Among all the magnificent works of Pushkin stands out the verse "To Chaadaev." The genre and theme of this verse is unique in his work. The verse is not like most of his lyric poems and appeals. Here the soulful lyrics are skillfully combined with civil, patriotic lyrics. At that time, it was a rather innovative approach to creativity.
We will carry out a small analysis of the poem "To Chaadayev." We will find out the genre and topic below. First, we will describe who P. Chaadaev is, why the poet sends rather patriotic messages to him?
A close friend of A. Pushkin - P. Chaadaev
The famous poem is dedicated to a figure that was noticeable at that time - to the officer of the Life Guards of the Hussar Regiment P. Ya. Chaadaev. Peter Chaadaev, as an officer, participated in the great battle of Borodino and the capture of Paris.
Peter Chaadaev participated in many organizations - he was an official member of the Krakow Freemasonry, the "Union of Welfare" in Moscow. In the Decembrists, he was only listed. However, he did not render any assistance to the movement. Therefore, Pushkin turns to his close friend in the hope that he will understand his impulses of the soul. Peter himself set his peasants free, as he sympathized with them. His political views were very progressive. In addition, this man eventually became one of the smartest people of that time. He himself is a great philosopher and publicist.
"To Chaadaev." Verse
The great poet created this creation in the Petersburg period of creativity. Then the young Alexander Sergeyevich, as you know, deeply sympathized with the movement of the rebels - the Decembrists.
Chaadaev, one of the few comrades of his young years, he could trust any of his innermost ideas, always appreciated the opinion of his older friend.
The verse was written in 1818, it was known to all the Decembrist youth with whom Pushkin communicated and sought to interact in the future.
The poet did not publish his poem himself, but one of the young people who knew the poet himself submitted these lines for printing in 1829, contrary to Pushkin’s desire.
Genre and theme
If you take into account the time of the release of the poem, then you can understand the fears of Pushkin. The poem exalts freedom from autocracy. Although not explicitly said about the overthrow of tsarism, the spirit of the revolutionary is very clearly felt in the stanzas.
Let's get back to literary analysis. By genre, a poetic work is considered a message to a friend. Although Pushkin addressed not only Peter Yakovlevich Chaadayev, but all his compatriots who shared his liberal views.
This genre - the message was widely used in ancient times. He was used in his work by Ovid and even Horace. In the XVIII, XIX century, early XX, this genre was also very popular among writers.
Pushkin writes in a letter to a friend innermost thoughts that might not otherwise have spilled out of the poet’s soul. Lyrical emotional notes are felt in the poem. Indeed, by nature, Pushkin is a lyric poet. And even in his civic lyrics one feels an exalted poetic soul. He is able to summarize personal and civil feelings and add extraordinary pathos to his thoughts.
What is the topic? The theme is a revolutionary proclamation, permeated to the ground with a deep love for the motherland and youthful ardent belief that, following the path of revolution, he will serve his people and future generations. This topic is consistent with the chosen genre of the poem "To Chaadaev." The genre, as we recall, is a message in lyrical and civil form.
"To Chaadaev." Idea
In the poem "To Chaadaev" the main idea is a call for freedom and civil choice - to change or not to change the political situation? During the Decembrist movement, this question was acute in the noble circles. Alexander Pushkin considers the fight against tsarism and serfdom an honor. And he does not see his fate otherwise; the poet considers it his duty to help the movement. He uses public political vocabulary to express how important the fate of his homeland is to him.
The lines of the verse explicitly say: "Our names will be written on the ruins of autocracy!" He speaks of freedom as the dignity of an exalted citizen of his homeland. And he believes that his poems will really awaken the impulses of civil disobedience, and he sees his merit in that.
Verse size
Like most Pushkin poems, "To Chaadaev," whose genre and theme we have already examined in detail, is written in 6-stop iamba. This poetic size was the most beloved in his work. Yamb is found in almost every work and is given to the poet with unprecedented ease.
It is only occasionally found in later works of anapaest, but it was much later, when the poet strove for experiments in poetry. When I tried to find a new muse for myself and slightly change the usual rhythm in the story.
Conclusion
As you can see, young Pushkin, who had just graduated from the Lyceum, treasured his friendship with his senior comrade Peter Chaadaev. The whole poem is a message to a friend in which the poet reveals his patriotic feelings. And what is the main idea of the verse, what is the quintessence of the message "To Chaadaev"? The theme chosen by the poet is the desire for free life in the fatherland. And the idea is a call to devote all your thoughts and feelings to the fatherland.