him capable ofcharm a green-eyed child. Then he promised to give her something special, but not now, but in ten years. And in response to the girl's pleas to give her now this thing, he advised her to be patient. Then the composer helped her carry the basket, learned the name of her father and they said goodbye. To the chagrin of the girl, he did not go to their house for tea.

Grig decided to write music for her, and on the title page to print: "Dagny Pedersen - the daughter of the forester Hagerup Pedersen, when she turns eighteen."

Next, the author takes readers to the composer's house. There is nothing of furniture in it, except for an old sofa, and, according to Grieg's friends, his dwelling looked like a lumberjack's hut. The only decoration of this apartment, but perhaps the best of all possible, is an old black grand piano. A variety of sounds fly out from under its keys: from very joyful to very sad. And when he suddenly stops suddenly, one string rings in silence for a long time, like a crying Cinderella, offended by her sisters.

The composer has been creating his work for over a month. He wrote it, imagining how this girl runs towards him, choking with happiness. As he tells Dagny that she is like the sun, and thanks to her, a delicate white flower bloomed in his heart. The composer calls it happiness and a reflection of the dawn. For the first time, the best audience listened to his work: tits in the trees, a cricket, snow flying from the branches, a washerwoman from a neighboring house, an invisible Cinderella and sailors on a spree.

Dagny graduated from high school at 18, she has turned into a slender girl with thick blond hairbraids. Immediately after that, she went to visit her relatives. Uncle Niels worked as a hairdresser in the theater, and aunt Magda worked as a theater dressmaker. Their house was filled with various items of professional paraphernalia: wigs, gypsy shawls, hats, swords, fans, over the knee boots, silver shoes, etc. Thanks to their work, Dagny was able to often go to the theater: the performances deeply moved and touched her.

One day, my aunty insisted that for the sake of variety, you should go to a concert in the city park, which is held in the open air. Dagny wore a black dress at the urging of her uncle and looked so pretty, it was like going on a first date.

The symphonic music she heard for the first time made a strange impression. Strange images flashed before her eyes, like a dream. Then it suddenly seemed to her that her name was pronounced on the stage. Then the announcement was repeated, and it turned out that a piece dedicated to her would now be played.

Music took Dagny to the familiar forest, to her homeland, where shepherd's horns played and the sea roared. The girl heard the glass ships sailing, the whistling of birds flying over them, the children calling out in the forest, the song of the girl dedicated to her beloved. She listened to the call of the music, and tears of gratitude rolled from her eyes. And the air rumbled: “You are my happiness, you are my joy, you are the brilliance of the dawn.”

When the last sounds of the composition subsided, Dagny left the park without looking back. She regretted that the composer of the music had died and imagined running towards him to thank him.

Girlshe walked for a long time along the empty streets of the city, not noticing anyone, not even Nils, who was following her. Over time, she went to the sea, and she was seized by a new, previously unknown feeling. Here Dagny realized how much she loves life. And her uncle was imbued with confidence that the girl would not live her life in vain.