Grigorovich, "Gutta-percha boy": a summary of the work

In this article we describe the plot of the work, whose author is DV Grigorovich. "Gutta-percha boy", whose brief content will be considered by us, is a story, created in 1883. It is included in the school program on literature.

Clown Edwards

What does Grigorovich ("Gutta-percha boy") tell us about? A summary of the main events is as follows. Artists crowd behind the scenes of the circus. This is a cheerful and carefree people. One bald man, no longer quite young, stands out among them. His face is densely covered with red and white paint. This is a clown named Edwards. He entered his "period of longing". Behind this period follows another - a heavy drinking-bout. Clown Edwards is the main decoration of the circus, a kind of its bait. However, his behavior is unreliable. He can drink on any day.

The director asks the clown not to drink at least until the end of the Carnival, after which the circus should close, since it does not work during the fast. He gets rid of the director with nothing meaningful phrases.

Acrobat Becker and boy Petya

Next, with other characters of the story introduces us Grigorovich ("Gutta-percha boy"). The main characters of the work are Edwards, Becker and Petya. We have already met the first one. In order to introduce the reader to the other two, the author describes the following scene.

Edwards peeps into the toilet of Becker, the acrobat. It is a muscular and coarse giant. Not Becker himself is interested in Edwards, but "gutta-percha boy" Petya, his pet, assistant acrobat. Edwards asks if he can take a walk with him. He proves to Becker that a small artist will work better after entertainment and rest. The acrobat, always irritated with something, does not even want to hear about it. He threatens the boy with a whip.

How did Petya begin to work in the circus

The story of this quiet boy is sad and simple. At the age of five he lost his mother, an excessively loving and errant cook. With her, he often had to freeze and starve. However, the boy still did not feel lonely.

After the mother died, the washerwoman Varvara, her countrywoman, arranged the fate of the child. The boy was assigned to Becker to study. Karl Bogdanovich at the first acquaintance with Petya painfully and roughly felt him, stripped naked, frozen with horror and pain. The boy cried, did not want to go to Becker, but Varvara gave it to the acrobat, as he clung to her hem.

Petya's life in the circus

Impressions from the acquaintance with the circus, with its noise and variegation, greatly shocked Petya. So much so that the boy cried out all night and woke up several times. It was not easy for Pete, a frail child, to learn various acrobatic tricks. He often fell down, was killed. At the same time, the severe acrobat never approved it, did not caress. But Petya was only seven years old. Only clown Edwards treated him favorably. He showed the boy how to perform various exercises. And the child reached out to Edwards.

A clown's gift

Further on one sad event in the life of the child tells us DV Grigorovich. Gutta-percha boy received a gift from a clown. One day he brought him a puppy and gave it to the child. However, happiness was short-lived. The acrobat grasped the puppy against the wall, and he immediately died. At the same time, the boy slapped a slap in the face. Petya was, you might say, not so much a gutta-percha child as unhappy.

Children of Count Listomirov

A completely different atmosphere reigned in the children's rooms belonging to Count Listomirov. They are described in detail by Dmitry Grigorovich. Gutta-percha boy could not even dream about such conditions. Everything in these rooms was adapted for the fun and comfort of children. Behind their mood and health carefully watched hired governess. Countess children in one of the last Shrovetide days were particularly lively. Their mother's sister, Aunt Sonya, promised them that she would take them to the circus. It was necessary only to wait for Friday.

Eight-year-old girl Vera, six-year-old Zina and a plump five-year old boot (his nickname - Paf) tried to deserve a campaign in the circus by their exemplary behavior. They could not think of anything else, except for the upcoming entertainment. Gramoteyka Vera read a circus poster for her brother and sister. Especially the children were intrigued by the gutta-percha boy. They were impatient to see him as soon as possible. Time was very slow for them, which DV Grigorovich ("Gutta-percha boy") notes.

Performance

Finally, it was Friday. All fears and worries are over. Children take places long before the start of the performance. They look with delight at the clowns, the juggler and the rider. Children can not wait to see a gutta-percha boy.

The exit of Petit and Becker begins the second branch. The acrobat attaches a gilded pole to its belt, at the top of which is a small crossbar. Under the very dome rushes the end of this pole. He hesitates, and the audience sees how difficult it is for Becker to hold him.

Occurrence in the circus

Already approaching the finale is the novel, created by Grigorovich ("Gutta-percha boy"). The following is a brief summary of the following events. Boy Petya climbs up the pole. The child is almost not visible. The audience applauded and shouted that it was time to stop such a dangerous number. However, the boy still has to grab onto the crossbar with his feet and hang upside down.

Petya copes with this. But then the gutta-percha boy falls and falls down into the arena. Artists and ministers pick up Petya and quickly take him away. In order to hush up this incident, the orchestra decides to play a cheerful tune. Clowning on the stage clowns run out.

The audience is upset. People make their way to the exits. Verochka screams and cries. She feels sorry for the boy. The children return home. It took a lot of work to calm the guys and put them to bed. Aunt Sonya looks at Vera at night. She sees that the girl's sleep is restless. On the cheek of Verochka, a tear withered.

Final Events

Meanwhile, a child with broken breasts and broken ribs lies on a mattress in a deserted dark circus. Gutta-percha boy bound with rags. From the gloom, the clown Edwards appears from time to time. He bends over the child. It can be seen that Edwards has already entered the lane. On the table is a decanter, almost empty.

Everything is plunged into silence and darkness. The next morning the number of the "gutta-percha boy" was no longer indicated in the poster. By that time the child had died.

Such a sad ending was prepared by Grigorovich. "Gutta-percha boy," the summary of which we have just outlined, makes us think a lot.