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What are the major themes of The Winter Oak and how does the author use the characters of Anna and Savushkin to develop these themes? There are four major themes in The Winter Oak. There is one obvious, very important theme, which is the huge contrast between both the settings and environments of the classroom and forest, and the ways the two main characters, Anna Vasilevna and Savushkin, behave in these places. Also, there is the theme of education, and how it continues from the classroom into the forest yet changes its ways. There is a less obvious political side to the story, where the classroom atmosphere and events stand for communism in Russia, the forests qualities point to freedom, and the winter oak is seen as a royal, godly protector and single ruler (this idea is very anti-communist). The final theme is one of the more important themes in the story, the role reversal of teacher Anna Vasilevna and pupil Savushkin, and the way Savushkin becomes more of a teacher in the forest.
One of several contrasting factors in the story is the way Anna feels towards Savushkin, and how it changes. When Savushkin arrived late to that mornings English lesson, Anna questions Savushkin's lateness, clearly not for the first time, only this time her question sounded plaintive, as if she felt saddened by his repeated lateness, and at how her efforts at changing him were failing. Later, Anna fails to understand Savushkin's excitement when he calls out Winter oak, and she finds herself hiding her irritation with difficulty. This suggests she is finding Savushkin's behaviour annoying, and she soon snaps and tells him to see her at break. To herself, she thinks him to be a difficult boy.
Her attitude towards Savushkin soon changes in the forest. The first sign of Anna appreciating him is that upon being corrected by Savushkin about the current in the stream, she simply bit her tongue, instead of being annoyed at what she might earlier have interpreted as answering back. Her attitude towards Savushkin changes so significantly throughout the events in the forest that as she leaves, she is looking on him as the most amazing thing in all of the forest, a mysterious and wonderful future citizen. The great contrast between this point and the start of the story is there to emphasise the power the forest has on people.
Another contrast is the way Annas behaviour differs in the schoolroom to that in the forest. She starts of the morning feeling very self-confident, thinking back on how she used to feel about teaching a lesson. The fact she smiled at this memory suggests she no longer fears her class. Her trail of thought after Savushkin's late arrival makes her think of the shrivelled little old geography mistress, and how she had complained about how difficult the first lesson is. It made Anna feel self-assured that it wasnt that difficult for her. As well as confident, Anna Vasilevna also seems author ative and in control.
When she said thats enough, the class had fallen silent, showing her power over the class. However, in the forest Anna behaves very differently. She allows herself to be led by Savushkin, and is more relaxed. Have you seen one? asked Anna Vasilevna excitedly. Her excitement was definitely not seen in the schoolroom.
This excitement and loss of control increases and she gets enthralled by a creature in the snow. Annas authority can be seen to be lost when she timidly approaches the oak. Until this point she had been looking down on everything and everyone-they were inferior. Again, the forests effect can be seen.
The banging of desk lids, squeaking of benches, and the sound of a heavy lorry with a trailer outside make for a noisy, packed atmosphere in the schoolroom. There is a hint of tension when Anna says Thats enough, and Quiet. In contrast to that, the forest feels serene and tranquil: not a sound could be heard, even though there was the movement of birds above. It is described by the author as an enchanted world of peace and silence. This is a very strong sentence- the word enchanted gives an edge to the atmosphere that is magical, and calling it a world separates it completely from the rest of Russia. Several parts of the story could be interpreted in different ways, and one way is to see a political theme in the things that happen.
The classroom might be seen as oppressive, like communism. Firstly there is clearly a strict lesson plan with no room for variation: not only is the lesson a repeat of last years (which can be seen when Anna remembers that last year the first example, of a noun, had also been cat), but also Anna praises the same boring old nouns, and becomes irritated with the change Savushkin almost brings upon the class when he declares Winter oak is a noun. The words were torn out of his soul, like a confession. This metaphor suggests Savushkin's words are of something forbidden and out of place, and they definitely seem awkward.
The rigid method of teaching in the schoolroom is typical of communism, and Anna is used to develop this idea. The forest is very different, as might be expected. Freedom and release can be seen in both of the main characters after entering. Instead of being stern or plaintive, Anna is enthralled and seems happy.
Savushkin, instead of speaking as if the words were torn out of his soul, is now laughing. It is as if the forest, even nature as a whole, is something lost and forgotten which people (noticeably Anna) lack under communist rule. The stream in the forest is, in places, imprisoned in an armour of clear ice. This is interesting- it could be taken to mean that the armour of communism which was originally supposed to help the people, has trapped and demoralized them to the extent that they feel imprisoned. There is a large amount of personification about the winter oak especially.
The mighty, magnanimous guardian of the forest waved a branch in greeting. The winter oak is of utmost importance in the political side of the story. In the previous quotation, the adjective mighty shows the tree to be powerful, magnanimous suggests it is fair and generous, and guardian suggests it looks after the forest. In addition to the idea of a guardian, there are many creatures, such as the creature Anna guessed was a hedgehog, hibernating at its foot. Another important sentence is clothed in glittering white raiment, huge and majestic as a cathedral.
The glittering white clothing of snow gives an idea of royalty, which the comparison to a cathedral makes this oak tree seem godly. So, we are given an impression of a powerful, just, divine and royal figure at the heart of this enchanted world of peace. This is very different to communism's ideas, and perhaps relates back to the Tsars of pre-communist Russia, which in itself is anti-communist. The final theme of the winter oak is the role reversal which can be seen to take place upon entering the forest.
In the classroom Anna is clearly the teacher. The fact the pupils stand when she enters the classroom shows her authority, and also like most young teachers, Anna Vasilevna enjoyed being stern seems to say she is the teacher. Savushkin asks, upon his late arrival, may I come in? which shows he is inferior to Anna, therefore most likely a pupil.
However, in the forest, Anna seems more the pupil, and Savushkin the teacher. Anna asks questions, such as Have you seen one? , in an excited way, with the same sort of delight she previously failed to understand in her pupils answers, and later she decides that clearly here in the forest she had better keep quiet, like a bright pupil might having been told they are wrong. Also, she later approaches the winter oak timidly: she has lost her confidence. As for Savushkin in the forest, he is far more confident and easy than in the schoolroom.
He explains things to Anna, such as that an elk has been here, and even reassures her, saying dont be afraid. She learns a lot from Savushkin in this latter part of the story. He even has the confidence to correct her, saying no, Anna Vasilevna in response to her statement, which a pupil wouldnt normally say to a teacher. This theme is about the two main characters, and so naturally they are used in its development.
These are the major themes of The Winter Oak, although there are other less important sides to the story. Anna Vasilevna and Savushkin are both used to keep these themes strong and develop them throughout.
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