The Winter Oak

1. The Winter Oak By Yuri Nagibin

2. Main Points • Setting 1: The school • Setting 2: The forest • Anna BEFORE • Anna AFTER • Savushkin in school • Savushkin and Nature • The (Winter) Oak • Lessons Learnt

3. Setting 1: School • the piercing bell • bidding farewell to the serenity of the morning atmosphere • thawing and losing their brightness…by the half-open door • the children stuck to what was closest to them, to tangible objects

4. Setting 2: The forest • they were immediately transported into another world, an enchanted world of peace and silence • their delicate little branches looked as if they had been etched in Indian ink on the blue surface of the sky • it seemed as if there was no end to the trees, the snowdrifts and the silence of the sun-dappled twilight. • sometimes living water would gleam through the ice, looking like a dark, malevolent eye • the stream is alive even under the snow • light shadows darted rapidly over the marble surface

5. Anna BEFORE • a ridiculous fear that perhaps they would not understand her • the self-control which spread like warmth through her whole body • Savushkin’s lateness; an unfortunate mishap spoiling a day that had begun well • not understanding his strange excitement • a difficult boy • she felt sad and confused • how inadequately, drily and coldly she had spoken of words and language

6. Anna AFTER • suddenly Anna Vasilevna understood • so pleased…enraptured…enthralled • Anna Vasilevna was gazing with delighted interest at this secret forest life • clearly here in the forest she had better keep quiet • privately asking the oak to forgive her for being human and slightly cunning • all the time her own native tongue was as fresh, beautiful and rich as life is generous and beautiful • she had not yet taken the first step along that road which takes more than a whole life to traverse

7. Savushkin in School • a small figure in worn felt boots and covered in sparklets of frost • the round face was…red from the frost…while the eyebrows were grey with rime. • just as if he had woken up out of a dream • noticing neither the laughter of his schoolfellows nor the teacher’s admonishment • the words were torn out of his soul, like…a joyful secret which he could not keep from spilling out of his heart. • Savushkin sat down, smiling, at his own thoughts

8. Savushkin and Nature • ‘An elk had been here,’ said Savushkin, as if talking about a close friend • this minute stem with the little bubbles on it looked like a spray of lily of the valley • he busied himself at the foot of the oak, as if approaching an old acquaintance • he went on showing Anna Vasilevna his own small world • just wave the stick at him…otherwise he might take offence

9. The (Winter) Oak • in the middle of the glade, clothed in glittering white raiment, huge and majestic as a cathedral, stood an oak • the trees had respectfully stood aside to give their older brother room • the trunk, three times the normal girth, seemed to be embroidered with silver thread • the mighty, magnanimous guardian of the forest quietly waved a branch in greeting to her • the mighty tree, laden with life, had gathered so much living warmth round itself that the poor creatures could not have found a better lodging

10. Lessons Learnt • Savushkin had no idea what was going on in the schoolmistress’ heart • he was guarding the teacher from afar • the most amazing thing in the forest was…the small human being in the worn felt boots • a mysterious and wonderful future citizen