M. Gorky "Childhood": a summary

Gorky's story "Childhood" is a vivid example of an autobiographical work. The story is conducted from the first person, which enabled the writer to depict events more reliably, accurately convey the thoughts and feelings of the main character. In addition, the title work helps to understand who in fact was M. Gorky. "Childhood", a summary of which will be given below, is a unique opportunity to get to know one of the geniuses of Russian literature.

Maxim Gorky "Childhood": a summary

Despite the fact that the work "Childhood" is autobiographical, Gorky leads the narrative in the name of the boy Alyosha. Already on the first pages of the story we learn about the difficult circumstances in the boy's family: the funeral of the father, the grief of the mother, the death of the newborn brother. Alyosha is experiencing hard all these events. Next to him is always a grandmother.

After the described tragic events, Alesha, along with his grandmother and mother, goes to relatives. True, no one liked the boy, as Gorky writes. "Childhood," the summary of which does not convey many details, pays much attention to the inner experiences of the hero. So, Alyosha often calls his life a harsh tale. For example, he was very afraid of his grandfather. One day the latter, despite the protests of his grandmother and mother, hewed his grandson so that he fell ill. When Alesha was still sick, his grandfather often came to him and told him about himself. Therefore, soon the main character ceased to be afraid of him. In addition, the boy was visited by Tsyganok - adopted son Ivan, who received the nickname because of his appearance. It was with him that Alexei became friends most. More than once the Tsyganok substituted his hand under the birch-trees, with which Alex's grandfather sits. True, the hero named often stole. Soon Tsyganok dies.

Mother appeared rarely in the house. Very quickly, their house became notorious, because there were often fights here. His grandfather, Mikhail, attacked his grandfather, as the story goes. His childhood was full of horrible events. So, the boy was rarely allowed to walk alone, because he constantly "became the culprit of the rampage." In addition, he had no comrades, as Gorky writes. "Childhood," the summary of which misses much, tells about Alexei moving with his grandparents to a new house. There he met a man nicknamed "Good Deed" (he often used the phrase) and uncle Peter, who was a robber.

Once again, my mother came. She began to teach Alexei letters. Then his mother took him to school. At the same time, the boy noted that his only pity was his grandmother, others were either indifferent or severe. Only my grandmother took care of Alesha when he fell ill.

Soon the mother of the protagonist again married, and he, along with his relatives, was in Sormovo. My stepfather was very strict with Alexei. Also describes the training of a boy at school. It is emphasized that the teacher and the priest immediately disliked the boy, constantly threatening to expel him from school. Then he again moves to his grandfather, begins to make money and finds friends. At the end of the story, Alexei's mother dies, and his grandfather suggests that he go to people and earn his living. Thus Gorky completes the story.

"Childhood", the summary of which was described above, is one of the best examples of realism in Russian literature.