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The story describes the life of the city of Foolov for a hundred years until 1825. During this time, the chronicle of the city was kept by four archivists. The history of Foolov is directly related to the period of rule of various mayors. In the first prehistoric chapter, the author examines the question of the origin of the city's population. The people of the bunglers were able to defeat other tribes. The bunglers decided to find a prince to rule them. Many rulers refused to rule over stupid people. One of them agreed, but did not live in the city, leaving in his place a governor, a novotor. The governor turned out to be a thief. The prince sent a noose to the dishonest newcomer. But he did not wait and stabbed himself with a cucumber. After this, the prince appointed several more rulers in his place. But they all stole terribly. The prince himself arrived in Foolov and from that moment began historical period in the life of the city. Further in the work there is a description of the mayors of Foolov, and the biographies of the most significant ones are told.

Dementy Varlamovich Brudasty was very gloomy and taciturn. He always used two phrases: “I will not tolerate it and I will ruin it.” One day the clerk saw an incredible picture. The busty man was sitting at the table as usual, but his head lay separately and was completely empty. It turned out that the mayor's head contained only two organs with melodies: I won't tolerate it and I'll ruin it. But somehow, due to the dampness, the head became unusable. Watchmaker Baibakov ordered a new head in the capital. But she didn’t come on time, so Brudasty was without a head.

After this, two self-proclaimed bosses found themselves in the city. A messenger from the province quickly picked them up. And Foolov plunged into anarchy. Within a week, the city was governed by six female mayors. Residents quickly got tired of such confusion. Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov became the new mayor. His activities for the city were positive meaning, he even dreamed of opening an academy in the city.

Pyotr Petrovich Ferdyshchenko ruled the city very smoothly for the first six years; Foolov flourished during these years. But then the mayor was confused by a demon. He was inflamed with feelings for the coachman's wife Alenka. She refused the mayor. Then Ferdyshchenko exiled her husband to Siberia, and Alenka had to submit. But as punishment for such actions, drought came to the city, followed by famine. Residents then threw Alenka from the bell tower. Ferdyshchenko wrote various letters to his superiors, and a detachment of soldiers even arrived in Glupov. When the mayor fell in love with Domashka again, severe fires began in the city. The ruler got scared and refused Domashka. Ferdyshchenko's power ended during the trip when he died from overeating.

Vasilisk Semyonovich Borodavkin became the new mayor. He considered himself an intelligent ruler and even waged wars to educate the people. During his reign, Foolov began to decline.

Another ruler, Theophylact Irinarkhovich Benevolsky, loved to issue various laws, although he did not have the right to do so. So he dropped out law flyers at night. The mayor was fired for collaborating with Napoleon.

Then Foolov was controlled by Lieutenant Colonel Pyshch. He actually did not participate in management, but the city surprisingly developed due to excellent harvests. It turned out that Pimple had stuffed head, which the leader ate, smelling truffles from it.

Under the next mayor - State Councilor Erast Andreevich Grustilov, Glupov did not develop at all. Laziness and debauchery became characteristic features of the Foolovites. The mayor spent all his time at balls. Soon famine came to Foolov. Grustilov was soon removed. Over a hundred-year period of time, the last mayor was Gloomy Burcheev. He was not particularly smart; in fact, he was an idiot. Burcheev decided to completely rebuild the city. Foolov was completely destroyed. The river interfered with new construction, but Burcheev failed to block its bed, although he tried very hard. Therefore, Burcheev led the Foolovites to the lowland, and it was decided to build a city there. But something went wrong. The mayor literally disappeared into thin air and disappeared without a trace. The story ends here.

This article is dedicated to one of the greatest Russians writers of the XIX century - Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin. Let's look at the most famous of his novels and turn Special attention on summary. “The History of a City” (Saltykov-Shchedrin) is an incredibly topical, grotesque and original work, the purpose of which is to expose the vices of the people and the authorities.

About the book

“The History of a City” is a novel that became the pinnacle of Saltykov-Shchedrin’s satirical talent. The work describes the history of the city of Foolov and its inhabitants, which is essentially a parody of autocratic power in Russia. The first chapters of the novel were published in 1869 and immediately caused a storm of condemnation and criticism of the author. Many saw in the work disrespect for the Russian people, a mockery of their native history.

Let's try to understand to what extent these accusations were justified by studying the summary. “The History of a City” (Saltykov-Shchedrin wrote the novel in just two years) is considered the crown of the writer’s entire work, so let’s take a closer look at this work. And at the same time you can find out why the novel remains topical to this day. Surprisingly, the vices that were relevant for the 19th century turned out to be so ineradicable that they have survived to this day.

Summary: “The History of a City” (Saltykov-Shchedrin). Chapter 1

This chapter contains an appeal from the chronicler-archivist to the reader, stylized in an ancient style of writing. Then the role of narrator is alternately played by the author, publisher and commentator of the archive where the records of the history of the Foolovites are stored. Here it is indicated the main objective books - to depict all the mayors of Foolov who have ever been appointed by the Russian government.

Chapter 2

We continue to present a brief summary (“The History of a City”). “On the roots of the origin of the Foolovites” - this self-explanatory name bears the second chapter. The narration here is of a chronicle nature, the author talks about the life and everyday life of the bunglers - that’s what the residents of Foolov used to be called. The prehistoric era described in the chapter seems fantastic and grotesquely absurd. And the peoples who lived here in those days appear completely narrow-minded and absurd.

In this part of the novel, the author clearly imitates the manner of presentation of “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign,” which is confirmed by the summary. “The History of a City” (“On the Roots of the Origin of the Foolovites” in particular), thus appears to be a very absurdist and satirical work.

Chapter 3

This part is a brief listing of all twenty-two mayors of Foolov with small comments, which contain the main merits of each official and indicate the reason for the departure of each from life. For example, Lamvrokakis was eaten by bedbugs in bed, and Ferapontov was torn to pieces by dogs in the forest.

Chapter 4

The main narrative of the novel begins, as evidenced by the summary (“The History of a City”). “Organchik” is the title of chapter 4 and the nickname of one of the most remarkable city rulers that the Foolovites have seen.

Brudasty (Organchik) had a mechanism in his head instead of brains that was capable of reproducing two words: “I will not tolerate” and “I will ruin.” The reign of this official could have been long and successful if one day his head had not disappeared. One morning, a clerk came in to report to Brudasty and saw only the body of the mayor, and his head was not in place. Unrest began in the city. It turned out that the watchmaker Baibakov tried to repair the organ that was in the head of the city governor, but could not and sent a letter to Wintelgalter asking him to send a new head. The events of this chapter unfold in a fascinating, but somewhat absurd way, which is reflected in its summary.

“The History of a City” (Organchik is one of the bright and illustrative heroes here) is not only a novel exposing the political system, but also a parody of the rulers of Russia. Saltykov-Shchedrin draws a hero who is able to utter only two lines, but his right to power is not disputed. On the contrary, as soon as the head is brought, it is put back in place, and the unrest in the city stops.

Chapter 5

We continue to present a summary. “The History of a City” (Saltykov-Shchedrin) is a work that colorfully exposes the absurdity of the life of the monarchy of Russia. And chapter 5 was no exception; it describes the struggle for power after the city was left without a divinely appointed ruler.

Having taken possession of the treasury, Iraida Paleologova takes the place of mayor. She orders all those dissatisfied with her rule to be seized and forced to recognize her power. But in Foolov there appears another contender for power who manages to overthrow Iraida - Clementine de Bourbon.

But Clementine's reign did not last long; a third contender for power appeared - Amalia Shtokfish. She got the townspeople drunk, and they captured and put Clementine in a cage.

Then Nelka Lyadokhovskaya seized power, and behind her was Dunka the Thick-Footed, and with her Matryona the Nostril.

This confusion with the authorities lasted seven days, until the mayor appointed by the authorities, Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov, arrived in Glupov.

Chapter 6

Now there will be a brief summary of the reign of Dvoekurov (“The History of a City,” Saltykov-Shchedrin) chapter by chapter. This active city governor issued a decree on the mandatory use of Foolovites bay leaf and mustard. The most significant thing Dvoekurov did was write down the need to open an academy in Foolov. The chronicle did not preserve any other data from his biography.

Chapter 7

The chapter describes six prosperous years in the life of the Foolovites: there were no fires, famine, disease, or loss of livestock. And all thanks to the rule of Peter Petrovich Ferdyshchenko.

But the satire that Saltykov-Shchedrin wields so masterfully has no mercy for officials. “The History of a City,” the summary of which we are considering, is not rich in happy times. And in the seventh year of his reign, everything changes. Ferdyshchenko fell in love with Alena Osipova, who refused him because she was married. Alena's husband, Mitka, having learned about this, rebelled against the authorities. Ferdyshchenko exiled him to Siberia for this. The whole city had to pay for Mitka’s sins - famine set in. The Foolovites blamed Alena for this and threw her from the bell tower. After this, bread appeared in the city.

Chapter 8

The events included in the summary (“The History of a City”) continue to develop. An excerpt (8th grade is studying this point) from a book describing them is usually included in school curriculum. The point here is that the mayor fell in love again, but now with Domashka the Strelchikha.

Now the city is beset by another disaster - a fire, from which it was possible to escape only thanks to the rain. The Foolovites blame the city governor for what happened and demand that he answer for all his sins. Ferdyshchenko publicly repents, but immediately writes a denunciation against the people who dared to speak out against the authorities. Having learned about this, all the inhabitants of the city were numb with fear.

Chapter 9

Topicality, evil mockery and the desire to correct the deplorable situation in the country are manifested in the novel written by Saltykov-Shchedrin (“The History of a City”). The summary provides an additional opportunity to verify this. Ferdyshchenko decides to profit from the pastures. He is convinced that his appearance will make the grass greener and the flowers more magnificent. His journey begins through the meadows, accompanied by drinking and intimidation of the Foolovites, which ends with the mayor’s mouth twisting from overeating.

A new city governor is sent to Foolov - Vasilisk Semenovich Wartkin.

Chapter 10

A brief summary will be devoted to the description of the new mayor. “The History of a City,” an excerpt (grade 8) of which is studied at school, can attract young readers precisely with its satirical side.

The new mayor is different in that he is used to constantly shouting and thereby getting his way. Only slept with one with one eye closed, while the second one was watching everything. And he was a writer - he wrote a project about the army and navy, adding a line to it every day.

Wartkin first fought for enlightenment, then he realized that bewilderment can be better than wisdom, and began to fight against it. In 1798 he died.

Chapter 11

We continue to present the summary in detail (“The History of a City”). Saltykov-Shchedrin, breaking the narrative down chapter by chapter, made each part of the novel a separate milestone in the history of Foolov. Thus, tired of the war associated with education, the Foolovites demanded that the city be freed from it completely. Therefore, the reform of the new mayor Mikaladze (the ban on issuing any laws and the cessation of the fight against education) was to their liking. The only weakness of the new representative of power was his love for women. He died from exhaustion.

Chapter 12

Saltykov-Shchedrin (“The History of a City”) begins this section of the narrative with a description of the difficult times for the Foolovites. A brief summary (an excerpt of this chapter is often given in school textbooks) tells that due to the constant change of power, or even the complete absence of the mayor, the city was ruled by neighborhood guards, who led the Foolov to hunger and ruin.

Then the Frenchman du Chariot was appointed to the city, who loved to eat mince pies and have fun, but he was not interested in state affairs.

The Foolovites began to build a tower, the end of which was supposed to reach heaven, to worship Volos and Perun. Their language became like a mixture of monkey and human. The Foolovites began to consider themselves the wisest in the world.

An interesting summary of “The History of a City” chapter by chapter. Thus, the change in the Foolovites described in this part is reminiscent of the biblical stories about the city of Babylon.

The new mayor, Grustilov, favorably accepted the decline in morals of the Foolovites, considering this a true enjoyment of life.

Chapter 13

The summary is coming to an end. “The History of a City” (Saltykov-Shchedrin) is divided into chapters so that the penultimate chapter becomes a description of the death of Foolov.

The ideas of the new city governor Ugryum-Burcheev about equality turn the city into a barracks, where any free-thinking is immediately punished. This arrangement of life leads to the disappearance of Foolov and the death of the Foolovites.

Chapter 14

How does Saltykov-Shchedrin end his story? The history of one city (a summary of the last chapter is presented below) has ended. In conclusion, the author presents a set of works by the mayors of the city of Glupov on how subordinates should be managed, what duties the supreme authority should perform, and how a mayor should behave and look.

Subject: literature.

Teacher: Khasanova Gulmaira Lazarovna.

Place of work: MBOU “Lyceum”, Stepnoe settlement, Sovetsky district, Saratov region.

Lesson topic: Foolov and Foolovites on trial by satire. (Based on the novel by Saltykov-Shchedrin “The History of a City”).

Lesson Objectives : give general characteristics work, determine its genre, issues, consider the content of individual chapters.

Lesson objectives:

Educational: open important human meaning works by M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin, to reveal the essence of moral categories using the example of the writer’s biography and the actions of the heroes of the work; consider ways of satirically depicting people and power.
Developmental: continue to develop skills in participating in discussions, analyzing conflicting information, argumentation and comparison; continue to develop skills in working with text (text analysis, work on characterization of characters, word creation);
Educational: to form moral feelings and moral behavior, a conscious attitude towards life, to cultivate the need to consciously determine one’s place in society, to develop a sense of responsibility for one’s actions, moral qualities personality.

Methods:

lecture, conversation, text reading, discussion.

Equipment: text of the novel by Saltykov – Shchedrin “The History of a City”

Cards

During the classes.

1. Teacher’s lecture with elements of conversation.

a) What impression did Saltykov-Shchedrin’s novel “The History of a City” make on you?

b) Yes, the attitude towards the work is contradictory, but this is not because the novel was written a long time ago, but the fact is that it has always been this way since the release of “The History of a City.”

Evaluation of the novel by contemporaries.

This work was first published separate publication in 1870. Before this, the book was published in several stages in the journal Otechestvennye zapiski. Immediately after the book was published, I.S. Turgenev, who was then in London, wrote to M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin:

“The other day I received your “History of a City” and read it immediately. Under its sharply satirical, sometimes fantastic form, its topical humor, reminiscent best pages Swift, “The History of a City” represents the most truthful reproduction of one of the fundamental aspects of Russian physiognomy.”

But this attitude towards Shchedrin’s new creation was far from unanimous. Some readers and critics greeted him more than coolly. In the April issue of the magazine “Bulletin of Europe” for 1871 appeared critical article, dedicated to “The History of a City,” which was called “Historical Satire.” The author viewed the book as a satire on Russian history and in this regard accused the writer of a variety of sins: “a superficial acquaintance with the history of the 18th century, and in general with the history of the Russian people” , in the ambiguity of the author’s positions, in laughing for the sake of laughter and trying to “amuse the reader at all costs, in the absence of any guiding idea. One of the main points of the accusation was the thesis of the satirist’s mockery of the people. The article was signed under the pseudonym A.B., behind which A.S. Suvorin, a liberal critic at that time, hid. Saltykov’s article by Suvorin was outraged by the misunderstanding of the book’s intent, its true direction, and artistic originality. He wrote a letter to the editor of the journal Vestnik Evropy, in which he explained the idea behind the History of a City. But the author’s explanation was shelved and lay in the archives of the executive editor Stasyulevich for more than forty years.

What explains the diversity of opinions regarding Shchedrin's new satire? First of all, the difference in ideological positions her readers. But of no small importance was the fact that, in its own way, artistic structure The book was unusual and complex. It is no coincidence that I.S. Turgenev called it strange and wonderful in his review. This is indeed one of the most original works of Russian satirical literature.

2. Conversation on the content of the work.

a) The city of Foolov is a grotesque city. Both the genre and the characters are unusual, and the very object of the image chosen by the satirist is unusual. It has long been known that the subject of satire should be modernity, but suddenly it’s history. In addition, the history of some city of Foolov.

What kind of city attracted the writer’s attention? Where was it laid? What is the location?

(we look for answers in the chapters “On the Roots of the Origin of the Foolovites” and in the address to readers)

What are the boundaries of the city of Foolov?

(The boundaries of the city are vague, incomprehensible, then it is a district town with an adjoining pasture for cattle (the delivery boy arrives in the city of Glupov from the Gubernia; the new mayor too), then it turns out that this is rather a provincial town (in Mikaladze’s treatise we encounter the phrases: “In In one of the Volga provinces, the mayor was three arshins and an inch tall. In another province, the mayors were equally tall"), then the boundaries of the city were expanded to the borders of all of Russia ("The pasture lands of Byzantium and Foolov were mixed to such an extent that Byzantine herds almost constantly mixed with Foolovsky, and this resulted in incessant bickering).

Who inhabited the city of Foolov?

(The city of Foolov was inhabited strange people, similar to the townspeople, we meet here the merchants, the intelligentsia, and even the Foolov elite. And then suddenly it turns out that the inhabitants of this city ... plow, sow, graze cattle and live in huts).

How to understand these contradictions? How about an oversight by the author?

(This is a conventional, allegorical city. The city is a grotesque, in which the negative aspects of the entire country, the entire state are embodied. This generalized image combines villages, villages, district and provincial cities, capital Cities Russian Empire).

What does the combination “one city” mean in the title “The History of One City”?

(One city should be correlated with the original meaning of the root gard - fenced area, area human existence, which means it is an image of any human society).

How did this city come into being?

(Chapter “On the Roots of the Origin of Foolovites.” Here Shchedrin paints a grotesque picture of the emergence of Foolov, building material for which the satirically reinterpreted legend about the “voluntary calling of the Varangian princes by the Slavs” served to a large extent).

From the legend we learn that the city of Foolov was founded by blockheads. Why were they called that?

Let us remember the Russian proverb “Force a fool to pray to God - he will bruise his forehead,” which should be understood metaphorically. The explanation of the word blockheads is nothing more than a variant of this proverb, but the writer rethought this nickname and read it literally. An ironic explanation helps us understand that the image before us is not plausible, but conventional. The technique that the author resorts to here is often found in satire. Cartoonists especially like to resort to it. It allows you to create bright grotesque images.

Where did the bunglers begin to restore order?

But it is impossible to achieve order with such absurd actions, and they turn to the prince.

Which the main problem is put by the writer in connection with this in the chapter “On the Roots of the Origin of the Foolovites,” and then throughout the entire narrative?

(People and autocracy).

Supporters of autocracy said that by inviting the princes, the people showed wisdom. What does the author think?

(Shchedrin considers this stupidity, expressing his opinion through the lips of the prince, who agreed to “go to hell” with bunglers).

What did autocracy bring to the bunglers?

(“And you will pay me many tributes...”, i.e. systematic, legalized robbery.

“When I go to war, you go too!” - turning residents into cannon fodder.

“And you don’t care about anything else” - that is, the exclusion of people from discussing and resolving any public issues.

“And those...who care nothing, I will have mercy; execute everyone else” - instilling humility and obedience among the people through open, continuous terror).

3. City governors.

Further chapters are a description of the life of the Foolovites under autocracy. The satirist recreates the city of Foolov at different stages of its existence, under different rulers. For example, the chapter “Inventory of mayors” gives a whole string of them. And again, people seem to be like people: there are surnames, first names and patronymics, and rank. And some of them are endowed with quite plausible qualities. At the same time, reality is often intertwined with fantasy.

What is significant about mayors?

The images of mayors are unusual and fantastic.

Saltykov-Shchedrin himself, explaining the meaning of his appeal to fantasy, emphasized that “the fantastic nature of the stories does not eliminate them... educational value and that the reckless arrogance of the flying mayor may even now serve as a saving warning for those modern administrators who do not want to be prematurely dismissed from office.”

Of course, this explanation is ironic, but at the same time it expresses in a unique form the idea that the turn to fantasy was not accidental, but was dictated by serious creative tasks, carried an important ideological load, i.e. no matter how whimsical and boundless a flight of fantasy may be, it is always connected with reality. For example, speaking about the grotesque characterization of Nikodim Osipovich Ivanov, who is so “small in stature that he was not able to accommodate extensive laws, we must know that this fantastic detail did not appear in Shchedrin by chance, that he relied on materials from reality.

From the mid-18th century to 1825, tens of thousands of different laws were issued in Russia. Collected together, they took up 45 volumes ( Complete collection laws of the Russian Empire. 1830). The laws issued under Nicholas the First and Alexander the Second (until 1870) amounted to another 45 volumes. A characteristic feature of many of them was not only extensiveness, but also extreme confusion and inconsistency. This is where the satirist is aiming, declaring that the mayor Ivanov died from “stress, trying to comprehend some Senate decree.

In the figures of some mayors one can find features of genuine autocrats (for example, in the image of Negodyaev there is something from Paul the First, in the figure of Mikaladze and Grustilov - from Alexander the First, in Intercept Zalikhvatsky - from Nicholas the First).

So this is a satirical portrait historical figure?

(No. These are generalized images)

What do all mayors have in common? How are they similar?

(They are similar in the main thing: their various projects boiled down to one thing: to extract “arrears” and suppress sedition).

Conclusion: The diversity of city governors actually turns into their amazing monotony. And the term CITY CHIEF in this book is used not in its official meaning, but in a purely conditional one. The mayor is the head of the city of Foolov, and since Foolov is a generalized city, then the mayor is a collective concept, denoting an autocratic ruler. And in the following chapters, these various figures are, as it were, brought to a common denominator. This denominator turns out to be Dementy Varlamovich Brudasty, the headless mayor.

Why is it significant? Tell us about it.

(chapter “Organchik”)

(In this image, the reader is presented with the essence of mayorship, cleared of everything unimportant).

What is secondary, unnecessary?

(Everything human, including the head, the mind. Two melodies are enough to control: “I’ll ruin you! I won’t tolerate it!”

This is how Foolov was ruled by a man who had an empty vessel on his shoulders, that is, a man without a head gave orders, which the Foolovites unquestioningly carried out, a man without a head scolded officials, etc. Moreover, Shchedrin explains the legitimacy of the chosen technique with the explanation of the superintendent of public schools.

In the chapter “War for Enlightenment,” the writer forces the mayor Wartkin to subject the actions of his predecessors to strict scrutiny. It turned out that in the line of mayors there were only shadows, images of faces.

What other chapters emphasize the idea of ​​mayoral uniformity?

(chapter “Supporting Documents” “Thoughts on the mayor’s unanimity”

It turns out that monotony is far from accidental, it is natural, necessary. This is where the treatise of Vasilisk Wartkin begins.)

What is the purpose of unanimity and autocracy?

(Submission of the Foolovites).

What does the treatise “On the beautiful appearance of all mayors” say?

(All mayors must be unified).

What should be the main thing in their appearance?

(Uniform)

Conclusion. It turns out that the mayor is the uniform, and who is in the uniform does not matter. It may contain Clementy, brought from Italy for his skillful preparation of pasta, or Ferdyshchenko, the former orderly of Prince Potemkin, a great lover of boiled pork and goose with cabbage, or Negodyaev, a former Gatchina stoker, or a more sinister figure - Gloomy - Burcheev (chapter “Confirmation of repentance . Conclusion").

Read portrait description given by the writer to this hero. Why is the hero depicted against the backdrop of a landscape in which, instead of the sky, a gray soldier's overcoat hangs?

(The overcoat is a symbol that should create the illusion of the tyrant’s sinlessness.

This technique with a simple soldier’s overcoat was used more than once by Russian despots of all stripes: the tougher the regime, the more concerned the tyrant was with the asceticism of his appearance and way of life).

Why do you think it is Gloomy-Burcheev who completes the line of mayors?

(He surpassed everyone with his boundless idiocy, inexhaustible energy, limitations, inflexibility, leveling, the presence of barracks ideals. His ideals: straight line, lack of diversity, simplicity brought to the point of nakedness, leveling).

Why is he dangerous?

(Because there is an idiot in power. A whole systematic nonsense has matured in his head. In addition

gloomy idiot).

Conclusion: Thus, nature, which for the writer has become the personification of a normal, new life, is the main thing and, unfortunately, the only, completely consistent opponent of the inhuman, deathly idea of ​​the state. Let's remember Organchik. What is the reason for its breakdown? Either under the influence of beauty spring day(nature!) he smiled, and the machine of statehood suddenly began to work in a mode unusual for it - the mode of naturalness, humanity and broke down. It is this incompatibility between the idea of ​​statehood and the idea of ​​humanity that Gloomy-Burcheev takes to the limit.

One of the prototypes of this mayor was Arakcheev (Minister of War in last years reign of Alexander II).

Do you think it is possible to reduce the image of Gloomy - Burcheev to a satire only on Arakcheev?

(No. Arakcheevshchina is a concrete phenomenon - historical, and therefore “short-term”. Gloom - Burcheevshchina is something broader, more terrible. This is a generalized phenomenon).

The Foolovites are contrasted in Shchedrin’s book with the mayors who personify autocracy.

4. Foolovites.

What are Foolovites like? How do they behave under the yoke of autocracy?

(Their main quality: inexhaustible patience and strong faith in their superiors.

Even sound-image characteristics indicate these qualities. The sound-imaging characteristics of the mayors and the Foolovites differ sharply.

Which character traits Do Foolovites and mayors indicate sound and visual characteristics?

(The harsh bureaucratic regime of autocratic power, suppressing everything human in a person, also acts as an enemy truly wonderful music. Music is rarely heard in Foolov, and if it is heard, it undergoes strange metamorphoses, losing spirituality, beauty, and harmony. That’s why we hear cacophony here).

Remember the chapter "The Fantastic Traveler". How did Ferdyshenko order himself to be met after traveling through the city pasture?

The writer creates a unique analogue of the musical grotesque.

To whom does M.E. Saltykov – Shchedrin direct his satire?

(Judging by the sound-image characteristics, we can say that the writer’s satire is aimed both at the autocracy of the rulers and at the obedience and patience of the people).

But is it possible to laugh at people?

(After all, this is precisely what the critic Suvorin accuses Shchedrin of. And the satirist replies:

“It seems to me that in the word people we must distinguish two concepts: a historical people and a people representing the idea of ​​democracy. I really cannot sympathize with the first one, who carried the Wartkins, Burcheevs, etc. on his shoulders. I have always sympathized with the second, and all my writings are full of this sympathy).

What kind of people are we talking about in the work?

(Most likely about a historical people. These people in the 60s of the 19th century continued to bear the yoke of tsarist autocracy.

The hopes of the revolutionary democrats for an imminent popular revolution were in vain. The writer comes to the conclusion that the root of evil lies in the political underdevelopment of the masses, in their social passivity).

Observe the history of the fermentation of Foolov's minds under Burcheev's rule.

SLAVE HABIT OF OBEDIENCE

RIOT ON KNEES. THEY KNEW THEY WERE REBELING, BUT THEY COULD NOT KNEEL.

THE FOOLISH PEOPLE HAVE COME TO MIND.

CHOICE OF A WALKER TO THE AUTHORITIES (WALKER EVSEICH).

THEY SEND THE WALKER AGAIN (THE WALKER WITH THE groin)

WE SITTED AND WAITED.

THEY LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND WERE SHAMED

IRRITATION GROWED

NIGHT MEETINGS

EXPLOSION. THE WRECK OF THE TYRANT.

The tyrant's downfall was sudden.

5. The meaning of the ending.

The rebellious nature sweeps away the gloom - Burcheev's utopia - from the face of the earth. But the ending of the book remains dark, as evidenced by various interpretations episode in literary criticism.

IT means the prediction of a people's revolution.

IT marks the beginning of an even harsher reaction.

Both versions are controversial.

There is a third point of view. The satirist writes: “History has stopped flowing.”

There are several meanings of the word story. Saltykov - Shchedrin most likely uses this word in the sense of “a continuous connection of times, naturally absorbing the past, present, and future, a process social development, the unstoppable flow of life."

"The Story of a City" is a satire of modern times. The writer selected and generalized what was equally characteristic of eras lagging behind each other by decades and even centuries, i.e. The images and features he created were inherent in both the past and the present.

The writer himself confirmed this idea, explaining the originality of the plan: “The same foundations of life that existed in the 18th century exist now. Consequently, historical satire will not be a goal for me at all, but only a form.”

According to Shchedrin, history is the unstoppable flow of life. “History does not stop its progress and is not delayed by pimples. Events follow one after another with lightning speed.

Why in this work did she stop flowing?

The genre of the book will help you figure this out. “The Story of a City” is a dystopia, i.e. depiction of dangerous consequences associated with the construction of society, i.e. the book is a warning about what will happen if such mayors are in power and people like Foolovites obey them.

Conclusion. The history of the city of Foolov, from the point of view of the satirist, is doomed to destruction as something unnatural, ugly - unreasonable and inhumanely cruel. In this regard, IT symbolizes the inevitable retribution that sends to Foolov true story. This work is not only a dystopia, but also a prophecy. Gloomy - Burcheev's straight line is reminiscent of the general line communist party, and his favorite words are barak, mass for a long time were favorites in our vocabulary too. The power of Shchedrin's "History..." is so great that it can lead to the emergence of new fantasies on eternal theme– society and power.

Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin

"The Story of a City"

This story is the “true” chronicle of the city of Foolov, “The Foolov Chronicler,” covering the period of time from 1731 to 1825, which was “successively composed” by four Foolov archivists. In the chapter “From the Publisher,” the author especially insists on the authenticity of the “Chronicle” and invites the reader to “catch the face of the city and follow how its history reflected the various changes that were simultaneously taking place in the highest spheres.”

The Chronicler opens with an “Address to the Reader from the Last Chronicler Archivist.” The archivist sees the chronicler’s task as “to be a depicter” of “touching correspondence” - the authorities, “to the extent daring,” and the people, “to the extent of giving thanks.” History, therefore, is the history of the reigns of various mayors.

First, the prehistoric chapter “On the Roots of the Origin of the Foolovites” is given, which tells how ancient people The bunglers defeated the neighboring tribes of walrus-eaters, bow-eaters, scythe-bellies, etc. But, not knowing what to do to ensure order, the bunglers went to look for a prince. They turned to more than one prince, but even the stupidest princes did not want to “deal with fools” and, having taught them with a rod, released them with honor. Then the bunglers called a new thief, who helped them find the prince. The prince agreed to “lead” them, but did not go to live with them, sending a thief-innovator in his place. The prince called the bunglers themselves “Fools,” hence the name of the city.

The Foolovites were a submissive people, but the novotor needed riots to pacify them. But soon he stole so much that the prince “sent a noose to the unfaithful slave.” But the novotor “and then dodged:<…>Without waiting for the noose, he stabbed himself with a cucumber.”

The prince also sent other rulers - an Odoevite, an Orlovets, a Kalyazinian - but they all turned out to be real thieves. Then the prince “... arrived in person in Foolov and cried out: “I’ll lock it up!” With these words, historical times began."

In 1762, Dementy Varlamovich Brudasty arrived in Glupov. He immediately struck the Foolovites with his sullenness and taciturnity. His only words were “I will not tolerate it!” and “I’ll ruin you!” The city was at a loss until one day the clerk, entering with a report, saw a strange sight: the body of the mayor, as usual, was sitting at the table, but his head was lying on the table completely empty. Foolov was shocked. But then they remembered about the watchmaker and organ maker Baibakov, who secretly visited the mayor, and, calling him, they found out everything. In the head of the mayor, in one corner, there was an organ that could play two musical pieces: “I’ll ruin it!” and “I won’t tolerate it!” But on the way, the head became damp and needed repairing. Baibakov himself could not cope and turned for help to St. Petersburg, from where they promised to send a new head, but for some reason the head was delayed.

Anarchy ensued, ending with the appearance of two identical mayors at once. “The impostors met and measured each other with their eyes. The crowd dispersed slowly and in silence.” A messenger immediately arrived from the province and took both impostors away. And the Foolovites, left without a mayor, immediately fell into anarchy.

The anarchy continued throughout the next week, during which the city changed six mayors. The inhabitants rushed from Iraida Lukinichna Paleologova to Clementinka de Bourbon, and from her to Amalia Karlovna Shtokfish. The claims of the first were based on the short-term mayoral activity of her husband, the second - her father, and the third was herself a mayor's pompadour. The claims of Nelka Lyadokhovskaya, and then Dunka the Thick-Footed and Matryonka the Nostrils were even less justified. In between hostilities, the Foolovites threw some citizens from the bell tower and drowned others. But they too are tired of anarchy. Finally, a new mayor arrived in the city - Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov. His activities in Foolov were beneficial. “He introduced mead making and brewing and made it mandatory to use mustard and bay leaves,” and also wanted to establish an academy in Foolov.

Under the next ruler, Peter Petrovich Ferdyshchenko, the city flourished for six years. But in the seventh year, “Ferdyshchenka was confused by a demon.” The city ruler was inflamed with love for the coachman's wife Alenka. But Alenka refused him. Then, with the help of a series of consistent measures, Alenka’s husband, Mitka, was branded and sent to Siberia, and Alenka came to her senses. Through the sins of the mayor, a drought fell on the Foolov, and after it came famine. People started dying. Then the end of Foolov’s patience came. At first they sent a walker to Ferdyshchenka, but the walker did not return. Then they sent a petition, but that didn’t help either. Then they finally got to Alenka and threw her off the bell tower. But Ferdyshchenko was not dozing, but wrote reports to his superiors. No bread was sent to him, but a team of soldiers arrived.

Through Ferdyshchenka's next passion, the archer Domashka, fires came to the city. The Pushkarskaya settlement was burning, followed by the settlements Bolotnaya and Negodnitsa. Ferdyshchenko again became shy, returned Domashka to the “optery” and called the team.

Ferdyshchenko's reign ended with a journey. The mayor went to the city pasture. In various places he was greeted by townspeople and had lunch waiting for him. On the third day of the journey, Ferdyshchenko died from overeating.

Ferdyshchenko's successor, Vasilisk Semenovich Borodavkin, took up his post decisively. Having studied the history of Foolov, he found only one role model - Dvoekurov. But his achievements were already forgotten, and the Foolovites even stopped sowing mustard. Wartkin ordered that this mistake be corrected, and as punishment he added Provençal oil. But the Foolovites did not give in. Then Wartkin went on a military campaign to Streletskaya Sloboda. Not everything on the nine-day hike was successful. In the darkness they fought with their own. Many real soldiers were fired and replaced with tin soldiers. But Wartkin survived. Having reached the settlement and not finding anyone, he began to take away the houses for logs. And then the settlement, and behind it the whole city, surrendered. Subsequently, there were several more wars for enlightenment. In general, the reign led to the impoverishment of the city, which finally ended under the next ruler, Negodyaev. It was in this state that Foolov found the Circassian Mikeladze.

There were no events held during this reign. Mikeladze removed himself from administrative measures and dealt only with the female sex, for whom he was very keen. The city was resting. “The visible facts were few, but the consequences were countless.”

The Circassian was replaced by Feofilakt Irinarkhovich Benevolensky, Speransky’s friend and comrade at the seminary. He had a passion for legislation. But since the mayor did not have the right to issue his own laws, Benevolensky issued laws secretly, in the house of the merchant Raspopova, and scattered them around the city at night. However, he was soon fired for having relations with Napoleon.

Next was Lieutenant Colonel Pimple. He was not involved in business at all, but the city flourished. The harvests were huge. The Foolovites were wary. And the secret of Pimple was revealed by the leader of the nobility. A big fan of minced meat, the leader sensed that the mayor’s head smelled of truffles and, unable to bear it, attacked and ate the stuffed head.

After that, State Councilor Ivanov arrived in the city, but “he turned out to be so small in stature that he could not accommodate anything spacious,” and died. His successor, the emigrant Viscount de Chariot, was constantly having fun and was sent abroad by order of his superiors. Upon examination, she turned out to be a girl.

Finally, State Councilor Erast Andreevich Grustilov came to Glupov. By this time, the Foolovites had forgotten the true God and clung to idols. Under him, the city was completely mired in debauchery and laziness. Relying on their own happiness, they stopped sowing, and famine came to the city. Sadtilov was busy with daily balls. But everything suddenly changed when she appeared to him. The wife of the pharmacist Pfeiffer showed Grustilov the path of good. The foolish and wretched, who experienced difficult days during the worship of idols, became the main people in the city. The Foolovites repented, but the fields remained empty. The Foolov elite gathered at night to read Mr. Strakhov and “admire” him, which the authorities soon found out about, and Grustilov was removed.

The last Foolov mayor, Gloomy-Burcheev, was an idiot. He set a goal - to turn Foolov into “the city of Nepreklonsk, eternally worthy of the memory of Grand Duke Svyatoslav Igorevich,” with straight identical streets, “companies,” identical houses for identical families, etc. Ugryum-Burcheev thought out the plan in detail and began to implement it. The city was destroyed to the ground, and construction could begin, but the river got in the way. It did not fit into Ugryum-Burcheev’s plans. The tireless mayor launched an attack on her. All the garbage was used, everything that was left of the city, but the river washed away all the dams. And then Gloomy-Burcheev turned around and walked away from the river, taking the Foolovites with him. A completely flat lowland was chosen for the city, and construction began. But something has changed. However, the notebooks with the details of this story were lost, and the publisher provides only the denouement: “... the earth shook, the sun darkened<…> It it has arrived." Without explaining what exactly, the author only reports that “the scoundrel instantly disappeared, as if he had disappeared into thin air. History has stopped flowing."

The story closes with “exculpatory documents,” that is, the writings of various mayors, such as: Wartkin, Mikeladze and Benevolensky, written for the edification of other mayors.

"The Story of a City" is satirical novel Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin, who wrote it whole year from 1869 to 1870. But his book was criticized by critics, accusing him of mocking the Russian people and distorting Russian history. But Turgenev, on the contrary, considered the work wonderful and believed that it reflected satirical story Russian society. True, after the publication of the book, readers cooled down a little to the work of Saltykov-Shchedrin.

The story itself begins with the words that the author addressed to the readers. He told about how he allegedly found a real chronicle, which tells about the fictitious city of Foolov. After an introduction on behalf of a fictional narrator-chronicler, the author writes about the origin of the Foolovites, where Saltykov-Shchedrin first describes sketches of satire, while relying on historical facts. But the main part of the book tells about the most famous mayors of the city of Foolov.

This is how readers will learn about Dementy Varlamovich Brudast. He was the eighth mayor of the city, who ruled for a short time. He was still able to leave some mark on the history of Foolov. Brudast stood out among others because he was extraordinary person. In his head there was a certain device with the help of which Dementy could produce one of the programmed phrases. And after everyone learned about his secret, various troubles began, which led to the overthrow of the mayor and to a life of anarchy. In a short time, six rulers changed in the city of Foolov, who bribed soldiers to seize power. Then Dvoekurov began to rule the city. Over the many years of his reign, he created an image for himself reminiscent of Alexander I, because one day he did not fulfill the instructions. After which he became timid and was sad all his life because of this.

The next person the author mentioned was Pyotr Petrovich Ferdyshchenko. He was Prince Potemkin's former orderly. He had an enterprising, frivolous and attractive nature. He was remembered by all his actions, in which he subjected Foolov to hunger and fire. Ferdyshchenko himself died from overeating when he went on a journey through the lands he owned. By this he wanted to feel like an emperor, traveling around the country. Vasilisk Semyonovich Wartkin, who destroyed Streletskaya and Dung settlements, was able to rule the city for the longest time.

In our time, performances based on the book “The History of a City” were staged, which were crowned with success.

Essays

“The Foolovites descended from the bunglers, next to whom lived tribes of bow-eaters, blind-borns, spinning beans, rukosuev and others. They were all at enmity with each other.

The bunglers went to look for a prince. Everyone refused to accept such incapable subjects; finally one agreed and called them Foolovites. Historical times in the city of Foolov began when one of the princes cried out: “I’ll screw it up!”

The author cites an ironic chronicle of the city's mayors. So, for example, at number eighteen is “Du-Charlot, Angel Dorofeevich, a French native. He loved to dress up in women's clothes and feast on frogs. Upon examination, he turned out to be a girl...” Separate chapters are devoted to the most notable mayors.

Organ
This mayor sat in his office all the time, scribbling something with a pen. Only from time to time he jumped out of his office and said ominously: “I won’t tolerate it!” The watchmaker Baibakov visited him at night. It turned out that in the head of the boss there is an organ that can perform only two pieces: “I’ll ruin you!” and “I won’t tolerate it!” A repairman was called in to fix the damaged organ. No matter how limited the ruler’s repertoire was, the Foolovites were afraid of him and organized popular unrest when the head was sent for repairs. As a result of misunderstandings with repairs, even two identical mayors appeared in Foolov: one with a damaged head, the other with a new, varnished one.

The Tale of the Six City Leaders
Anarchy began in Foolov. At this time, only women aspired to rule. Fought for power were the “evil-minded Iraida Paleologova,” who robbed the treasury and threw copper money at the people, and the adventurer Clemantine de Bourbon, who “had high growth, loved to drink vodka and rode horseback like a man.” Then the third contender appeared - Amalia Shtokfish, who worried everyone with her luxurious body. The “undaunted German woman” ordered “three barrels of foam” to be rolled out to the soldiers, for which they greatly supported her. Then the Polish candidate, Anelka, entered the fight with her gates previously smeared with tar for debauchery. Then Dunka Tolstopyata and Matryonka Nozdrya got involved in the struggle for power. After all, they visited the houses of mayors more than once - “for delicacies.” Complete anarchy, rioting and horror reigned in the city. Finally, after unimaginable incidents (for example, Dunka was eaten to death by bedbugs at a bedbug factory), the newly appointed mayor and his wife took over.

Hungry city. Straw City
Ferdyshchenko's board (this Ukrainian surname the author changes by cases). He was simple and lazy, although he flogged citizens for offenses and forced them to sell their last cow “for arrears.” He wanted to “crawl onto the feather bed like a bug” to his husband’s wife Alenka. Alenka resisted, for which her husband Mitka was whipped and sent to hard labor. Alenka was given a “draded damask scarf.” After crying, Alenka began to live with Ferdyshchenka.

Something bad began to happen in the city: either thunderstorms or drought deprived both people and livestock of food. People blamed Alenka for all this. She was thrown from the bell tower. A “team” was sent to pacify the riot.

After Alenka, Ferdyshchenko was seduced by the “optional” girl, the archer Domashka. Because of this in a fantastic way fires started. But the people did not destroy the archer at all, but simply triumphantly returned her “to the patronage.” A “team” was again sent to pacify the riot. They “admonished” the Foolovites twice, and this filled them with horror.

Wars for enlightenment
Basilisk Wartkin “introduced enlightenment” - he set up false fire alarms, made sure that every resident had a cheerful appearance, and composed meaningless treatises. He dreamed of fighting with Byzantium, and amidst general murmurs, he introduced mustard, Provençal oil and Persian chamomile (against bedbugs). He also became famous for waging wars with the help of tin soldiers. He considered all this “enlightenment.” When taxes began to be withheld, the wars “for enlightenment” turned into wars “against enlightenment.” And Wartkin began to destroy and burn settlement after settlement...

The era of retirement from wars
During this era, Theophylact of Benevolensky, who loved to make laws, became especially famous. These laws were completely meaningless. The main thing in them was to provide bribes to the mayor: “Everyone should bake pies on holidays, not forbidding himself from such cookies on weekdays... Upon removal from the oven, everyone should take a knife in his hand and, cutting out a part from the middle, bring it as a gift. Let him who has done this eat.”

Mayor Pimple had the habit of setting mousetraps around his bed before going to bed, or even going to sleep on the glacier. And the strangest thing: he smelled of truffles (a rare delicacy edible mushrooms). In the end, the local leader of the nobility poured vinegar and mustard on him and... ate Pimple's head, which turned out to be stuffed.

Worship of Mammon and repentance
State Councilor Erast Andreevich Grustilov combined practicality and sensitivity. He stole from a soldier's cauldron - and shed tears looking at the soldiers eating stale bread. He was very woman-loving. Proven himself as a writer love stories. Grustilov’s daydreaming and “haberdashery” played into the hands of the Foolovites, who were prone to parasitism, so the fields were not plowed and nothing grew on them. But costume balls happened almost every day!

Then Grustilov, in company with a certain Pfeiffer, began to engage in occultism, visited witches and sorceresses and submitted his body to flagellation. He even wrote a treatise “On the Delights of a Pious Soul.” The “riots and dancing” in the city stopped. But nothing really changed, only “they moved from cheerful and violent inaction to gloomy inaction.”

Confirmation of repentance. Conclusion
And then Gloomy-Burcheev appeared. "He was terrible." This mayor did not recognize anything other than the “correctness of the constructions.” He impressed with his “soldier-like, imperturbable confidence.” This machine-like monster organized life in Foolov like a military camp. Such was his “systematic delirium.” All people lived according to the same regime, dressed in specially prescribed clothes, and carried out all work on command. Barracks! "In that fantasy world there are no passions, no hobbies, no attachments.” The residents themselves had to demolish their existing houses and move into identical barracks. An order was issued to appoint spies - Gloomy-Burcheev feared that someone would oppose his barracks regime. However, the precautions did not justify themselves: from nowhere, a certain “it” approached, and the mayor melted into thin air. At this point, “history stopped flowing.”