Essay on the topic: “Relationships between Grinev and Shvabrin. Test on the story by A. S. Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter" educational and methodological manual on literature (grade 7) on the topic General characteristics of Grinev

The story “The Captain's Daughter”, written by Pushkin in 1836, is a logical continuation of the theme of the “insignificant hero,” an ordinary person who cannot boast of great wealth, influence or serious connections. The main character is close to the people, has positive character traits, is kind and fair. The story is based on the uprising led by Pugachev, but Pushkin did not set himself the goal of recreating historical events; against their background, he described the life stories of ordinary people.

General characteristics of Grinev

Pyotr Grinev comes from a noble family, but his parents are poor, so he grew up in an atmosphere of provincial-manorial life. The hero cannot boast of a good upbringing; he admits that he grew up underage. Since his father was a retired military man, Peter became an officer. This is a conscientious, gentle, kind and fair young man, looking at everything through the eyes. They dissipate, and he understands how the world really works.

Thanks to his moral sense, Peter Grinve comes out of even the most difficult and dangerous situations unharmed. The characterization of the hero shows his rapid spiritual growth. The man was able to discern in Masha Mironova a moral personality and a pure soul, he had the courage to ask for forgiveness from the serf Savelich, Peter saw in Pugachev not just a rebel, but a fair and generous person, he realized how low and vile Shvabrin really is. Despite the terrible events that took place during the internecine struggle, Grinev managed to maintain honor, humanity and loyalty to his ideals.

General characteristics of Shvabrin

The characteristics of Grinev and Shvabrin allow the reader to figure out who is who in reality. Alexey Ivanovich is a nobleman by birth, he is animated, dark, and not very handsome. At the time of Grinev’s arrival at the Belgorod fortress, Shvabrin had already served there for five years; he was transferred here for murder. Everything speaks of his meanness, arrogance and heartlessness. At the first meeting with Peter, Alexey Ivanovich introduces him to the inhabitants of the fortress, speaking about everyone with contempt and mockery.

Shvabrin is very smart and much more educated than Grinev, but there is no kindness in him. Many compared this character to a tumbleweed, a man without a family, who only knew how to adapt to different circumstances. Nobody loved him or waited for him, but he didn’t need anyone either. At the end of the story, Shvabrin’s black hair turned gray after the unrest he experienced, but his soul remained black, envious and evil.

Grineva and Shvabrina

Every story must have an antagonist to the main character. If Pushkin had not created the image of Shvabrin, then Grinev’s spiritual growth would not have been so noticeable, and besides, the development of the love line between Maria and Peter would have been impossible. The writer contrasts two young officers of noble origin in everything. A brief description of Shvabrin and Grinev shows that they even ended up serving in the fortress for different reasons. Peter’s father sent him here to serve so that his son could smell real gunpowder and serve in the army. Alexei was exiled for the murder of a lieutenant.

Each of the heroes understands the expression “military duty” differently. Shvabrin doesn’t care who he serves, as long as he feels good. During this time, Alexey immediately went over to the rebels, forgetting about the oath and honor. Grinev, under pain of death, refuses to swear allegiance to the rebels, but his natural kindness saved him. The fact is that he once gave Pugachev a hare sheepskin coat and a glass of wine, and he in return pays with gratitude and saves Peter’s life.

The captain's daughter became heroes. Grinev and Shvabrin fell in love with Masha, but their love is very different. Peter composes poems for the girl, and Alexey criticizes them, tearing them to smithereens. This is understandable, because he himself likes Maria, but how could a sincerely loving person put his beloved in a bad light and recommend that his rival give her earrings instead of poems so that she would come to him at dusk.

Relationship between Shvabrin and Maria

Alexei Ivanovich likes the captain's daughter, he takes care of her, but when he receives a refusal, he spreads dirty and false rumors about her. This person is not capable of sincere, kind and pure feelings; he needs Masha only as a beautiful doll that can be remade in his own way. The characteristics of Grinev and Shvabrin show how different these people are from each other. Peter would never allow himself to slander or force his beloved to do anything.

Alexey is vile and cowardly, he acts in roundabout ways. During a duel, he wounded Grinev in the chest with a sword, then informed Peter’s parents about the duel so that they would forbid their son to marry Maria. After going over to Pugachev's side, Shvabrin uses his power, forcing the girl to become his wife. Even in the end, he cannot allow the happiness of Grinev and Mironova, so he slanderes Peter.

Relationship between Grinev and Masha

Pyotr Andreevich has the brightest and purest feelings for the captain’s daughter. He became attached with all his soul to the Mironov family, which became his own. The officer immediately liked the young girl, but he tried to act delicately, composing poems for her in order to win the beauty’s heart. The characteristics of Grinev and Shvabrin give an idea of ​​the concept of honor among these two people.

Alexey Ivanovich wooed Mironova, but was refused; he could not admit his defeat with dignity, so he tried with all his might to tarnish the girl’s reputation. Grinev, in turn, protects his beloved, challenging the enemy to a duel. Peter is ready to give his life for Masha, taking risks, he rescues the girl from Shvabrin’s captivity, takes her out of the fortress. Even at trial, he tries not to tarnish Mironova’s honor, although he faces lifelong hard labor. This behavior speaks of the hero’s nobility.

Grinev's attitude towards Pugachev

Pyotr Andreevich does not approve of the actions of the rebels and zealously defends the fortress from them; during the execution of the officers, he refuses to swear allegiance to Pugachev because he serves the empress. Nevertheless, Grinev admires the generosity, justice and organizational skills of the rebel leader. The hero and Pugachev develop their own, somewhat strange, but friendly relations based on mutual respect. The rebel remembers Grinev’s kindness and repays him in kind. Although Peter did not go over to Pugachev’s side, he still has a good opinion of him.

Shvabrin's attitude towards Pugachev

The characteristics of Shvabrin and Pyotr Grinev show different attitudes to military honor among these officers. If the main character did not want to betray the empress even under pain of death, then for Alexei Ivanovich his own life is most important. As soon as Pugachev called on the officers to come over to him, Shvabrin immediately went over to the side of the rebels. For this person, nothing is sacred; at the right moment he is always ready to trip up others, so recognizing the power of the rebels is nothing more than an attempt to save his life.

The spiritual formation of Grinev and the fall of Shvabrin

Throughout the story, the reader follows the spiritual growth of the protagonist. The characteristics of Grinev and Shvabrin speak for themselves: if for Alexei nothing is sacred, he is ready to step over anyone in order to achieve his goal, then Peter conquers with his nobility, kindness, honesty and humanity.

The main characters of the work by A.S. Pushkin's "The Captain's Daughter", there are two officers Grinev and Shvabrin, completely opposite in human qualities. Despite the fact that both young men came from a noble family, in which, as is known, high values ​​and morals were instilled from childhood, one was honest and noble, and the other was cunning and agile.

Shvabrin, who plays the role of a negative character in the work, ends up serving in the Belogorsk fortress due to committing a murder. During his service, when Pugachev’s uprising began, he, without thinking twice and completely not caring about his duty, joined his ranks. He also doesn't care about the feelings of the people around him. By the will of his love for Maria Mironova, not paying attention to the fact that the feelings are not mutual, he decides to force the girl to be with him. He acts treacherously towards his friend, plotting conspiracies and pretenses against him.

Grinev is the completely opposite side of Shvabrin. He, of his own free will, went to serve in a fortress remote from the city, listening and obeying his father in everything. He feels incredible devotion and reverence for his parents. He also strictly follows the instructions he received, which states that honor must be protected from a young age. During Pugachev’s uprising, without fearing for his life, Grinev makes it clear that there is no reason for it, he will not join his ranks, since he swore an oath to the empress and will faithfully serve only her.

In this work, Pushkin makes it clear to the reader that people like Shvabrin are followed only by devastation, which will certainly lead to the collapse of his family, as well as the entire country. And Grinev is a stronghold in building a healthy and developing society with high moral principles and positions that are guaranteed to lead to a happy and carefree future.

Comparative characteristics of Grinev and Shvabrin

Pyotr Grinev and Alexey Shvabrin are the heroes of the story “The Captain's Daughter”.

These two young men are from wealthy families. They are officers and both are in love with the captain's daughter Masha Mironova.

Pyotr Grinev entered service in the Belogorsk fortress at the request of his father. Alexey Shvabrin was transferred to the fortress for murder. During a sword duel, he stabbed one lieutenant.

Pyotr Grinev sincerely loves Masha Mironova and she reciprocates his feelings. He is ready to take decisive and courageous actions for her sake.

Alexey Shvabrin, having not achieved the girl’s favor and having received a refusal from her, behaves extremely unworthily. He speaks negatively about Masha’s family, allows himself to mock the girl and spreads bad rumors about her.

Pyotr Grinev quarrels with Shvabrin because of his unworthy behavior towards Masha. Wanting to defend the girl’s honor, Peter fights Shvabrin in a duel. Turning for a moment at the shout of his servant, he receives an insidious blow in the back from Shvabrin.

They understand their duty to their homeland differently. When the fortress was stormed by Emelyan Pugachev’s gang, Peter was ready to fight to the last. He behaved bravely and was not afraid to tell Pugachev the truth to his face.

Shvabrin, on the contrary, without hesitation went over to the side of the villains. He fawned and groveled before Pugachev.

When Shvabrina is appointed commandant of the fortress. He, being a vile person, takes advantage of his new position. He treats Masha Mironova cruelly, keeps her locked up and forces her to marry him.

Pyotr Grinev learns about this from Masha’s letter and immediately sets off to rescue the girl from Shvabrin’s captivity. Thanks to his frankness and courage, he earns Pugachev's favor and respect.

Peter is a generous and brave man. Throughout the story, he fights with dignity and selflessly for his rights and for his love.

Shvabrin is deceitful and hypocritical, he is ready to secretly strike and betray his comrades. He repeatedly tried to annoy Peter and wrote denunciations against him.

Both of them were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy with Pugachev. Shvabrin behaved extremely dishonestly here too; he tried to slander Peter. As a result, Grinev is acquitted and released. His beloved Masha helps him in this. He will marry her. Shvabrin remains in prison.

A. S. Pushkin, using the example of these two young and wealthy guys, managed to show how different people can be.

Option 3

These two officers are complete opposites in their human qualities. Both come from a family of nobles, so there is no doubt about their upbringing. But the differences begin where it ends.

Shvabrin plays a negative role. He is in service in the Belgorod fortress. He is sent there because he commits murder. When Emelyan Pugachev's uprising begins, he supports the rebel without any doubt. Since his main qualities are cunning and deceit, he does not care about moral duty at all. There is nothing to say about the feelings of the people around him. His beloved Maria Mironova does not reciprocate his feelings and he decides to take her by force. But since it doesn’t look the way it should look to an officer, it’s not difficult to predict his actions. Conspiracies and pretense in relation to his friend, who has a better chance of marrying Maria, do not take long to come!

Grinev is the complete opposite of him. His decision to go to this fortress was guided by duty to the fatherland, and not by various tricks or crimes. He obeys and obeys his father and therefore he considers him a good son. All instructions received before leaving are followed impeccably. Protecting his honor from a young age, Grinev wants to become a good officer and commander. And since the oath is not an empty phrase for him, then during an uprising he begins to act like a loyal warrior of the empress. Why does Mary choose an honest man? To understand, it’s worth taking a closer look at both of them.

Peter does not want to commit meanness, but on the contrary wants to prove his love through actions. Therefore, he dares to take various actions that distinguish him favorably from the general background. Then, after receiving a refusal, Alexey Shvabrin begins to speak extremely negatively about the young lady herself. Moreover, he secretly starts negative rumors that affect the girl’s reputation. Because of this, a quarrel between two young people begins. But the girl’s honor is not an empty phrase for Peter, and he schedules a duel after all the circumstances are clarified. But fate is not on the side of decent people. Turning away for a moment, Grinev expects a blow in the back, which turns out to be decisive in this confrontation. The duel ends with Alexei's victory.

After the siege began, it was with the support of Shvabrin that Pugachev took the fortress into his own hands. By appointing him in charge, he actually frees his hands. And since he also grovels in every possible way, no proof of loyalty is required. Maria falls into a kind of captivity, which fetters her actions. Alexey begins to force her to marry him. When Grinev learns about this in a letter, he immediately rushes to the girl’s rescue. This evokes respect not only from her, but also from the rebel himself.

Even from these words, one can understand that Pyotr Grinev is driven by decency, honor, courage and dedication. Then, like Alexey Shvabrin, he is driven by lies, hypocrisy and backstabbing. And repeated denunciations only confirm that such people are simply not needed even in the ranks of those who decide to go against the crown and the state.

I like watching actors during a performance. I like that the actors convey emotions, and you begin to worry more about the characters, sympathize with them or be happy for them. You cannot experience such sensations in a cinema.

Grinev in the Belogorsk fortress.

The main character of the story is Peter Grinev. He appears before us as a young man from a poor noble family. His father, Andrei Petrovich Grinev, was a simple military man. Even before his birth, Grinev was enrolled in the regiment. Peter was educated at home. At first he was taught by Savelich, a faithful servant. Later, a Frenchman was specially hired for him. But instead of gaining knowledge, Peter chased pigeons. According to established tradition, noble children had to serve. So Grinev’s father sent him to serve, but not in the elite Semenovsky regiment, as Peter thought, but in Orenburg, so that his son would experience real life, so that he would become a soldier, and not a shamaton.

But fate threw Petrusha not just to Orenburg, but to the distant Belogorsk fortress, which was an old village with wooden houses, surrounded by a log fence. The only weapon was an old cannon, and it was filled with rubbish. The entire team of the fortress consisted of disabled people. Such a fortress made a depressing impression on Grinev. Peter was very upset...

But gradually life in the fortress becomes bearable. Peter becomes close to the family of Captain Mironov, the commandant of the fortress. He is accepted there as a son and taken care of. Soon Peter falls in love with Maria Mironova, the daughter of the commandant of the fortress. His first love turned out to be mutual, and everything seemed fine. But then it turns out that Shvabrin, an officer exiled to the fortress for a duel, had already wooed Masha, but Maria refused him, and Shvabrin takes revenge by denigrating the girl’s name. Grinev stands up for the honor of his beloved girl and challenges Shvabrin to a duel, where he is wounded. After recovery, Peter asks his parents for his parents’ blessing for his marriage to Mary, but his father, angry at the news of the duel, refuses him, reproaching him for this and saying that Peter is still young and stupid. Masha, passionately loving Peter, does not agree to marriage without the blessing of her parents. Grinev is very upset and upset. Maria tries to avoid him. He no longer visits the commandant's family, life becomes more and more unbearable for him.

But at this time the Belogorsk fortress is in danger. The Pugachev army approaches the walls of the fortress and quickly captures it. All residents immediately recognize Pugachev as their emperor, except for commandant Mironov and Ivan Ignatich. They were hanged for disobedience to the “one and true emperor.” It was Grinev’s turn; he was immediately led to the gallows. Peter walked forward, looked death in the face boldly and courageously, preparing to die. But then Savelich threw himself at Pugachev’s feet and stood up for the boyar’s child. Emelyan ordered Grinev to be brought to him and ordered him to kiss his hand, recognizing his power. But Peter did not break his word and remained faithful to Empress Catherine II. Pugachev was angry, but remembering the hare sheepskin coat given to him, he generously released Grinev. Soon they met again. Grinev was traveling from Orenburg to save Masha from Shvabrin when the Cossacks caught him and took him to Pugachev’s “palace”. Having learned about their love and that Shvabrin was forcing a poor orphan to marry him, Emelyan decided to go to the fortress with Grinev to help the orphan. When Pugachev found out that the orphan was the commandant’s daughter, he got angry, but then he released Masha and Grinev, keeping his word: “To execute like this, to execute like this, to favor like that: that’s my custom.”

The Belogorsk fortress greatly influenced Peter. From an inexperienced youth, Grinev turns into a young man capable of protecting his love, maintaining loyalty and honor, and able to judge people sensibly. \

We live in a fort
We eat bread and drink water;
And how fierce enemies
They will come to us for pies,
Let's give the guests a feast:
Let's load the cannon with buckshot.
Soldier's song
Old people, my father.
Minor

The Belogorsk fortress was located forty miles from Orenburg. The road went along the steep bank of the Yaik. The river had not yet frozen, and its leaden waves sadly turned black in the monotonous banks covered with white snow. Behind them stretched the Kyrgyz steppes. I plunged into thoughts, mostly sad. Garrison life had little attraction for me. I tried to imagine Captain Mironov, my future boss, and imagined him as a stern, angry old man, who knew nothing except his service, and was ready to put me under arrest for bread and water for every trifle. Meanwhile, it began to get dark. We drove pretty quickly. “How far is it to the fortress?” – I asked my driver. “Not far,” he answered. “It’s already visible.” – I looked in all directions, expecting to see formidable bastions, towers and ramparts; but I saw nothing except a village surrounded by a log fence. On one side stood three or four haystacks, half-covered with snow; on the other, a crooked mill, with its popular wings lazily lowered. “Where is the fortress?” – I asked in surprise. “Yes, here it is,” answered the coachman, pointing to the village, and with that word we drove into it. At the gate I saw an old cast-iron cannon; the streets were cramped and crooked; The huts are low and mostly covered with straw. I ordered to go to the commandant, and a minute later the wagon stopped in front of a wooden house built on a high place, near the wooden church.

Nobody met me. I went into the hallway and opened the door to the hallway. An old invalid, sitting on a table, was sewing a blue patch onto the elbow of his green uniform. I told him to report me. “Come in, father,” answered the disabled man, “our houses.” I entered a clean room, decorated in an old-fashioned way. There was a cupboard with dishes in the corner; on the wall hung an officer's diploma behind glass and in a frame; next to him there were popular prints depicting the capture of Kistrin and Ochakova, also the choice of a bride and the burial of a cat. An old woman in a padded jacket and with a scarf on her head was sitting by the window. She was unwinding the threads, which were held, spread out in his arms, by a crooked old man in an officer's uniform. “What do you want, father?” – she asked, continuing her lesson. I replied that I had come to work and appeared on duty to the captain, and with this word I addressed the crooked old man, mistaking him for the commandant; but the hostess interrupted my speech. “Ivan Kuzmich is not at home,” she said, “he went to visit Father Gerasim; It doesn’t matter, father, I’m his owner. Please love and respect. Sit down, father." She called the girl and told her to call the policeman. The old man looked at me with curiosity with his lonely eye. “I dare to ask,” he said, “in which regiment did you deign to serve?” I satisfied his curiosity. “And I dare to ask,” he continued, “why did you deign to move from the guard to the garrison?” I answered that such was the will of the authorities. “Of course, for actions indecent to a guard officer,” continued the tireless questioner. “Stop lying about nonsense,” the captain’s wife told him, “you see, the young man is tired from the road; he has no time for you... (keep your arms straight...). And you, my father,” she continued, turning to me, “don’t be sad that you were relegated to our outback. You are not the first, you are not the last. He will endure it, he will fall in love. Alexey Ivanovich Shvabrin has been transferred to us for murder for five years now. God knows what sin befell him; As you can see, he went out of town with one lieutenant, and they took swords with them, and, well, they stabbed each other; and Alexey Ivanovich stabbed the lieutenant, and in front of two witnesses! What do you want me to do? There is no master of sin."

At that moment the constable, a young and stately Cossack, entered. “Maksimych! - the captain told him. “Give the mister officer an apartment, and a cleaner one.” “I’m listening, Vasilisa Yegorovna,” answered the constable. “Shouldn’t his honor be placed with Ivan Polezhaev?” “You’re lying, Maksimych,” said the captain’s wife, “Polezhaev’s place is already crowded; He’s my godfather and remembers that we are his bosses. Take the officer... what is your name and patronymic, my father? Pyotr Andreich?.. Take Pyotr Andreich to Semyon Kuzov. He, a swindler, let his horse into my garden. Well, Maksimych, is everything all right?”

“Everything, thank God, is quiet,” answered the Cossack, “only Corporal Prokhorov got into a fight in the bathhouse with Ustinya Negulina over a bunch of hot water.”

- Ivan Ignatyich! - the captain said to the crooked old man. – Sort out Prokhorov and Ustinya, who is right and who is wrong. Punish both of them. Well, Maksimych, go with God. Pyotr Andreich, Maksimych will take you to your apartment.

A. S. Pushkin. Captain's daughter. Audiobook

I took my leave. The constable led me to a hut that stood on a high bank of the river, at the very edge of the fortress. Half of the hut was occupied by Semyon Kuzov’s family, the other was given to me. It consisted of one rather neat room, divided in two by a partition. Savelich began to manage it; I began to look out the narrow window. The sad steppe stretched out before me. Several huts stood diagonally; There were several chickens wandering around the street. The old woman, standing on the porch with a trough, called to the pigs, who answered her with friendly grunts. And this is where I was condemned to spend my youth! Longing took me; I walked away from the window and went to bed without dinner, despite the admonitions of Savelich, who repeated with contrition: “Lord, Master! he won’t eat anything! What will the lady say if the child falls ill?

The next morning, I had just begun to get dressed when the door opened, and a young officer of short stature, with a dark and distinctly ugly face, but extremely lively, came in to see me. “Excuse me,” he told me in French, “for coming to meet you without ceremony. Yesterday I learned about your arrival; The desire to finally see a human face took such hold of me that I could not stand it. You will understand this when you live here some more time.” I guessed that it was an officer who had been discharged from the Guards for the duel. We met immediately. Shvabrin was not very stupid. His conversation was witty and entertaining. With great cheerfulness he described to me the family of the commandant, his society and the region where fate had brought me. I was laughing from the bottom of my heart when the same invalid who was mending his uniform in the commandant’s front room came in and called me to dine with them on behalf of Vasilisa Yegorovna. Shvabrin volunteered to go with me.

Approaching the commandant's house, we saw on the site about twenty old disabled people with long braids and triangular hats. They were lined up in front. The commandant stood in front, a vigorous and tall old man, wearing a cap and a Chinese robe. Seeing us, he came up to us, said a few kind words to me and began to command again. We stopped to look at the teaching; but he asked us to go to Vasilisa Yegorovna, promising to follow us. “And here,” he added, “there is nothing for you to see.”

Vasilisa Egorovna received us easily and cordially and treated me as if she had known her for a century. The invalid and Palashka were setting the table. “Why did my Ivan Kuzmich study like that today! - said the commandant. - Broadsword, call the master to dinner. Where is Masha?” - Then a girl of about eighteen came in, chubby, ruddy, with light brown hair, combed smoothly behind her ears, which were on fire. At first glance I didn't really like her. I looked at her with prejudice: Shvabrin described Masha, the captain’s daughter, to me as a complete fool. Marya Ivanovna sat down in the corner and began to sew. Meanwhile, cabbage soup was served. Vasilisa Yegorovna, not seeing her husband, sent Palashka for him a second time. “Tell the master: the guests are waiting, the cabbage soup will catch a cold; thank God, the teaching will not go away; will have time to shout." “The captain soon appeared, accompanied by a crooked old man. “What is this, my father? - his wife told him. “The food was served a long time ago, but you can’t get enough.” - “And you hear, Vasilisa Egorovna,” answered Ivan Kuzmich, “I was busy with service: teaching little soldiers.” - “And, that’s enough! - the captain objected. “Only glory that you teach soldiers: neither they are given service, nor do you know the sense of it.” I would sit at home and pray to God; it would be better that way. Dear guests, you are welcome to the table.”

We sat down to dinner. Vasilisa Egorovna did not stop talking for a minute and showered me with questions: who are my parents, are they alive, where do they live and what is their condition? Hearing that the priest has three hundred souls of peasants, “Isn’t it easy! - she said, - there are rich people in the world! And here, my father, we only have one girl, Palashka, but thank God, we live small. One problem: Masha; a girl of marriageable age, what is her dowry? a fine comb, a broom, and an altyn of money (God forgive me!), with which to go to the bathhouse. It’s good if there is a kind person; Otherwise you’ll sit as an eternal bride among the girls.” – I looked at Marya Ivanovna; she turned all red, and even tears dripped onto her plate. I felt sorry for her and hurried to change the conversation. “I heard,” I said rather inopportunely, “that the Bashkirs are going to attack your fortress.” - “From whom, father, did you deign to hear this?” – asked Ivan Kuzmich. “That’s what they told me in Orenburg,” I answered. “Nothing! - said the commandant. “We haven’t heard anything for a long time.” The Bashkirs are a scared people, and the Kyrgyz have also been taught a lesson. They probably won’t come at us; and if they get upset, I’ll give such a joke that I’ll calm it down for ten years.” “And you’re not afraid,” I continued, turning to the captain’s wife, “to remain in a fortress exposed to such dangers?” “It’s a habit, my father,” she answered. “It’s been twenty years since we were transferred here from the regiment, and God forbid, how afraid I was of these damned infidels!” How I used to see lynx hats, and when I heard their squealing, would you believe it, my father, my heart would skip a beat! And now I’m so used to it that I won’t even move until they come to tell us that villains are prowling around the fortress.”

“Vasilisa Egorovna is a very brave lady,” Shvabrin remarked importantly. – Ivan Kuzmich can testify to this.

“Yes, hear you,” said Ivan Kuzmich, “the woman is not a timid woman.”

- And Marya Ivanovna? - I asked, - are you as brave as you?

– Is Masha brave? - answered her mother. - No, Masha is a coward. He still can’t hear the shot from a gun: it just vibrates. And just as two years ago Ivan Kuzmich decided to shoot from our cannon on my name day, so she, my dear, almost went to the next world out of fear. Since then we haven’t fired the damned cannon.

We got up from the table. The captain and captain went to bed; and I went to Shvabrin, with whom I spent the whole evening.