Boris Leonidovich Pasternak is one of the most famous Russian writers of the 20th century, whose prose and poetry are rightfully considered one of the best. His most famous work is Doctor Zhivago. This is a novel that, for the first time in the history of Russian literature, combines poetry and prose. And he opens the poetic part of the novel, the work "Winter Nights."
Pasternak created a hero who subtly feels and writes poetry. But in order not to distract the reader from the events of the life of Yuri Zhivago, the writer places all his lyrical creations at the end of the novel.
History of creation
So, the poem Winter Night ”(Pasternak), the history of which will be described below, was written as part of a larger work. It is this work that opens a collection of poems by Yuri Zhivago. Later, the verse was repeatedly published separately from the novel and was even put to music. But back to the story.
It is already impossible to establish the exact date of writing the poem, since Pasternak worked on the novel for 10 years (1945 - 1955). However, critics are inclined to believe that the poet created his lyrical masterpiece shortly before the end of the novel. This assumption is connected with the fact that in those years Pasternak already suffered his first heart attack. “Winter Night” is a verse about the struggle between life and death, therefore, this topic should have been close to the writer. And at what other moment, if not on the eve of the last moments of being, such thoughts can come to a person’s head?
Be that as it may, most literary scholars believe that the poem was written precisely in 1954-55.
As for the work itself, the novel “Doctor Zhivago” was recognized abroad, Pasternak was awarded the “Nobel Prize” for it. For this work, and the writer himself suffered serious persecution in his homeland. He was no longer published and expelled from the Writers' Union. Pasternak wrote letters more than once, wanting to convince the government of his loyalty, but this did not help. Opponents of the writer turned to the content of the novel itself, calling it anti-Soviet. And the poem "Winter Night" was subjected to special persecution, as it was recognized as vulgar, decadent and decadent.
Topic
As noted above, the main theme of the poem "Winter Nights" (Pasternak) was the theme of the struggle between life and death. The work itself is very metaphorical, each line and image has a special meaning.
So, considering the entire text in the context of the struggle, we can conclude that the wind, blizzard and cold are symbols of death, and the barely warming candle flame is life. And this fragile light leaves the sick Yuri Zhivago just as he leaves Pasternak himself.
However, along with the dark theme of life and death, there is a theme of love associated with natural phenomena. Feelings of people seem to continue in nature. So, human passion is accompanied by a blizzard weaving on the windows of "circles and arrows." However, does nature and the “heat of temptation” have a beneficial effect on the protagonist?
Idea
The idea of the poem "Winter Nights" (Parsnip) is in tune with the theme. It is embodied in the struggle of man, not only with death, but also with everyday adversities, human temptations. Thus, the lyrical hero resists both the blizzard raging outside the window and the temptation that burns his soul. Confusion reigns in the character’s soul; he cannot understand where good is and where evil is. The following semantic row helps to express this in the poem: angel, temptation, "crosswise."
However, confronting external threats (blizzards) can only be spiritual strength (which is symbolized by a candle) and love. Before the lofty feeling the darkness recedes, the house becomes cozy, warming.
The candle symbol is noteworthy. She, as noted above, is in tune with the hero himself. She continues to burn (live), despite the pressure of the outside world. The image of a fragile, but continuing to warm candles passes through the whole poem.
Composition of the poem "Winter Night" (Pasternak)
Analysis of the composition of the poem allows us to conclude that the work is based on the reception of the antithesis (contrast) of two elements: ice and flame. A blizzard that has swept the whole world, swallowed everything around, is broken on glass; it cannot penetrate into the room heated by a candle.
The poem has a ring composition - the last line repeats the first, albeit not exactly. Consequently, this phrase is not only key, but the differences in it carry great semantic meaning. So, at the end of the poem there is no repetition of “melo-melo” and there is an indication of the time - February. Thus, the poet summarizes the storm, which has already passed, which means the power of life and hope has triumphed.
Verse size
The poetic size provides strong emotionality to the poem Winter Night (Pasternak). An analysis of the structure suggests that the work was written in four-legged iambic with a cross rhyme, where male (1, 3 line) and female (2, 4 line) rhymes alternate. And the so-called interruption of the rhythm, that is, the reduction of the 2nd and 4th lines, gives the poem a special dynamism.
Conclusion
Thus, the Universe and man merged together, moment and eternity in the poem "Winter Nights". Parsnip created a stunningly soulful, emotional and philosophical work.