One of the most significant patriotic poems in Russian poetry is the work “The Borodino Anniversary”. Pushkin, the author of this work, expressed his firm confidence in the power of the Russian Empire, its internal and external strength. He also maintained the idea that a country is capable of confronting any enemy in the international arena. It is interesting that this poem was created at about the same time as another poet's equally well-known work, Slanderers of Russia, in which he also carried out the idea of the preservation by the Russian people of their strength and greatness.
The story of the creation of the poem
In response to the suppression of the Polish uprising, the poem Borodino Anniversary appeared. Pushkin, who always reacted very sensitively to contemporary events, wrote two works at once, in which he expressed confidence in the indivisibility of the empire. At this time, the poet moved away from youthful revolutionary romance, his mature works are more restrained and loyal to the authorities. Many critics note that Alexander Sergeyevich considered the entry of Poland into the empire a guarantee of its integrity.
Therefore, he spoke positively about the suppression of the Polish uprising, although in correspondence with friends he often admired the courage of those people who fought for their country. However, the main addressee of these poems was not the leaders of the uprising, but Europe, or rather, those of its representatives who called for armed intervention in Russian-Polish relations.
Political overtones
The poem “Borodino Anniversary” turned out to be very relevant for its time. Pushkin directly addressed those European deputies who believed that their countries should help the Polish rebels in their armed struggle.
The poet himself considered the contradictions between Poland and Russia to be an "old family dispute," as he argued in the other poem we mentioned and in correspondence. Therefore, the author argued that European states should not interfere in this Slavic dispute. The main complaint of the poet is not against Polish rebels, but against those who wanted to forcibly intervene in Russian politics.
Historical references
Numerous examples of the past are the complete work “Borodino Anniversary”. Pushkin, who knew Russian history very well, recalls the glory and grandeur of the empire, first of all - the victory on the Borodino field, which took place on August 26. On the same day, Russian troops took Warsaw in 1831 - hence the name of the poem.
The poet, referring to the opponents of Russia, lists all the troubles and misfortunes that our country has suffered in the past, and states that it has not only not weakened, but has retained its former strength, power and greatness. Many poems by Alexander Pushkin are imbued with the spirit of patriotism thanks to the author’s admiration for the past of the Russian state. In the essay under consideration, the poet made the historical theme especially relevant, showing with concrete examples that our country is able to withstand any trials.
Value
There is a point of view that the work was commissioned to the poet by Emperor Nicholas I himself, who wanted to make him the ideologist of his politics. However, it should be noted here that the work in question corresponds to the ideological evolution that the poet went through in his work. In adulthood, Alexander Sergeevich in his writings carried out the idea of the great importance of Russia, and this idea became the main one in his poem “The Borodino Anniversary”. Pushkin (the year the work was written - 1831) abandoned youth revolutionary ideas and turned to historical subjects, seeing in the past of the country the key to its happy future.