Dead Souls" by Nikolai Gogol
1. Read and teanslate each new word.
Chichikov is a clever man who travels around Russia to become wealthy quickly. He has a strange plan: he wants to buy "dead souls." These "souls" are the names of peasants who have already died but are still listed as alive on official papers. By buying these names cheaply, Chichikov hopes to appear richer than he actually is.
On his journey, Chichikov meets many interesting landowners ("pomeshiks"). He visits Manilov, who is friendly but very lazy and dreamy. Then he goes to see Korobochka, a careful old woman who worries she might lose money. Next is Nozdryov, who is loud, dishonest, and loves gambling. Chichikov also meets Sobakevich, a tough, greedy man who tries to get the highest price for his dead peasants. Lastly, he visits Plyushkin, an extremely stingy old man who saves everything, even rubbish.
At first, Chichikov's plan works well, but soon people start wondering why he wants these "dead souls," and rumors spread quickly. This causes trouble and suspicion, making Chichikov’s journey difficult.
In this humorous story, Gogol shows people's greed, foolishness, and dishonesty through funny and memorable characters. Chichikov’s strange adventure makes us laugh but also think deeply about human weaknesses. At the end of Gogol’s "Dead Souls," Chichikov’s plan eventually fails. Rumors spread among the townspeople, and they become suspicious of his strange activity. People begin to think he might be a criminal or even a spy. Due to these rumors, Chichikov is forced to quickly leave town and abandon his plans.
He continues traveling around Russia, still dreaming of becoming wealthy, but his reputation is now damaged. Gogol didn't complete the entire story fully—he left the novel unfinished—but Chichikov is last seen still chasing his dreams, always moving from place to place, never finding true success or happiness.
This ending shows Chichikov as a character who never learns from his mistakes, constantly trapped by his greed and ambition.
2. Enter the English equivalents of the Russian words into the gaps and then click the buttons to check your answers.
Chichikov is a умный man who travels around Russia to стать wealthy quickly. He has a strange plan: he wants to купить "мёртвые souls." These "souls" are the names of крестьяне who have already died but are still числятся as живые on official papers. By buying these names дёшево , Chichikov надеется to казаться richer than he actually is.
On his journey, Chichikov встречает many interesting landowners ("pomeshiks"). He visits Manilov, who is friendly but very lazy and мечтательный . Then he goes to see Korobochka, a осторожная old woman who worries she might потерять money. Next is Nozdryov, who is громкий , dishonest, and loves азартные игры . Chichikov also meets Sobakevich, a суровый , жадный man who tries to get the highest price for his dead peasants. Lastly, he visits Plyushkin, an extremely скупой old man who сохраняет everything, even мусор .
At first, Chichikov's plan works well, but soon people start удивляться why he wants these "dead souls," and слухи распространяются quickly. This вызывает trouble and подозрение , making Chichikov’s journey difficult.
In this humorous story, Gogol shows people's жадность , foolishness, and нечестность through funny and memorable characters. Chichikov’s strange adventure makes us laugh but also think deeply about human weaknesses.
At the end of Gogol’s "Dead Souls," Chichikov’s plan eventually проваливается . Rumors spread among the townspeople, and they become suspicious of his strange activity. People begin to think he might be a criminal or even a spy. Due to these rumors, Chichikov is forced to quickly leave town and abandon his plans.
He continues traveling around Russia, still dreaming of becoming wealthy, but his reputation is now damaged. Gogol didn't complete the entire story fully—he left the novel unfinished—but Chichikov is last seen still chasing his dreams, always moving from place to place, never finding true success or happiness.
This ending shows Chichikov as a character who never learns from his mistakes, constantly trapped by his greed and ambition.
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3. Pronounce answers to the questions:
- Who is the main character in Gogol’s "Dead Souls"?
- What unusual plan does Chichikov have to become wealthy quickly?
- What are "dead souls" in Gogol’s novel?
- Can you name two of the landowners ("pomeshiks") that Chichikov visits?
- How is Manilov described in the story?
- Why does Korobochka hesitate before selling her "dead souls"?
- What kind of person is Nozdryov?
- Why does Chichikov face problems later in the story?
- What does Chichikov do after his plan fails and he is forced to leave town?
- What human weaknesses does Gogol show through Chichikov’s adventures and the people he meets?