M. Yu. Lermontov’s poem "Homeland" was written in early 1841, shortly before the death of the poet. The work is a vivid example of the lyrics of the XIX century, this is the writer's reasoning about his attitude towards Russia, his people, and also the reigning regime. At the very beginning of the poem, Mikhail Yurievich sets the tone for the narrative, it becomes clear to the reader that the poet will not speak of love for his country itself, but of the strangeness of these feelings.
Attraction to Russian nature
An analysis of Lermontov’s “Homeland” shows that the poet specially created two contrasting plans to show the strangeness of his feelings. High officials only boast of their patriotism, but in fact they love not their homeland, but their own fame gained in bloody battles, money, power. The poet himself eschews all these ostentatious feelings, he despises the hypocrites, who are ready for hours to talk about their readiness to give their lives for Russia. Mikhail Yuryevich is closer to simple pictures of his native nature, he will enjoy talking to ordinary people, but he will pass round magnificent balls.
An analysis of Lermontov’s “Homeland” confirms that the poet managed to create a lively poetic image of his native country, based on folk life and Russian nature. In the work one feels the author’s fatigue from endless wanderings, the hypocrisy of the people around him, the need to pretend and hide his own thoughts. According to Lermontov, the homeland is a grove of birches, a country road, wooden huts, simple peasants with their troubles and joys.
Homeland theme development
The poem traces the author’s transition from a broad plan to a narrower one. An analysis of Lermontov’s “Homeland” shows that at first the poet describes a vast Russia (forests, steppes, rivers, country roads), in the second half of the work he depicts a concrete picture. Details of the landscape appear that are close to the observer, and they are directly related to the everyday life. An image of a birch grove, a train, a log hut looms before the reader. In the finale, a description of a simple village holiday with songs and dances of drunk peasants appears.
Nature is the central image in the poem
An analysis of Lermontov’s “Homeland” shows that the author did not at all strive to portray the “low nature”; on the contrary, he embellished it. Contemporaries and future generations appreciated the work of Mikhail Yuryevich. He, like no other, managed to accurately recreate a reliable and such a simple arrangement of peaceful village life. The poet managed to find the right words and as if the artist depicted a picture of his native country.
The poem belongs to the genre of lyrical reflection - this is shown by analysis. "Homeland" (Lermontov became the ancestor of the tradition of using images of nature and the village in describing Russia) was highly appreciated by L. N. Tolstoy, Belinsky. In this poem, all the elements that make up life are clearly visible. Mikhail Yuryevich was able to so reliably depict the existence of most of his homeland only because he was well acquainted with the inner world of a simple Russian person.