Pushkin wrote his second largest poem in record time. Poltava was conceived back in the spring of 1828, but work on it somehow did not go, and Alexander Sergeyevich put off this work until the fall. It was then that inspiration came to the writer, and he composed a poem in a few days. Pushkin wrote all day, distracted only to satisfy his hunger, he dreamed of poetry even at night. The poet in a hurry wrote down everything that occurred to him, sometimes even prose, and then corrected it.
The attitude of critics to the poem "Poltava"
Pushkin distinguished himself with his innovative work at one time. Poltava was not understood either by contemporaries or by future generations of critics. There are many different opinions about what exactly the poet wanted to show in his poem. With a superficial look at the work, one can understand that Alexander Sergeyevich made Peter the hero, and from Mazepa the villain and the traitor, that is, everything is exactly as was customary in the time of Pushkin.
Many researchers of the poet’s work cannot agree with such an interpretation, knowing the attitude of Alexander Sergeyevich to Peter, it is difficult to imagine that he could praise him of his own free will. In the 19th century, it was impossible to freely publicize his thoughts, therefore the poet gave the unknown storyteller the elevation of Peter and stigmatized Mazepa, and the author’s handwriting can be traced in the Notes, from which it becomes clear on whose side A. Pushkin stands. The poem "Poltava" and today causes a lot of controversy among writers.
The main topics covered in the poem
Alexander Sergeevich managed to reveal three topics in Poltava. The first topic concerns the fate of Russia and the entire Russian people, relations with other European states. Pushkin had not yet forgotten about the memorable battle with Napoleon, therefore, with patriotism and pride in the Fatherland, he recreated the struggle between Peter and Charles XII. Although the enemy was mighty, and the victory was hard, but still the Russian people could survive, show internal strength and cope with the invasion, defend their territory.
The multinationality of the state was also shown in his work by Pushkin. "Poltava" characterizes the writer as a state thinker who reflects on the cohesion of different nations within the same country. As an example, Alexander Sergeyevich takes Ukraine, which Mazepa wants to tear from Russia with the help of enemy troops. The topic of a private person who fell into the wheel of history was also highlighted by Pushkin. Poltava showed not only the struggle for territory at the level of rulers, but also the fate of ordinary people who became participants in terrible events.
Historical Description of the Battles
Alexander Sergeevich attached great importance to the reliability of the description of historical events. The poem is accompanied by notes, as well as a list of historical documents indicating the veracity of the events that Pushkin described in his work. “Poltava” (the passage “The Battle of Poltava” is the most vivid, memorable and patriotic) is written in high spirits, with some of its features the poem resembles the style of Ukrainian thoughts, folk songs or historical legends.