Main character demonstrates such qualities as directness of character, innocence and love of work. Being a skilled gunsmith, the hero is admired for his skill in St. Petersburg and London. However, the ranks and rewards for the character are of no interest - a skilled craftsman is only interested in the professional sphere. Lefty demonstrates this, even being on the verge of death.

Character Creation History

In 1881, on the pages of the Rus magazine, a story was published entitled "The Tale of the Tula Oblique Lefty and the Steel Flea", the main idea which was set out in the preface by the author. Nikolai Leskov wrote that the work depicts the struggle of Russian masters with English ones. In this "battle" Russian craftsmen showed their talent and "the British were completely shamed and humiliated." Also in the preface to the story, the writer emphasizes that he wrote down this story from the words of an old Sestroretsk gunsmith who once worked in Tula.

Subsequently, the Russian classic had to remove the introductory part from the text. Critics and readers literally took the information about the story of the master from Sestroretsk and accused him of simply retelling a forgotten fairy tale. In fact, the story of Lefty was written by Leskov himself. The description of the hero emphasizes the folk features: “a birthmark on the cheek, and hair on the temples was torn out during teaching.” The characteristic of the master, the image took a special place in the history of Russian literature.

A possible prototype of the protagonist was the craftsman Alexei Mikhailovich Surnin. The man lived for two years in England, where he was trained at the factory. After returning, Surnin taught Russian craftsmen and developed new tools for working with metals. Over time, the name of the protagonist has become a household name. Phrases actors the stories became popular quotations.

Biography and image of Lefty

The action takes place in 1815. It is reported that the emperor visited England as part of a trip to European countries and saw there many amazing things created by local craftsmen. The ruler especially liked the British mechanical flea, made of steel, which knew how to "dance".

Lefty, illustration by Victor Britvin | R-book.club

A few years after the death of Alexander, when he ascended the throne, a steel little thing was found in the things of the deceased. The courtiers could not understand what the function of this miniature was, and invited the Don Cossack Platov, who accompanied Alexander I on a tour of Europe, to explain. The Cossack said that the late emperor had purchased this amazing device, pointing out that it was the work of skillful English mechanics. And he immediately noted that the masters in Russia are no less talented.

After this story, Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich sent Platov to the Don on a diplomatic visit, and at the same time instructed him to call in Tula, get acquainted with local gunsmiths and give them a flea to familiarize them with - so that they could then come up with something that would surpass the work of the British. In Tula, the Cossack found three experienced gunsmiths, among whom was a craftsman nicknamed Lefty. Having given the craftsmen a task, Platov left for the Don, and returned 2 weeks later.

During this time, 3 masters went to pray and began to think about the work. Seeing with the passage of time that no dramatic changes had taken place with the flea, the Cossack flared up, believing that the Tula gunsmiths had deceived him. Taking Levsha with him, the diplomat went back to St. Petersburg. Platov wanted the master to report to the emperor himself that the Russian artisans could not come up with anything new.

Illustration by Nikolai Kuzmin (Masters carry Platov's box) | Leskov.org.ru

At an audience with the king, the Cossack admitted that he had not fulfilled the instructions and brought one of the deceivers from Tula. Nikolai Pavlovich decided to personally talk with the unfortunate master. Once in the royal chambers, Lefty, who was not used to talking with such high-ranking officials, in folk terms explained to the sovereign the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe masters. Only under a microscope could one see what the Tula craftsmen had come up with.

Men shoed a flea and engraved proper names on horseshoes. Lefty's name was not listed there. The hero did the most delicate work - he forged nails for horseshoes. The Russian court unanimously recognized that the master had golden hands. In order to rub the nose of the British, the sovereign decides to send the savvy flea back and, together with an unusual gift, send Lefty abroad. Thus, an unexpected turn takes place in the biography of a simple Tula blacksmith.

Having washed the village peasant and giving the hero a more decent look, Platov sends Levsha abroad. In London, where the Russian delegation soon arrived, the skilled craftsman was regarded as an unprecedented miracle. Local blacksmiths and other artisans asked the brave hero questions about education and experience. Left-handed, however, without hesitation admitted that he did not even know the basics of arithmetic. Impressed by the talents of a simple Russian peasant, the British tried to lure the master to their side.

In 1986, based on the story of Leskov, the film "Lefty" was shot. The filming process took a long time, and the biggest scenes were filmed in the Grand Palace of Gatchina. The role of the craftsman was played by Nikolai Stotsky. In 2013, the story of a skilled craftsman served as the basis for an opera. The author of the music for "Lefty" was. The part of the protagonist was written specifically for the tenor.

Quotes

And because, - he says, - I worked smaller than these horseshoes: I forged carnations, with which the horseshoes were clogged, - no melkoscope can take it there.

We are poor people and because of our poverty we do not have a small scope, but we have shot our eyes like that.

Bibliography

• 1881 - "Lefty"

Filmography

• 1964 - "Lefty"
• 1986 - "Lefty"

It's no secret that a left-handed person differs from a right-handed person not only in that he writes while holding a pen in his other hand. Let's try to learn about the features, characteristics and qualities of a left-hander.

Today, about 8-15% of people in the world use the left hand as their predominant hand, they are called left-handers.

Interestingly, children choose the dominant hand at the age three years, this manifests itself in games, creative activities - for example, when drawing, decorating, sculpting. It is believed that in children who are left-handed, the right hemisphere of the brain is predominant (dominant). His work is responsible for the perception of the location and orientation in space, artistic perception, creative, including musical, abilities, intuition, imagination, emotions.

Psychologists often note that left-handed people are artistically gifted people, they have an excellent ear for music. In addition, left-handed people have difficulty pronouncing certain sounds and sometimes a delay in the development of speech. Speaking about other qualities of left-handers, psychologists note stubbornness, the ability to draw, sculpt, sing, difficulties with reading and writing.

Left-handed children are often trusting, direct, subject to other people's influence, mood. They are also characterized by capriciousness, tearfulness, perseverance and perseverance in achieving the desired. The reasons for the difference between right-handers and left-handers are that the right and left hemispheres of the brain are responsible for different areas of mental activity.

Also, experts note the connection of temperament with left-handedness. Left-handers are more emotional than right-handers, they have a problem with self-control. Left-handers can instantly get angry and lose their temper, but they have logical thinking, the ability to consistently process information, generalize and analyze it. Left-handers are distinguished by excellent physical mobility, craving for sports, impressionability and vulnerability, they also have a tendency to fantasize and have an excellent memory.

In the past, most children who involuntarily preferred to use their left hand were intentionally retrained. Many parents perceive the news that their child is left-handed negatively, but one should not be so categorical in their judgments. To date, all experts agree that in no case should a left-hander be retrained. The process of retraining a left-hander is a difficult test for his psyche, which will only cause stress and neuroticism in the child.

After retraining, children often suffer from neurotic disorders, including sleep disorders, appetite, headaches, enuresis, and stuttering.

As recommendations on the behavior of adults with a left-handed child, there is advice not to focus on the fact that the child differs from other children in his left-handedness. In a situation where the baby feels that his feature is of increased interest from others, his self-esteem may decrease and shyness and self-doubt may develop.

Interestingly, when choosing a profession, one should take into account the left-handedness of a person. Left-handers have proven themselves in such areas as design, photography, painting, architecture, music, and sports. It is noted that among left-handed people there are a lot of creative personalities who have achieved success, as an example we can name: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Vladimir Mayakovsky, composers Bach, Beethoven, Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe. If a left-handed child has appeared in the family, you should not retrain him; rather, you need to give him a chance to express himself from the creative side and develop the features and skills that he is good at. Children need and need the support of their parents. Be healthy!

Composition on the topic: "The image of the Lefty in the story by N.S. Leskov" Lefty "

"The distinctive properties of N.S. Leskov's prose - fairy tale motifs, the interweaving of the comic and the tragic, the ambiguity of the author's assessments of the characters - fully appeared in one of the most famous works writer "Lefty". The title character, who does not stand out in any way outwardly ("a birthmark on the cheek, and the hair on the temples was torn out during training"), is at the same time, according to the author himself, the most skilled among the Tula gunsmiths. However, Leskov does not idealize the hero, showing that, despite his excellent skill, he is not strong in the sciences "and instead of the four rules of addition from arithmetic, he takes everything according to the Psalter and the Half Dream Book."

Lefty is a skilled artisan, one of those who participated in shoeing a flea, personifies the talent of the Russian people. But the savvy flea stops dancing: Russian craftsmen do not have the elementary technical knowledge that any English master has. Leskov does not give a name to his hero, thereby emphasizing the collective meaning and significance of his character (“Where “Levsha” stands, one must read the Russian people,” said Leskov). The left-hander, being in England, rejects the lucrative offers of the British and returns to Russia. He is disinterested and incorruptible, but he is "downtrodden", feels his own insignificance next to officials and nobles. Lefty is used to constant threats and beatings.

One of the main themes in the story is the theme of the creative talent of a Russian person, which has already been depicted more than once in the work of Leskov (the stories "Dumb Artist", "The Sealed Angel"). Talent, according to Leskov, cannot exist independently, it must necessarily be based on the moral, spiritual strength of a person. The left-hander, an unsightly little man, is not afraid to go to the sovereign, as he is confident in his rightness, in the quality of his work.

The image of the Lefty stands among other images of the righteous created by Leskov. He sacrifices himself for the sake of the Fatherland, in the name of the Cause. He travels to England without documents, hungry (on the road, “at each station, his belts were still tightened by one badge so that the intestines and lungs would not get mixed up”) to show Russian ingenuity and skill to foreigners, and earns the respect of the British with his unwillingness to stay in their country . The left-hander has a number of qualities inherent in the gallery of the righteous Leskov: he is a true patriot, a patriot at heart, gifted from birth, he is characterized by high morality and religiosity. He went through many trials, but even at the hour of his death, he remembers that he must tell the military secret of the British, ignorance of which negatively affects the combat capability of the Russian army.

In the inattention of the authorities to the fate of national talents, in the denseness and lack of education of the Russian people themselves, they constitute, according to Leskov, the reason for Russia's backwardness. It is interesting to compare Nikolai's conversation with Lefty, to whom the emperor condescends, and the meeting of the hero with the English, who respect the master in him, speak on equal terms. When Lefty returns to his homeland, he falls ill and dies, useless to anyone. Thrown on the floor in a "common people's" hospital, he personifies the inhumanity, short-sightedness and ingratitude of the tsarist government - the reason for Russia's disorder, according to the author.

From the whole story it becomes obvious that Leskov sympathizes with Lefty, pities him; the author's comments are filled with bitterness. Leskov's search was reflected in the image of Lefty goodie, and I think this image is closest to this goal.

Lefty - the main character of the story of the same name by N. S. Leskov, a talented Russian artisan, gunsmith. He, along with two other craftsmen, was commissioned to create some kind of masterpiece involving a steel dancing flea, so as not to be inferior in ingenuity to the British. After much deliberation, these three craftsmen decided to shoe the flea, keeping their plans a secret. Lefty himself created carnations for horseshoes. External characteristic hero is scarce. Their story is only known that Lefty was slanting, had a birthmark on his cheek and bald patches on his temples.

Particular attention is paid to the talent of the master. He is described as a skilled craftsman and craftsman. At the same time, the hero does not feel significant at all. When the British offer him to stay with them and promise a carefree life, he immediately rejects their offer. In his actions, one can see not only loyalty to the motherland, but also disbelief in better life V best conditions. The left-hander is such a downtrodden creature that it doesn’t even occur to him to show even the slightest resistance to circumstances. And he even dies in a strange way. Returning to St. Petersburg, he ended up in a hospital for people of the lower class. Cabbers, carrying him on a stretcher, dropped him, as a result of which Lefty broke his head. So, a wonderful master died unknown and useless to anyone.

The tragic fate of Lefty is contrasted with the life of the English skipper who came with him. Immediately upon arrival, he was taken to the British Embassy, ​​where he was warmly and thoughtfully received. With this opposition, the author wanted to emphasize the indifference to human life that prevails in the country. In fact, a rare craftsman with an outstanding talent died, and no one cared before. There is a lot of comical in the description of this hero. For example, being an oblique left-hander, he was able to create the finest work, invisible to the human eye.

Nikolai Leskov sought to comprehend and reflect in his work the life of different classes, groups and estates. And he managed to create a complex and multicolored, not fully studied image of Russia in one of the most difficult periods for her - in the second half of the 19th century. An excellent example of this is the story "Lefty".

Briefly about the plot

Before proceeding to the analysis of "Lefty" by N. Leskov, let's recall the story itself. The story takes place in early XIX century. During one of his trips to England, Emperor Alexander was shown a tiny flea that could dance. He brought her to Russia. After the death of the emperor, this curiosity was found in his things, and the Cossack Platov explained that the sovereign brought this flea as an example of the skill of English mechanics, and noted that the Russians could do just as well. Emperor Nicholas, who believed in the superiority of the Russians, instructed Platov to go to the Don and visit the Tula factories, to look for a craftsman who would answer the challenge of the British.

Platov summoned three well-known gunsmiths, including Levsha, showed them an outlandish flea and asked them to come up with something that would surpass English work. The artisans answered the call - they shod the flea on all paws. Everyone was delighted and sent the shod flea back to England to demonstrate the skill of Russian craftsmen. In England, Lefty was shown factories and offered to stay. The craftsman refused, and on the way back he started a dispute with the half-skipper over who would outdrink whom. Upon arrival in St. Petersburg, half the skipper was brought back to life in a rich hospital, and Lefty died without medical care in a hospital for the poor.

The story of Nikolai Leskov "Lefty" ends with the fact that even on his deathbed, Lefty thinks about his homeland. Before his death, he reveals the secret of cleaning guns, but nothing was given to the sovereign and they continued to clean guns with crushed bricks. If they listened then to the advice of Lefty, in the Crimean War the outcome would have been completely different.

Main character

The protagonist of the story is a talented Russian craftsman Levsha. He and other craftsmen were commissioned to create a masterpiece to surprise the English. They decided that the horseshoe studs were created by Lefty. The author does not attach much importance to the description of appearance, indicating that he had a birthmark on his cheek, he was slanting in one eye and had a bald patch. The skill and ability of Lefty were more important - this is what the author paid attention to. He does not feel like someone significant, when the British offer to stay with them, he refuses. This is caused not so much by love for the motherland, but by disbelief in a better life.

An analysis of the story "Lefty" by N. S. Leskov would not be complete without the image of the protagonist, so let's consider his description in more detail. So downtrodden a person that the thought of somehow resisting circumstances does not occur to him, Lefty dies an absurd death. Here the author contrasts Lefty with the English skipper. He was immediately taken to the British Embassy, ​​surrounded by care. The author emphasizes how indifferent the country to which Levsha returned is indifferent to human life. In fact, a rare craftsman died, and no one cares about that. Much in the description of this character is comical. For example, the master used his strabismus and left-handedness to good use - he could do the finest work that could not be seen with the naked eye.

Other heroes

Let's continue the analysis of Leskov's "Lefty" with an acquaintance with other heroes of the work. The main characters of Lefty are the emperors Alexander and Nikolai, the Cossack ataman Platov and the Russian craftsman Lefty. Alexander Pavlovich is a big fan of Western culture and technology. He admired the work of Western craftsmen, and they invariably pleased him. Having visited England and saw a miracle flea there, he immediately bought it and brought it to St. Petersburg. Patriot Platov said that our people can do just as well. But Alexander, being a shrewd politician, nevertheless refrains from showing the works of Russian artisans in England.

Nikolai Pavlovich is the brother of Emperor Alexander and his complete opposite. He is inquisitive and patriotic. If Alexander was sure that Western craftsmen were the best, then Nikolai had no doubt that no one would surpass Russian masters. Seeing the flea and listening to Platov's explanations, he was not slow to find masters who could surpass the British. Soon the craftsmen showed their work, the emperor was very upset when he did not see anything unusual. But, looking through the microscope, I saw that the flea was shod. And immediately sent Lefty with a curiosity to England to demonstrate Russian skill.

Accompanied the emperor during a trip to England. Platov was distinguished by his love for everything Russian, he did not understand Alexander's enthusiasm and exposed the deceit of foreigners. When the British boasted of the weapon, he unscrewed the lock and showed them the inscription that it was made by Russian craftsmen, and sincerely rejoiced at the frustration of the British. But not everything was smooth in Platov's character - he was cruel to those who depended on him, and treated them with contempt.

History of writing

If we analyze the work of Leskov "Lefty" according to the plan, then we should start with the date and history of writing. The tale of Lefty was first published in 1881 in the Rus magazine. In a separate edition, the author made amendments that increase the sharpness of the story, emphasizing the arbitrariness of the authorities and the ignorance of the common people. Leskov initially excluded the preface from the collected works, for the first time the introduction to the story will appear in the 1894 edition. And until that time, the reader was given the opportunity to taste the beauty of the story told by a fictional character. Removing the preface, the author wants to puzzle the reader and becomes the sly companion of the narrator, and in the last chapter replaces him.

In "Lefty" Leskov's innovation once again manifested itself: he does not use the word "fairy tale", since it does not correspond to the writer's intentions. After all, there are no fantastic characters here, real ones are mentioned here. historical figures- Emperors Alexander and Nicholas, Empress Elizabeth, Cossack Ataman Platov. The clarification "legend" allows us to better understand the author's intention - to look at history through the eyes of a person from the people, in this case, a gunsmith. Leskov once again emphasizes the ability of the people to compose legends and myths, which are based on real events.

means of expression

Continuing the analysis of "Lefty" by Leskov, let us dwell on the artistic means that the author used in his work. According to Leskov's story, a play was shot, there is a ballet version of "Lefty". But there is no tragic component of the tale. The narrator in "Lefty" gives free rein to the imagination and word game to irritate the audience even more. As one of the techniques for conveying the comic component, hyperbole is used - the colorful ataman Platov snores so that not one Englishman in the house can fall asleep. An English flea made of pure steel dances a country dance and cannot be seen with the naked eye.

At literature lessons in the 6th grade, enough time is given to the analysis of Leskov's work "Lefty". They study in detail the character and actions of the characters, the author's intention, the means of expression used by the author. Let's dwell on them in more detail. An example of the use of hyperbole is the return of Platov from the Don to Tula: a description of the impatience of the Cossack ataman and the work Tula masters who shoed a flea and wrote their name on the horseshoe. The play of the writer with language in this story goes much further than in other works - it is a celebration of neologisms and baroque turns. As A. Volynsky noted: "The whole tale seems to be a set of clownish expressions."

Leskov uses many tricks here, including combinations of two words that sound the same but have different meanings. This technique is based on the tendency of the common people to remake unfamiliar or foreign words so that it is clear. In addition, in "Lefty" there are verbal absurdities: "legs" - socks, "wind hood" - a hood from the wind. The story is dominated by colloquial expressions, strange phrases, dialectisms.

The main idea of ​​the work

Critics after this story attacked Leskov, he supposedly, in the person of the Tula gunsmith, belittled the Russian people. And only "Bulletin of Europe" understood the main theme and conflict in the tale "Lefty", as well as the writer's intention. Leskov portrayed the Russian people, who reject European recipes, and at the same time look limited and dependent on social conditions. It must be admitted that "Lefty" is replete with ironic remarks worthy of attention. When the tsar is traveling with the ataman across Europe, Platov diverts his attention in every possible way - we are no worse off. The ataman does not want to speak French: "He considered all French conversations to be trifles." While the British are demonstrating weapons, he says that his fellows won without it.

"Lefty" through the eyes of the author

Of course, the ataman is a comedic character, and his common sense smacks of limitation. He treats his messengers cruelly. Acts inhumanly with Lefty in the episode with the "nymphosoria" and the royal daughter. When the half-skipper asks for his help, he refuses to do anything for the English master. Without a doubt, the story "Lefty" proves Russian superiority. Lefty says that the Orthodox faith is the most correct, because "our books are thicker than yours." Through the whole work, the author's mockery of nationalism is visible, people obsessed with it are unable to see the true value of things. But Leskov wanted to good-naturedly ridicule the bragging of the Russian people, the inability to recognize the value of what was done on a foreign side.

Continuing the analysis of "Lefty" by Leskov, it is impossible not to dwell on the opinion of critics. In the years Soviet power critics did not fail to emphasize the bitter satire in the Lefty story. Its end is tragic - in Russia the flourishing of folk talent is impossible. The author depicts both kings as comedic characters. Alexander tries to please the British in everything, superficially looks at Russian life. Nicholas does not trust foreigners, but succumbs to the flattery and cunning of the courtiers, who hide Lefty's death from him. The dying left-hander asked the tsar to tell them not to clean their guns with crushed bricks, but no one listened to him. The tsar did not find out about anything, and the Crimean campaign was lost.

true reality

People's life, too, can not be called encouraging. Platov treats the Cossacks cruelly and commits arbitrariness with impunity. He beats Lefty and gets off with an apology. Lefty was thrown in front of the police station, he lay in the cold for a long time, then he was taken half-dressed from hospital to hospital and finally brought to the hospital for the poor. The author shows in what ignorance the people vegetate, is in captivity of their prejudices and customs. Leskov wrote that at first he wanted to portray Lefty as a symbol of the Russian people with all its shortcomings and virtues: quick wits and ingenuity.

Concluding the analysis of Leskov's "Lefty", let's summarize - did the author succeed in fulfilling his plan? Could the reader understand it? Probably yes. Many amazing things were created by illiterate people, not knowing arithmetic, only the Psalter and the dream book. Lefty is like a bird that flew too close to the sun and singed its wings. And the Russian people are unable to use their talents, not only because of ignorance, but also because they are possessed by a sense of superiority. And common sense and prudence are Western concepts. In "Lefty", the author says that a Russian person has two tenacious habits, ingrained in the blood: drunkenness and fanfare.

The Tale of the Left-hander cannot be called either a pamphlet against the Russian people, or an openly nationalist work. Leskov skillfully presented here a living and truthful image of reality.