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The Queen of Spades

The Queen of Spades. Alexander Pushkin 1799-1837. Elements of Romantic Fiction. Penniless young woman (Lisaveta) Ambitious, passionate young man (Hermann) Decayed beauty (Countess) The ghost Intense irony (narrative distance). Literature as Social Criticism.

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The Queen of Spades

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  1. The Queen of Spades Alexander Pushkin 1799-1837

  2. Elements of Romantic Fiction • Penniless young woman (Lisaveta) • Ambitious, passionate young man (Hermann) • Decayed beauty (Countess) • The ghost • Intense irony (narrative distance)

  3. Literature as Social Criticism • Social structure corrupted by universal concentration on money above redeeming values. • Everyone is out for what they can get, at all costs.

  4. Critique of Values • Gambling obsession • Opportunism • Moral compromise • Classism • Nationalism

  5. Chapter 1: Establishing the Theme • Exordium that lays out the background tale • Search for the “…elixer of life, the philosopher’s stone, and so forth.” • Layout of the problem of luck (“I have no luck,” says Hermann. • Introduction of key element: “…the secret for which any one of us here would give a very great deal…” • To “…guess three cards in succession….”

  6. Chapter 2: Character Development • Lisaveta Ivanovna’s quest for rescue (“And this is my life…”) • The Countess’s corruption (“…a woman who has been spoiled by the world….”) • Hermann’s moral bankruptcy and greed (“…That moment decided his fate.”)

  7. Chapter 3: The Moral Turn • Hermann’s obsessive persistence without conscience.(“Hermann saw that she was dead.”) • Lisaveta’s gradual moral compromise (“…she revelled in them [the letters], began to answer them, and with each day her replies became longer and more tender.”)

  8. Chapter 4: The Murder • Tomsky outlines Hermann’s profligacy to Lisaveta (“…a truly Romantic figure, with the profile of a Napoleon and the soul of Mephistopheles.”) • Hermann coldly confesses to Lisaveta (“He felt no remorse.”) • Lisaveta sees the truth. (“You are a monster!”)

  9. Chapter 5: The Funeral • Introduction of the supernatural element. • “At that very moment it seemed to him that the dead woman gave him a mocking glance, and winked at him.” • “I’ll forgive you my death if you marry my ward, Lisaveta Ivanovna.”

  10. Chapter 6: The Denouement • “At that moment it seemed to him that the queen of spades winked at him and smiled. He was struck by an unusual likeness.”

  11. Conclusion: Matters of Fact • Hermann went mad. • Lisaveta Ivanovna has married a very agreeable young man, who has a good position in the service somewhere…. • Tomsky has been promoted to the rank of Captain and is going to marry the Princess Polina.

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