☰ Contents · Russian language

Poems by Nekrasov and Surikov

Lessons 34–35 · 2 lessons · G. T. Gasilova, Yu. Yu. Musurmanova. Russian Language, Grade 6 (for schools with Uzbek and other languages of instruction). 2nd revised edition. “O‘zbekiston milliy ensiklopediyasi”, Tashkent, 2017
34

N. A. Nekrasov. “Однажды, в студёную зимнюю пору…” (One cold winter day…)

Textbook, p. 134
GoalRead N. A. Nekrasov’s poem «Однажды, в студёную зимнюю пору…», describe the little peasant boy Vlas and the author’s attitude to him.
New words
студёный · qahratonдрова · o‘tinмужичок · bola (dehqon bola)уздцы · jilov
Explanation

Nikolay Alekseyevich Nekrasov (1821–1878) was a Russian poet who loved and portrayed ordinary people’s life. This poem is an excerpt from «Крестьянские дети» (Peasant Children, 1861). In it the poet leaves the forest and meets a very small boy leading a horse in hard frost. The boy wears big boots, a sheepskin coat and big mittens, yet is himself «с ноготок» (as small as a fingernail) — hence «мужичок с ноготок» (little man). At first glance the boy is stern: when the poet greets him he says “Walk on by!” From the talk we learn that his father chops trees in the forest and he carries the firewood; there are only two men in the family — father and he; his name is Vlas and he is just past six. The poet describes the boy’s hard work and seriousness with a smile and tenderness. The dialogue makes the poem lively. The poem also hints that the boy’s work leaves little time for play.

Worked examples
«Маленький работник» (summary in my own words). «В морозный день я вышел из леса и увидел лошадку с хворостом. Рядом шагал совсем маленький мальчик. Он был одет как взрослый: в больших сапогах и рукавицах. Мальчик помогал отцу и серьёзно отвечал на мои вопросы. Я улыбнулся, глядя на него.» (On a frosty day I came out of the forest and saw a little horse with a load of brushwood. Beside it walked a very small boy dressed like an adult: in big boots and mittens. The boy helped his father and answered my questions seriously. I smiled looking at him.)
Vocabulary: «студёный» = very cold; «хворост» (brushwood); «воз» (a cartload); «дровишки» (diminutive of «дрова», firewood). «мужичок с ноготок» means a tiny but grown-up-serious boy.
Class activity

“Interview”. Two pupils play the poet and Vlas. The poet asks «Откуда дровишки?», «Как тебя зовут?», Vlas answers briefly, as in the poem. The class describes the boy’s character.

Practice
1
What is the boy’s name and how old is he?
2
What is the boy wearing? Answer in full sentences.
3
From which word and with which suffix is «дровишки» formed?
4
Why does the poet call the boy «мужичок с ноготок»? Is there respect in this phrase?