The narrator remembers his time at the Lycée. He frames himself as a particularly promising young poet and he felt inspired by “the Muse” (8.1.8). During one escapade, he sees Onegin at a party. Onegin has been away from Russia and, now that he has returned, the narrator is surprised that he would throw himself back into the elite social life that seemed to be so abhorrent to him in the past. Onegin found no pleasure, the narrator says, in the “wearisome” (8.13.12) tour of Europe.

At the party, Onegin is shocked to see Tatyana. She has grown up in his absence, and she is now a beautiful woman, though seemingly unburdened by the typical trappings of high society that he loathes so much. Onegin discovers that Tatyana is now married to an elderly general, the man who was gazing at her across the dance floor in the earlier chapter. Onegin approaches the “calm and dignified” (8.18.14) Tatyana. She seems remarkably different compared to the dreamy, vulnerable girl he remembers from years before. Onegin is confused and he feels his grief and shame all over again. Nevertheless, he accepts an invitation to attend a party that is being hosted at Tatyana’s home.