A.S. Pushkin "The Queen of Spades": a summary of the story

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

The story "The Queen of Spades" was finished by Pushkin in the autumn of 1833. This is the most mysterious work of the poet. The plot is connected with mysticism, with the unpredictability of fate, with the choice of human values. The story was innovative for its time and was a resounding success. At receptions, when they played cards, they bet on mystical cards from the Queen of Spades.

A. S. Pushkin "The Queen of Spades": a summary of the first chapter

An amazing story was told at the evening hosted by the horse guard Narumov. It was told by Count Tomsky. Once his grandmother was a beautiful, headstrong and popular woman in her circles.

And then one day she lost a large sum of money in cards. Her husband, who usually indulged her, flatly refused to pay such a sum. Then the Countess turned to the Count of Saint-Germain for help. He had a lot of money at the time. Only the count did not give her money, but offered another way out - to recoup. He revealed to the Countess the secret of the three cards.

That same evening, the Countess played one card after another and returned the entire debt. She did not confide her secret to anyone. And only once helped no oneChaplitsky to recoup, but on the condition that he will not play again.

The whole story was listened to by a young officer named Herman. He was from a poor family, so he could not afford to play. But he always tried to be present at the game. And this story struck him to the core.

Queen of Spades Chapter 2 Summary

The old countess was still at the mercy of her time. She carefully observed the etiquette of her youth, it took several hours to decorate her.

The poor pupil Lizanka lived with her. It was she who had to endure the absurd disposition of Countess Tomskaya. Lizanka dreamed that a deliverer would appear who would one day take her away from this life. Only all the young people were prudent and did not pay much attention to her.

But things happened soon. They made Lisa perk up and believe in the world around her. An unfamiliar young man began to constantly appear in front of her window. This young man was Herman. That's right, using Lisa, he decided to get to the old countess.

Queen of Spades Chapter 3 Summary

Herman sends lovely love notes to Lisa every day. She suffers a lot, but always rejects them. But soon Lisa gives in and makes an appointment with him until the Countess is home.

Herman sneaks into the house, and at this time the countess returns. He hides in her office and waits for all the maids to leave. Coming out of hiding, Herman tries to explainTomskaya, why he needs this secret. But the Countess does not seem to hear him. Herman gets angry, starts threatening her, only the Countess suddenly dies.

Queen of Spades Chapter 4 Summary

The young man leaves the dead old woman and goes up to Lizanka. There he confesses everything to her. The girl was very upset, she realized that she was mistaken in him. Only Herman is not touched by her tears. He only regrets the lost secret.

Queen of Spades Chapter 5 Summary

The funeral of the Countess. Herman also came to say goodbye to her. He was not tormented by remorse, but the voice of conscience still told him that he was a murderer.

At night the Countess appeared to Herman. She was in the same form as during their meeting. The old woman told him a secret. She named three cards: three, seven, ace. But she also called the condition: he must marry Liza.

"Queen of Spades": chapter six in abbreviation

Having learned the secret, Herman decides to test his fate. He sits down at the gaming table in the company of "Rich Gamblers". Putting everything he had on the line. And two days in a row he returns to his apartment with a huge win. Only on the third day, instead of an ace, the queen of spades comes across. From the fact that everything is lost, Herman goes crazy.