Children's fairy tales online. "Attalea princeps." The Tale of a Proud and Strong Palm Tree Garshin about a Proud and Strong Palm Tree

In one large city there was a botanical garden, and in this garden there was a huge greenhouse made of iron and glass. It was very beautiful: slender twisted columns supported the entire building; light patterned arches rested on them, intertwined with a whole web of iron frames into which glass was inserted. The greenhouse was especially beautiful when the sun set and illuminated it with red light. Then she was all on fire, red reflections played and shimmered, as if in a huge, finely polished gem.

Through the thick transparent glass, imprisoned plants could be seen. Despite the size of the greenhouse, it was cramped for them. The roots intertwined with each other and took away moisture and food from each other. The tree branches mixed with huge palm leaves, bent and broke them, and, leaning on the iron frames, bent and broke. The gardeners constantly cut off the branches and tied the leaves with wires so that they could not grow wherever they wanted, but this did not help much. Plants needed wide open space, a native land and freedom. They were natives of hot countries, gentle, luxurious creatures; they remembered their homeland and yearned for it. No matter how transparent the glass roof is, it is not a clear sky. Sometimes, in winter, the glass froze; then it became completely dark in the greenhouse. The wind howled, hit the frames and made them tremble. The roof was covered with drifted snow. The plants stood and listened to the howl of the wind and remembered a different wind, warm, moist, which gave them life and health. And they wanted to feel his breeze again, they wanted him to shake their branches, play with their leaves. But in the greenhouse the air was still; unless sometimes a winter storm knocked out the glass, and a sharp, cold stream, full of frost, flew under the arch. Wherever this stream hit, the leaves turned pale, shriveled and withered.

But the glass was installed very quickly. The botanical garden was run by an excellent scientific director and did not allow any disorder, despite the fact that most of his time was spent studying with a microscope in a special glass booth built in the main greenhouse.

There was one palm tree among the plants, taller than all and more beautiful than all. The director, sitting in the booth, called her Attalea in Latin! But this name was not her native name: it was invented by botanists. The botanists did not know the native name, and it was not written in soot on a white board nailed to the trunk of a palm tree. Once a visitor came to the botanical garden from that hot country where the palm tree grew; when he saw her, he smiled because she reminded him of his homeland.

A! - he said. - I know this tree. - And he called him by his native name.

Sorry,” the director shouted to him from his booth, who at that time was carefully cutting some kind of stem with a razor, “you are mistaken.” Such a tree as you are deigning to say does not exist. This is Attalea princeps, originally from Brazil.

Oh yes,” said the Brazilian, “I fully believe you that botanists call it Attalea, but it also has a native, real name.

The real name is the one given by science,” the botanist said dryly and locked the door of the booth so that he would not be disturbed by people who did not even understand that if a man of science said anything, one must remain silent and obey.

And the Brazilian stood for a long time and looked at the tree, and he became sadder and sadder. He remembered his homeland, its sun and sky, its luxurious forests with wonderful animals and birds, its deserts, its wonderful southern nights. And he also remembered that he had never been happy anywhere except his native land, and he traveled all over the world. He touched the palm tree with his hand, as if saying goodbye to it, and left the garden, and the next day he was already on the boat home.

But the palm tree remained. Now it has become even harder for her, although before this incident it was very difficult. She was all alone. She towered five fathoms above the tops of all other plants, and these other plants did not like her, envied her and considered her proud. This growth gave her only one grief; besides the fact that everyone was together, and she was alone, she remembered her native sky better than anyone and yearned for it more than anyone, because she was closest to what replaced it for them: the ugly glass roof. Through it she sometimes saw something blue: it was the sky, although alien and pale, but still a real blue sky. And when the plants chatted among themselves, Attalea was always silent, sad and thought only about how nice it would be to stand even under this pale sky.

Please tell me, will we be watered soon? - asked the sago palm, which loved dampness very much. - I really think I’m going to dry out today.

“Your words surprise me, neighbor,” said the pot-bellied cactus. - Is the huge amount of water that is poured on you every day not enough for you? Look at me: they give me very little moisture, but I am still fresh and juicy.

“We are not used to being too thrifty,” answered the sago palm. - We cannot grow on such dry and crappy soil as some cacti. We are not used to living somehow. And besides all this, I will also tell you that you are not asked to make comments.

Having said this, the sago palm became offended and fell silent.

As for me,” cinnamon intervened, “I’m almost happy with my situation.” True, it’s a little boring here, but at least I’m sure that no one will rip me off.

But not all of us were fleeced,” said the tree fern. - Of course, this prison may seem like paradise to many after the miserable existence they led in freedom.

Then cinnamon, having forgotten that she had been robbed, became offended and began to argue. Some plants stood up for her, some for the fern, and a heated squabble began. If they could move, they would certainly fight.

Why are you quarreling? - said Attalea. - Will you help yourself with this? You only increase your misfortune with anger and irritation. Better leave your arguments and think about business. Listen to me: grow higher and wider, spread out your branches, press on the frames and glass, our greenhouse will crumble into pieces, and we will go free. If one branch hits the glass, then, of course, it will be cut off, but what will they do with a hundred strong and brave trunks? We just need to work more unitedly, and victory is ours.

At first no one objected to the palm tree: everyone was silent and did not know what to say. Finally, the sago palm made up its mind.

“This is all nonsense,” she said.

Nonsense! Nonsense! - the trees spoke, and everyone at once began to prove to Attalea that she was offering terrible nonsense. - An impossible dream! - they shouted. - Nonsense! Absurdity! Frames are strong, and we will never break them, and even if we did, so what? People will come with knives and axes, cut off the branches, repair the frames, and everything will go on as before. The only thing that will happen is that whole pieces will be cut off from us...

Well, as you wish! - answered Attalea. - Now I know what to do. I'll leave you alone: ​​live as you want, grumble at each other, argue over water supplies and remain forever under a glass bell. I will find my way alone. I want to see the sky and the sun not through these bars and glass - and I will see it!

And the palm tree proudly looked with its green top at the forest of its comrades spread out beneath it. None of them dared to say anything to her, only the sago palm quietly said to the cicada neighbor:

Well, let's see, let's see how they cut off your big head so that you don't get too arrogant, proud girl!

The others, although silent, were still angry with Attalea for her proud words. Only one little grass was not angry with the palm tree and was not offended by its speeches. It was the most pitiful and despicable grass of all the plants in the greenhouse: loose, pale, creeping, with limp, plump leaves. There was nothing remarkable about it, and it was used in the greenhouse only to cover the bare ground. She wrapped herself around the foot of a large palm tree, listened to her, and it seemed to her that Attalea was right. She did not know southern nature, but she also loved air and freedom. The greenhouse was a prison for her too. “If I, an insignificant, withered grass, suffer so much without my gray sky, without the pale sun and cold rain, what must this beautiful and mighty tree suffer in captivity! - so she thought and gently wrapped herself around the palm tree and caressed it. - Why am I not a big tree? I would take the advice. We would grow up together and be released together. Then the others would see that Attalea is right.”

But she was not a big tree, but only small and limp grass. She could only curl herself even more tenderly around the trunk of Attalea and whisper her love and desire for happiness in an attempt.

Of course, it is not at all as warm here, the sky is not as clear, the rains are not as luxurious as in your country, but still we have the sky, the sun, and the wind. We don’t have such lush plants as you and your comrades, with such huge leaves and beautiful flowers, but we also have very good trees: pine, spruce and birch. I am a little grass and will never reach freedom, but you are so great and strong! Your trunk is hard, and you don’t have long to grow to the glass roof. You will break through it and emerge into the light of day. Then you will tell me if everything is as wonderful there as it was. I'll be happy with this too.

Why, little grass, don’t you want to go out with me? My trunk is hard and strong: lean on it, crawl along me. It doesn't mean anything to me to tear you down.

No, where should I go! Look how lethargic and weak I am: I can’t even lift one of my branches. No, I'm not your friend. Grow up, be happy. I just ask you, when you are released, sometimes remember your little friend!

Then the palm tree began to grow. And before, visitors to the greenhouse were surprised at her enormous growth, and she became taller and taller every month. The director of the botanical garden attributed such rapid growth to good care and was proud of the knowledge with which he set up the greenhouse and ran his business.

Yes, sir, look at Attalea princeps,” he said. - Such tall specimens are rarely found in Brazil. We applied all our knowledge so that the plants developed in the greenhouse absolutely as freely as in the wild, and, it seems to me, we achieved some success.

At the same time, with a contented look, he patted the hard wood with his cane, and the blows rang loudly throughout the greenhouse. The palm leaves trembled from these blows. Oh, if she could moan, what a cry of rage the director would hear!

“He imagines that I am growing for his pleasure,” Attalea thought. - Let him imagine!..”

And she grew, spending all the juices just to stretch out, and depriving her roots and leaves of them. Sometimes it seemed to her that the distance to the arch was not decreasing. Then she strained all her strength. The frames grew closer and closer, and finally the young leaf touched the cold glass and iron.

Look, look, - the plants started talking, - where she got into! Will it really be decided?

“How terribly she has grown,” said the tree fern.

Well, I've grown! What a surprise! If only she could get as fat as I have! - said a fat cicada, with a barrel like a barrel. - Why are you waiting? It won't do anything anyway. The grilles are strong and the glass is thick.

Another month has passed. Attalea rose. Finally she rested tightly against the frames. There was nowhere to grow further. Then the trunk began to bend. Its leafy top was crumpled, the cold rods of the frame dug into the tender young leaves, cut and mutilated them, but the tree was stubborn, did not spare the leaves, no matter what it put pressure on the grates, and the grates were already giving way, although they were made of strong iron.

The little grass watched the fight and froze with excitement.

Tell me, doesn't it hurt? If the frames are so strong, isn't it better to retreat? - she asked the palm tree.

Hurt? What does it mean it hurts when I want to go free? Wasn't it you who encouraged me? - answered the palm tree.

Yes, I encouraged, but I didn’t know it was so difficult. I feel sorry for you. You are suffering so much.

Shut up, weak plant! Do not feel sorry for me! I'll die or get free!

And at that moment there was a loud blow. A thick iron strip broke. Glass fragments fell and rang. One of them hit the director's hat as he was leaving the greenhouse.

What it is? - he screamed, shuddering when he saw pieces of glass flying through the air. He ran away from the greenhouse and looked at the roof. The straightened green crown of a palm tree proudly rose above the glass vault.

"Only that? - she thought. - And this is all that I languished and suffered for so long? And to achieve this was my highest goal?”

It was deep autumn when Attalea straightened its top into the hole it had made. It was drizzling with light rain and snow; the wind drove gray ragged clouds low. It seemed to her that they were enveloping her. The trees were already bare and looked like some kind of ugly corpses. Only the pines and spruce trees had dark green needles. The trees looked sullenly at the palm tree: “You’ll freeze!” - they seemed to be telling her. - You don’t know what frost is. You don't know how to endure. Why did you leave your greenhouse?

And Attalea realized that it was all over for her. She froze. Back under the roof again? But she could no longer return. She had to stand in the cold wind, feel its gusts and the sharp touch of snowflakes, look at the dirty sky, at the impoverished nature, at the dirty backyard of the botanical garden, at the boring huge city visible in the fog, and wait until the people down there in the greenhouse, they won’t decide what to do with it.

The director ordered the tree to be cut down.

It would be possible to build a special cap over it,” he said, “but how long will that last?” She will grow again and break everything. And besides, it will cost too much. Cut it down!

They tied the palm tree with ropes so that when it fell it would not break the walls of the greenhouse, and they sawed it down low, at the very root. The little grass that wrapped itself around the tree trunk did not want to part with its friend and also fell under the saw. When the palm tree was pulled out of the greenhouse, on the section of the remaining stump lay crushed by a saw, torn stems and leaves.

“Tear out this rubbish and throw it away,” said the director. “It’s already turned yellow, and the saw really spoiled it.” Plant something new here.

One of the gardeners, with a deft blow of his spade, tore out an entire armful of grass. He threw it into a basket, carried it out and threw it out into the backyard, right on top of a dead palm tree lying in the dirt and already half-covered with snow.

In one large city there was a botanical garden, and in this garden there was a huge greenhouse made of iron and glass. It was very beautiful: slender twisted columns supported the entire building; light patterned arches rested on them, intertwined with a whole web of iron frames into which glass was inserted. The greenhouse was especially beautiful when the sun set and illuminated it with red light. Then she was all on fire, red reflections played and shimmered, as if in a huge, finely polished gem.

Through the thick transparent glass, imprisoned plants could be seen. Despite the size of the greenhouse, it was cramped for them. The roots intertwined with each other and took away moisture and food from each other. The tree branches mixed with huge palm leaves, bent and broke them, and, leaning on the iron frames, bent and broke. The gardeners constantly cut off the branches and tied the leaves with wires so that they could not grow wherever they wanted, but this did not help much. Plants needed wide open space, a native land and freedom. They were natives of hot countries, gentle, luxurious creatures; they remembered their homeland and yearned for it. No matter how transparent the glass roof is, it is not a clear sky. Sometimes, in winter, the glass froze; then it became completely dark in the greenhouse. The wind howled, hit the frames and made them tremble. The roof was covered with drifted snow. The plants stood and listened to the howl of the wind and remembered a different wind, warm, moist, which gave them life and health. And they wanted to feel his breeze again, they wanted him to shake their branches, play with their leaves. But in the greenhouse the air was still; unless sometimes a winter storm knocked out the glass, and a sharp, cold stream, full of frost, flew under the arch. Wherever this stream hit, the leaves turned pale, shriveled and withered.

But the glass was installed very quickly. The botanical garden was run by an excellent scientific director and did not allow any disorder, despite the fact that most of his time was spent studying with a microscope in a special glass booth built in the main greenhouse.

There was one palm tree among the plants, taller than all and more beautiful than all. The director, sitting in the booth, called her Attalea in Latin! But this name was not her native name: it was invented by botanists. The botanists did not know the native name, and it was not written in soot on a white board nailed to the trunk of a palm tree. Once a visitor came to the botanical garden from that hot country where the palm tree grew; when he saw her, he smiled because she reminded him of his homeland.

A! - he said. - I know this tree. - And he called him by his native name.

Sorry,” the director shouted to him from his booth, who at that time was carefully cutting some kind of stem with a razor, “you are mistaken.” Such a tree as you are deigning to say does not exist. This is Attalea princeps, originally from Brazil.

Oh yes,” said the Brazilian, “I fully believe you that botanists call it Attalea, but it also has a native, real name.

The real name is the one given by science,” the botanist said dryly and locked the door of the booth so that he would not be disturbed by people who did not even understand that if a man of science said anything, one must remain silent and obey.

And the Brazilian stood for a long time and looked at the tree, and he became sadder and sadder. He remembered his homeland, its sun and sky, its luxurious forests with wonderful animals and birds, its deserts, its wonderful southern nights. And he also remembered that he had never been happy anywhere except his native land, and he traveled all over the world. He touched the palm tree with his hand, as if saying goodbye to it, and left the garden, and the next day he was already on the boat home.

But the palm tree remained. Now it has become even harder for her, although before this incident it was very difficult. She was all alone. She towered five fathoms above the tops of all other plants, and these other plants did not like her, envied her and considered her proud. This growth gave her only one grief; besides the fact that everyone was together, and she was alone, she remembered her native sky better than anyone and yearned for it more than anyone, because she was closest to what replaced it for them: the ugly glass roof. Through it she sometimes saw something blue: it was the sky, although alien and pale, but still a real blue sky. And when the plants chatted among themselves, Attalea was always silent, sad and thought only about how nice it would be to stand even under this pale sky.

Please tell me, will we be watered soon? - asked the sago palm, which loved dampness very much. - I really think I’m going to dry out today.

“Your words surprise me, neighbor,” said the pot-bellied cactus. - Is the huge amount of water that is poured on you every day not enough for you? Look at me: they give me very little moisture, but I am still fresh and juicy.

“We are not used to being too thrifty,” answered the sago palm. - We cannot grow on such dry and crappy soil as some cacti. We are not used to living somehow. And besides all this, I will also tell you that you are not asked to make comments.

Having said this, the sago palm became offended and fell silent.

As for me,” cinnamon intervened, “I’m almost happy with my situation.” True, it’s a little boring here, but at least I’m sure that no one will rip me off.

But not all of us were fleeced,” said the tree fern. - Of course, this prison may seem like paradise to many after the miserable existence they led in freedom.

Then cinnamon, having forgotten that she had been robbed, became offended and began to argue. Some plants stood up for her, some for the fern, and a heated squabble began. If they could move, they would certainly fight.

Why are you quarreling? - said Attalea. - Will you help yourself with this? You only increase your misfortune with anger and irritation. Better leave your arguments and think about business. Listen to me: grow higher and wider, spread out your branches, press on the frames and glass, our greenhouse will crumble into pieces, and we will go free. If one branch hits the glass, then, of course, it will be cut off, but what will they do with a hundred strong and brave trunks? We just need to work more unitedly, and victory is ours.

At first no one objected to the palm tree: everyone was silent and did not know what to say. Finally, the sago palm made up its mind.

“This is all nonsense,” she said.

Nonsense! Nonsense! - the trees spoke, and everyone at once began to prove to Attalea that she was offering terrible nonsense. - An impossible dream! - they shouted. - Nonsense! Absurdity! Frames are strong, and we will never break them, and even if we did, so what? People will come with knives and axes, cut off the branches, repair the frames, and everything will go on as before. The only thing that will happen is that whole pieces will be cut off from us...

Well, as you wish! - answered Attalea. - Now I know what to do. I'll leave you alone: ​​live as you want, grumble at each other, argue over water supplies and remain forever under a glass bell. I will find my way alone. I want to see the sky and the sun not through these bars and glass - and I will see it!

And the palm tree proudly looked with its green top at the forest of its comrades spread out beneath it. None of them dared to say anything to her, only the sago palm quietly said to the cicada neighbor:

Well, let's see, let's see how they cut off your big head so that you don't get too arrogant, proud girl!

The others, although silent, were still angry with Attalea for her proud words. Only one little grass was not angry with the palm tree and was not offended by its speeches. It was the most pitiful and despicable grass of all the plants in the greenhouse: loose, pale, creeping, with limp, plump leaves. There was nothing remarkable about it, and it was used in the greenhouse only to cover the bare ground. She wrapped herself around the foot of a large palm tree, listened to her, and it seemed to her that Attalea was right. She did not know southern nature, but she also loved air and freedom. The greenhouse was a prison for her too. “If I, an insignificant, withered grass, suffer so much without my gray sky, without the pale sun and cold rain, what must this beautiful and mighty tree suffer in captivity! - so she thought and gently wrapped herself around the palm tree and caressed it. - Why am I not a big tree? I would take the advice. We would grow up together and be released together. Then the others would see that Attalea is right.”

But she was not a big tree, but only small and limp grass. She could only curl herself even more tenderly around the trunk of Attalea and whisper her love and desire for happiness in an attempt.

Of course, it is not at all as warm here, the sky is not as clear, the rains are not as luxurious as in your country, but still we have the sky, the sun, and the wind. We don’t have such lush plants as you and your comrades, with such huge leaves and beautiful flowers, but we also have very good trees: pine, spruce and birch. I am a little grass and will never reach freedom, but you are so great and strong! Your trunk is hard, and you don’t have long to grow to the glass roof. You will break through it and emerge into the light of day. Then you will tell me if everything is as wonderful there as it was. I'll be happy with this too.

Why, little grass, don’t you want to go out with me? My trunk is hard and strong: lean on it, crawl along me. It doesn't mean anything to me to tear you down.

No, where should I go! Look how lethargic and weak I am: I can’t even lift one of my branches. No, I'm not your friend. Grow up, be happy. I just ask you, when you are released, sometimes remember your little friend!

Then the palm tree began to grow. And before, visitors to the greenhouse were surprised at her enormous growth, and she became taller and taller every month. The director of the botanical garden attributed such rapid growth to good care and was proud of the knowledge with which he set up the greenhouse and ran his business.

Yes, sir, look at Attalea princeps,” he said. - Such tall specimens are rarely found in Brazil. We applied all our knowledge so that the plants developed in the greenhouse absolutely as freely as in the wild, and, it seems to me, we achieved some success.

At the same time, with a contented look, he patted the hard wood with his cane, and the blows rang loudly throughout the greenhouse. The palm leaves trembled from these blows. Oh, if she could moan, what a cry of rage the director would hear!

“He imagines that I am growing for his pleasure,” Attalea thought. - Let him imagine!..”

And she grew, spending all the juices just to stretch out, and depriving her roots and leaves of them. Sometimes it seemed to her that the distance to the arch was not decreasing. Then she strained all her strength. The frames grew closer and closer, and finally the young leaf touched the cold glass and iron.

Look, look, - the plants started talking, - where she got into! Will it really be decided?

“How terribly she has grown,” said the tree fern.

Well, I've grown! What a surprise! If only she could get as fat as I have! - said a fat cicada, with a barrel like a barrel. - Why are you waiting? It won't do anything anyway. The grilles are strong and the glass is thick.

Another month has passed. Attalea rose. Finally she rested tightly against the frames. There was nowhere to grow further. Then the trunk began to bend. Its leafy top was crumpled, the cold rods of the frame dug into the tender young leaves, cut and mutilated them, but the tree was stubborn, did not spare the leaves, no matter what it put pressure on the grates, and the grates were already giving way, although they were made of strong iron.

The little grass watched the fight and froze with excitement.

Tell me, doesn't it hurt? If the frames are so strong, isn't it better to retreat? - she asked the palm tree.

Hurt? What does it mean it hurts when I want to go free? Wasn't it you who encouraged me? - answered the palm tree.

Yes, I encouraged, but I didn’t know it was so difficult. I feel sorry for you. You are suffering so much.

Shut up, weak plant! Do not feel sorry for me! I'll die or get free!

And at that moment there was a loud blow. A thick iron strip broke. Glass fragments fell and rang. One of them hit the director's hat as he was leaving the greenhouse.

What it is? - he screamed, shuddering when he saw pieces of glass flying through the air. He ran away from the greenhouse and looked at the roof. The straightened green crown of a palm tree proudly rose above the glass vault.

"Only that? - she thought. - And this is all that I languished and suffered for so long? And to achieve this was my highest goal?”

It was deep autumn when Attalea straightened its top into the hole it had made. It was drizzling with light rain and snow; the wind drove gray ragged clouds low. It seemed to her that they were enveloping her. The trees were already bare and looked like some kind of ugly corpses. Only the pines and spruce trees had dark green needles. The trees looked sullenly at the palm tree: “You’ll freeze!” - they seemed to be telling her. - You don’t know what frost is. You don't know how to endure. Why did you leave your greenhouse?

And Attalea realized that it was all over for her. She froze. Back under the roof again? But she could no longer return. She had to stand in the cold wind, feel its gusts and the sharp touch of snowflakes, look at the dirty sky, at the impoverished nature, at the dirty backyard of the botanical garden, at the boring huge city visible in the fog, and wait until the people down there in the greenhouse, they won’t decide what to do with it.

The director ordered the tree to be cut down.

It would be possible to build a special cap over it,” he said, “but how long will that last?” She will grow again and break everything. And besides, it will cost too much. Cut it down!

They tied the palm tree with ropes so that when it fell it would not break the walls of the greenhouse, and they sawed it down low, at the very root. The little grass that wrapped itself around the tree trunk did not want to part with its friend and also fell under the saw. When the palm tree was pulled out of the greenhouse, on the section of the remaining stump lay crushed by a saw, torn stems and leaves.

“Tear out this rubbish and throw it away,” said the director. “It’s already turned yellow, and the saw really spoiled it.” Plant something new here.

One of the gardeners, with a deft blow of his spade, tore out an entire armful of grass. He threw it into a basket, carried it out and threw it out into the backyard, right on top of a dead palm tree lying in the dirt and already half-covered with snow.
Garshin V.M.

Preview:

(SLIDE 1) Topic: Vsevolod Garshin “Attalea princeps”.

“Forward, to the light, to freedom, to the sky!”

1. Introduction.

Guys, are there anyone among you who, at the age of 7, read Victor Hugo’s novel “Notre Dame de Paris” or “Ivanhoe” by Walter Cat?

Vsevolod Garshin, at the age of seven, read Hugo, Walter Scott, Pushkin, and Lermontov. He was such a bookworm and book lover.

Then, when I was already a twenty-year-old youth, I re-read

Hugo, but did not discover anything for himself - his childhood impressions turned out to be so mature.

Vsevolod Mikhailovich Garshin was born in 1855 into an old noble family. At the age of 9 he entered the St. Petersburg gymnasium and was known as the first student there. Upon completion, he was enrolled in the Mining Institute. This was in 1874, and three years later the Russian-Turkish war would begin. Garshin, as soon as the manifesto declaring war appears, will immediately submit a petition for dismissal from the institute and in a few weeks he will be enlisted as a private.

(SLIDE 2) In one of the battles, Private Garshin showed true heroism, by his personal example he enticed his comrades into the attack - and the enemy retreated. He was promoted to officer for his bravery, but was no longer able to fight due to injury.

He returned to St. Petersburg, but did not want to study as a mining engineer and became a volunteer student at the literature department of St. Petersburg University. Gradually he devoted himself entirely to writing.

(SLIDE 3) Soon fairy tales for children appeared.

Do you know them?

(“The Frog Traveler”, “The Tale of the Toad and the Rose”, “The Tale of Proud Haggai”, “The Bears” and “Attalea princeps”.)

Garshin lived only 33 years. He suffered from mental illness and died early, but in literature he remained one of the most heartfelt, humane writers.

1. Introduction to the fairy tale. (SLIDE 4)

• The title of the fairy tale is not given in Russian. This is scientific

name of palm tree. But in the process of working on the fairy tale, we will try to translate this name into Russian.

• Teacher reading a fairy tale.

1. Working on a piece.

1. Let's divide into 4 groups.(SLIDE 5)

Based on key words and expressions, prepare a concise retelling of the episode.

1. Playing "Socratics"

(SLIDE 6) Do you know the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates?

Who is a philosopher?

Philosopher (loving wisdom, loving knowledge, inquisitive, striving for truth, seeker of truth) - a person who is engaged in the search for truth, the study of existence.

So, he did not sit at home and write philosophical treatises.

All of his scientific activities consisted of him walking the streets of Athens and asking questions to passers-by. This seemed strange to many: a man walks around, pesters him with questions, demands answers, and gets into an argument. Why did he do this? What questions did you ask?

Let's say these: what is beauty, how does the world work, why is this person good and that person evil, why do you gain knowledge?

Thus, he entered into a dialogue in order to get to the bottom of the truth, to learn as much as possible about life itself, about man. And if this is so, then the questions asked could not be meaningless.

He also had followers who followed him and recorded his conversations. The sage's disciples were called"Socratics". The most famous Socratic philosophers are Plato and Xenophon.

Let us also try to enter into a dialogue with the text and with the author of this text - the writer. Let's try ourselves in the role of Socratics.

Analysis of a fairy tale.

Let's take the first and second fragments of the fairy tale. Let us formulate two questions about them that reveal the very essence of the episode. You must find answers to the questions asked in the text.

Remember, the ability to ask reasonable questions is the first and important sign of intelligence.

(Students formulate questions about episodes 1 and 2)

(SLIDE 7)

- We only looked at two episodes, but both of them are based on the same technique. Which one?

(SLIDE 10-1) (Antithesis)

What is opposed to what?

(On the one hand, there is a beautiful botanical garden, on the other – imprisoned plants. And this technique helps the writer create the image of a garden-dungeon, a garden-prison.

The same technique in the second episode contrasted two worlds: the world of the director, limited by science, in which there is no place for living life, nature, and the world of the sensitive traveler, an open, sincere person.)

Can these episodes be called the main ones in the fairy tale? What function do they serve in the text?

(no, they are not the main ones)

What do we learn from these episodes?

(SLIDE 10-2)

(They perform the function exposition to the development of the action of the story. These episodes provide information about the greenhouse, its inhabitants, the director and visitors from Brazil)

1. Which episode of the work is the main one? Why?

(episode revealing the world of the inhabitants of the greenhouse, their conversation with the royal palm tree)

- Let's role-play this episode. Let's listen to the conversation of the inhabitants of the greenhouse. And then try to characterize each participant in the conversation.

1. How did we see the world of plants?(SLIDE 11)

Sago palm – angry, irritated, arrogant, arrogant.

Pot-bellied cactus - rosy, fresh, juicy, happy with his life, soulless.

Cinnamon – hides behind the backs of other plants (“no one will rip me off”), argues.

tree fern– on the whole, he’s also happy with his position, but he’s kind of faceless, not striving for anything.

And among them royal palm– lonely, but proud, freedom-loving, fearless.)

1. Why did the inhabitants of the greenhouse react negatively to

the palm tree's proposal to break free together? Why were her high aspirations for freedom and light called stupidity, nonsense, absurdity?

(they were scared - fear is to blame for everything.

But what?

They were afraid of the new life, afraid of the light, the air. Life in prison is better than any freedom. Plants, overwhelmed by fear, cannot disentangle themselves from the old, established norms of life. They don’t even understand the very motive of the palm princess - why does she need this freedom? This is how it arisesconflict-contradiction)

(SLIDE 12-1)

What is conflict?

1. What conflict is depicted here?

(On the one hand, a proud palm tree, on the other, the inhabitants of the greenhouse. Reality and dream. One opinion and another: leave everything as it is or break free?)

1. If we transfer this conflict to society, to people, what will we see?

(Indifference of the surrounding world to an individual, proud and freedom-loving)

1. Who supported the palm princess in her quest for freedom? What kind of character is this? How did the other inhabitants of the greenhouse treat her?

(the small, despicable grass is an insignificant creature, they didn’t even notice it, its opinion was not taken into account. But, as it turned out, a big soul was hidden in the small creature. She not only supported the palm tree, but tightly wrapped herself around it, protected it, gave it strength And this “despicable grass” turned out to be a true friend.

In her image, the writer embodied the features of a fearless friend, ready to help at any moment and, if necessary, even accept death together)

1. Was the director right when he said that the palm tree grows rapidly and gains strength due to good care for it?

(The director was happy about the rapid growth of the palm tree and attributed this to his scientific achievements, because “such tall specimens” of the southern palm tree are “rarely found” in the wild. This means that his scientific approach to plants gives a good result, and he was proud of it)

1. Have you noticed that the writer gives the same epithet to both the palm tree and the director. Which one?

(both of them are proud)

What is the pride of the director and the pride of the palm tree?(SLIDE 12-2)

(pride – 1) self-esteem;

2) a feeling of satisfaction from something;

3) arrogance, an excessively high opinion of oneself)

11) Which of these meanings do we apply to the royal palm and which to the director?

(the pride of the palm tree is manifested in self-esteem, it does not change its decision, its desire to experience happiness in freedom.

The director talks arrogantly to the Brazilian, he acts as if he is always right, he does not allow even a shadow of doubt. As you can see, the pride of the royal palm and the pride of the director are not the same thing.)

1. Why does the fairy tale end so sadly? And is this work a fairy tale?

We have already noticed that everything in this work is based on opposition and contrast. Find those contrasting lines.

• A beautiful greenhouse - prisoner plants
• Images of the director and the Brazilian
• Inhabitants of the garden - royal palm
• The pride of the director is the pride of the palm princess
• Dream and reality

These worlds are incompatible:

The director does not understand the Brazilian visitor, does not know what feelings are swarming in his soul;

The inhabitants of the greenhouse, apart from the small grass, do not understand the palm tree - why does it strive to break free?

General alienation, deafness, misunderstanding.

What is it like for a palm tree or a person in this world?

(They are sad and dreary in this world, they are doomed to loneliness. Faced with a world of soullessness, alienation, general deafness, they can die. Which is what happened to the royal palm tree.)

What a fairy tale this is, you say. All fairy tales end with good defeating evil and everyone being happy in the end. But this tale is about something completely different.

- About what?

(it’s about how lonely a person is in a world where there is no place for high ideals and aspirations. This means that if this is a fairy tale, then it’s a philosophical fairy tale, because it makes you think about the place of a person in this world.

Listen to the miniature (prose poem) by V.M. Garshin “A young man asked the holy sage Dzhiafar...” and correlate it with the philosophical fairy tale “Attalea princeps”. What do they have in common?

The young man asked the holy sage Jiafar:

Teacher, what is life?

Haji silently turned away the dirty sleeve of his shirt and showed him the disgusting ulcer that was eating away at his arm.

And at this time the nightingales thundered, and all of Seville was filled with the fragrance of roses.

(antithesis:

• ulcer, pain - nightingales, the scent of roses;
• life is hard - life is happy and those who are happy do not care about the unfortunate

1. Bottom line. Grading.

Slide captions:

Antithesis -
opposition
Exposition
- V
literary work depicting the arrangement of characters and circumstances
«
Attalea

princeps
»
2nd
episode

What
represents the director of the greenhouse
?

How
the visiting guest treated the palm tree (
Brazilian
)?
Botanist scientist. He sits in a glass booth all the time, working with a microscope. Doesn't tolerate clutter. He is interested in plants only from a scientific point of view; he does not know another name for the royal palm, and does not want to know.
He
as fenced off from the outside world as his greenhouse
.
Very tenderly and touchingly, he called her by the name that was familiar to his country (palm princess). The palm tree reminded him of his homeland: “its sun and sky, its luxurious forests with wonderful animals and birds...” He felt sad because the palm tree was growing in captivity and could not board the ship like he did and go home.
Conclusion:

two characters - two characters.
Director
- a closed person, a slave and servant of science. He is a voluntary prisoner of his work - his whole life is regulated by science.
Brazilian

– an open, sincere, compassionate person.
These
the images are opposed to each other.
Vsevolod

Mikhailovich

Garshin
«
Attalea

Forward
,
To
light,
to freedom
,
To
sky
!
«
Attalea

princeps
»
Conclusion: a wonderful greenhouse is a dungeon (prison) for her
inhabitants.
Director's image
Inhabitants of the garden
Director's pride
Beautiful greenhouse
Dream
Prisoner plants
Brazilian image
Pride of the Palm Princess
Royal palm
Reality
For the first and second episodes of the fairy tale, formulate two questions each
episode
questions
1st episode
How
looks like a greenhouse?
How do you feel
feel the plants in the botanical garden?
A very beautiful large greenhouse made of iron and glass, twisted columns, patterned arches. In the bright light, everything glowed and shimmered like a precious stone. The greenhouse is the beauty and pride of a big city
.
Prisoner plants. The greenhouse is cramped and stuffy for them: there is not enough moisture and food. Fenced off from the outside world, they painfully experienced their imprisonment.
Conflict –
clash, serious disagreement
Pride -
self-esteem
a feeling of satisfaction from something
arrogance, an overly high opinion of oneself

Based on key words and expressions, prepare a concise retelling of the episode.

1st group
2nd group
3rd group
4th group
Botanical Garden,
Greenhouse,
Patterned
arches,
Iron
frames,
Fat
glass,
Native
edge,
Freedom,
Winter,
They turned pale
Dying
Scientist
director,
Glass
booth,
Attalea

princeps
,
Scientific
Name,
Guest from
Brazil,
Luxurious
forests,
Was
proud,
Blue

sky
Sagovaya
palm,
Pot-bellied
cactus,
Cinnamon,
tree-like
fern,
Anger and
irritation,
Nonsense
Nonsense,
Proud words
Palm
grew up
Lattices
durable,
Ran into
frames,
Stubborn
tree,
Voiced
hit,
Autumn,
Beggar
nature,
WITH
hellish
Pot-bellied cactus

- rosy, fresh, juicy, happy with his life, soulless.
Sago palm

– angry, irritated, arrogant, arrogant.
Cinnamon
–
hides behind the backs of other plants (“no one will rip me off”), argues.
tree fern

– on the whole, he’s also happy with his position, but he’s kind of faceless, not striving for anything.
Palm
- lonely
, but proud, freedom-loving, fearless
.

One of the most famous Russian writers of the 19th century is Garshin. Attalea princeps can be called his most significant work. This tale is in many ways similar to the works of Andersen, but it has a number of features that are characteristic specifically of the work of this author. Published in 1880, it has retained its significance today and is included in school literature courses.

Briefly about the writer

Garshin, whose Attalea princeps has a deep philosophical meaning, despite the apparent simplicity of the narrative, wrote briefly and laconically. This tale, like other works by the author, is recognizable due to its unique style: despite the apparent simplicity of the design and composition, it attracts readers with its symbolism and metaphor. In addition to fairy tales, the writer also composed serious dramatic stories, into which he brought his personal impressions of the war. He was by nature a very nervous, sensitive person, and so are his heroes, who also feel injustice especially keenly and try to fight it, despite the fact that their attempts are initially doomed to failure. Nevertheless, in these works the writer’s faith in the triumph of goodness and truth is heard.

Author's identity

Many fairy tales were composed by the writer Garshin. Attalea princeps is a work that is not intended for entertainment, but for reflection, as evidenced by its very title, which is clearly not intended for idle reading. In general, the author created very serious and dramatic works, which was largely due to the circumstances of his personal life and character traits. Being by nature an unusually sensitive and deeply vulnerable person, he felt especially keenly the social injustice and suffering of the common people. He succumbed to the mood of the era and, together with other representatives of student youth of that time, shared the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe responsibility of the intelligentsia to the peasants. The latter circumstance determined the fact that his works are distinguished by the subtlety of their perception of the world.

Composition

Garshin made an important contribution to the development of the Russian fairy tale genre. Attalea princeps can be called an exemplary work in this regard, since it is short, concise, dynamic and, at the same time, full of deep philosophical meaning. The composition of the work is quite simple, as in all his other works. In the introduction, the author describes the greenhouse - the habitat of the characters: plants and trees, and also writes about their way of life, simultaneously briefly reporting on the past of each of them. In the beginning, the writer points out a peculiarity in the character of the main character, who does not want to put up with existence in captivity, and also contrasts her with the rest of the inhabitants of the greenhouse, who are more or less accustomed to captivity. V. M. Garshin made the climaxes in his works especially exciting. Attalea princeps in this regard is an example of dynamic, exciting storytelling. The main semantic point of the essay is the decision of the main character (palm tree) to radically change her fate and break free, which ended in failure. In the finale, the palm tree dies, however, despite such a sad ending, the work contains the theme of freedom and love for the homeland, which makes this work so popular.

Characteristics of the director

The famous writer V. M. Garshin had particular skill in depicting characters. Attalea princeps is a fairy tale in which the heroes are both people and plants. At the beginning of the analysis of this essay, it is necessary to give a brief overview of two people who play an important role in the composition. We are talking about the director of a greenhouse, a botanist-scientist, and a Brazilian traveler. Both seem to be opposed to each other both in their inner world and in relation to the main character. The first of them is initially presented as a hardworking person who cares about the most optimal conditions for the existence of his plants. However, it soon becomes clear that he is cold and soulless by nature. He is interested in plants, first of all, as objects of scientific research, he does not feel their suffering, he needs them only as valuable exhibits.

Traveler Description

The analysis of Garshin's fairy tale Attalea princeps should be continued by analyzing the image of a Brazilian who once visited a greenhouse and was the only one who named a palm tree by its real name. This character carries a great meaning in the work, since it was the meeting with him that served as the impetus for the climax of the fairy tale. When the heroine saw this traveler and heard her own real name from him, her long-standing desire to break free awoke in her again. Unlike the director, who is completely unable to feel or understand his plants, the Brazilian traveler has a sensitive soul and a responsive heart: he is the only one among the people who took pity on the palm tree.

About the greenhouse

Garshin's story Attalea princeps begins with a description of the botanical greenhouse in which the scientist keeps his plants. And here the author again resorts to a system of contrasts: at first he described the greenhouse as a very beautiful, comfortable and warm garden, in which, it would seem, the inhabitants should have felt good and comfortable. However, very soon the reader will find out that this is not at all the case. All plants and trees feel very difficult in captivity: each of them dreams of freedom, of their native land. It is not for nothing that the writer pays so much attention to the description of the places where they lived before. He again uses the technique of contrast, describing the sky in captivity and in freedom. The author emphasizes that in captivity, none of the inhabitants of the greenhouse felt happy, despite the fact that they were regularly fed, looked after, and were warm and dry.

Greenhouse inhabitants

One of the masters of psychological analysis was Vsevolod Mikhailovich Garshin. Attalea princeps in this regard is an example of the writer's talent in depicting characters. In the work under consideration, he endowed the plants and trees, the inhabitants of the greenhouse, with human traits. arrogant, arrogant, she loves to talk and be the center of attention. The tree fern is easy to communicate, unpretentious, not proud. Cinnamon takes care of itself and is concerned with its own comfort. The cactus is full of optimism and does not lose heart; in his own words, he is very unpretentious and is content with what he has. Despite the dissimilarity in characters, all these plants have one common feature that contrasts them with the main character: they have resigned themselves to captivity and, although they dream of freedom, none of them wants to risk comfort and convenience in order to try to break free.

About grass

M. Garshin's fairy tale Attalea princeps should be considered in the context of the entire work of the writer, who often resorted to metaphors and symbols to express his thoughts. This is exactly the image of the main character’s neighbor, a simple herb, who was the only one imbued with sympathy for the palm tree and supported it. The author again used the technique of contrast: he emphasized that this most inconspicuous plant in the entire greenhouse provided her with support and moral assistance. The writer showed the background of the grass: she lived in a simple area where the most ordinary trees grew, the sky was not as bright as in the south, however, despite this, the grass has a rich inner world: it dreams of distant beautiful countries and understands the desire of the palm tree to escape out. The grass twines around its trunk, seeking support and help from it, and it dies with it.

The image of the main character

Garshin occupies a special place in Russian literature. Attalea princeps, the analysis of which is the subject of this review, can be called his most successful work in the fairy-tale genre. The image of the main character, a Brazilian palm tree, turned out to be especially successful. She is proud, freedom-loving, and most importantly, she has a strong will and character, which give her the strength to overcome all obstacles and get out (even if only for a short time) from captivity. Palma attracts readers with her persistence and confidence in her rightness. She is firm in her decision to go all the way and does not back down, despite the fact that her roots have weakened from the fact that she threw all her strength into growing.

About nature

Garshin did a lot for the development of Russian literature. Attalea princeps, a brief summary of which we examined, is also interesting because in this work the writer showed himself to be a wonderful painter of nature: with the help of language he reproduces a colorful picture of the southern tropics, in which a proud palm tree has grown. This partly explains her character and such a burning desire to break free. The fact is that the situation in captivity contrasted too much with what she saw and observed in the wild. At home there was hot sun, bright blue sky, beautiful dense forests. In addition, the fairy tale gives a short description of the places where grass used to grow. There, on the contrary, very simple trees grew there, and nature was not as beautiful as in the tropics. Most likely, this is why the grass turned out to be so receptive to beauty and best understood the palm tree, which so wanted to return home.

Climax

Many readers admire the work of a writer named Garshin. The tale of Attalea princeps is especially memorable for the action of the palm tree, which tried to break free, although the futility of such an attempt was obvious from the very beginning. Nevertheless, the description of how she was filled with juices and with the last of her strength grew upward is striking in its expressiveness and depth, as well as stylistic accuracy. The writer here again returned to the image of the botanist director, who attributed such rapid growth to good care and comfortable living conditions.

The final

The end of the tale is striking in its drama: the palm tree, despite all its efforts, was never able to return to its homeland. Instead, she found herself in the cold, in the middle of snow and rain, and the director, not wanting to spend money on an additional extension to the greenhouse, ordered the proud tree to be cut down. At the same time, he gave the order to pull out the grass and throw it into the backyard. This ending is in the tradition of Andersen’s fairy tales, the heroes of which also in the end are defeated in the fight against injustice and die. In this context, it is indicative that the writer always calls the palm tree by its Latin name. This language is considered dead, and by giving the tree such a name, the author seems to show the reader in advance that the tree, in fact, no longer lives a real life, but only lives out its life in captivity. Even in the episode with the Brazilian traveler, the writer deliberately does not call the palm tree by its real name, thereby once again emphasizing that it has turned into an ordinary exhibit.

Idea

Garshin's work Attalea princeps is imbued with the pathos of love of freedom and humanism. Despite the gloomy ending, it teaches children about goodness and justice. It was not for nothing that the writer chose plants and trees as the main characters. Thus, he sought to show the fragility and defenselessness of nature and the surrounding world. The writer contrasted the living world of nature with the soulless world of a greenhouse, in which plants serve only as exhibits for an exhibition, thereby losing their true purpose. Garshin draws attention to the fact that there is nothing worse than accepting such a fate. With the plot of his tale, he showed that it is better to die in the struggle for freedom than to continue in captivity. This is the humanistic pathos and the main idea of ​​the entire work. Studying this tale in a school literature course speaks about it because it teaches love for nature through symbolic images. This work has a philosophical meaning, since it shows the value of the life of any living creature, even plants and trees.

Vsevolod Mikhailovich Garshin

Аttalea princeps

In one large city there was a botanical garden, and in this garden there was a huge greenhouse made of iron and glass. It was very beautiful: slender twisted columns supported the entire building; light patterned arches rested on them, intertwined with a whole web of iron frames into which glass was inserted. The greenhouse was especially beautiful when the sun set and illuminated it with red light. Then she was all on fire, red reflections played and shimmered, as if in a huge, finely polished gem.

Through the thick transparent glass one could see the imprisoned plants. Despite the size of the greenhouse, it was cramped for them. The roots intertwined with each other and took away moisture and food from each other. The tree branches mixed with huge palm leaves, bent and broke them, and, leaning on the iron frames, bent and broke. The gardeners constantly cut off the branches and tied the leaves with wires so that they could not grow wherever they wanted, but this did not help much. Plants needed wide open space, a native land and freedom. They were natives of hot countries, gentle, luxurious creatures; they remembered their homeland and yearned for it. No matter how transparent the glass roof is, it is not a clear sky. Sometimes, in winter, the windows froze; then it became completely dark in the greenhouse. The wind howled, hit the frames and made them tremble. The roof was covered with drifted snow. The plants stood and listened to the howl of the wind and remembered a different wind, warm, moist, which gave them life and health. And they wanted to feel his breeze again, they wanted him to shake their branches, play with their leaves. But in the greenhouse the air was still; unless sometimes a winter storm knocked out the glass, and a sharp, cold stream, full of frost, flew under the arch. Wherever this stream hit, the leaves turned pale, shrank and withered.

But the glass was installed very quickly. The botanical garden was managed by an excellent scientific director and did not allow any disorder, despite the fact that most of his time was spent studying with a microscope in a special glass booth built in the main greenhouse.

There was one palm tree among the plants, taller than all and more beautiful than all. The director, sitting in the booth, called her Attalea in Latin! But this name was not her native name: it was invented by botanists. The botanists did not know the native name, and it was not written in soot on a white board nailed to the trunk of a palm tree. Once a visitor came to the botanical garden from that hot country where the palm tree grew; when he saw her, he smiled because she reminded him of his homeland.

- A! - he said. - I know this tree. - And he called him by his native name.

“Excuse me,” the director shouted to him from his booth, who at that time was carefully cutting some kind of stem with a razor, “you are mistaken.” Such a tree as you are deigning to say does not exist. This is Attalea princeps, originally from Brazil.

“Oh yes,” said the Brazilian, “I fully believe you that botanists call it Attalea, but it also has a native, real name.”

“The real name is the one given by science,” the botanist said dryly and locked the door of the booth so that he would not be disturbed by people who did not even understand that if a man of science said anything, one must remain silent and obey.

And the Brazilian stood for a long time and looked at the tree, and he became sadder and sadder. He remembered his homeland, its sun and sky, its luxurious forests with wonderful animals and birds, its deserts, its wonderful southern nights. And he also remembered that he had never been happy anywhere except his native land, and he had traveled all over the world. He touched the palm tree with his hand, as if saying goodbye to it, and left the garden, and the next day he was already on the boat home.

But the palm tree remained. Now it has become even harder for her, although before this incident it was very difficult. She was all alone. She towered five fathoms above the tops of all other plants, and these other plants did not like her, envied her and considered her proud. This growth gave her only one grief; besides the fact that everyone was together, and she was alone, she remembered her native sky better than anyone and yearned for it more than anyone, because she was closest to what replaced it for them: the ugly glass roof. Through it she sometimes saw something blue: it was the sky, although alien and pale, but still a real blue sky. And when the plants chatted among themselves, Attalea was always silent, sad and thought only about how nice it would be to stand even under this pale sky.

– Tell me, please, will we be watered soon? - asked the sago palm, which loved dampness very much. “I really think I’m going to dry out today.”

“Your words surprise me, neighbor,” said the pot-bellied cactus. – Is the huge amount of water that is poured on you every day not enough for you? Look at me: they give me very little moisture, but I am still fresh and juicy.

“We are not used to being too thrifty,” answered the sago palm. – We cannot grow in such dry and crappy soil as some cacti. We are not used to living somehow. And besides all this, I will also tell you that you are not asked to make comments.

Having said this, the sago palm became offended and fell silent.

“As for me,” Cinnamon intervened, “I’m almost happy with my situation.” True, it’s a bit boring here, but at least I’m sure that no one will rip me off.

“But not all of us were fleeced,” said the tree fern. - Of course, this prison may seem like paradise to many after the miserable existence they led in freedom.

Then cinnamon, having forgotten that she had been skinned, became offended and began to argue. Some plants stood up for her, some for the fern, and a heated argument began. If they could move, they would certainly fight.

- Why are you quarreling? - said Attalea. - Will you help yourself with this? You only increase your misfortune with anger and irritation. Better leave your arguments and think about business. Listen to me: grow higher and wider, spread out your branches, press on the frames and glass, our greenhouse will crumble into pieces, and we will go free. If one branch hits the glass, then, of course, they will cut it off, but what will they do with a hundred strong and brave trunks? We just need to work more unitedly, and victory is ours.

At first no one objected to the palm tree: everyone was silent and did not know what to say. Finally, the sago palm made up its mind.

“This is all nonsense,” she said.

- Nonsense! Nonsense! - the trees spoke, and everyone at once began to prove to Attalea that she was offering terrible nonsense. - An impossible dream! - they shouted.

- Nonsense! Absurdity! Frames are strong, and we will never break them, and even if we did, so what? People with knives and axes will come, cut off the branches, repair the frames, and everything will go on as before. That's all it will be. that whole pieces will be cut off from us...

- Well, as you wish! - answered Attalea. - Now I know what to do. I'll leave you alone: ​​live as you want, grumble at each other, argue over water supplies and remain forever under a glass bell. I will find my way alone. I want to see the sky and the sun not through these bars and glass - and I will see it!