Lyrical works: features, types, examples. A lyrical work is ...

A lyrical work is a special phenomenon in the literature. It opens the hidden sensual world of its creator, therefore, it has certain features. It is not always possible to distinguish lyrics from epics or drama (other literary genres). Sometimes it is not enclosed in poetic stanzas, but in prose. It is enough to recall the lyrical digressions of Gogol, Pushkin, a poem in Turgenev's prose. And vice versa, epic works can be depicted poetically. Here, “Eugene Onegin” by Pushkin or “Vasily Terkin” by Tvardovsky immediately comes to mind. Let us analyze the features of the lyrical work and how it differs from the epic and the drama.

Childbirth

Art, including verbal art, is a reflection of human life, so multifaceted, full of various events. That is why it is impossible to fully reflect it, using only one scheme. So literary clans arose - epic, lyrics and drama. Yes, they are similar in that they show the life of people in a mirror, but they also differ in a set of certain features. Briefly analyze them.

An epic work is characterized by a message about any events in a narrative form. Moreover, it can be either a short episode from life, then we are talking about the genres of a short story or a story, or a larger event, the history of a family or state (novel, novel). The main difference is that everything is stated in a narrative manner, sometimes the author resorts to descriptions or thoughts.

The drama also has a certain plot, however, it was built not by text-narration, but by a clear recording of the characters' speech (remarks). Thus, we can say that this kind of literature combines the features of an epic and a lyric poetry, because in the latter, expression plays the first role. Ever since antiquity, two genres of drama coexist: tragedy and comedy. The first focuses on the conflict of the hero with himself, his mental torment (remember Hamlet Shakespeare or Salieri Pushkin). Comedy, on the other hand, describes life situations, sometimes ridiculous misunderstandings (Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night). Tragicomedy is a genre that appeared relatively recently. It combines the features of two fundamental pillars of drama.

Lyrics: definition of a concept

What is a lyrical work? This is a kind of literature that opens the inner world of the author. Moreover, it is not static: the attitude and feelings associated with it can change, as well as the mood of the hero.

Most often, a poetic stanza is used to translate a lyrical work. Perhaps the types of lyric works are the most diverse in comparison with the epic or drama. Indeed, the world of feelings is the most multifaceted and unstable. Even within one poem, the poet’s mood can change from sadness to joy. This happens in the work "I loved you" by Pushkin.

A special place in the lyric work is occupied by the lyrical hero. It can reflect both the feelings and thoughts of the author himself, and argue with him.

To understand this concept, it is enough to recall A. Eugene Onegin by A. Pushkin. Here, the lyrical hero is not the main character of the "hang" Onegin, but the author himself, as if from the side he talks about these events. However, Eugene in one place still assumes the role of a lyrical hero when he writes a letter to Tatyana.

Literary genres

Types of lyric works, as well as epic and dramatic ones, are called “genres”. It is noteworthy that the ancient Greeks had their own muse for each type of verbal art. These creatures, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory, were good companions of Apollo, who was responsible for the arts.

There were nine muses. Each of them had its own character and occupation. So the noble and at the same time strict Polygymnia was responsible for solemn singing (hymns), and Kalliope, who was responsible for the epic, on the contrary, was very businesslike and calm.

What is a literary genre? This is the basis of the work, a kind of skeleton with which the writer or poet creates his own unique work. For example, fables have been known since ancient times, wrote them and Krylov. The genre is guessed right away, the allegorical nature of the narrative and a certain morality indicate this. This will be sustainable signs of the fable genre.

It is also important for the reader to know the work of which genre he picks up, because this creates a special mood and determines the tonality of the work.

Lyric works, examples of which we will consider later, are also divided into genres. They can create both a solemn, inspiring mood, and sad, even mournful.

Ode and Anthem

As we have already mentioned, the muse of solemn chants, hymns is Polygymy. She is noble, impulsive, but at the same time very restrained. These works are particularly solemn, their task is to glorify. Anthems reflect the admiration of the lyrical hero. Moreover, the admiration is so powerful, energetic and strong that one involuntarily wants to get up when reading it. What examples can be given? This is the beginning of the poem "The Bronze Horseman" by A. S. Pushkin. By the way, this passage is called the anthem of the northern capital, St. Petersburg. The opening lines: “I love you, Peter’s creation ...” immediately set a powerful charge of energy and power.

The anthem can be expressed in prosaic form. The "Song of the Petrel" by Maxim Gorky is just that. It is called the hymn to freedom. This state is symbolized by the petrel, who defied the elements, struggling with it.

Another solemn lyric piece is an ode. This genre, unlike the anthem, glorifies any particular historical event ("Ode on the day of the ascension ..." of Lomonosov), a phenomenon ("Liberty" of Pushkin) or a person ("God" of Derzhavin).

Elegy

A lyrical work is not only power and solemnity. A significant part of the poems reflect calm feelings, often love. With such works, the ancient Greeks associated the muse of Erato. Her image most often contains traits of suffering and tenderness. These are poems of the elegy genre. These works are sad, they are full of thoughts about love, also about life or fate, their destiny.

The genre of elegy did not remain in antiquity, many writers and poets actively used it. So, for Pushkin it is “I loved you” or “To the sea”, for Lermontov “I will go out alone on the road”, there are examples of elegies in the 20th century literature, for example, Akhmatova has the “March elegy”, and the Bloc “Autumn elegy".

Epistole and epigram

An epistolary lyric work is very popular in literature. This is nothing but a message. This genre allows you to reveal the most secret feelings and desires. It’s worth recalling only a textbook example of a message - Pushkin’s “To Chaadaev”. Or a poem by S. Yesenin “Letter to Mother”. It is important to note that there are times when this genre includes elements of elegy. For example, the message of A. Pushkin to A.P. Kern (the famous "I remember a wonderful moment"). Here, in addition to addressing your beloved, there is also reflection on your feelings, a kind of reflection of what happened to the poet during meetings with the beloved.

The epigram (also called “satire”) is another genre of lyrics. These works are very short, their main task is to make fun of someone. Satire can be more detailed, it exposes any social phenomenon. In this genre, the poet of the 18th century Cantemir was very successful.

Sonnet

Sonnet deserves special attention. This literary genre requires the poet to strictly adhere to form. The main thing in the sonnet is 14 lines. Distinguish between the English version (three quatrains and two couplets) and the French (two quatrains and two three hundred pages). The latter took root during the era of symbolist poets. It was used by Blok, Balmont, and also Bryusov. The classic English sonnet is known to the world for the work of Shakespeare.

The content of the sonnet is also regulated. Each stanza is a thesis to a conclusion that the reader will learn about in the last lines. This genre of lyrics is also called intellectually poetic.