Do you want to meet such a famous poet as Vasily Zhukovsky? A brief biography should interest literature lovers. Starting as a sentimentalist, Zhukovsky became one of the founders of Russian romanticism. His poetry is full of images of folk fiction, melancholy dreams. Vasily Zhukovsky translated the works of J. Byron, F. Schiller, Homer's Odyssey. We offer to learn more about his life and work.
The origin of V. A. Zhukovsky
Vasily Zhukovsky was born in with. Mishenskoy of the Tula province 01/29/1783. His father, A.I. Bunin, was the landowner of this village, and his mother was a captured Turkish woman. Vasily Zhukovsky received a middle name and last name from a friend of the Bunins, Andrei Grigoryevich Zhukovsky. The Bunin family shortly before the birth of the future poet suffered a terrible grief: in a short time, out of 11 people, six died, including his only son, who was then studying at the University of Leipzig. Maria Grigorievna, heartbroken, in memory of her son, decided to take the newborn to her family and raise him as her own son.
Studying at a hostel
Soon the boy became the darling of the whole family. At the age of 14, Vasily entered the Moscow university hostel. He studied in it for 4 years. The boarding school did not give extensive knowledge, but under the guidance of teachers, students often gathered to read their literary experiments. Periodicals published the best of them.
First works
Soon, his first works were published by Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky. His biography was marked by his debut in print in 1797. The first published work - "Thoughts at the Tomb." It was created under the impression of the death of V. A. Yushkova. During his studies at the boarding school (from 1797 to 1801), the following works of Zhukovsky were published: in 1797 - May Morning, in 1798 - Virtue, in 1800 - Mir and To Tibull, in 1801 - To man "and others. In all of them, the melancholic note dominates. The poet is struck by the transience of everything earthly, the fragility of life, which seems to him full of suffering and tears. This mood was mainly due to the literary tastes of the time. The fact is that the first works of Vasily Andreevich appeared when many were enthusiastic about Karamzin's “Poor Lisa”, published in 1792. Countless imitations arose.
However, not everything was explained by fashion. The circumstances of the birth of Vasily Zhukovsky were not forgotten either by others or by himself. He had an ambiguous position in the world. The poet’s childhood and youth were not happy.
First transfer, return to the village
The first translation of Zhukovsky, the novel "Boy at the Creek" by Kotzebue (1801), also dates back to his studies at the boarding house. Vasily Andreevich, upon completion of the training course, entered the service, but soon decided to leave her. He settled in Mishensky in order to continue his education.
Creativity of 1802-1808
In 1803, Zhukovsky’s novel “Vadim of Novgorod” was written and published. It shows that around this time the poet began to study the history of Ancient Russia.
During his life in the village (1802-1808), Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky practically did not publish his works. His biography is marked by the appearance of only a few new creations. In the "Herald of Europe" in 1802 was placed his famous "Rural Cemetery" - an alteration or free translation from Gray. This work immediately attracted attention. Naturalness and simplicity became a new discovery of the time when pompous pseudo-classicism still prevailed. Around the same time, Zhukovsky created "Maryina Roscha" - a story written in imitation of "Poor Liza."
Vasily Andreevich in 1806 responded to the general patriotic mood "Song of the bard over the tomb of the Slavs-winners." "Lyudmila" appeared in 1808. It was a remake of the work of Lenore Burger. It was with the ballad "Lyudmila" that romanticism entered domestic literature. Vasily Andreyevich was captured by that side of him, where he is a desire deep into the Middle Ages, into the world of medieval legends and tales.
Zhukovsky was encouraged by the success of Lyudmila. Alterations and translations from this time continuously follow one after another. Vasily Andreyevich translated mainly German poets. And his most successful creations are associated with the creations of Schiller. At this time, Zhukovsky also created original works. For example, the first part of the poem The Twelve Sleeping Maidens appeared under the title Stormbreaker, as well as several prose articles.
Moving to Moscow, editorial activity
At the same time, became the editor of Vestnik Evropy Zhukovsky Vasily Andreevich. His brief biography was marked by a move to Moscow to fill this position. For two years, editorial work continued, from 1809 to 1810. First, Vasily Andreevich worked alone, then together with Kachenovsky. The “Herald of Europe” finally went over to the latter.
Heart drama Zhukovsky
After that, Zhukovsky returned to his village and experienced a deep heartfelt drama here. A few years ago, he began to study with his nieces, the daughters of E. A. Protasova, the youngest daughter of the landowner Bunin. Ekaterina Afanasevna was widowed shortly before and settled in Belev. Vasily Andreevich passionately fell in love with Maria Protasova, his oldest student. Dreams of mutual love and family happiness become the favorite motifs of his lyrics. However, Zhukovsky’s sense soon acquired a melancholy hue. Family ties made this love impossible in the eyes of others. The poet had to carefully hide his feeling. Only in poetic outpourings did it find a way out. However, without interfering with the scientific studies of Zhukovsky. With special zeal, he began to study history, Russian and universal, and acquired thorough knowledge.
"Singer in the camp of Russian soldiers" and "Svetlana"
Zhukovsky in 1812 decided to ask Maria Protasova for her mother’s hands, but was resolutely refused. Relationships hindered marriage. Vasily Andreevich soon afterwards left for Moscow. Here Zhukovsky Vasily Andreevich joined the militia. Briefly about this his experience we can say the following. Fascinated by the patriotic enthusiasm with which the Russian troops were captured, in a camp near Tarutin Zhukovsky wrote "The Singer in the Camp of Russian Warriors." This work immediately gained great fame. It has been distributed in thousands of lists throughout the army and throughout Russia. Zhukovsky’s new ballad “Svetlana” also dates back to 1812. Despite the Russian introduction, the motifs of “Lenora” by Burger were developed in this work.
Zhukovsky’s life and work at court
The military life of Vasily Zhukovsky did not last long. He became ill with typhus at the end of 1812 and retired in January 1813. In 1814, a "Message to the Emperor Alexander" appeared, after which Empress Maria Fedorovna wanted Zhukovsky to come to Petersburg. Maria Protasova in 1817 married Professor Mayer. In the poetry of Zhukovsky and later dreams of love will sound. However, the girl was poor in health and in 1823 she died. Can Maria Protasova forget and find a life partner Vasily Zhukovsky? The biography of his future years will give you the answer to this question.
The main notes of Zhukovsky’s poetry
“Longing for love”, “longing for the distance”, “sorrow for the unknown”, “languor of separation” - these are the main notes of Vasily Andreyevich’s poetry. Her character almost completely depended on the mystical mood of Zhukovsky, caused by unfulfilled dreams of love. Thus, the circumstances of the time, dominant in society, sentimental literary tastes, could not be better fit to the personal feeling of the poet. The introduction of romantic content into his work, Zhukovsky greatly expanded the sentimentalism of Russian literature that had been established before him. However, developing new motives in his works, he mainly followed the instructions of his personal feelings.
The poet Vasily Zhukovsky took from medieval romanticism only that which corresponded to his own mystical dreams and aspirations. The significance of his work was that the poetry of Zhukovsky, being subjective, at the same time served the general interests of the development of literature. His subjectivism was an important step on the road to the elimination of verbal creativity from the pseudo-classicist cold. Zhukovsky introduced into literature the world of inner life, until then it was practically unknown.
The period from 1817 to 1841 is the time when Vasily Andreyevich lived at court. At first he was a teacher of the Russian language. His disciples were Princess Elena Pavlovna and Alexandra Fedorovna. And since 1825, Vasily Andreevich became the tutor of Alexander Nikolaevich, heir to the throne. At this time, Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky often traveled abroad. The poet went there both on official business and for treatment.
Zhukovsky’s travels and new works
Zhukovsky’s works appear at this time as if by accident. For example, going to Switzerland and Germany in the autumn of 1820, Vasily Andreyevich set to work in Berlin for the translation of the Schiller "Orleans Virgin". In 1821 he graduated from it. And under the impression of the Chillon Castle, located in Switzerland, a translation of the “Chillon Prisoner” of Byron (in 1822) was created.
Vasily Zhukovsky spent the winter of 1832-33. at Lake Geneva. A number of translations from Herder, Schiller, Uland, passages of the Iliad, etc. appeared at this time. Vasily Andreevich traveled in 1837 to Russia and part of Siberia, together with the heir to the throne. And in 1838-39. he went with him to Western Europe. Zhukovsky in Rome became close to Gogol, which influenced the development of a mystical mood in his later work.
Marriage
Classes with the heir ended in the spring of 1841. The influence that Zhukovsky had on him was beneficial. And now we will answer the question about how Vasily Zhukovsky’s personal life has developed. In Dusseldorf, on April 21, 1841, Vasily Andreyevich was married (he was already 58 at the time) with the 18-year-old daughter of the painter Reitern, his long-time friend. Zhukovsky spent the last 12 years of his life in Germany with his spouse's family.
Vasily Zhukovsky: a biography of recent years
In the first year of his marriage, he wrote the fairy tales "Tulip Tree", "Puss in Boots", "About Ivan the Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf". The translation of the Odyssey (the first volume) appeared in 1848, and the second in 1849. Unfortunately, Zhukovsky Vasily Andreevich did not manage to finish the poem "Wandering Jew". His brief biography ends in Baden-Baden in 1852, on April 7. It was then that Vasily Andreevich died. He left a spouse, daughter and son. But not only them. Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky left us a great artistic legacy.
His work is included in the school curriculum in literature. To this day, many are read out by Vasily Andreyevich, and interest in his personality does not fade. So you got acquainted with the biography of such a great Russian poet as Vasily Zhukovsky. We described his work only briefly, but it deserves a detailed study. Continuing acquaintance with this poet is certainly worth it.