I.S. Turgenev's story "Asya": a summary

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

The story "Asya" was written by Turgenev in 1859. At this time, the writer was no longer just popular, he had a significant impact on the life of Russian society at that time.

This importance of the author is due to the fact that he was able to notice the moral problems that arise in society in the most ordinary events. These problems are also seen in the story "Asya". A brief summary of it will show that the plot chosen is the simplest. This is a story-remembrance in which there are experiences and regrets about the past.

"Asya", Turgenev: a summary of chapters 1-4

A certain young man N. N. escaped from his father's house and went abroad. He did not want to continue his education there, he just wanted to see the world. A trip without a plan and purpose: he made acquaintances, observed people, and everything else interested him little.

And in one of the German towns N. N. makes acquaintance with Gagin and his sister Asya. They invite him to their home. And after the very first evening, N. N. remains impressed by Asya's romantic image.

Weeks have passed. N. N. was a regular visitor to new friends. Asya has always been different, sometimes she is a playful child, sometimes a well-bred young lady, sometimes a simple Russian girl.

But once Asya stopped “playing” her roles, she was upset about something and avoided N. N., who began to suspect that Gagin and Asya were not brother and sister at all. And Gagin's story partly confirmed these assumptions.

The fact is that Asya was the daughter of Father Gagin and their maid Tatyana. After the death of his father, he takes Asya to St. Petersburg, but on duty he has to send her to a boarding school. Asya spends four years there, and now they are traveling abroad together.

From this story N. N feels better at heart. Returning to his place, he asks the carrier to let the boat down the river. Everything around, and the sky, and the stars, and water, everything is alive for him and has his own soul.

The story "Asya": a summary of 5-9 chapters

When next time N. N. comes to the Gagins' house, he finds Asya somewhat thoughtful. She says she thought a lot about her "bad" upbringing.

She does not know how to sew beautifully, does not play the piano and those around her are undoubtedly bored. She is interested in what men value most in women, and N. N. would be upset if she suddenly died.

N. N. surprised by such a question, and Asya demands that he always be frank with her. Gagin sees Asya's dejection, offers to play a w altz, but today she is not in the mood to dance.

The story "Asya": a shortcontents of chapters 10-14

N. N. wanders aimlessly around the city. Suddenly, a boy hands him a note from Asya. She writes that she must see him. The meeting is near the chapel.

N. N. returns home. At this time, Gagin comes and informs him that Asya is in love with him. Gagin asks if N. N. his sister. He answers in the affirmative, but is not ready to marry now.

Gagin asks N. N. to go on a date with his sister and have an honest explanation with her. After Gagin's departure, N. N. suffers, he does not know what to do. But in the end he decides that there is no way to marry a young girl with such a disposition

The story "Asya": a summary of chapters 15-19

Asya changed the place for a date, now it is Frau Louise's house. Despite his decision, N. N. succumbs to the charm of Asya, he kisses her, hugs her. Then he remembers Gagina and begins to reproach the girl for telling her brother everything, that she did not allow their feelings to develop.

Asya cries, falls to her knees, the young man tries to calm her down. The girl breaks out and quickly runs away from him. N. N. angry with himself, wandering through the fields, regretting that he lost such a beautiful girl.

At night he goes to the Gagins and finds out that Asya did not return home. They go in search of her, disperse in different directions. N. N. reproaches herself, thinks that Asya has done something to herself. The search fails, and he comes to the Gagins' house.

There he learns that Asya has returned after all. He wants to ask Gagin for the hand of Asya, but the time is late, and he puts off his offer. On the way tohome N. N looks forward to future happiness. He stops under a tree and listens to the nightingale.

Summary: "Asya" Turgenev chapters 20-22

In the morning, N. N. hurries to the Gagins' house. He is full of happiness, but he sees that the windows are open, there is no one, the Gagins have left. He is given a note from Asya. In it, she writes that she will never see him again. And if yesterday he had said even one word to her, she would undoubtedly have stayed. But he didn't say anything, which means she'd better leave.

N. N was looking for the Gagins for a long time, he followed them everywhere, but he could not find them. And although later he thought that he would not be happy with such a wife anyway, he never had such a feeling again.