One of the most difficult creative tasks in the literature lesson is the comparative description of the characters. These can be heroes with a similar fate from different works. For example, students are often offered to compare Pechorin from the “Hero of Our Time” Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov with Pushkin's Onegin. But usually these are characters of the same work. In the eighth grade, children study the story of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter" and write the essay "Comparative Characterization of Grinev and Shvabrin" - the main characters of this story.
Composition plan
To begin with, we’ll figure out how to write the essay “Grinev and Shvabrin: a comparative characteristic,” whose plan needs to be well thought out.
- Introduction. Here you can briefly talk about the book by which you write an essay, about why you took these characters for comparison.
- Find what the characters have in common. Compare their education, upbringing, outlook on life, attitude towards people, their personal qualities, relations with society.
- Now answer what differences they have. This can be done on the same points that were indicated above.
- Why does the author himself compare the characters? How does he relate to them?
- How do you feel about these heroes?
Now there is something to rely on and it will be much easier to write a comparative description of Peter Grinev and Shvabrin in the composition.
Short storyline
You should start with a short story about the story. What is the work "Captain's Daughter"? Why is that called? Who is the main character? Before writing about the comparative characteristics of Shvabrin and Grinev in the composition, briefly tell about the plot. Write that “The Captain's Daughter” is a story about Pyotr Grinev, about how, having arrived on the instructions of his father in the Belogorsk fortress, he met Masha Mironova, the daughter of the commandant, about how he helped protect the fortress and people from the raid of Pugachev’s army. Masha, who fell in love with Peter and became his wife, helped him in everything and saved him from prison, asking the Empress about it.
Common Features of Two Heroes in the Comparative Characteristic of Grinev and Shvabrin
Why are you writing about Grinev and Shvabrin? The fact is that throughout the story these heroes constantly clash and conflict due to the fact that they are too different. From the general, only that they are both young, both military, serve in the Belogorsk fortress and are interested in Masha Mironova. We can say that their similarity ends there.
What is their difference?
Now let's talk about the differences. If we learn about Pyotr Grinev right away and we know who his parents were, how he was brought up and trained, we have an idea of ​​character, then we get to know Shvabrin only in the fortress, and it is only known about him that there was some kind of dark story with the murder, in As a result of which Alex was sent to serve with Captain Mironov. Grinev, on the other hand, was brought up in a full-fledged family, his father was a retired military man, therefore, from childhood, concepts of honor and conscience were instilled in Peter.
His upbringing is classical, but we all remember the story of the teacher whom his father wrote out of France. Grinev did not receive a good education, but was raised as a good boy, his parents instilled in him the moral and moral foundations that a real officer should have.
Alexey Shvabrin is a nobleman, well-educated, intelligent. But there are no sincere feelings in him, he is mean and insignificant, he is trying to wrap any situation in a light favorable to himself.
Attitude to people
What can be said about the attitude towards people? Grinev is a simpleton, he does not see evil in people. He is easily circled around the finger in the parking lot, as a result of which he loses one hundred rubles. He trusts Shvabrin, does not notice bad qualities in him and does not see ridicule. Grinev has an open heart. Impressed by the beauty of Masha, he composes a poem about her that tells Shvabrin. And he makes fun of both his composition and Peter himself, and even taunts Masha. Shvabrin is angry that the captain's daughter rejected him. An even more unpleasant opinion develops with us when Shvabrin cunningly wounded Grinev in a duel. We already then understand that it is not worth trusting such people, that this is a potential traitor. You can’t turn your back on him, even if you consider him a friend. But the simple-minded Peter did not even think about such a turn of events. He was taught trust, nobility. Even in the most difficult situations, Grinev, thanks to his qualities, manages not to get confused, but in the end he is still awarded for kindness. He apologizes to the serf Savelich, although he is not obliged to do so. But Pugacheva perceives not just as a criminal, but as a person who is no stranger to nobility.
Honor and conscience of Grinev and Shvabrin
Comparative characteristics in the essay - a brief description of the personal qualities of the characters in the story. The concept of honor and military duty of the heroes is different. Mop is ready to serve anyone, just to please and find a comfortable, warm place, looking for benefits. As soon as Pugachev took the fortress, Shvabrin appreciated the shift of forces and immediately sided with him. And Grinev, not afraid of death, refused to serve the rebel. True, he was saved from the gallows by the fact that Pugachev remembered the sheepskin coat that Grinev had once given him. So kindness saved Grinev's life.
Peter defends the fortress. He does not even think of going over to the side of the enemy, as he had once sworn allegiance to the empress. It will be a betrayal, and Grinev is alien to the betrayal - not so he was brought up. For Alexei, the main thing is to remain alive and unharmed. Saving his skin, he flipped over to the side of the rebels as soon as they called.
Shvabrin - the antipode of Grinev?
Why did Pushkin introduce the scoundrel Shvabrin into the story? The fact is that against the background of Shvabrin, Grinev looks like an even bigger hero, even cleaner spiritually. While Shvabrin falls into a moral abyss, Grinev grows as a person and as an officer. Without Shvabrin, which is his antipode, this would not have been so obvious.
In the conclusion of the essay "Comparative characteristics of Grinev and Shvabrin" be sure to write about your attitude to the heroes. You can admire Grinev and hate Shvabrin, or you can, on the contrary, take the side of Alexei and try to defend him. The main thing is that you sincerely write about your vision of the heroes and their attitude to them.