Childhood

Katya's appearance Katya is an eleven-year-old girl with whom the protagonist, Nikolenka Irtenyev, has an unrequited crush. The author describes her appearance with great tenderness and warmth: Face and facial expressions: She has light, expressive blue eyes and a smiling face. Figure and movements: the girl is distinguished by “harmonious freshness and grace” of movements. Clothing: She most often wears simple linen dresses, which, despite her poverty, fit her neatly and tidily. Special details: Nikolenka notices her thin ankles, graceful neck and light, flying gait during games. Lively and cheerful: she loves active games, happily runs at picnics, picks mushrooms and plays with birds. Kind and sensitive: the girl is devoid of selfishness, she is sincerely attached to Nikolenka and Lyubochka, and behaves openly and friendly with them. Practical and serious beyond her years: because her mother is merely a hired governess, Katenka begins to understand class differences early on. In one conversation, she bluntly tells Nikolenka that they cannot be equal, since he is rich and noble, and she is poor. This demonstrates her realistic outlook on life. Touchy, but easy-going: like any child, she can be capricious or offended during play, but quickly forgets the insults.

Clothing: Wears clean, neat baby clothes, such as a pink dress and pink lace panties. Facial features and figure: She has a heavy, slightly awkward gait. Her figure and movements lack the precocious feminine grace that is already evident in Katya. Overall impression: Despite her outward simplicity and lack of "doll-like" beauty, her face is captivating with its purity, liveliness, and openness. Emotionality and tearfulness: She is very sensitive, timid, and easily bursts into tears over trifles or out of fear (for example, during a thunderstorm or at the sight of the holy fool Grisha). Her brothers sometimes consider her a softie. Lack of coquetry: She doesn't try to appear better, prettier, or more mature than she really is. She sits, walks, eats, and laughs completely naturally, without worrying about how she looks. Kindness and forgivingness: Nikolenka notes that his sister is "not a nasty person." She is free from envy, selfishness, or cunning. She is genuinely attached to her family, her governess Mimi, and her friend. Hobbies: As befits a girl from a noble family, she studies hard, studies music a lot and plays the piano well.

Emotionality: takes everything to heart, often cries from resentment, shame or excess of feelings. Kindness and compassion: sincerely loves his mother, worries about his loved ones, knows how to forgive. Observation: keenly notices falsehoods in adults’ behavior and analyzes people’s hidden motives. Self-criticism: constantly evaluates one's actions, often blames oneself for selfishness, vanity or pride. Fantasy: has a rich imagination, loves to dream and philosophize about life. Eyes: small. Nose: wide. Lips: thick. Hair: constantly sticking out unruly curls. Body type: awkward and clumsy teenager

Pride and self-esteem. Volodya reacts sharply to any criticism. He carefully monitors how he appears to others, trying to appear mature and independent. Secrecy and restraint. Unlike the sensitive and emotional Nikolenka, Volodya rarely reveals his true feelings and experiences, considering it a sign of weakness. Willful and stubborn. He has his own opinion on everything. He rarely gives in to arguments and always strives to do things his own way. A penchant for irony. Volodya loves to tease his brother and sisters. Because of Nikolenka's overly emotional nature, he often teases him as "little girl." Outward callousness belies inner nobility. Behind the mask of indifference and selfishness lies a kind person. Volodya is capable of genuine empathy and understanding, though he tries to hide it. An attractive face. Volodya has regular, noble, and pleasant features. Expressive eyes. Nikolenka notes his lively, intelligent, and confident gaze. Elegant black eyebrows. They stand out clearly on the face and accentuate its expressions. Thick hair. He has beautiful dark hair, which he combs neatly. Proud posture. Volodya holds himself with great confidence, uprightness, and dignity. Neatness in dress. He carefully maintains his appearance and always looks clean and tidy.