In the last article you can find a summary of the beginning of Turgenev’s novel “Fathers and Sons”, namely.

In this material we offer you a summary of chapters 11 – 20. Click on the chapter you need to go to its summary.

Fathers and sons. Chapter 11. Summary.

Half an hour later Nikolai Petrovich went into the garden, to his favorite gazebo. Sad thoughts came over him. For the first time he was clearly aware of his separation from his son; he had a presentiment that every day it would become larger and larger.

Several days passed, and Bazarov decided to go to his parents.

Before this, the Kirsanovs received an invitation from their relative Matvey Ilyich Kolyazin. Pavel Petrovich and Nikolai Petrovich refused to come, but Arkady and Bazarov accepted the invitation.

Fathers and sons. Chapter 12. Summary.

Matvey Ilyich invited the young people to the governor’s party. When the friends were returning home, a droshky drove by. A man jumped out of them and rushed to Bazarov. It was Sitnikov, he called himself Bazarov’s student.

Sitnikov invited Bazarov and Kirsanov to visit Evdoxia Kukshina, an interesting and emancipated woman. They accepted the invitation.

Fathers and sons. Chapter 13. Summary.

Kukshina was " young, fair-haired, somewhat disheveled, in a silk, not entirely neat dress, with large bracelets on her short hands and a lace scarf on her head.” woman.

She did not make the most favorable impression on the young people. It seemed that Kukshina was very unnatural, cheeky and awkward at the same time. She talked without listening to anyone around; I tried to seem different from what I really was.

During breakfast, Bazarov frankly asked her if there were any pretty women here. Kukshina replied that they were all mostly empty. However, she noted Odintsova. Breakfast was quite long. Kukshina and Sitnikov, under the influence of alcohol, start talking about marriage. They talk about what marriage is, whether it is a prejudice or a crime. They also argue about what makes a person unique.

Fathers and sons. Chapter 14. Summary.

A few days later they find themselves at the governor's ball. It was here that they met Anna Sergeevna Odintsova.

She was a very interesting woman, although she could not be called a beauty. Sitnikov introduced Kirsanov and Bazarov to Odintsova. Arkady and Evgeny really liked Anna Sergeevna.

Friends accepted Odintsova’s invitation to visit her.

Fathers and sons. Chapter 15. Summary.

Odintsova was the daughter of Sergei Nikolaevich Loktev, “ handsome, swindler, gambler" He lost almost all his fortune, after which he settled in the village. He died soon after, leaving his daughters a very small fortune. Therefore, their situation was difficult.

Anna had an excellent education; it was not easy for her to live in the village. She sent an old woman, her mother's sister, to stay with her. She began to manage the estate. Anna herself married Odintsov. This man was rich and intelligent. He died, leaving her his fortune. Anna had no children.

Those around her were not very fond of Anna Sergeevna, everyone gossiped about her marriage to Odintsov, so for the most part the woman was alone. She read a lot, was smart and well-educated. Bazarov feels somewhat insecure in her presence.

He himself noticed with surprise that he was a little afraid of Odintsov.

Fathers and sons. Chapter 16. Summary.

Anna Sergeevna invited young people to her Nikolskoye estate. There they met Odintsova’s younger sister, Katya, “ a girl of about eighteen, black-haired and dark-skinned, with a somewhat round but pleasant face, small dark eyes».

Anna Sergeevna and Evgeny Bazarov talk and argue a lot. They cover a variety of topics. Bazarov says that there is no difference between smart and stupid people, between good and evil. In his opinion, the only difference is between the sick and the healthy.

Arkady willingly communicates with Katya, he is very pleased to be in her company. Arkady and Evgeny spend about two weeks visiting Odintsova. Anna Sergeevna really likes Bazarov.

Fathers and sons. Chapter 17. Summary.

One day a servant arrives from Bazarov’s parents and... reports that Evgeniy’s parents are waiting for a visit. Bazarov is getting ready to go. When Anna Sergeevna found out about this, she said that she would miss her very much. She admits that she is very unhappy. She lost all her desires, even the desire to live disappeared. The woman feels very tired; feels old:

“I’m very tired, I’m old, it seems to me that I’ve been living for a very long time... There are a lot of memories, but there’s nothing to remember, and there’s a long, long road ahead, in front of me, but there’s no goal... I don’t even want to go.”

Bazarov says that Anna Sergeevna’s misfortune is that she wants to fall in love, but cannot.

Fathers and sons. Chapter 18. Summary.

In the morning, during breakfast, Odintsova asks Bazarov to come up to her to give advice on the housework.

During the conversation, Bazarov confesses his love to Odintsova and leaves. Anna Sergeevna is satisfied that she has aroused love in Bazarov. However, she values ​​tranquility above all else.

Fathers and sons. Chapter 19. Summary

At dinner, Bazarov apologizes to Anna Sergeevna and asks her to forget about his insolence. He says that he understands: Odintsova does not love him and will never love him. Bazarov wants to leave. Suddenly Sitnikov arrives. He persistently insists that Kukshina sent him so that he would find out about Anna Sergeevna’s health. His arrival was opportune.

“The appearance of vulgarity is often useful in life: it weakens strings that are too highly tuned, sobers up self-confident or self-forgetful feelings, reminding them of their close kinship with her.”

After Sitnikov’s arrival, everyone began to feel lighter.

Bazarov tells Arkady that he needs idiots like Sitnikov: “ It’s not really for the gods to burn pots! At this time, Arkady realizes how highly Bazarov places himself. And the young man thinks: “So we are gods with you? That is, you are a god, and am I not a fool?»

The next day, Bazarov and Arkady left. Arkady decided to go with Bazarov to his parents.

Fathers and sons. Chapter 20. Summary.

The first they met was Father Evgeniy, “ a tall, thin man with tousled hair and a thin aquiline nose, dressed in an open old military frock coat" Bazarov’s old mother is incredibly happy about her son’s arrival. Evgeniy's father is embarrassed because they cannot provide Arkady with the necessary comfort. However, Bazarov asks his father not to stand on ceremony with his friend.

It is noticeable that Bazarov treats his parents with some contempt. Evgeniy's mother, Arina Vlasevna, is a real Russian noblewoman of the past. She believes in fortune telling and omens, and is afraid of mice, frogs, thunder, etc.

The old Bazarovs, who were not expecting their son at all, were very happy about him. He told his father that he had come for six weeks to work and asked not to disturb him.

Evgeny locked himself in his father’s office, and the old people were afraid to breathe and walked on tiptoe so as not to disturb him.

But soon he got tired of loneliness, the fever of work gave way to dreary boredom and dull anxiety, and the young man began to look for company: he drank tea in the living room, wandered around the garden with Vasily Ivanovich and even asked about Father Alexei. A certain fatigue appeared in all his movements. which worried my father very much.

Sometimes Bazarov went to the village and talked with the peasants, who answered with a patriarchal good-natured melodiousness, and among themselves laughed at him and rather rudely asserted that he did not understand anything in their life. Finally, he found something to do: he began to help his father treat the peasants. Vasily Ivanovich was very happy about this and proudly said that his son was the most wonderful doctor he had ever known.

One day a man was brought from a neighboring village dying of typhus. Vasily Ivanovich said with regret after the examination that he was no longer able to help, and indeed, the patient died before reaching home.

Three days later, Eugene entered his father’s room and asked him for a hellstone to cauterize the wound. It turned out that he cut his finger while helping the district doctor with
autopsy of the same man who died of typhus. It was already too late to cauterize him, because he had been injured in the morning and, perhaps, had already become infected. From that moment on, the father began to closely monitor his son. He did not sleep at night, and Arina Vlasyevna, to whom he, of course, said nothing, began pestering her husband about why he was not sleeping.

On the third day, Bazarov lost his appetite and began to have a headache; he was either hot or shivering. He told his mother that he had a cold and left the room.

Arina Vlasyevna began preparing linden blossom tea, and Vasily Ivanovich went into the next room and silently grabbed his hair.
Evgeniy didn’t get up that day. He was getting worse and worse. There was a strange silence in the house; everything seemed to go dark. The expression of amazement did not leave Vasily Ivanovich’s face, Arina Vlasyevna began to get very worried.

They sent to the city for a doctor. Bazarov told his father that they both understood perfectly well that he was infected and would die in a few days. The father staggered, as if someone had hit him in the legs, and babbled that this was not true and that Evgeny had only caught a cold. Bazarov lifted the edge of his shirt and showed his father the ominous red spots that appeared on his body, which were also signs of infection.

The staff doctor replied that he would cure him, but the son said that his parents could only pray for him, and asked his father to send a messenger to Odintsova to tell her that he was dying and told her to bow. Vasily Ivanovich promised to personally write a letter to Odintsova and, leaving the room, told his wife that his son was dying and told her to pray.

Bazarov consoled his parents as best he could, but he felt worse every hour. The mother was losing everything, the father offered various methods of treatment. Timofeich went to Odintsova. The night was difficult for the patient; he was tormented by a severe fever.

In the morning Evgeniy felt better. He drank tea and asked his mother to comb his hair. Vasily Ivanovich perked up a little: he decided that the crisis had passed and now things would get better. However, the change for the better did not last long, and the attacks of the disease resumed. The parents asked their son for permission to call a priest to him, but he believed that there was no need to rush. Suddenly the sound of wheels was heard, and a carriage drove into the yard. The old man rushed onto the porch. The livery footman opened the door.

A lady in a black mantilla and under a black veil came out of the carriage. She introduced herself as Odintsova and asked to be taken to the patient, saying that she had brought a doctor with her. Vasily Ivanovich grabbed her hand and convulsively pressed it to his lips. Arina Vlasyevna, not understanding anything, ran out of the house, fell at the feet of the newcomer and began to kiss her dress like crazy. Having come to his senses, the father led the doctor into his office, where Evgeniy was lying, and told his son that Anna Sergeevna had arrived. Bazarov wanted to see her, but the doctor examined him first.

Half an hour later, Anna Sergeevna entered the office. The doctor managed to whisper to her that the patient was hopeless. The woman looked at Bazarov and stopped at the door, she was so struck by his inflamed and at the same time deathly face.

She was simply scared and at the same time realized that if she had loved him, she would have felt completely differently. Evgeny thanked her for coming, said that she was very beautiful and kind, and asked her not to come close to him, because the disease was very contagious.

Anna Sergeevna immediately quickly approached him and sat down on a chair near the sofa on which the patient was lying. He asked her forgiveness for everything and said goodbye to her.

Then he began to rave, and when she called out to him, he asked Odintsova to kiss him. Anna Sergeevna pressed her lips to his forehead and quietly left. She whispered to Vasily Ivanovich that the patient had fallen asleep.

Bazarov was no longer destined to wake up. By evening he fell into complete unconsciousness, and the next day he died. When he was unctioned, one of his eyes opened and an expression of horror appeared on his face. When he breathed his last, there was a general groan in the house. Vasily Ivanovich fell into a frenzy and began to murmur against God, but Arina Vlasyevna, all in tears, hung on his neck, and together they fell on their faces.

- What, Peter, haven’t you seen it yet? - asked on May 20, 1859, going out without a hat onto the low porch of the inn on the *** highway, a gentleman of about forty years old, in a dusty coat and checkered trousers, asked his servant, a young and cheeky fellow with whitish down on his chin and small dull eyes. little eyes.

The servant, in whom everything: the turquoise earring in his ear, the pomaded multi-colored hair, and courteous body movements, in a word, everything revealed a man of the newest, improved generation, looked condescendingly along the road and answered: “No way, sir, not to be seen.”

- You can’t see it? - the master repeated.

“You can’t see it,” the servant answered a second time.

The master sighed and sat down on the bench. Let us introduce the reader to him while he sits with his legs tucked under him and thoughtfully looking around.

His name is Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov. Fifteen miles from the inn, he has a good estate of two hundred souls, or, as he puts it since he separated himself from the peasants and started a “farm,” two thousand dessiatines of land. His father, a military general in 1812, a semi-literate, rude, but not evil Russian man, pulled his weight all his life, commanded first a brigade, then a division, and lived constantly in the provinces, where, due to his rank, he played a fairly significant role. Nikolai Petrovich was born in the south of Russia, like his elder brother Pavel, who will be discussed later, and was raised until the age of fourteen at home, surrounded by cheap tutors, cheeky but obsequious adjutants and other regimental and staff personalities. His parent, from the family of Kolyazins, in the maidens Agathe, and in the generals Agathoklea Kuzminishna Kirsanova, belonged to the number of “mother commanders”, wore lush caps and noisy silk dresses, was the first to approach the cross in church, spoke loudly and a lot, admitted children in the morning to the hand, she blessed them at night - in a word, she lived for her own pleasure. As a general's son, Nikolai Petrovich - although he was not only not distinguished by courage, but even earned the nickname of a coward - had to, like his brother Pavel, enter military service; but he broke his leg on the very day when the news of his determination had already arrived, and, after lying in bed for two months, he remained “lame” for the rest of his life. His father waved his hand at him and let him go in civilian clothes. He took him to St. Petersburg as soon as he was eighteen years old and placed him in the university. By the way, his brother became an officer in a guards regiment at that time. The young people began to live together, in the same apartment, under the distant supervision of their maternal cousin, Ilya Kolyazin, an important official. Their father returned to his division and to his wife and only occasionally sent his sons large quarters of gray paper, covered with sweeping clerk's handwriting. At the end of these quarters were the words carefully surrounded by “frills”: “Piotr Kirsanof, Major General.” In 1835, Nikolai Petrovich left the university as a candidate, and in the same year General Kirsanov, dismissed for an unsuccessful inspection, came to St. Petersburg with his wife to live. He rented a house near the Tauride Garden and enrolled in the English Club, but suddenly died of a stroke. Agathoklea Kuzminishna soon followed him: she could not get used to the remote metropolitan life; the melancholy of a retired existence gnawed at her. Meanwhile, Nikolai Petrovich managed, while his parents were still alive and much to their chagrin, to fall in love with the daughter of the official Prepolovensky, the former owner of his apartment, a pretty and, as they say, developed girl: she read serious articles in magazines in the Sciences section. He married her as soon as the period of mourning had passed, and, leaving the Ministry of Appanages, where, under the patronage of his father, he had been enrolled, he lived in bliss with his Masha, first at the dacha near the Forestry Institute, then in the city, in a small and pretty apartment, with a clean staircase and a cold living room, finally - in the village, where he finally settled and where his son Arkady was soon born. The couple lived very well and quietly: they almost never parted, read together, played four hands on the piano, sang duets; she planted flowers and looked after the poultry yard, he occasionally went hunting and did housework, and Arkady grew and grew - also well and quietly. Ten years passed like a dream. In 1947, Kirsanov’s wife died. He barely endured this blow and turned gray in a few weeks; I was about to go abroad to disperse at least a little... but then the year 1948 came. He inevitably returned to the village and, after quite a long period of inactivity, began economic reforms. In 1955 he took his son to university; lived with him for three winters in St. Petersburg, almost never going anywhere and trying to make acquaintances with Arkady’s young comrades. He could not come for the last winter - and now we see him in May 1859, already completely gray-haired, plump and slightly hunched over: he is waiting for his son, who, like himself once, received the title of candidate.

The servant, out of a sense of decency, and perhaps not wanting to remain under the master's eye, went under the gate and lit a pipe. Nikolai Petrovich hung his head and began to look at the dilapidated steps of the porch: a large motley chicken was sedately walking along them, firmly knocking its large yellow legs; the dirty cat looked at him unfriendlyly, coyly snuggling on the railing. The sun was hot; The smell of warm rye bread wafted from the dim hallway of the inn. Our Nikolai Petrovich was daydreaming. “Son... candidate... Arkasha...” was constantly spinning in his head; he tried to think about something else, and the same thoughts returned again. He remembered his deceased wife... “I couldn’t wait!” - he whispered sadly... A fat gray pigeon flew onto the road and hurriedly went to drink in a puddle near the well. Nikolai Petrovich began to look at him, and his ear was already catching the sound of approaching wheels...

“No way, they’re on their way,” the servant reported, emerging from under the gate.

Nikolai Petrovich jumped up and fixed his eyes along the road. A tarantass appeared, drawn by three Yamsk horses; in the tarantass the band of a student’s cap flashed, the familiar outline of a dear face...

- Arkasha! Arkasha! - Kirsanov shouted, and ran, and waved his arms... A few moments later, his lips were already attached to the beardless, dusty and tanned cheek of the young candidate.

“Let me shake myself off, dad,” Arkady said in a slightly hoarse, but sonorous youthful voice, cheerfully responding to his father’s caresses, “I’ll get you all dirty.”

“Nothing, nothing,” Nikolai Petrovich repeated, smiling tenderly, and struck his hand twice on the collar of his son’s overcoat and on his own coat. “Show yourself, show yourself,” he added, moving away, and immediately walked with hasty steps towards the inn, saying: “Here, here, and hurry up the horses.”

Nikolai Petrovich seemed much more alarmed than his son; he seemed a little lost, as if he was timid. Arkady stopped him.

“Dad,” he said, “let me introduce you to my good friend, Bazarov, about whom I wrote to you so often.” He was so kind that he agreed to stay with us.

Nikolai Petrovich quickly turned around and, approaching a tall man in a long robe with tassels, who had just climbed out of the carriage, tightly squeezed his naked red hand, which he did not immediately offer to him.

“I’m sincerely glad,” he began, “and grateful for the good intention to visit us; I hope... may I ask your name and patronymic?

“Evgeny Vasilyev,” answered Bazarov in a lazy but courageous voice and, turning away the collar of his robe, showed Nikolai Petrovich his whole face. Long and thin, with a wide forehead, a flat nose at the top, a pointed nose at the bottom, large greenish eyes and drooping sand-colored sideburns, it was enlivened by a calm smile and expressed self-confidence and intelligence.

May 20, 1859 Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov, a forty-three-year-old, but no longer young-looking landowner, nervously awaits his son at the inn Arcadia who just graduated from university.

Nikolai Petrovich was the son of a general, but his intended military career did not materialize (he broke his leg in his youth and remained “lame” for the rest of his life). Nikolai Petrovich married the daughter of a lowly official early and was happy in his marriage. To his deep grief, his wife died in 1847. He devoted all his energy and time to raising his son, even in St. Petersburg he lived with him and tried to get closer to his son’s friends and students. Lately he has been intensively busy transforming his estate.

The happy moment of the date arrives. However, Arkady does not appear alone: ​​with him is a tall, ugly and self-confident young man, an aspiring doctor who agreed to stay with the Kirsanovs. His name, as he attests to himself, is Evgeniy Vasilyevich Bazarov.

The conversation between father and son does not go well at first. Nikolai Petrovich is embarrassed by Fenechka, the girl whom he keeps with him and with whom he already has a child. Arkady, in a condescending tone (this slightly offends his father), tries to smooth out the awkwardness that has arisen.

Pavel Petrovich, their father’s elder brother, is waiting for them at home. Pavel Petrovich and Bazarov immediately begin to feel mutual antipathy. But the yard boys and servants willingly obey the guest, although he does not even think about seeking their favor.

The very next day between Bazarov And Pavel Petrovich a verbal skirmish occurs, and its initiator is Kirsanov Sr. Bazarov does not want to polemicize, but still speaks out on the main points of his beliefs. People, according to his ideas, strive for one or another goal because they experience different “sensations” and want to achieve “benefits.” Bazarov is sure that chemistry is more important than art, and in science the practical result is most important. He is even proud of his lack of “artistic sense” and believes that there is no need to study the psychology of an individual: “One human specimen is enough to judge all others.” For Bazarov, there is not a single “resolution in our modern life... that would not cause complete and merciless denial.” He has a high opinion of his own abilities, but assigns a non-creative role to his generation - “first we need to clear the place.”

To Pavel Petrovich, the “nihilism” professed by Bazarov and Arkady, who imitates him, seems to be a daring and unfounded teaching that exists “in emptiness.”

Arkady tries to somehow smooth out the tension that has arisen and tells his friend the life story of Pavel Petrovich. He was a brilliant and promising officer, a favorite of women, until he met the socialite Princess R*. This passion completely changed the existence of Pavel Petrovich, and when their romance ended, he was completely devastated. From the past he retains only the sophistication of his costume and manners and his preference for everything English.

Bazarov’s views and behavior irritate Pavel Petrovich so much that he again attacks the guest, but he quite easily and even condescendingly breaks all the enemy’s “syllogisms” aimed at protecting traditions. Nikolai Petrovich seeks to soften the dispute, but he cannot agree with Bazarov’s radical statements in everything, although he convinces himself that he and his brother are already behind the times.

The young people go to the provincial town, where they meet with Bazarov’s “student”, the son of a tax farmer, Sitnikov. Sitnikov takes them to visit the “emancipated” lady, Kukshina. Sitnikov and Kukshina belong to that category of “progressives” who reject any authority, chasing the fashion for “free thinking.” They don’t really know or know how to do anything, but in their “nihilism” they leave both Arkady and Bazarov far behind them. The latter openly despises Sitnikova, and with Kukshina he “is more interested in champagne.”

Arkady introduces his friend to Odintsova, a young, beautiful and rich widow, in whom Bazarov immediately becomes interested. This interest is by no means platonic. Bazarov cynically says to Arkady: “There is profit...”

It seems to Arkady that he is in love with Odintsova, but this feeling is feigned, while mutual attraction arises between Bazarov and Odintsova, and she invites young people to stay with her.

At Anna Sergeevna's house, guests meet her younger sister Katya, who behaves stiffly. And Bazarov feels out of place, he began to get irritated in the new place and “looked angry.” Arkady is also uneasy, and he seeks solace in Katya’s company.

The feeling instilled in Bazarov by Anna Sergeevna is new to him; he, who so despised all manifestations of “romanticism,” suddenly discovers “romanticism in himself.” Bazarov explains to Odintsova, and although she did not immediately free herself from his embrace, however, after thinking, she comes to the conclusion that “peace […] is better than anything in the world.”

Not wanting to become a slave to his passion, Bazarov leaves to visit his father, a district doctor who lives nearby, and Odintsova does not keep the guest. On the road, Bazarov sums up what happened and says: “...It is better to break stones on the pavement than to allow a woman to take possession of even the tip of a finger. This is all […] nonsense.”

Bazarov’s father and mother can’t get enough of their beloved “Enyusha,” and he gets bored in their company. Within a couple of days he leaves his parents’ shelter, returning to the Kirsanov estate.

Out of heat and boredom, Bazarov turns his attention to Fenechka and, finding her alone, kisses the young woman deeply. An accidental witness to the kiss is Pavel Petrovich, who is deeply outraged by the act of “this hairy guy.” He is especially indignant also because it seems to him that Fenechka has something in common with Princess R*.

According to his moral convictions, Pavel Petrovich challenges Bazarov to a duel. Feeling awkward and realizing that he is compromising his principles, Bazarov agrees to shoot with Kirsanov Sr. (“From a theoretical point of view, a duel is absurd; well, from a practical point of view, this is a different matter”).

Bazarov slightly wounds the enemy and himself gives him first aid. Pavel Petrovich behaves well, even makes fun of himself, but at the same time both he and Bazarov feel awkward. Nikolai Petrovich, from whom the true reason for the duel was hidden, also behaves in the most noble manner, finding justification for the actions of both opponents.

The consequence of the duel is that Pavel Petrovich, who had previously strongly opposed his brother’s marriage to Fenechka, now himself persuades Nikolai Petrovich to take this step.

And Arkady and Katya establish a harmonious understanding. The girl astutely notes that Bazarov is a stranger to them, because “he is predatory, and you and I are tame.”

Having finally lost hope of Odintsova’s reciprocity, Bazarov breaks himself and breaks up with her and Arkady. In parting, he says to his former comrade: “You are a nice fellow, but you are still a soft, liberal gentleman...” Arkady is upset, but soon enough he is consoled by Katya’s company, declares his love to her and is assured that he is loved too.

Bazarov returns to his parents’ home and tries to lose himself in his work, but after a few days “the fever of work disappeared from him and was replaced by dreary boredom and dull anxiety.” He tries to talk to the men, but finds nothing but stupidity in their heads. True, the men also see in Bazarov something “like a clown.”

While practicing on the corpse of a typhoid patient, Bazarov wounds his finger and gets blood poisoning. A few days later he notifies his father that, by all indications, his days are numbered.

Before his death, Bazarov asks Odintsova to come and say goodbye to him. He reminds her of his love and admits that all his proud thoughts, like love, have gone to waste. “And now the giant’s whole task is to die decently, although no one cares about this... All the same: I won’t wag my tail.” He says bitterly that Russia does not need him. “And who is needed? I need a shoemaker, I need a tailor, I need a butcher..."

When Bazarov is given communion at the insistence of his parents, “something similar to a shudder of horror was instantly reflected on his dead face.”

Six months pass. Two couples are getting married in a small village church: Arkady and Katya and Nikolai Petrovich and Fenechka. Everyone was happy, but something in this contentment felt artificial, “as if everyone had agreed to act out some kind of simple-minded comedy.”

Over time, Arkady becomes a father and a zealous owner, and as a result of his efforts, the estate begins to generate significant income. Nikolai Petrovich takes on the responsibilities of a peace mediator and works hard in the public sphere. Pavel Petrovich lives in Dresden and, although he still looks like a gentleman, “life is hard for him.”

Kukshina lives in Heidelberg and hangs out with students, studying architecture, in which, according to her, she discovered new laws. Sitnikov married the princess who pushed him around, and, as he assures, continues Bazarov’s “work”, working as a publicist in some dark magazine.

Decrepit old men often come to Bazarov’s grave and cry bitterly and pray for the repose of the soul of their untimely deceased son. The flowers on the grave mound remind of more than just the tranquility of “indifferent” nature; they also talk about eternal reconciliation and endless life...

The works written by I. S. Turgenev made an invaluable contribution to the development of Russian literature. Many of them are well known to readers of various ages. However, the most popular of his works is the novel “Fathers and Sons,” a summary of which can be found in this article.

This work was completed in 1861 and became the answer to many questions that worried the minds of the writer’s contemporaries. After all, this was the period before the abolition of serfdom. It became a turning point for Russia, whose public opinion was at the junction of the old conservative and the innovative thinking that was replacing it. All this provoked a conflict of ideologies, which the writer clearly demonstrated using the example of the life of the Kirsanov family.

History of writing

The idea of ​​​​creating a new work that would reflect the surrounding reality came to Turgenev at a time when he was on the island of Haight, which belongs to England. The writer began to think about a major story telling about the life of a young doctor. The prototype of the main character (Bazarov) was a doctor whom Turgenev accidentally met while traveling by rail. In this young man, the Russian writer was able to consider the beginnings of nihilism - the philosophy of denial of the norms of moral culture, as well as generally accepted values ​​and ideals, which was just emerging in those days.

The Russian man is the same mysterious stranger about whom Mrs. Ratcliffe once talked so much. Who will understand him? He doesn't understand himself...

Turgenev began his work in 1860. At this time, he left with his daughter for Paris and, having settled there, planned to create a new work in the shortest possible time. Already during the first year he wrote half of the novel. Moreover, Ivan Sergeevich received great satisfaction from his work. He was incredibly impressed by the image of his hero - Yevgeny Bazarov. However, after some time, the writer realized that he simply could not work in a foreign land, far from Russian events. That is why Turgenev returns to his homeland. Here, finding himself in the atmosphere of contemporary social movements, he successfully completes his novel.

Shortly before the completion of work on the book, a significant historical event occurred in Russia, which was the abolition of serfdom. The writer wrote the last chapters of the novel in his small homeland, in the village of Spassky.

Publications

The popular literary publication “Russian Messenger” introduced readers to the novel “Fathers and Sons” by I. S. Turgenev. As the writer expected, the controversial image of his main character caused a stormy reaction from critics. Many disputes about this work appeared in the press. Critics wrote articles devoted to the analysis of Bazarov’s characteristics and the ideological orientation of the novel. And this is not surprising, because the author introduced his reader to a completely new image. His hero, who denies everything beautiful and familiar, became a kind of hymn to the nihilistic movement that was still young in those years.

After the novel “Fathers and Sons” appeared in the “Russian Bulletin”, Turgenev made a slight revision of the text. He somewhat smoothed out some of the particularly harsh features in Bazarov’s character and made his image more attractive compared to the original version. The edited version was published in the fall of 1862. Turgenev dedicated it to his close friend V. G. Belinsky, thanks to whose influence Ivan Sergeevich’s social views were formed.

The novel “Fathers and Sons” has taken its rightful place in Russian literature. This unique work reflected the eternal confrontation that exists between two generations, not only in the example of a single family, but also on the scale of the social and political life of an entire state.

Meaning of the name

Of course, getting acquainted with the summary of “Fathers and Sons” and the analysis of the work, the reader wants to understand the essence of its title. Undoubtedly, it should not be interpreted in a literal sense.

The work tells us about two families - two representatives of the older generation and their two sons. However, when considering the summary of “Fathers and Sons,” the heroes recede somewhat into the background. The main meaning of the novel is not at all in the description of their life activities. It lies in global differences in worldviews.

What can an analysis of the summary of “Fathers and Sons” by I. Turgenev tell us? The title of the novel tells the reader that there have always been, are and will be some contradictions in the communication of two generations. At the same time, parents and their children are contrasted with each other using the conjunction “and.” But this is only on paper. In fact, there is a whole gulf between them. This is a time period of a quarter of a century or more, during which the cultural, economic and political situation in the country and, of course, the views of the public sometimes completely change. At the same time, the older generation strives to preserve the already established worldview, and young people acquire their own views on life. And this situation repeats itself forever. That is why the views of fathers and their children on life rarely coincide. This is the meaning of the title of Turgenev’s novel “Fathers and Sons,” which tells us that it is very natural, and there is nothing reprehensible in it. At the same time, it is important that both parties maintain mutual respect for each other, and respect for parents remains with the acceptance of their good wishes, parting words and advice.

Ideology of the work

The meaning of the title of the novel is connected not only with the confrontation between children and their parents. When considering the summary of “Fathers and Sons,” the main idea of ​​the work becomes clear to its reader. It lies in the belonging of two generations to different ideologies that are contemporary to each generation. In the novel, the author introduces the reader not only to representatives of the two families. He also talks about several ideological worldviews, including liberal, conservative, and revolutionary-democratic. As for the last of them, one of the key figures of the work adheres to it - Evgeny Bazarov. This young man is a future doctor, a follower of German materialists and a supporter of nihilism. It was with the help of Bazarov that the author managed to create the main resonance of the novel. This hero mentors Arkady, enters into disputes with the Kirsanov brothers, openly expresses his contempt for the pseudo-nihilists Kukshin and Sitnikov, and subsequently, contrary to all the views he has expressed, falls unrequitedly in love with Anna Sergeevna Odintsova, a rich widow.

Analysis of heroes and their characteristics

What can we learn from the summary of “Fathers and Sons” by Ivan Turgenev? The main conservatives depicted in the work are Bazarov’s parents. His father is an army doctor and his mother is a pious landowner, accustomed to leading a measured lifestyle in their village. They love their son very much. However, his mother is worried that she does not see faith in him. At the same time, parents rejoice at Evgeniy’s successes and are confident in his bright future. Bazarov's father is even proud that in his entire life their son has not asked him for a single penny, trying to achieve everything himself. This characterizes the younger Bazarov as a strong, progressive and self-sufficient personality. This image is also relevant for modern times.

Pseudo-nihilism of Kirsanov

From the very brief content of Turgenev’s “Fathers and Sons” we learn about Yevgeny Bazarov’s close friend. This is Arkady Kirsanov. The author shows this hero as a person trying his best to match Bazarov in the philosophy of nihilism he affirms. However, he does this far-fetched and unnaturally. Arkady does not have a firm conviction that it is necessary to deny spiritual values.

Kirsanov is proud of himself and admires his friend Evgeniy. But at the same time, Arkady is sometimes forgotten. The mask falls off his face. Sometimes from the speech of this hero you can learn about his true feelings.

There must be something special, some kind of vanity, in the feeling of a person who knows and says that he is poor.

While Arkady presented himself as a convinced nihilist, he also fell in love with Odintsova. However, later he gave his preference to her sister Katya.

Worldview of the older generation

From the summary of the work “Fathers and Sons” we learn about the supporters of liberalism. They are brothers - Pavel and Nikolai Kirsanov. As for Nikolai Petrovich, the author describes him as a person with a fine mental organization. He loves literature and poetry, and also does not hide his reverent feelings for Fenechka, his maid and mother of his youngest son. Nikolai Petrovich is embarrassed by the fact that he loves a simple peasant girl, although at the same time he does his best to show that he has progressive views and is far from any prejudices. But Pavel Petrovich is Bazarov’s main opponent in any dispute.

Men already from their first meeting experience hostility towards each other. It is not for nothing that the author describes their internal and external opposition. So, Pavel Petrovich is fastidious and well-groomed. He winces as soon as he sees Bazarov’s sloppy clothes and long hair. Evgeniy finds Kirsanov’s mannerisms funny. Without any hesitation, he uses sarcasm in the conversation and tries to prick his opponent as painfully as possible. The author shows the differences between them even when each of them pronounces the word “principle”. So, from Bazarov’s lips it sounds abruptly and sharply - “principle”. Kirsanov draws out this word, pronouncing it slowly. At the same time, he puts the emphasis on the last syllable - “princip”, as if in the French manner.

Aristocratism is a principle, and in our time only immoral or empty people can live without principles...

What do we learn about the confrontation between Kirsanov and Bazarov from the summary of “Fathers and Sons”?

Eventually, the negative relationship that arose between the enemies reached its peak. The disputants even decided to fight a duel. The reason for this was that Bazarov insulted Fenechka’s honor by kissing her firmly on the lips. Due to the fact that Pavel Petrovich himself felt sympathy for the girl, he decided to challenge Evgeniy to a duel. How did it end? We can also learn this from the very brief content of “Fathers and Sons.” Its outcome, fortunately, was not fatal. Bazarov remained unharmed, but Kirsanov was wounded in the leg. Such examples clearly demonstrate the completely opposite opinions of representatives of different ideological views and generations about typical situations that arise in life. This also reflects the meaning of the title of the novel, which turns out to be much deeper in its narrative than it might seem to the reader at first glance.

And today, when studying the content of the novel “Fathers and Sons,” we are pleased to get acquainted with its memorable, complex and ambiguous characters. Moreover, each of them quite clearly demonstrates the talent of Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev, as well as his subtle psychologism and understanding of human essence. Let's move on to a summary of “Fathers and Sons” chapter by chapter.

Start

What do we learn from the summary of “Fathers and Sons” by Turgenev? The action of the first chapter of the work takes place in the spring days of 1859. The author introduces us to the small landowner Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov. He is at the inn, where he awaits the arrival of his son. Nikolai Petrovich is a widower, the owner of a small estate and 200 souls. As a young man, he dreamed of a military career. However, a minor leg injury prevented his dreams from coming true. Kirsanov studied at the university, and then got married and stayed in the village. A son was born into their family. When the boy was 10 years old, Nikolai Petrovich’s wife died, and he plunged into farming and raising his son Arkady. When he grew up, Kirsanov sent him to study in St. Petersburg and even moved there himself for three years to be close to the young man.

Meeting Bazarov

What will the summary of the chapters of the novel “Fathers and Sons” tell us next? Arkady Kirsanov did not come home alone. He brought with him his friend Evgeniy, with whom he asked not to stand on ceremony. The author tells us about this in the second chapter of the novel. Turgenev shows us Bazarov as a simple man. This confirms his decision to ride in a tarantayka. Father and son sit in the stroller.

The way home

Next, a summary of the book “Fathers and Sons” will introduce us to the 3rd chapter. She tells the reader about how the Kirsanovs and Bazarov went to their estate. The father did not hide his joy at the meeting, trying to hug his son and constantly asking him about his friend. However, Arkady was a little shy and tried to demonstrate his indifference. He spoke to his father in a casual and indifferent tone, constantly looking back at Eugene. Fearing that his friend will hear his thoughts about the beauty of the local nature, he nevertheless asks his father about the affairs of the estate. It was then that Nikolai Petrovich said that a peasant girl, Fenya, lived with him. However, she immediately rushes to explain that if her son doesn’t like it, then she will leave.

Arrival at the estate

What next do we learn from the detailed summary of “Fathers and Sons”? Upon arrival home, no one greeted the owners. Only the old servant came out onto the porch and the girl appeared for a moment. Kirsanov led the guests into the living room, where he asked them to serve dinner. Here they meet a very well-groomed and handsome elderly man - Kirsanov’s brother Pavel Petrovich. The man’s impeccable appearance is very different from the unkempt Bazarov. After the acquaintance took place, the young men left the living room to clean up. In their absence, Pavel Petrovich began to ask his brother about Bazarov, whose appearance he really did not like.

Lunch passed in almost silence. The conversation didn't go well. Everyone said little and, getting up from the table, immediately went to their rooms to sleep.

Next morning

Studying the novel “Fathers and Sons”, based on the summary, we move on to the 5th chapter. From it we learn that Eugene, having woken up first, immediately went to explore the surroundings. The boys followed him, and together with them Bazarov went to the swamp to catch frogs there.

The Kirsanovs gathered to drink tea on the veranda. At this time, Arkady went to Fenechka and learned that he had a younger brother. The news made him happy. He reproaches his father for hiding the birth of his son.

Bazarov returned to the estate and took the frogs he had caught to his room. There he intended to conduct experiments on them. Arkady told his father and uncle that his friend was a nihilist who did not take any principles for granted.

Dispute

Let us continue to consider the summary of the chapters of Turgenev’s “Fathers and Sons”. The next of them, the sixth, tells us about a serious dispute that flared up between Evgeny and Pavel Petrovich during morning tea.

At the same time, they do not hide their obvious hostility towards each other. Evgeniy taunts his opponent.

The story of Pavel Petrovich

In order to somehow reconcile his friend with his uncle, Arkady tells Evgeniy the story of his life. In his youth, Pavel Petrovich was a military man. Women simply adored him, and men envied the brave military man. At the age of 28, Kirsanov fell in love with a princess. She had no children. However, she was married.

Pavel Petrovich suffered greatly and even gave up a successful career, following his beloved around the world. However, she soon died. Kirsanov returned to his homeland and began to live in the village with his brother.

The story of meeting Fenechka

Let's continue our study of the novel "Fathers and Sons." Its brief content tells the reader how Nikolai Petrovich met a peasant girl. He met Fenechka 3 years ago in a tavern. There she worked with her mother, but things went very poorly for them. Kirsanov took pity on the women and took them to his home. Soon the mother died, and Kirsanov, having fallen in love with the girl, began to live with her. The author told us about this in chapter 8.

Meeting Evgeniy and Fenechka

How did the events further develop in the novel “Fathers and Sons”? From the summary of the 9th chapter we learn about Bazarov’s acquaintance with Fenechka. Evgeniy told her that he was a doctor, and if the need arose, she could turn to him without any hesitation.

Relation to Bazarov

From the summary of the 10th chapter of “Fathers and Sons” we understand that during the two weeks of Eugene’s stay on the estate, everyone managed to get used to him. However, at the same time, everyone had a special relationship with the young man. The servants loved him, Pavel Kirsanov hated him, and as for Nikolai Petrovich, he doubted his correct influence on his son. During one of the evening tea parties, another argument occurred between Kirsanov and Bazarov.

Nikolai Petrovich tried to influence him, while remembering himself in his youth, when he also quarreled due to misunderstanding with the older generation. The author focuses his attention on this parallel - fathers and sons - in the 10th chapter.

Further narration

In order to retell the novel “Fathers and Sons” by I. S. Turgenev, we will find out what happened in the subsequent (from the 11th to the 28th) chapters.

Bazarov and Arkady are invited to her house by Anna Odintsova. There they meet her younger sister, Ekaterina. The guests liked the girl so much that her presence constrained them.

Bazarov never considered himself a romantic. The concept of love was foreign to him. However, with the appearance of Anna Sergeevna in his life, his feelings changed. After a serious conversation with Odintsova, Bazarov decides to go to his parents. He is frightened by the fact that a woman is capable of capturing his heart, making the young man her slave. But, having been at home for only a couple of days, he returns to the Kirsanovs again.

Fenechka also attracted Evgeniy’s attention. He even kissed the girl, which Pavel Petrovich saw. The elder Kirsanov's dissatisfaction led the men to a duel. Evgeny slightly wounded Pavel Petrovich, but immediately helped his opponent. After the duel, Pavel persuaded his brother to marry Fenechka and gave his consent to this.

Arkady and Katya’s relationship is also improving. Bazarov again goes to his parents, devoting himself to work. One day he contracted typhus. This happened due to the fact that while working with the corpse of a peasant who died from this disease, Eugene accidentally injured himself.

Being a doctor, he understands that his days are numbered. Bazarov, who is near death, is visited by Odintsov. She sees in him a completely different person, a person tormented by illness. The young man swears to Anna his bright feelings for her and his love. After this, he ends with the 27th chapter of the novel “Fathers and Sons”. What does the author tell us next? Six months later, two weddings took place on the same day. Nikolai Petrovich married Fenya, and Arkady married Katya. Pavel Petrovich left the estate, going abroad. She also got married, choosing a spouse of convenience. Life went on as usual. And only two old people, Bazarov’s parents, constantly spent their time at Evgeniy’s grave, where two Christmas trees grew.

This is the summary of “Fathers and Sons.” Quotes from the work can be found above.