L. N. Tolstoy. After the ball. Contrast as a compositional technique. Compositions Reception of opposition in the story after the ball

1. Contrasting the images of the main characters
2. The color palette of the work.
3. Musical picture of the surrounding world.
4. Contrasting portrait of a colonel.

Our life path is littered with the debris of what we began to be and what we could become.
A. Bergson

Our life is filled with accidents and unpredictable events. There are times when it is not immediately possible to distinguish them in the general flow of life. Therefore, in order not only to reveal for yourself, but also to show the whole world, it is necessary to describe these phenomena. You can use contrast to do this. A picture composed in this way allows not only the writer, but also us to understand the background of this or that situation. On the other hand, such an approach to facts makes it possible to present them in a more objective light. In this case, two opposite characteristics of the same situation are given, leaving us the right to resolve this issue.

However, the selection of various details of the description by the author of the work can tell us the path that he prefers. Consider our assumptions on the example of L. N. Tolstoy's story "After the Ball". It presents a case that radically changed the life of a young man. At the same time, his decision influenced the fate of other people. And a significant role in this choice was played by contrasting pictures, which further exacerbated the current situation.

Already at the level of composition, we are presented with two opposite poles: the ball and the scene of punishment. The first strikes with its luxury and beauty, the second - with cruelty and senselessness. In such a contrast, it is shown that there simply cannot be another in life. It is impossible to find any middle option. However, only two heroes - Ivan Vasilievich and the colonel - are destined to go through both plot spaces. They are like two equally opposite worlds, as they represent a different approach to solving the same problem. The Colonel believes that the Tartar deserves such a terrible punishment. So he drives him through the ranks. Ivan Vasilyevich, on the contrary, does not understand why such cruelty should be shown, especially the punished one begs the soldiers to “have mercy”. These heroes also differ because one is active (colonel), and the other is inactive. But in this sense, it is not quite right to talk about the contrast of images. With their help, the author shows a different approach to the same problem.

In the story, Tolstoy uses more expressive facts, which make up the contrasting picture of the story. It is created at different levels: color and sound.

One of them no longer concerns the main "opponents" of the approach to life: Ivan Vasilyevich and the colonel. The color scheme characterizes other characters: Varenka and the Tatar. The girl in her color halo appears as a beautiful and immaculate beauty. The image of Varenka is described through white and pink shades. Moreover, the first color is forced: it is repeated several times in one sentence. “She was in a white dress with a pink belt and white kid gloves, a little short of thin, pointed elbows, and white satin shoes.” It seems that with the help of this shade, the author wants to show the very soul and essence of the girl, but cannot reflect them in any way - they are so beautiful. Pink color only emphasizes the tenderness and freshness of Varenka.

To describe a Tatar with only one color scheme, an image of the horror that was imprinted in the memory of Ivan Vasilyevich is created. To do this, the author also places all the characteristics of the contrast in one sentence, thereby strengthening the impression of what he saw, “... I caught a glimpse of the back of the punished between the rows. It was something so motley, wet, red, unnatural that I did not believe that it was a human body. At the sight of such a scene, Ivan Vasilievich felt ashamed, he did not know where to get away from the impression of such a cruel punishment. Soon he found the strength to break away from this terrible sight and go home.

And at this moment, another level of contrast arises - sound. Ivan Vasilievich did not see anything, but the terrible sounds of such an inhuman incident remained with him. “All the way in my ears, either a drum roll beat and a flute whistled, then the words were heard: “Brothers, have mercy,” then I heard the self-confident, angry voice of the colonel, shouting: “Will you smear? Will you?” ”And again the writer collects all the sound row in one sentence. They create a rigid, devoid of any euphony tirade of sounds, moving from low tonalities (fraction) to high, one might say, hysterical (flute). At the same time, even in one sentence, the writer creates a consistent chain of different elements. First, music is heard, then the plea of ​​the Tatar, which is closed by the menacing voice of the colonel. This framing also shows us that any cries for help will not be heard. The beautiful sounds of the ball become a contrast to this cruel picture. They literally intoxicated the main character a couple of hours ago. “Although I was a fan of champagne, I didn’t drink, because without wine I was drunk with love, but I danced until I dropped - I danced quadrilles, and waltzes, and polkas, of course, as far as possible: everything with Varenka.” And the hero continues to hear them at the moment when he leaves the ball: they are so sweet and delightful. “In my soul I sang all the time and occasionally heard the motive of the mazurka,” despite the fact that this was the only dance to which Ivan Vasilievich did not invite Varenka. At that moment, he looked at the girl from the side. Therefore, the melody sounding in his soul reminded him of that beautiful image at the ball.

The most important achievement of the writer is that he manages to show the contrasting combination not only with the help of various elements. but also within the same personality - the colonel. At the ball, the military man is beautiful, despite some shortcomings in clothing, which are justified by his great attention to his daughter. “Varenka’s father was a very handsome, stately, tall and fresh old man. His face was very ruddy, with a white ... curled mustache. During the punishment before us appears like a completely different person. The colonel "... drew in air, puffing out his cheeks, and slowly let it out through his protruding lip." In such a contrasting comparison, we are shown not only the appearance, but also the behavior of a military man. He is changing before our eyes. And after such a picture, combined with other plots and events, Ivan Vasilyevich tries not to see Varenka anymore. “And the love just faded away. So these are the things that happen and from what changes and directs the whole life of a person. A significant role in this decision was played by the contrasting picture created by Tolstoy in this work.

Contrasting before us is the feeling that the protagonist experienced. After the ball, he was in love and inspired by the feelings that arose for Varenka: “I was not only cheerful and contented, I was happy, blissful, I was kind, I was not me, but some unearthly creature that knows no evil and is capable of one thing. good". However, after the punishment scene, Ivan Vasilyevich is depressed and humiliated. “Meanwhile, my heart was almost physical, reaching nausea, melancholy, such that I stopped several times, and it seemed to me that I was about to vomit with all the horror that entered me from this spectacle.” Each of the events left an indelible mark on the soul of Ivan Vasilyevich. But the last impression so overshadowed everything that the protagonist had seen and felt before. It was this that influenced his further actions and decisions.

Consequently, the use of contrast allows not only to show the event from two sides, but also to some extent to have a significant impact on the actions of the main characters. It seems that the author does not interfere in the narrative, and everything gradually goes on as usual. But in fact, everything is completely different. The negative side of the contrast shows which side the author is on and what position should be taken when considering a particular problem. Tolstoy skillfully used this technique to show in a short story how a person's life can change not only from chance, but also from the perception of the contrast of the world in which he lives.

1. Contrasting the images of the main characters
2. The color palette of the work.
3. Musical picture of the surrounding world.
4. Contrasting portrait of a colonel.

Our life path is littered with the debris of what we began to be and what we could become.
A. Bergson

Our life is filled with accidents and unpredictable events. There are times when it is not immediately possible to distinguish them in the general flow of life. Therefore, in order not only to reveal for yourself, but also to show the whole world, it is necessary to describe these phenomena. You can use contrast to do this. A picture composed in this way allows not only the writer, but also us to understand the background of this or that situation. On the other hand, such an approach to facts makes it possible to present them in a more objective light. In this case, two opposite characteristics of the same situation are given, leaving us the right to resolve this issue.

However, the selection of various details of the description by the author of the work can tell us the path that he prefers. Consider our assumptions on the example of L. N. Tolstoy's story "After the Ball". It presents a case that radically changed the life of a young man. At the same time, his decision influenced the fate of other people. And a significant role in this choice was played by contrasting pictures, which further exacerbated the current situation.

Already at the level of composition, we are presented with two opposite poles: the ball and the scene of punishment. The first strikes with its luxury and beauty, the second - with cruelty and senselessness. In such a contrast, it is shown that there simply cannot be another in life. It is impossible to find any middle option. However, only two heroes - Ivan Vasilievich and the colonel - are destined to go through both plot spaces. They are like two equally opposite worlds, as they represent a different approach to solving the same problem. The Colonel believes that the Tartar deserves such a terrible punishment. So he drives him through the ranks. Ivan Vasilyevich, on the contrary, does not understand why such cruelty should be shown, especially the punished one begs the soldiers to “have mercy”. These heroes also differ because one is active (colonel), and the other is inactive. But in this sense, it is not quite right to talk about the contrast of images. With their help, the author shows a different approach to the same problem.

In the story, Tolstoy uses more expressive facts, which make up the contrasting picture of the story. It is created at different levels: color and sound.

One of them no longer concerns the main "opponents" of the approach to life: Ivan Vasilyevich and the colonel. The color scheme characterizes other characters: Varenka and the Tatar. The girl in her color halo appears as a beautiful and immaculate beauty. The image of Varenka is described through white and pink shades. Moreover, the first color is forced: it is repeated several times in one sentence. “She was in a white dress with a pink belt and white kid gloves, a little short of thin, pointed elbows, and white satin shoes.” It seems that with the help of this shade, the author wants to show the very soul and essence of the girl, but cannot reflect them in any way - they are so beautiful. Pink color only emphasizes the tenderness and freshness of Varenka.

To describe a Tatar with only one color scheme, an image of the horror that was imprinted in the memory of Ivan Vasilyevich is created. To do this, the author also places all the characteristics of the contrast in one sentence, thereby strengthening the impression of what he saw, “... I caught a glimpse of the back of the punished between the rows. It was something so motley, wet, red, unnatural that I did not believe that it was a human body. At the sight of such a scene, Ivan Vasilievich felt ashamed, he did not know where to get away from the impression of such a cruel punishment. Soon he found the strength to break away from this terrible sight and go home.

And at this moment, another level of contrast arises - sound. Ivan Vasilievich did not see anything, but the terrible sounds of such an inhuman incident remained with him. “All the way in my ears, either a drum roll beat and a flute whistled, then the words were heard: “Brothers, have mercy,” then I heard the self-confident, angry voice of the colonel, shouting: “Will you smear? Will you?” ”And again the writer collects all the sound row in one sentence. They create a rigid, devoid of any euphony tirade of sounds, moving from low tonalities (fraction) to high, one might say, hysterical (flute). At the same time, even in one sentence, the writer creates a consistent chain of different elements. First, music is heard, then the plea of ​​the Tatar, which is closed by the menacing voice of the colonel. This framing also shows us that any cries for help will not be heard. The beautiful sounds of the ball become a contrast to this cruel picture. They literally intoxicated the main character a couple of hours ago. “Although I was a fan of champagne, I didn’t drink, because without wine I was drunk with love, but I danced until I dropped - I danced quadrilles, and waltzes, and polkas, of course, as far as possible: everything with Varenka.” And the hero continues to hear them at the moment when he leaves the ball: they are so sweet and delightful. “In my soul I sang all the time and occasionally heard the motive of the mazurka,” despite the fact that this was the only dance to which Ivan Vasilievich did not invite Varenka. At that moment, he looked at the girl from the side. Therefore, the melody sounding in his soul reminded him of that beautiful image at the ball.

The most important achievement of the writer is that he manages to show the contrasting combination not only with the help of various elements. but also within the same personality - the colonel. At the ball, the military man is beautiful, despite some shortcomings in clothing, which are justified by his great attention to his daughter. “Varenka’s father was a very handsome, stately, tall and fresh old man. His face was very ruddy, with a white ... curled mustache. During the punishment before us appears like a completely different person. The colonel "... drew in air, puffing out his cheeks, and slowly let it out through his protruding lip." In such a contrasting comparison, we are shown not only the appearance, but also the behavior of a military man. He is changing before our eyes. And after such a picture, combined with other plots and events, Ivan Vasilyevich tries not to see Varenka anymore. “And the love just faded away. So these are the things that happen and from what changes and directs the whole life of a person. A significant role in this decision was played by the contrasting picture created by Tolstoy in this work.

Contrasting before us is the feeling that the protagonist experienced. After the ball, he was in love and inspired by the feelings that arose for Varenka: “I was not only cheerful and contented, I was happy, blissful, I was kind, I was not me, but some unearthly creature that knows no evil and is capable of one thing. good". However, after the punishment scene, Ivan Vasilyevich is depressed and humiliated. “Meanwhile, my heart was almost physical, reaching nausea, melancholy, such that I stopped several times, and it seemed to me that I was about to vomit with all the horror that entered me from this spectacle.” Each of the events left an indelible mark on the soul of Ivan Vasilyevich. But the last impression so overshadowed everything that the protagonist had seen and felt before. It was this that influenced his further actions and decisions.

Consequently, the use of contrast allows not only to show the event from two sides, but also to some extent to have a significant impact on the actions of the main characters. It seems that the author does not interfere in the narrative, and everything gradually goes on as usual. But in fact, everything is completely different. The negative side of the contrast shows which side the author is on and what position should be taken when considering a particular problem. Tolstoy skillfully used this technique to show in a short story how a person's life can change not only from chance, but also from the perception of the contrast of the world in which he lives.

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The composition of a work is understood as the arrangement and interconnection of its parts, the order in which events are presented. It is the composition that helps the reader to better understand the intention and idea of ​​the author, the thoughts and feelings that inspired him. The story of L. N. Tolstoy "After the ball" ...

The story "After the Ball" (1903) is based on a real incident that happened to the writer's brother. The story told by Tolstoy dates back to the forties of the 19th century, to the time of the reign of Nicholas I, when corporal punishment was used in the Russian army. Often guilty soldiers were sentenced to several thousand blows with sticks and driven through the ranks along the "green street", that is, between two rows of soldiers who beat the punished with a vine (spitzruten).

Compositionally, the story is divided into two parts.

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The first depicts the events that took place at the ball; in the second - after the ball. In terms of volume, the first part is larger, however, naming the work “After the Ball”, Tolstoy emphasized that the main role was assigned to the second part. Ivan Vasilyevich, on behalf of whom the narration is being conducted, says: “My whole life has changed from one night, or rather, morning.”

Tolstoy gives an assessment of events through the mouth of the hero.

Experienced in his youth left an indelible impression in the soul of Ivan Vasilyevich, so he tells "sincerely and truthfully." Ivan Vasilyevich was "strongly in love"; a deep, joyful feeling that overwhelmed his heart determined the emotionally elevated tone of the first part of the story. Whether Ivan Vasilyevich talks about the woman he loves, her father, the atmosphere at the ball, his experiences - an enthusiastic state of love is felt in everything. Drawing Varenka B., he uses definitions that reproduce a charming image, reveal the feelings of a lover: Varenka was “a wonderful beauty”, “charming, slender ...”, she has a “royal look”, “charming shining eyes”. When Ivan Vasilyevich talks about Varenka's toilet, feelings do not prevent him from being specific; this is natural: fascinated by youth, beauty, he watched a loved one for a long time, remembered well every detail of the decoration. The situation at the ball and the guests present are described with the same thoroughness. Let us recall, for example, the portrait of a colonel. Ivan Vasilyevich mentions a white curled mustache, whiskey combed forward, a wide chest, not richly decorated with orders, good calf boots, fitted with thongs with "square toes, without heels."

But now Ivan Vasilyevich spoke about what he experienced at the ball - his speech lost harmony and smoothness, which corresponds to the state in which he was "drunk with love", whose feeling grew more and more.

The picture of torture is sharply opposed to a secular ball. Instead of the good music of "famous musicians", there was an "unpleasant shrill melody"; instead of the bright dresses of ladies and gentlemen, there were a lot of "black people"; instead of the beautiful well-groomed faces of the guests, there is the face of a fugitive soldier wrinkled from suffering; instead of the beaming smiles of those having fun, there are the bared teeth of the punished; instead of the smooth, graceful pas of the dancers, the convulsive movements of the beaten.

The antithesis is also found in the language of the narrator. The bright, sublime vocabulary of the first part is replaced by words that characterize the gloom, cruelty, inhumanity of the picture that Ivan Vasilyevich observed on the parade ground. He saw "something big, black", "something terrible", "something motley, wet red, unnatural", "heard hard, bad music"; horror, confusion gripped the narrator at the sight of a tormented, beaten soldier, with a bleeding back, unconsciously repeating "brothers, have mercy." The frequent use of the indefinite pronoun "something" gives the spectacle an impersonal, repulsive, sinister character.

Colonel B. also looked different on the parade ground: his affectionate smile, charming courtesy disappeared, his voice became hoarse, stern, angry. He "terribly and viciously" frowned, with a hand in a suede glove, habitually and mercilessly beat his victim. As a result, the protagonist appeared before the readers as he was in reality - empty, two-faced, deceitful, cruel, inhuman.

Shocked by the terrible scene on the parade ground, where that side of the secular nobility, which was carefully hidden from prying eyes, was revealed, Ivan Vasilyevich experienced a deep spiritual crisis: the feeling for the colonel's daughter faded away, he left the service, neglected his career, success in the world, but was unable to do more.