Summary of Chapter 8 Dead. Dead Souls

a chaise is driving in. She is met by men chatting about nothing. They look at the wheel and try to figure out how far it can go. The guest of the city turns out to be Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. He came to the city on business about which there is no exact information - “according to his needs.”

The young landowner has an interesting appearance:

• narrow short trousers made of white rosin fabric;
• fashionable tailcoat;
• pin in the shape of a bronze pistol.

The landowner is distinguished by his innocent dignity; he “blows his nose” loudly, like a trumpet, and those around him are frightened by the sound. Chichikov checked into a hotel, asked about the residents of the city, but did not tell anything about himself. In his communication he managed to create the impression of a pleasant guest.

The next day, the guest of the city devoted himself to visits. He managed to choose for everyone kind word, flattery penetrated the hearts of the officials. The city started talking about the pleasant man who visited them. Moreover, Chichikov managed to charm not only men, but also women. Pavel Ivanovich was invited by landowners who were in the city on business: Manilov and Sobakevich. At a dinner with the police chief, he met Nozdryov. The hero of the poem managed to make a pleasant impression on everyone, even those who rarely spoke positively about anyone.

Chapter 2

Pavel Ivanovich has been in the city for more than a week. He attended parties, dinners and balls. Chichikov decided to visit the landowners Manilov and Sobakevich. The reason for this decision was different. The master had two serfs: Petrushka and Selifan. The first silent reader. He read everything he could get his hands on, in any position. He liked the unknown and unclear words. His other passions: sleeping in clothes, preserving his scent. The coachman Selifan was completely different. In the morning we went to Manilov. They looked for the estate for a long time, it turned out to be more than 15 miles away, which the landowner spoke about. The master's house stood open to all winds. The architecture was in the English style, but only vaguely resembled it. Manilov broke into a smile as the guest approached. The owner's character is difficult to describe. The impression changes depending on how close a person gets to him. The landowner has a tempting smile, blond hair And Blue eyes. The first impression is that he is a very pleasant man, then his opinion begins to change. They began to get tired of him because they did not hear a single living word. The economy went on by itself. The dreams were absurd and impossible: underground passage, For example. He could read one page for several years in a row. There was not enough furniture. The relationship between wife and husband resembled voluptuous dishes. They kissed and created surprises for each other. They didn't care about anything else. The conversation begins with questions about the residents of the city. Manilov considers everyone to be pleasant people, sweet and kind. The intensifying particle pre- is constantly added to the characteristics: most amiable, most venerable, and others. The conversation turned into an exchange of compliments. The owner had two sons, the names surprised Chichikov: Themistoclus and Alcides. Slowly, but Chichikov decides to ask the owner about the dead on his estate. Manilov did not know how many people died; he ordered the clerk to write down everyone’s names. When the landowner heard about the desire to buy dead souls, he was simply dumbfounded. I couldn’t imagine how to draw up a bill of sale for those who were no longer among the living. Manilov transfers souls for free, even pays the costs of transferring them to Chichikov. The farewell was as sweet as the meeting. Manilov stood on the porch for a long time, following the guest with his gaze, then plunged into daydreaming, but the guest’s strange request did not fit into his head, he turned it over until dinner.

Chapter 3

The hero, in excellent spirits, heads to Sobakevich. The weather turned bad. The rain made the road look like a field. Chichikov realized that they were lost. Just when it seemed that the situation was becoming unbearable, dogs were heard barking and a village appeared. Pavel Ivanovich asked to come into the house. He dreamed only of a warm night's sleep. The hostess did not know anyone whose names the guest mentioned. They straightened out the sofa for him, and he woke up only the next day, quite late. The clothes were cleaned and dried. Chichikov went out to the landlady, he communicated with her more freely than with the previous landowners. The hostess introduced herself as college secretary Korobochka. Pavel Ivanovich finds out if her peasants were dying. The box says there are eighteen people. Chichikov asks to sell them. The woman doesn’t understand, she imagines how the dead are dug out of the ground. The guest calms down and explains the benefits of the deal. The old woman doubts, she never sold the dead. All the arguments about the benefits were clear, but the essence of the deal itself was surprising. Chichikov silently called Korobochka a clubhead, but continued to convince. The old lady decided to wait, in case there were more buyers and prices were higher. The conversation did not work out, Pavel Ivanovich began to swear. He was so excited that sweat was rolling off him in three streams. The box liked the guest's chest, the paper. While the deal was being finalized, pies and other homemade food appeared on the table. Chichikov ate pancakes, ordered to lay the chaise and give him a guide. The box gave the girl, but asked not to take her away, otherwise the merchants had already taken one.

Chapter 4

The hero stops at the tavern for lunch. The old woman of the house pleases him by eating pig with horseradish and sour cream. Chichikov asks the woman about her affairs, income, family. The old woman talks about all the local landowners, who eats what. During lunch, two people arrived at the tavern: a blond man and a black man. The blond man was the first to enter the room. The hero had almost begun his acquaintance when the second one appeared. It was Nozdryov. He gave out a ton of information in one minute. He argues with the blond man that he can handle 17 bottles of wine. But he does not agree to the bet. Nozdryov calls Pavel Ivanovich to his place. The servant brought the puppy into the tavern. The owner examined whether there were fleas and ordered to take it back. Chichikov hopes that the losing landowner will sell him the peasants cheaper. The author describes Nozdryov. The appearance of a broken fellow, of which there are many in Rus'. They quickly make friends and become familiar. Nozdryov could not sit at home, his wife quickly died, and a nanny looked after the children. The master constantly got into trouble, but after a while he reappeared in the company of those who beat him. All three carriages drove up to the estate. First, the owner showed the stable, half empty, then the wolf cub, and a pond. Blond doubted everything that Nozdryov said. We came to the kennel. Here the landowner was among his own. He knew each puppy's name. One of the dogs licked Chichikov and immediately spat out of disgust. Nozdryov composed at every step: you can catch hares in the field with your hands, he recently bought timber abroad. After inspecting the property, the men returned to the house. Lunch was not very successful: some things were burnt, others were undercooked. The owner leaned heavily on the wine. The blond son-in-law began to ask to go home. Nozdryov did not want to let him go, but Chichikov supported his desire to leave. The men went into the room, Pavel Ivanovich saw the card in the hands of the owner. He started talking about dead souls oh, I asked you to donate them. Nozdryov demanded to explain why he needed them, but the guest’s arguments did not satisfy him. Nozdryov called Pavel a fraudster, which greatly offended him. Chichikov proposed a deal, but Nozdryov offers a stallion, a mare and a gray horse. The guest didn’t need any of this. Nozdryov haggles further: dogs, barrel organ. He begins to offer an exchange for a chaise. Trade turns into dispute. The owner's violence frightens the hero; he refuses to drink or play. Nozdryov gets more and more excited, he insults Chichikov and calls him names. Pavel Ivanovich stayed overnight, but scolded himself for his carelessness. He should not have started a conversation with Nozdryov about the purpose of his visit. The morning starts again with a game. Nozdryov insists, Chichikov agrees to checkers. But during the game, the checkers seemed to move on their own. The argument almost turned into a fight. The guest turned white as a sheet when he saw Nozdryov swinging his hand. It is unknown how the visit to the estate would have ended if a stranger had not entered the house. It was the police captain who informed Nozdryov about the trial. He inflicted bodily injuries on the landowner with rods. Chichikov no longer waited for the conversation to end; he slipped out of the room, jumped into the chaise and ordered Selifan to rush at full speed away from this house. It was not possible to buy dead souls.

Chapter 5

The hero was very frightened, rushed into the chaise and rushed quickly from the village of Nozdryov. His heart was beating so hard that nothing could calm it down. Chichikov was afraid to imagine what could have happened if the police officer had not appeared. Selifan was indignant that the horse was left unfed. Everyone's thoughts were stopped by a collision with six horses. The stranger's coachman scolded, Selifan tried to defend himself. There was confusion. The horses moved apart and then huddled together. While all this was happening, Chichikov was looking at the unfamiliar blonde. A pretty young girl caught his attention. He didn’t even notice how the britzkas uncoupled and drove apart different sides. The beauty melted away like a vision. Pavel began to dream of a girl, especially if he had a large dowry. A village appeared ahead. The hero examines the village with interest. The houses are strong, but the order in which they were built was clumsy. The owner is Sobakevich. Outwardly similar to a bear. The clothes made the resemblance even more precise: a brown tailcoat, long sleeves, a clumsy gait. The master constantly stepped on his feet. The owner invited the guest into the house. The design was interesting: full-length paintings of Greek generals, a Greek heroine with strong, thick legs. The hostess was tall woman, resembling a palm tree. All the decoration of the room, the furniture spoke about the owner, about the resemblance to him. The conversation didn't go well at first. Everyone whom Chichikov tried to praise drew criticism from Sobakevich. The guest tried to praise the table from the city officials, but even here the owner interrupted him. All the food was bad. Sobakevich ate with an appetite that one can only dream of. He said that there is a landowner Plyushkin, whose people are dying like flies. They ate for a very long time, Chichikov felt that he had gained a whole pound of weight after lunch.

Chichikov began talking about his business. He called dead souls non-existent. Sobakevich, to the surprise of the guest, calmly called things by their proper names. He offered to sell them even before Chichikov spoke about it. Then trading began. Moreover, Sobakevich raised the price because his men were strong, healthy peasants, not like others. He described each person who died. Chichikov was amazed and asked to return to the topic of the deal. But Sobakevich stood his ground: he dead dears. They bargained for a long time and agreed on Chichikov's price. Sobakevich prepared a note with a list of sold peasants. It indicated in detail the craft, age, Family status, in the margins there are additional notes about behavior and attitudes towards drunkenness. The owner asked for a deposit for the paper. The line of transferring money in exchange for an inventory of peasants makes me smile. The exchange was carried out with distrust. Chichikov asked to leave the deal between them and not to disclose information about it. Chichikov leaves the estate. He wants to go to Plyushkin, whose men are dying like flies, but he doesn’t want Sobakevich to know about it. And he stands at the door of the house to see where the guest will turn.

Chapter 6

Chichikov, thinking about the nicknames that the men gave Plyushkin, drives up to his village. Big village greeted the guest on a log pavement. The logs rose like piano keys. It was a rare rider who could ride without a bump or bruise. All the buildings were dilapidated and old. Chichikov examines the village with signs of poverty: leaky houses, old stacks of bread, ribbed roofs, windows covered with rags. The owner's house looked even stranger: the long castle resembled a disabled person. All but two of the windows were closed or covered. Open windows didn't look normal. Corrected strange looking garden located behind the manor's castle. Chichikov drove up to the house and noticed a figure whose gender was difficult to determine. Pavel Ivanovich decided that it was the housekeeper. He asked if the master was at home. The answer was negative. The housekeeper offered to go into the house. The house was as creepy as the outside. It was a dump of furniture, piles of papers, broken objects, rags. Chichikov saw a toothpick that had turned yellow as if it had lain there for centuries. Paintings hung on the walls, and a chandelier in a bag hung from the ceiling. It looked like a big cocoon of dust with a worm inside. There was a pile in the corner of the room; it would hardly have been possible to understand what was collected in it. Chichikov realized that he was mistaken in determining the gender of a person. More accurately, it was the key holder. The man had a strange beard, like an iron wire comb. The guest, after waiting for a long time in silence, decided to ask where the master was. The key keeper replied that it was him. Chichikov was taken aback. Plyushkin's appearance amazed him, his clothes amazed him. He looked like a beggar standing at the door of a church. There was nothing in common with the landowner. Plyushkin had more than a thousand souls, full pantries and barns of grain and flour. The house has a lot of wood products and dishes. Everything that Plyushkin had accumulated would have been enough for more than one village. But the landowner went out into the street and dragged into the house everything he found: an old sole, a rag, a nail, a broken piece of crockery. The found objects were placed in a pile, which was located in the room. He took into his hands what the women left behind. True, if he was caught in this, he didn’t argue, he returned it. He was just thrifty, but he became stingy. The character changed, first he cursed his daughter, who ran away with a military man, then his son, who lost at cards. The income was replenished, but Plyushkin was constantly cutting expenses, depriving even himself of small joys. The landowner's daughter visited him, but he held his grandchildren on his lap and gave them money.

There are few such landowners in Rus'. Most people want to live beautifully and widely, but only a few can shrink like Plyushkin.
Chichikov could not start a conversation for a long time; there were no words in his head to explain his visit. In the end, Chichikov started talking about savings, which he wanted to see in person.

Plyushkin does not treat Pavel Ivanovich, explaining that he has a terrible kitchen. A conversation about souls begins. Plyushkin has more than a hundred dead souls. People are dying of hunger, of disease, some are simply running away. To the surprise of the stingy owner, Chichikov offers a deal. Plyushkin is indescribably happy, he considers the guest a stupid man dragging after the actresses. The deal was completed quickly. Plyushkin suggested washing the deal with liquor. But when he described that there were boogers and bugs in the wine, the guest refused. Having copied the dead on a piece of paper, the landowner asked if anyone needed the fugitives. Chichikov was delighted and after a small trade bought 78 fugitive souls from him. Pleased with the acquisition of more than 200 souls, Pavel Ivanovich returned to the city.

Chapter 7

Chichikov got enough sleep and went to the chambers to register ownership of the purchased peasants. To do this, he began to rewrite the papers received from the landowners. Korobochka's men had their own names. Plyushkin's inventory was notable for its brevity. Sobakevich painted each peasant with detail and qualities. Each one had a description of their father and mother. Behind the names and nicknames there were people; Chichikov tried to introduce them. So Pavel Ivanovich was busy with papers until 12 o’clock. On the street he met Manilov. The acquaintances froze in an embrace that lasted more than a quarter of an hour. The paper with the inventory of the peasants was rolled into a tube and tied with a pink ribbon. The list was beautifully designed with an ornate border. Hand in hand, the men went to the wards. In the chambers, Chichikov spent a long time looking for the table he needed, then carefully paid a bribe and went to the chairman for an order allowing him to complete the deal quickly. There he met Sobakevich. The chairman gave orders to gather all the people needed for the deal and gave orders for its rapid completion. The chairman asked why Chichikov needed peasants without land, but he himself answered the question. People gathered, the purchase was completed quickly and successfully. The Chairman proposed to celebrate the acquisition. Everyone headed to the police chief's house. The officials decided that they definitely needed to marry Chichikov. During the evening, he clinked glasses with everyone more than once, noticing that he had to go, Pavel Ivanovich left for the hotel. Selifan and Petrushka, as soon as the master fell asleep, went to the basement, where they stayed almost until the morning; when they returned, they lay down so that it was impossible to move them.

Chapter 8

In the city everyone was talking about Chichikov's purchases. They tried to calculate his wealth and admitted that he was rich. Officials tried to calculate whether it was profitable to purchase peasants for resettlement, and what kind of peasants the landowner bought. The officials scolded the men and felt sorry for Chichikov, who had to transport so many people. There were miscalculations about a possible riot. Some began to give Pavel Ivanovich advice, offering to escort the procession, but Chichikov reassured him, saying that he had bought men who were meek, calm and willing to leave. Chichikov aroused a special attitude among the ladies of the city of N. As soon as they calculated his millions, he became interesting to them. Pavel Ivanovich noticed a new extraordinary attention to himself. One day he found a letter from a lady on his desk. She called him to leave the city for the desert, and out of despair she ended the message with poems about the death of a bird. The letter was anonymous, Chichikov really wanted to figure out the author. The governor is having a ball. The hero of the story appears on it. The eyes of all the guests are turned to him. There was joy on everyone's faces. Chichikov tried to figure out who the messenger of the letter to him was. Ladies showed interest in him and looked for attractive features in him. Pavel was so carried away by conversations with the ladies that he forgot about the decency of approaching and introducing himself to the hostess of the ball. The governor's wife approached him herself. Chichikov turned to her and was already preparing to utter some phrase, when he stopped short. Two women stood in front of him. One of them is a blonde who charmed him on the road when he was returning from Nozdryov. Chichikov was embarrassed. The governor's wife introduced him to her daughter. Pavel Ivanovich tried to get out, but he wasn’t very successful. The ladies tried to distract him, but they didn't succeed. Chichikov tries to attract his daughter’s attention, but she is not interested in him. The women began to show that they were not happy with this behavior, but Chichikov could not help himself. He was trying to charm a beautiful blonde. At that moment Nozdryov appeared at the ball. He began to scream loudly and ask Chichikov about dead souls. Addressed a speech to the governor. His words left everyone confused. His speeches sounded crazy. The guests began to look at each other, Chichikov noticed evil lights in the eyes of the ladies. The embarrassment passed, and some people took Nozdryov’s words for lies, stupidity, and slander. Pavel decided to complain about his health. They calmed him down, saying that the brawler Nozdryov had already been taken out, but Chichikov did not feel calmer.

At this time, an event occurred in the city that further increased the hero’s troubles. A carriage that looked like a watermelon drove in. The woman who got out of the cart is the landowner Korobochka. She was tormented for a long time by the thought that she had made a mistake in the deal, and decided to go to the city to find out at what price dead souls were sold here. The author does not convey her conversation, but what it led to is easy to find out from the next chapter.

The governor received two papers containing information about a fugitive robber and a counterfeiter. Two messages were combined into one, the Robber and the counterfeiter was hiding in the image of Chichikov. First, we decided to ask those who communicated with him about him. Manilov spoke flatteringly about the landowner and vouched for him. Sobakevich recognized Pavel Ivanovich good man. The officials were overcome with fear and decided to get together and discuss the problem. The meeting place is with the police chief.

Chapter 10

The officials gathered together and first discussed changes in their appearance. Events led to them losing weight. The discussion was of no use. Everyone was talking about Chichikov. Some decided that he was a government money maker. Others suggested that he was an official from the Governor General's office. They tried to prove to themselves that he could not be a robber. The guest's appearance was very well-intentioned. The officials did not find any violent behavior that is typical of robbers. The postmaster interrupted their arguments with a startling cry. Chichikov - Captain Kopeikin. Many did not know about the captain. The postmaster tells them “The Tale of Captain Kopeikin.” The captain's arm and leg were torn off during the war, and no laws were passed regarding the wounded. He went to his father, who refused him shelter. He himself did not have enough for bread. Kopeikin went to the sovereign. I came to the capital and was confused. He was pointed to the commission. The captain got to her and waited for more than 4 hours. The room was packed with people like beans. The minister noticed Kopeikin and ordered him to come in a few days. Out of joy and hope, he went into the tavern and drank. The next day, Kopeikin received a refusal from the nobleman and an explanation that no orders had yet been issued regarding disabled people. The captain went to see the minister several times, but they stopped receiving him. Kopeikin waited for the nobleman to come out and asked for money, but he said that he could not help, there were many important things to do. He ordered the captain to look for food himself. But Kopeikin began to demand a resolution. He was thrown into a cart and taken by force out of the city. And after some time a gang of robbers appeared. Who was its leader? But the police chief did not have time to pronounce his name. He was interrupted. Chichikov had both an arm and a leg. How could he be Kopeikin? The officials decided that the police chief had gone too far in his fantasies. They came to the decision to call Nozdryov to talk with them. His testimony was completely confusing. Nozdryov made up a bunch of tall tales about Chichikov.

The hero of their conversations and disputes at this time, suspecting nothing, was ill. He decided to lie down for three days. Chichikov gargled and applied herbal decoctions to the gumboil. As soon as he felt better, he went to the governor. The doorman said that he was not ordered to be received. Continuing his walk, he went to the chairman of the chamber, who was very embarrassed. Pavel Ivanovich was surprised: he was either not accepted, or was greeted very strangely. In the evening Nozdryov came to his hotel. He explained the incomprehensible behavior of city officials: false papers, the kidnapping of the governor's daughter. Chichikov realized that he needed to get out of the city as quickly as possible. He sent Nozdryov out, ordered him to pack his suitcase and prepare to leave. Petrushka and Selifan were not very happy with this decision, but there was nothing to do.

Chapter 11

Chichikov is getting ready to go on the road. But unforeseen problems arise that keep him in the city. They are quickly resolved, and the strange guest leaves. Blocks the road funeral procession. The prosecutor was buried. All the noble officials and residents of the city walked in the procession. She was absorbed in thoughts about the future governor-general, how to impress him so as not to lose what she had acquired and not change her position in society. The women thought about the upcoming balls and holidays regarding the appointment of a new person. Chichikov thought to himself that this good omen: meeting a dead person on the way is fortunate. The author is distracted from describing the protagonist's trip. He reflects on Rus', songs and distances. Then his thoughts are interrupted by the government carriage, which almost collided with Chichikov’s chaise. Dreams go to the word road. The author describes where and how the main character came from. Chichikov's origins are very modest: he was born into a family of nobles, but took after neither his mother nor his father. Childhood in the village ended, and the father took the boy to a relative in the city. Here he began to go to classes and study. He quickly understood how to succeed, began to please the teachers and received a certificate and a book with gold embossing: “For exemplary diligence and trustworthy behavior.” After the death of his father, Pavel was left with an estate, which he sold, deciding to live in the city. I inherited my father’s instruction: “Take care and save a penny.” Chichikov began with zeal, then with sycophancy. Having made his way into the family of the police chief, he received a vacant position and changed his attitude towards the one who promoted him. The first meanness was the most difficult, then everything went easier. Pavel Ivanovich was a pious man, loved cleanliness, and did not use foul language. Chichikov dreamed of serving in customs. His zealous service did its job, the dream came true. But luck ran out, and the hero had to again look for ways to make money and create wealth. One of the orders - to put the peasants on the Guardian Council - gave him the idea of ​​​​how to change his condition. He decided to buy dead souls and then resell them for settlement underground. Strange idea, hard to understand a simple person, only the cleverly intertwined schemes in Chichikov’s head could fit into the enrichment system. During the author's reasoning, the hero sleeps peacefully. The author compares Rus'

In the poem “Dead Souls” Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol managed to depict the numerous vices of his contemporary. He raised questions that remained relevant still. After reading the summary of the poem, the main character, the reader will be able to find out the plot and main idea, as well as how many volumes the author managed to write.

In contact with

Author's intention

In 1835, Gogol began work on the poem “Dead Souls.” In the annotation to the poem, the author states that story line future masterpiece was donated by A.S. Pushkin. Nikolai Vasilyevich’s idea was enormous; it was planned to create a three-part poem.

1. The first volume was supposed to be made primarily accusatory in order to reveal painful places Russian life, study them, explain the reasons for their occurrence. In other words, Gogol depicts the souls of the heroes and names the reason for their spiritual death.
2. In the second volume, the author was going to continue creating a gallery of “dead souls” and, first of all, to pay attention to the problems of the consciousness of the heroes, who are beginning to understand the full extent of their fall and feel for ways out of the state of death.
3. It was decided to devote the third volume to depicting the difficult process of spiritual resurrection.

The idea of ​​the first volume of the poem was fully implemented.

The third volume has not even been started, but researchers can judge its contents from the book “Selected Passages from Correspondence with Friends,” dedicated to intimate thoughts about the ways of transforming Russia and the resurrection of human souls.

Traditionally, the first volume of Dead Souls is studied at school as an independent work.

Genre of the work

Gogol, as you know, in the annotation to the book called “Dead Souls” a poem, although in the process of work he defined the genre of the work in different ways. For a brilliant writer, following genre canons is not an end in itself; the author’s creative thought should not be constrained by any boundaries and, and soar freely.

Moreover, artistic genius always goes beyond the genre and creates something original. A letter has been preserved, where in one sentence Gogol three times defines the genre of the work he is working on, calling it alternately a novel, a story and, finally, a poem.

The specificity of the genre is associated with the author’s lyrical digressions and the desire to show the national element of Russian life. Contemporaries repeatedly compared Gogol's work with Homer's Iliad.

The plot of the poem

We offer summary by chapter. First comes the annotation to the poem, where, with some irony, the author wrote a call to readers: read the work as carefully as possible, and then send your comments and questions.

Chapter 1

The action of the poem develops in small county town where he comes main character named Chichikov Pavel Ivanovich.

He travels accompanied by his servants Petrushka and Selifan, who will play an important role in the story.

Upon arrival at the hotel, Chichikov went to the tavern to find out information about the most important people in the city, here he meets Manilov and Sobakevich.

After lunch, Pavel Ivanovich walks around the city and makes several important visits: he meets the governor, vice-governor, prosecutor, and chief of police. The new acquaintance endears himself to everyone, and therefore receives many invitations to social events and home evenings.

Chapter 2

The second chapter details Chichikov's servants. Parsley is distinguished by a silent disposition, a peculiar smell and a passion for superficial reading. He looked through the books without delving particularly into their contents. Chichikov's coachman Selifan, in the author's opinion, did not deserve separate story, since he had a very low origin.

Further events develop as follows. Chichikov goes out of town to visit the landowner Manilov. It is difficult to find his estate. The first impression that almost everyone got when looking at the owner of Manilovka was was positive. At first it seemed that it was a nice and a kind person, but then it became obvious that he lacked any character, his own tastes and interests. This undoubtedly had a repulsive effect on those around him. There was a feeling that time had stopped in Manilov’s house, flowing sluggishly and slowly. The wife was a match for her husband: she was not interested in housekeeping, considering this task unnecessary.

The guest announces the true purpose of his visit, asks his new acquaintance to sell him peasants who have died, but according to the papers are listed as alive. Manilov is discouraged by his request, but agrees to the deal.

Chapter 3

On the way to Sobakevich, the protagonist's carriage goes astray. To wait out the bad weather That is, Chichikov asks to spend the night with the landowner Korobochka, who opened the door only after she heard that the guest had a noble title. Nastasya Filippovna was very thrifty and thrifty, one of those who would not do anything for nothing. Our hero had to have a long conversation with her about the sale of dead souls. The hostess did not agree for a long time, but eventually gave in. Pavel Ivanovich felt great relief that the conversation with Korobochka was over, and continued on his way.

Chapter 4

On the way, he comes across a tavern, and Chichikov decides to dine there; the hero is famous for his excellent appetite. Here I met with an old acquaintance Nozdryov. He was a noisy and scandalous man, constantly getting into trouble because of features of your character: constantly lied and cheated. But since Nozdryov is of great interest to the business, Pavel Ivanovich accepts the invitation to visit the estate.

While visiting his noisy friend, Chichikov starts a conversation about dead souls. Nozdryov is stubborn, but agrees to sell the papers for the dead peasants along with a dog or horse.

The next morning, Nozdryov offers to play checkers for dead souls, but both heroes try to deceive each other, so the game ends in a scandal. At this moment, the police officer came to Nozdryov to inform him that a case had been opened against him for beating. Chichikov, taking advantage of the moment, disappears from the estate.

Chapter 5

On the way to Sobakevich, Pavel Ivanovich's carriage falls into a small a road accident, the image of a girl from a carriage moving towards him sinks into his heart.

Sobakevich's house is striking in its resemblance to its owner. All interior items are huge and ridiculous.

The image of the owner in the poem is very interesting. The landowner begins to bargain, trying to get more money for the dead peasants. After this visit, Chichikov is left with an unpleasant aftertaste. This chapter characterizes the image of Sobakevich in the poem.

Chapter 6

From this chapter the reader learns the name of the landowner Plyushkin, since he was the next person Pavel Ivanovich visited. The landowner's village could well live richly, if not for the enormous stinginess of the owner. He made a strange impression: at first glance it was difficult to determine even the gender of this creature in rags. Plyushkin sells a large number of shower for the enterprising guest, and he returns to the hotel satisfied.

Chapter 7

Having already about four hundred souls, Pavel Ivanovich is in high spirits and strives to quickly finish his business in this city. He goes with Manilov to the court chamber to finally certify his acquisitions. In court, the consideration of the case drags on very slowly; a bribe is extorted from Chichikov to speed up the process. Sobakevich appears and helps convince everyone of the legitimacy of the plaintiff.

Chapter 8

A large number of souls acquired from landowners give the main character enormous weight in society. Everyone begins to please him, some ladies imagine themselves in love with him, one sends him a love letter.

At a reception with the governor Chichikov is introduced to his daughter, whom he recognizes as the very girl who captivated him during the accident. Nozdryov is also present at the ball, and he tells everyone about the sale of dead souls. Pavel Ivanovich begins to worry and quickly leaves, which arouses suspicion among the guests. Adding to the problems is the landowner Korobochka, who comes to the city to find out about the value of the dead peasants.

Chapters 9-10

Rumors are spreading around the city that Chichikov not clean at hand and is allegedly preparing to kidnap the governor’s daughter.

Rumors are growing with new conjectures. As a result, Pavel Ivanovich is no longer accepted into decent homes.

The city's high society is discussing the question of who Chichikov is. Everyone gathers at the police chief's. A story comes up about Captain Kopeikin, who lost an arm and a leg on the battlefield of 1812, but never received a pension from the state.

Kopeikin became the leader of the robbers. Nozdryov confirms the fears of the townspeople, calling everyone's recent favorite a counterfeiter and a spy. This news shocks the prosecutor so much that he dies.

The main character is hastily preparing to escape from the city.

Chapter 11

This chapter gives a brief answer to the question of why Chichikov bought dead souls. Here the author talks about the life of Pavel Ivanovich. Noble origins was the only privilege of a hero. Realizing that in this world wealth does not come on its own, from an early age he worked hard, learned to lie and cheat. After another fall, he starts all over again and decides to submit information about the dead serfs as if they were alive in order to receive financial payments. That is why Pavel Ivanovich so diligently bought papers from landowners. How Chichikov’s adventures ended is not completely clear, because the hero is hiding from the city.

The poem ends with a wonderful lyrical digression about the three-bird, which symbolizes the image of Russia in the poem by N.V. Gogol "Dead Souls". We will try to briefly outline its contents. The author wonders where Rus' is flying, where is she going?, leaving everything and everyone behind.

Dead Souls - summary, retelling, analysis of the poem

Conclusion

Numerous reviews of Gogol's contemporaries define the genre of the work as a poem, thanks to lyrical digressions.

Gogol's creation has become an immortal and wonderful contribution to the collection of great works of Russian literature. And many questions related to it are still awaiting answers.

As part of the project "Gogol. 200 years"RIA Newspresents a summary of the second volume of “Dead Souls” by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol - a novel that Gogol himself called a poem. The plot of "Dead Souls" was suggested to Gogol by Pushkin. The white version of the text of the second volume of the poem was burned by Gogol. The text has been partially restored based on drafts.

The second volume of the poem opens with a description of the nature that makes up the estate of Andrei Ivanovich Tentetnikov, whom the author calls “the smoker of the sky.” The story of the stupidity of his pastime is followed by the story of a life inspired by hopes at the very beginning, overshadowed by the pettiness of his service and troubles later; he retires, intending to improve the estate, reads books, takes care of the man, but without experience, sometimes just human, this does not give the expected results, the man is idle, Tentetnikov gives up. He breaks off acquaintances with his neighbors, offended by General Betrishchev’s address, and stops visiting him, although he cannot forget his daughter Ulinka. In a word, without someone who would tell him an invigorating “go ahead!”, he completely turns sour.

Chichikov comes to him, apologizing for a breakdown in the carriage, curiosity and a desire to pay respects. Having won the favor of the owner with his amazing talent to adapt to anyone, Chichikov, having lived with him for a while, goes to the general, to whom he weaves a story about a quarrelsome uncle and, as usual, begs for the dead.

The poem fails at the laughing general, and we find Chichikov heading to Colonel Koshkarev. Contrary to expectations, he ends up with Pyotr Petrovich Rooster, whom he finds at first completely naked, keen on hunting sturgeon. At Rooster's, not having anything to get hold of, for the estate is mortgaged, he only overeats terribly, meets the bored landowner Platonov and, having encouraged him to travel together across Rus', goes to Konstantin Fedorovich Kostanzhoglo, married to Platonov's sister. He talks about the methods of management with which he increased the income from the estate tenfold, and Chichikov is terribly inspired.

Very quickly he visits Colonel Koshkarev, who has divided his village into committees, expeditions and departments and has organized a perfect paper production in the mortgaged estate, as it turns out. Having returned, he listens to the curses of the bilious Kostanzhoglo against the factories and manufactories that corrupt the peasant, the peasant’s absurd desire to educate, and his neighbor Khlobuev, who has neglected a sizable estate and is now selling it for next to nothing.

Having experienced tenderness and even a craving for honest work, having listened to the story of the tax farmer Murazov, who made forty million in an impeccable way, Chichikov the next day, accompanied by Kostanzhoglo and Platonov, goes to Khlobuev, observes the unrest and dissipation of his household in the neighborhood of a governess for children, dressed in fashion wife and other traces of absurd luxury.

Having borrowed money from Kostanzhoglo and Platonov, he gives a deposit for the estate, intending to buy it, and goes to Platonov’s estate, where he meets his brother Vasily, who efficiently manages the estate. Then he suddenly appears at their neighbor Lenitsyn, clearly a rogue, wins his sympathy with his ability to skillfully tickle a child and receives dead souls.

After many gaps in the manuscript, Chichikov is found already in the city at a fair, where he buys fabric that is so dear to him, the lingonberry color with a sparkle. He runs into Khlobuev, whom, apparently, he spoiled, either depriving him, or almost depriving him of his inheritance through some kind of forgery. Khlobuev, who let him go, is taken away by Murazov, who convinces Khlobuev of the need to work and orders him to collect funds for the church. Meanwhile, denunciations against Chichikov are discovered both about the forgery and about dead souls.

The tailor brings a new tailcoat. Suddenly a gendarme appears, dragging the smartly dressed Chichikov to the Governor-General, “angry as anger itself.” Here all his atrocities become clear, and he, kissing the general’s boot, is thrown into prison. In a dark closet, Murazov finds Chichikov, tearing his hair and tails of his coat, mourning the loss of a box of papers, with simple virtuous words awakens in him a desire to live honestly and sets off to soften the Governor-General.

At that time, officials who want to spoil their wise superiors and get a bribe from Chichikov, deliver a box to him, kidnap an important witness and write many denunciations in order to completely confuse the matter. Unrest breaks out in the province itself, greatly worrying the Governor-General. However, Murazov knows how to feel the sensitive strings of his soul and give him the right advice, which the Governor-General, having released Chichikov, is about to use, how... - at this point the manuscript breaks off.

Material provided by the internet portal briefly.ru, compiled by E. V. Kharitonova

Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 1 – summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.

Chichikov

Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 2 – briefly

A few days later, Chichikov moved his visits out of town and first visited Manilov’s estate. Sweet Manilov claimed enlightened humanity, European education and loved to build fantastic projects, such as building a huge bridge across his pond, from where one could see Moscow during tea drinking. But, mired in dreams, he never put them into practice, being characterized by complete impracticality and mismanagement. (See Description of Manilov, his estate and dinner with him.)

Receiving Chichikov, Manilov demonstrated his refined courtesy. But in a private conversation, Chichikov made him an unexpected and strange offer to buy from him for a small sum recently deceased peasants (who, until the next financial audit, were listed as alive on paper). Manilov was extremely surprised by this, but out of politeness he could not refuse the guest.

For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, Chapter 2 - summary of the full text of this chapter.

Manilov. Artist A. Laptev

Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 3 – briefly

From Manilov, Chichikov thought of going to Sobakevich, but the drunken coachman Selifan took him in a completely different direction. Caught in a thunderstorm, the travelers barely made it to some village - and found accommodation for the night with the local landowner Korobochka.

The widow Korobochka was a simple-minded and frugal old woman. (See Description of Korobochka, her estate and lunch with her.) The next morning, over tea, Chichikov made her the same proposal as before to Manilov. The box at first widened its eyes, but then calmed down, most of all caring about how not to make a cheap sale when selling the dead. She even began to refuse Chichikov, intending first to “apply to the prices of other merchants.” But her resourceful guest pretended to be a government contractor and promised to soon buy flour, cereals, lard and feathers in bulk from Korobochka. In anticipation of such a profitable deal, Korobochka agreed to sell the dead souls.

For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 3 - summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.

Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 4 – briefly

After leaving Korobochka, Chichikov stopped for lunch at a roadside tavern and met there the landowner Nozdryov, whom he had previously met at a party with the governor. An incorrigible reveler and reveler, a liar and a sharpie, Nozdryov (see his description) was returning from the fair, having completely lost at cards there. He invited Chichikov to his estate. He agreed to go there, hoping that the broken Nozdryov would give him the dead souls for free.

On his estate, Nozdryov led Chichikov around the stables and kennels for a long time, assuring him that his horses and dogs were worth many thousands of rubles. When the guest started talking about dead souls, Nozdryov suggested playing cards with them and immediately took out the deck. Thoroughly suspecting that it was marked, Chichikov refused.

The next morning, Nozdryov suggested playing the dead peasants not at cards, but at checkers, where cheating is impossible. Chichikov agreed, but during the game Nozdryov began to move several checkers at once with the cuffs of his robe in one move. Chichikov protested. Nozdryov responded by calling two hefty serfs and ordering them to beat the guest. Chichikov barely managed to escape unharmed thanks to the arrival of the police captain: he brought Nozdryov a summons to trial for an insult inflicted while drunk with rods on the landowner Maximov.

For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 4 - summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.

The Adventures of Chichikov (Nozdryov). An excerpt from a cartoon based on the plot of Gogol’s “Dead Souls”

Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 5 – briefly

Having galloped away at full speed from Nozdryov, Chichikov finally reached the estate of Sobakevich - a man whose character was the opposite of Manilov. Sobakevich deeply despised having his head in the clouds and was guided in everything only by material benefit. (See Portrait of Sobakevich, Description of the estate and interior of Sobakevich's house.)

Explaining human actions solely by the desire for selfish gain, rejecting any idealism, Sobakevich certified city officials as swindlers, robbers and sellers of Christ. In figure and posture he resembled a medium-sized bear. At the table, Sobakevich neglected the low-nutritive overseas delicacies and dined simple dishes, but absorbed them in huge pieces. (See Lunch at Sobakevich's.)

Unlike others, the practical Sobakevich was not at all surprised by Chichikov’s request to sell dead souls. However, he charged an exorbitant price for them - 100 rubles each, explaining it by the fact that his peasants, although dead, were “select goods”, because they used to be excellent craftsmen and hard workers. Chichikov laughed at this argument, but Sobakevich only after a long bargaining reduced the price to two rubles and a half per head. (See the text of the scene of their bargaining.)

In a conversation with Chichikov, Sobakevich let it slip that an unusually stingy landowner Plyushkin lives not far from him, and this owner of more than a thousand peasants has people dying like flies. Having left Sobakevich, Chichikov immediately found out the way to Plyushkin.

For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 5 - summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.

Sobakevich. Artist Boklevsky

Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 6 – briefly

Plyushkin. Drawing by Kukryniksy

Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 7 – briefly

Returning to the provincial town of N, Chichikov began finalizing the registration of deeds of sale in the state chancellery. This chamber was located in the main city square. Inside it, many officials were diligently poring over papers. The noise from their feathers sounded as if several carts with brushwood were passing through a forest littered with withered leaves. To speed up the matter, Chichikov had to bribe the clerk Ivan Antonovich with a long nose, colloquially called a pitcher's snout.

Manilov and Sobakevich arrived to sign the bills of sale themselves, and the rest of the sellers acted through attorneys. Not knowing that all the peasants bought by Chichikov were dead, the chairman of the chamber asked what land he intended to settle them on. Chichikov lied about allegedly having an estate in the Kherson province.

To “sprinkle” the purchase, everyone went to the police chief. Among the city fathers, he was known as a miracle worker: he only had to blink when passing a fish row or a cellar, and the merchants themselves would carry snacks in great abundance. At the noisy feast, Sobakevich especially distinguished himself: while the other guests were drinking, he secretly ate a huge sturgeon to the bones in a quarter of an hour, and then pretended that he had nothing to do with it.

For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 7 - summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.

Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 8 – briefly

Chichikov bought dead souls from landowners for pennies, but on the paper in the deeds of sale it was stated that he had paid about a hundred thousand for everyone. Such a large purchase caused the most lively talk in the city. The rumor that Chichikov was a millionaire greatly raised his profile in everyone's eyes. In the opinion of the ladies, he became a true hero, and they even began to find in his appearance something similar to Mars.

Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 9 – briefly

Nozdryov’s words were initially considered drunken nonsense. However, soon the news of Chichikov’s purchase of the dead was confirmed by Korobochka, who came to the city to find out if she had gone cheap in her deal with him. The wife of a local archpriest told Korobochka’s story to one well-known in the city world nice lady, and she - to her friend - lady, pleasant in every way. From these two ladies the word spread to everyone else.

The whole city was at a loss: why did Chichikov buy dead souls? In the female half of society, prone to frivolous romance, a strange thought arose that he wanted to cover up the preparations for the kidnapping of the governor’s daughter. More down-to-earth male officials wondered whether there was a strange visitor - an auditor sent to their province to investigate official omissions, and "dead souls" - some kind of conventional phrase, whose meaning is known only to Chichikov himself and the top authorities. The bewilderment reached the point of true trepidation when the governor received two papers from above, informing them that a well-known counterfeiter and a dangerous fugitive robber might be in their area.

For more details, see the separate article Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 9 - summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.

Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 10 – briefly

The city fathers gathered for a meeting with the police chief to decide who Chichikov was and what to do with him. The most daring hypotheses were put forward here. Some considered Chichikov a forger of banknotes, others - an investigator who would soon arrest them all, and still others - a murderer. There was even an opinion that he was Napoleon in disguise, released by the British from the island of St. Helena, and the postmaster saw in Chichikov Captain Kopeikin, a disabled war veteran against the French, who did not receive a pension from the authorities for his injury and took revenge on them with the help of a gang of robbers recruited in the Ryazan forests.

Remembering that Nozdryov was the first to talk about dead souls, they decided to send for him. But this famous liar, having come to the meeting, began to confirm all the assumptions at once. He said that Chichikov had previously kept two million counterfeit money and that he even managed to escape with them from the police who surrounded the house. According to Nozdryov, Chichikov really wanted to kidnap the governor’s daughter, prepared horses at all stations and bribed the priest, Sidor’s father, in the village of Trukhmachevka for a secret wedding for 75 rubles.

Realizing that Nozdryov was carrying game, those present drove him away. He went to Chichikov, who was ill and knew nothing about the city rumors. Nozdryov “out of friendship” told Chichikov: everyone in the city considers him a counterfeiter and an extremely dangerous person. Shocked, Chichikov decided to hastily leave early tomorrow morning.

For more details, see the separate articles Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 10 – summary and Gogol “The Tale of Captain Kopeikin” – summary. You can read the full text of this chapter on our website.

Gogol “Dead Souls”, chapter 11 – briefly

The next day, Chichikov almost escaped from the city of N. His chaise rolled along the high road, and during this journey Gogol told the readers the life story of his hero and finally explained for what purpose he acquired dead souls.

Chichikov's parents were nobles, but very poor. As a young boy, he was taken from the village to the city and sent to school. (See Chichikov's childhood.) The father finally gave his son advice to please his bosses and save a penny.

Chichikov always followed this parental instruction. He did not have brilliant talents, but he constantly curried favor with teachers - and graduated from school with an excellent certificate. Selfishness, the thirst to rise from the poor into wealthy people were the main properties of his soul. After school, Chichikov entered the lowest bureaucratic position, achieved a promotion by promising to marry the ugly daughter of his boss, but deceived him. Through lies and hypocrisy, Chichikov twice achieved prominent official positions, but the first time he stole money allocated for government construction, and the second time he acted as the patron of a gang of smugglers. On both occasions he was exposed and narrowly escaped prison.

He had to be content with the position of trial attorney. At that time, loans against the mortgaging of landowners' estates to the treasury became widespread. While doing one such thing, Chichikov suddenly learned that dead serfs were listed as alive on paper until the next financial audit, which took place in Russia only once every few years. When mortgaging their estates, the nobles received from the treasury amounts according to the number of their peasant souls - 200 rubles per person. Chichikov came up with the idea of ​​traveling around the provinces, buying up dead peasant souls for pennies, but not yet marked as such in the audit, then pawning them wholesale - and thus getting a rich sum...

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The action of N.V. Gogol's poem "Dead Souls" takes place in one small town, which Gogol calls NN. Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov visits the city. A man who plans to purchase the dead souls of serfs from local landowners. With his appearance, Chichikov disrupts the measured city life.

Chapter 1

Chichikov arrives in the city, accompanied by servants. He checks into an ordinary hotel. During lunch, Chichikov asks the innkeeper about everything that is happening in NN, finds out who the most influential officials and famous landowners are. At a reception with the governor, he personally meets many landowners. Landowners Sobakevich and Manilov invite the hero to pay them a visit. Chichikov visits the vice-governor, the prosecutor, and the tax farmer for several days. He gains a positive reputation in the city.

Chapter 2

Chichikov decided to go outside the city to Manilov’s estate. His village was a rather boring sight. The landowner himself was an incomprehensible person. Manilov was most often in his dreams. There was too much sugar in his niceness. The landowner was very surprised by Chichikov's offer to sell him the souls of dead peasants. They decided to make a deal when they met in the city. Chichikov left, and Manilov was perplexed for a long time at the guest’s proposal.

Chapter 3

On the way to Sobakevich, Chichikov was caught in bad weather. His chaise had lost its way, so it was decided to spend the night in the first estate. As it turned out, the house belonged to the landowner Korobochka. She turned out to be a businesslike housewife, and the contentment of the inhabitants of the estate was evident everywhere. Korobochka received the request to sell dead souls with surprise. But then she began to consider them as goods, she was afraid to sell them cheaper and offered Chichikov to buy other goods from her. The deal took place, Chichikov himself hastened to move away from the difficult character of the hostess.

Chapter 4

Continuing his journey, Chichikov decided to stop at a tavern. Here he met another landowner Nozdryov. His openness and friendliness immediately endeared me to everyone. Nozdryov was a gambler, he did not play fairly, so he often took part in fights. Nozdryov did not appreciate the request to sell dead souls. The landowner offered to play checkers for their souls. The game almost ended in a fight. Chichikov hurried away. The hero really regretted that he trusted such a person as Nozdryov.

Chapter 5

Chichikov finally ends up with Sobakevich. Sobakevich looked like a large and solid man. The landowner took the offer to sell dead souls seriously and even began to bargain. The interlocutors decided to finalize the deal in the near future in the city.

Chapter 6

The next point of Chichikov’s journey was a village belonging to Plyushkin. The estate was a pitiful sight, desolation reigned everywhere. The landowner himself reached the apogee of stinginess. He lived alone and was a pitiful sight. Plyushkin sold his dead souls with joy, considering Chichikov a fool. Pavel Ivanovich himself hurried to the hotel with a feeling of relief.

Chapter 7-8

The next day, Chichikov formalized transactions with Sobakevich and Plyushkin. The hero was in excellent spirits. At the same time, news of Chichikov’s purchases spread throughout the city. Everyone was surprised at his wealth, not knowing what souls he was actually buying. Chichikov became a welcome guest at local receptions and balls. But Nozdryov gave away Chichikov’s secret, shouting about dead souls at the ball.

Chapter 9

Landowner Korobochka, having arrived in the city, also confirmed the purchase of dead souls. Incredible rumors began to spread throughout the city that Chichikov actually wanted to kidnap the governor’s daughter. He was forbidden to appear on the threshold of the governor's house. None of the residents could answer exactly who Chichikov was. To clarify this issue, it was decided to meet with the police chief.

Chapter 10-11

No matter how much they discussed Chichikov, they could not come to a common opinion. When Chichikov decided to pay visits, he realized that everyone was avoiding him, and coming to the governor was generally prohibited. He also learned that he was suspected of manufacturing counterfeit bonds and plans to kidnap the governor's daughter. Chichikov is in a hurry to leave the city. At the end of the first volume, the author talks about who the main character is and how his life developed before appearing in NN.

Volume two

The narrative begins with a description of nature. Chichikov first visits the estate of Andrei Ivanovich Tententikov. Then he goes to a certain general, ends up visiting Colonel Koshkarev, then Khlobuev. Chichikov's misdeeds and forgeries become known and he ends up in prison. A certain Murazov advises the Governor General to let Chichikov go, and this is where the story ends. (Gogol burned the second volume in the stove)