Nikolai Gogol, The Nose (1836)

Use the following outline to make notes about the weird details, confusing non-sequitors, and strange structure of Gogol’s story. Gogol pointedly refuses to explain either his strange story telling style or to give his story a moral. However, it is precisely through imaginative consideration of these details that his purpose will become clear to you.

See if you can develop a thesis statement about Gogol’s purpose. What is the moral of this tale? What consequences have resulted from the Westernization of Russian society?

 

1. Opening Paragraph

 

 

2. Description of Ivan Yakovlevich

 

 

3. Kovalyov’s first reactions to his noselessness

 

 

4. Description of Kovalyov, the young bureaucrat on the make

 

 

5. the most incredible sight!

 

 

6. the Nose in the cathedral… to pray?

 

 

7. the Babe! (Why can’t Kovalyov speak to her?)

 

 

8. Kovalyov’s plan of action: to the Classified Ads!

 

 

9. The Classified Ads come to life.

 

10. Horrors! The social consequences of noselessness.

 

 

11. The Ad is refused. On what grounds?

 

 

12. The depths of despair! No  theater tonight! (Any sympathy form the clerk?)

 

 

13. The Police Inspector’s Strange pets!

 

 

14. How is Kovalyov cut to the quick by the Police Inspector?

 

 

15. Kovalyov at home: his servant Ivan, on his back, spitting at the ceiling.

 

 

16. Who is to blame? Madame Podtochina and her daughter! Why?

 

 

17. The Police Officer to the rescue! How was the renegade Nose captured?

 

 

18. Ah, the brevity of happiness! (Can this idea be applied in a different context?)

 

 

19. The Doctor’s Advice?

 

 

20. Kovalyov’s letter to Madame Podtochina and her reply.

 

 

21. The Nose becomes a Celebrity! The media crush in St. Petersburg!

     

22. The Nose miraculously returns to its rightful place! How has Kovalyov changed?  What has he learned from his terrifying adventure?

 

 

Write a thesis statement which explains Gogol’s artistic purpose in this story.