Old Arkhip and Lyonka by Maxim Gorky. Short summary

5 seconds

Grandpa Arkhip and Lyonka ask for alms in Kuban. In one of the villages, a boy quarrels with his grandfather over a child’s handkerchief he stole. The old man dies, and Lenka dies, having fallen into a ravine.

1 minute

Grandfather Arkhip and his grandson Lyonka are two starving people from Russia, begging in the Kuban. Grandpa is sick and very worried about how his grandson will survive his death.

They approach a rich village and split up to beg separately. The boy meets a crying girl who has lost a beautiful handkerchief. Lyonka takes pity on the child.

The grandfather and his grandson meet. They are caught by the herdsmen, who are looking for the thieves who stole the shawl and dagger. On the way to the search, the grandfather asks his grandson to throw away the handkerchief he stole. It is the girl’s handkerchief. The grandfather is searched, but finds nothing.

The boy argues with the old man, calling him a thief. The grandfather is horrified at his grandson’s words, for he tried for Lyonka. The boy leaves.

The next day the grandfather dies. Lyonka is found three days later. He died falling into a ravine.