The name of the Russian poet and publicist Nekrasov is closely connected with the concept of civic folk lyrics. Nikolai Alekseevich, a nobleman by birth, lived in the interests of the most numerous class of modern Russia - the peasantry. The poet was hated by the hypocritical position of the landowners, who, despite their education and liberal moods, continued to remain serf-owners, essentially slaveholders. That is why Nekrasov deliberately dedicated his lyre to the people, hoping that the glowing poetic word would resonate and be able to change something. This idea also sounds in the work "Elegy". Nekrasovâs poem still looks modern.
How did the poem "Elegy"
The people and the motherland are the central theme of all the writings of Nekrasov. However, not all contemporaries sympathized with the mood of the poet. Making an analysis of the poem âElegyâ by Nekrasov, it is impossible not to mention that the lyrical work was the answer-refutation to those critics who reproached the poet for âwritingâ on the topic of people's suffering and is not able to say anything new. The dedication preceding the lines of "Elegy" is addressed to the friend of the poet A. Erakov, a deeply responsive and intelligent person. The work was presented to him in his name day and was accompanied by a letter in which the poet said that it was âthe most sincere and belovedâ of his poems.
The historical background against which Nekrasov worked
The Elegy, an analysis of which will be presented in the article, was written in 1874, thirteen years after the abolition of serfdom. The problem that worries Nekrasovâs heart is expressed in the question: is the people liberated from the bonds of serfdom happy? No, the expected heyday did not happen, ordinary people are also destitute and oppressed. Nekrasov was a supporter of the so-called "American" path of development of capitalism in Russia, in his opinion, the peasant would only heal happily and freely when he runs a personal farm. The practice of exploitation was sharply and irreconcilably condemned by the poet and citizen Nekrasov.
"Elegy". Analysis of the content of the poem
In the first part, the author refers to fashion trends in which there is no place for social moods, and laments that the times when poetry can sing beauty have not yet arrived. The muse should resonantly appeal to the conscience of the âpowers of the worldâ, while âthe peoples are dragging themselves into povertyâ and dutifully demolish their physical and moral slavery. Further, the poet claims that he himself âdevoted the lyreâ to the people and expresses his creed: let the result not be immediately visible, and efforts seem hopeless, nevertheless, âeveryone go into battle!â In the second part of the poem, the idyllic pictures of peasant life are presented to the reader by the Nekrasov. The Elegy (we will supplement the analysis of the work later with the study of poetic techniques used by the author) very gently and at the same time sublimely conveys the poet's love and respect for the working people. In the third part, Nekrasov appeals to nature, personifying the universe, and contrasts it with a lively and passionate response to the indifferent silence of the people, to which the passionate appeals of the poet are dedicated.
The artistic features of the poem
When Nekrasov proclaimed that the poet must be a citizen, he was blamed, saying that civil motives supplanted poetry in his works. Is it so? An analysis of the verse âElegyâ by Nekrasov confirms that the poet was not at all alien to spectacular poetic devices. The poem written by the six-footed iambic pyrrhichia immediately takes on an excitedly solemn intonation and recalls high examples of classicism. This is also evidenced by the words of a high style: âlistenâ, âvirginsâ, ârockâ, âdrag onâ, âechoâ, âlyreâ. Exploring the poem, we are convinced of how skillfully uses the personification of the Nekrasov. The Elegy, the analysis of which, of course, is not limited to the transfer of means of expressiveness, represents the fields and values ââcarefully listening to the lyrical hero, and the forest - responding to him. The epithets are very expressive: âred dayâ, âsweet tearsâ, ânaive hobbyâ, âslow old manâ, âexcited by dreamsâ. The people under oppression are expressively compared with âlean herdsâ in âsloping meadowsâ. Lyra is metaphorically interpreted as a warrior serving in the service of the people.
Nikolai Nekrasov, The Elegy. Analysis of the genre form
The genre of elegy arose in ancient times, the word is translated into Russian as âplaintive motive of the fluteâ. This is a sad, thoughtful and even dull lyrics, the purpose of which is to describe and create sad thoughts in the listener about the transience of time, about separation from nice people and places, about the vicissitudes of love. Why did Nekrasov choose this genre for his social poem? His love of the people was not of a rhetorical nature; it was sharp, tragic and inescapable. The elegiac genre, prepared to express very personal feelings, emphasizes how carefully, intimately and painfully the poetâs attitude to the peopleâs share is. At the same time, Nekrasov, as it were, crosses out the tradition of devoting lyrical creations to individual experiences and polemically proclaims another âfashionâ - the lyre should reflect public interests, as purely personal.
Finally
Perhaps in the poetâs works the lyrics were inferior to citizenship, and his poems do not captivate with the elusive breath of harmony. However, who will argue that Nikolai Alekseevich Nekrasov is wise, highly compassionate, and the future of his country is dear to him? It is for this that we are grateful to this great Russian poet.