A Chapter-by-Chapter Summary of Pushkin’s The Captain’s Daughter

Alexander Pushkin first published the historical novel “The Captain’s Daughter” in 1836. According to researchers, the work sits at the intersection of Romanticism and Realism. The genre is also not precisely defined—some consider “The Captain’s Daughter” a tale (povest’), while others view it as a full-fledged novel.

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The action of the work takes place during the uprising of Yemelyan Pugachev and is based on real events. The narrative is written in the form of memoirs by the main character, Pyotr Andreich Grinyov—his diary entries. The work is named after Grinyov’s beloved, Marya Mironova, the Captain’s Daughter.

Setting (Place and Time)

The events of the novel occur during the uprising of Yemelyan Pugachev, i.e., in 1773–1775. The setting is the Russian Empire: the cities of Simbirsk, Orenburg, Belogorsk Fortress, and St. Petersburg.

Main Characters

Pyotr Andreich Grinyov: The main protagonist of the novel, a nobleman, officer, and the narrator.

Marya Ivanovna Mironova: Captain Mironov’s daughter; “a girl of about eighteen, round-faced, rosy.”

Alexey Ivanych Shvabrin: An officer whom Grinyov met at Belogorsk Fortress; he joined Pugachev’s rebels and testified against Grinyov.

Yemelyan Pugachev: The leader of the peasant uprising, “about forty, of medium height, lean and broad-shouldered,” with a black beard.

Arkhip Savelich: An elderly man who was Grinyov’s tutor from childhood.

Other Characters

Mironov Ivan Kuzmich: Captain, Masha’s father, and the commandant of Belogorsk Fortress.

Andrey Petrovich Grinyov: Pyotr Andreich’s father, a retired Premier Major.

Ivan Ivanovich Zurin: An officer whom Grinyov met in a tavern in Simbirsk.

Mironova Vasilisa Yegorovna: Captain Mironov’s wife, Masha’s mother, a commanding and courageous woman.

Brief Summary

Chapter 1. The Guards Sergeant The protagonist’s father, Andrey Petrovich Grinyov, retired as a premier major and began living in his village in Simbirsk, having married the daughter of a local nobleman. From the age of five, Pyotr was entrusted to the care of the groom, Savelich. When the protagonist turned 16, his father, instead of sending him to the Semyonovsky Regiment in St. Petersburg (as previously planned), assigned him to service in Orenburg. Savelich was sent along with the young man. On the way to Orenburg, in a tavern in Simbirsk, Grinyov met Rotmistr (Cavalry Captain) Zurin of the Hussar Regiment. Zurin taught the young man to play billiards and suggested gambling for money. After drinking punch, Grinyov became heated and lost one hundred rubles. A distressed Savelich had to pay the debt.

Chapter 2. The Guide They continued their journey. The weather deteriorated, a severe snowstorm began, and the road was blocked. However, a peasant they encountered agreed to lead them to the nearest dwelling. Along the way, Grinyov dozed off and had a seemingly prophetic dream. Pyotr dreamed he came to say goodbye to his dying father, but saw a “muzhik with a black beard” in the bed. His mother called the peasant Grinyov’s “foster father” and told him to kiss his hand for a blessing. Pyotr refused. The peasant then jumped up, grabbed an axe, and began murdering everyone. The terrifying peasant kindly urged him: “Fear not, come under my blessing.” At that moment, Grinyov woke up: they had arrived at the inn. As thanks for his help, Grinyov gave the guide his hare fur coat. In Orenburg, Grinyov was immediately directed to the Belogorsk Fortress, to Captain Mironov’s command.

Chapter 3. The Fortress “The Belogorsk Fortress was forty versts from Orenburg.” On his first day, Grinyov met the commandant and his wife. The next day, Pyotr Andreich met the officer Alexey Ivanych Shvabrin. He had been exiled here “for manslaughter”—he had “stabbed a lieutenant” during a duel. Shvabrin constantly ridiculed the commandant’s family. Shvabrin described Mironov’s daughter, Marya Ivanovna, as a “complete fool,” so Pyotr initially viewed her with prejudice. However, after some time, Pyotr Andreich grew very fond of her.

Chapter 4. The Duel Over time, Grinyov found in Marya Ivanovna a “sensible and sensitive girl.” Pyotr Andreich began writing poetry and once read one of his works, dedicated to Masha, to Shvabrin. Shvabrin criticized the poetry and said the girl would prefer “a pair of earrings” instead of “tender verses.” Grinyov called Shvabrin a scoundrel, and Shvabrin challenged Pyotr Andreich to a duel. The first time they were unable to fight—they were noticed and taken to the commandant. That evening, Grinyov learned that Shvabrin had proposed to Masha the previous year and been rejected. The next day, Grinyov and Shvabrin met again for the duel. During the fight, Pyotr Andreich was hailed by a running Savelich. Grinyov looked around, and his opponent struck him “in the chest below the right shoulder.”

Chapter 5. Love All the time Grinyov was recovering, Masha nursed him. Pyotr Andreich proposed to the girl, and she accepted. Grinyov wrote to his father about his intention to marry. However, Andrey Petrovich replied that he would not consent to the marriage and would even arrange for his son to be transferred “somewhere far away.” Learning of Grinyov’s parents’ reply, Marya Ivanovna was very upset, but she did not want to marry without their consent (in part because the girl was dowry-less). From then on, she began to avoid Pyotr Andreich.

Chapter 6. The Pugachev Rebellion News arrived that the “Don Cossack and Old Believer Yemelyan Pugachev” had escaped from custody, gathered a “villainous gang,” and “instigated a revolt in the Yaik settlements.” Soon it became known that the rebels intended to march on the Belogorsk Fortress. Preparations began.

Chapter 7. The Assault Grinyov stayed awake all night. Many armed people gathered at the fortress. Pugachev himself rode among them on a white horse. The rebels stormed the fortress, the commandant was wounded in the head, and Grinyov was captured. Cries rang out in the crowd that “the sovereign is waiting for prisoners in the square and accepting oaths.” Mironov and Lieutenant Ivan Ignatich refused to swear allegiance and were hanged. The same fate awaited Grinyov, but Savelich, at the last moment, threw himself at Pugachev’s feet and begged him to release Pyotr Andreich. Pugachev recognized Savelich, remembered the hare fur coat Grinyov had given him, and pardoned Grinyov. Shvabrin, however, joined the rebels. Masha’s mother was killed.

Chapter 8. The Uninvited Guest Masha was hidden by the priest’s wife, who claimed she was her niece. Savelich told Grinyov that Pugachev was the same peasant to whom Pyotr Andreich had given the fur coat. Pugachev summoned Grinyov. Pyotr Andreich confessed that he could not serve him, as he was a “natural nobleman” and “had sworn an oath to the Empress”: “My head is in your power: if you let me go, thank you; if you execute me, God be your judge; but I have told you the truth.” Pyotr Andreich’s sincerity struck Pugachev, and he let him go “to all four sides.”

Chapter 9. Separation In the morning, Pugachev told Grinyov to go to Orenburg and tell the governor and all the generals to expect him in a week. The leader of the rebellion appointed Shvabrin as the new commander of the fortress.

Chapter 10. The Siege of the City A few days later, news came that Pugachev was moving toward Orenburg. Grinyov received a letter from Marya Ivanovna. The girl wrote that Shvabrin was forcing her to marry him and treating her very cruelly, so she begged Grinyov for help.

Chapter 11. The Rebel Settlement Failing to gain support from the general, Grinyov set out for the Belogorsk Fortress. Along the way, he and Savelich were captured by Pugachev’s men. Grinyov told the rebel leader that he was traveling to Belogorsk Fortress because there Shvabrin was abusing an orphan girl—Grinyov’s fiancée. In the morning, Pugachev, along with Grinyov and his men, rode toward the fortress.

Chapter 12. The Orphan Shvabrin claimed that Marya Ivanovna was his wife. But upon entering the girl’s room, Grinyov and Pugachev saw that she was pale and thin, and the only food before her was “a jug of water, covered with a slice of bread.” Shvabrin reported that the girl was Mironov’s daughter; however, Pugachev still released Grinyov with his beloved.

Chapter 13. The Arrest Approaching the town, Grinyov with Marya were stopped by guards. Pyotr Andreich went to the Major and recognized him as Zurin. Grinyov, after talking with Zurin, decided to send Masha to his parents’ village, while he remained to serve in the detachment. At the end of February, Zurin’s detachment set out on a campaign. Pugachev after being defeated, gathered his gang again and marched on Moscow, spreading chaos. “Gangs of robbers were committing atrocities everywhere.” “God forbid seeing a Russian revolt, senseless and merciless!” Finally, Pugachev was caught. Grinyov prepared to go to his parents, but a paper arrived announcing his arrest in connection with the Pugachev case.

Chapter 14. The Trial Grinyov by order arrived in Kazan, he was imprisoned. During the interrogation, Pyotr Andreich, not wishing to involve Marya, remained silent about why he had left Orenburg. Grinyov’s accuser, Shvabrin, asserted that Pyotr Andreich was Pugachev’s spy. Marya Ivanovna was received by Grinyov’s parents “with sincere cordiality.” The news of Pyotr Andreich’s arrest stunned everyone: he was facing lifelong exile to Siberia. To save her beloved, Marya Ivanovna traveled to St. Petersburg and stayed in Tsarskoye Selo. During a morning walk, she talked with an unknown lady, told her story, and explained that she had come to ask the Empress for a pardon for Grinyov. That same day, the Empress’s carriage was sent for Marya. The sovereign turned out to be the same lady with whom the girl had spoken that morning. The Empress pardoned Grinyov and promised to help her with a dowry. According to the author, Pyotr Andreich was released at the end of 1774. “He was present at Pugachev’s execution, who recognized him in the crowd and nodded his head at him.” Soon after, Grinyov married Marya Ivanovna. “The manuscript of Pyotr Andreich Grinyov was delivered to us by one of his grandsons.”

What Happened in the End?

Pyotr Grinyov — after his release from prison at the end of 1774, he marries Masha Mironova and settles in his family estate in the Simbirsk province.

Masha Mironova — having secured Grinyov’s release, she becomes his wife and the mother of his children.

Yemelyan Pugachev — was caught and publicly executed in the square by order of the Empress.

Shvabrin — as a traitor and accomplice to Pugachev, the hero faces a bitter fate: lifelong hard labor or execution.

Savelich — faithfully serves his master Pyotr Grinyov until the end of his days.

Captain Mironov — refusing to swear allegiance to the brigand and rebel Pugachev, the honest captain meets his death on the gallows.

Vasilisa Yegorovna — was cut down with a saber by Pugachev’s order.

Ivan Ignatich — following the example of his superior, Captain Mironov, he refused to swear loyalty to Pugachev, for which he was hanged.

Grinyov’s Parents — live as a large, happy family together with Pyotr and Marya in their family estate.