Without exaggeration, the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum can be called the crucible where A.S.'s talent was completely forged and honed. Pushkin. And the point is not only that the first poems were written in the walls of this educational institution, and not even that the outstanding Russian publicist Gabriel Derzhavin noticed him here .
Tsarskoye Selo became that cradle where Alexander Sergeyevich’s personality was revealed and developed, where he established himself as a poet. Pushkin, a lyceum student, later changed his style, but always remembered the adolescent years with special warmth.
Why Tsarskoe Selo?
Pushkin was a difficult teenager, and therefore his parents had to seriously think about continuing to raise and educate their offspring in some strict and closed educational institution. And then it was just an opportunity. Alexander I decided to "open the palace of the Tsaritsyn" for the sons of the nobles in order to raise from them "educated and devoted servants of the state." The autocrat even considered giving the grand dukes to this privileged institution. The training program was carefully thought out, the best teachers of that time were invited - for example, A. Kunitsyn, A. Galich. Thus, the Pushkin lyceum student received an excellent versatile education.
Moving to Petersburg
As soon as the parents of a 12-year-old boy learned about the upcoming opening of the Lyceum, they equipped their son on the road. Pushkin was brought from Moscow to Petersburg by his uncle, poet and writer Vasily Lvovich Pushkin.
Incidentally, he went to the capital not only to escort his nephew, but also to submit his polemical work to the editors. While Sasha was preparing for
entrance exams, he lived in his uncle's house. Vasily Lvovich had some influence on the young poet, in particular, instilled in him an ironic attitude towards the adherents of canonical Russian literature. Pushkin-lyceum student writes his first poems in a free manner, which creates the impression of a free intimate conversation. And his well-aimed epigrams reflect the fascination with Walther and other French "liberals".
Friendship of Pushkin with Lyceum Students
Sasha, as an open and sociable boy, immediately became close to other students. He made many friends at school. Some of them were also gifted with literary talent. Delvig, Gorchakov, Kuchelbecker, Pushchin and others began to try the pen, published magazines (so far handwritten), created a circle of literature. Both Alexander I and Pushkin's parents were mistaken: the rules of the school were by no means strict, and not loyal servants left the walls, but freedom-loving citizens. The institution was by no means closed: it was possible to go to Tsarskoye Selo. Therefore, Vyazemsky, Zhukovsky, Karamzin, Chaadaev, Raevsky, Kaverin and many others also met and became close to the young talent. Pushkin's friends — lyceum students, writers, or simply educated officers — had a lasting impact on the poet's work.
Six years of study passed quickly, but were very fruitful. During this time, Pushkin, a lyceum student, wrote almost 120 poems and began working on the poem “Ruslan and Lyudmila” that made him famous. At the age of 15 he published his first works - “To a Friend”, “Dreamer”, “Battled Knight”. “Remembering in Tsarskoye Selo” was a custom poem written for Derzhavin’s coming to the exam. And the epic style of the ode was given to the young genius easily.