2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25
In the poetry of M. Lermontov, literary critics highlight the passion for topics related to Napoleon Bonaparte. Firstly, it is a myth about an extraordinary personality, about his accomplishments. Secondly, it is the victory of Russia over Napoleon. This cycle of seven poems includes the work "Airship".
History of Creation
The fantastic ballad "The Airship" was written and published in 1840. The original text has not been preserved. This is a free translation of the work "Ship of Ghosts" by the German romanticist Seydlitz. The work of M. Lermontov in some parts was influenced by the translation by V. Zhukovsky in 1836 of the ballad "Night Review" by the same poet. It is assumed that M. Lermontov wrote a poem while in prison. He got there after a duel with a French attaché. The poet experienced a complex of experiences related to personal affairs and France, which betrayed its emperor.
Theme of the work
The picture of the annual appearance of the emperor after his death became legendary and is reflected not only in Zedlitz, but also in H. Heine, who, like Goethe, was an admirer of the almighty dictator. He is brought back to France for a short timefantastic airship with no crew. However, he is equipped with cast-iron cannons and is ready to conquer the world. Lermontov's airship makes you race at full sail across the blue waves in order to take away the emperor for just one night.
On a deserted island, he rises from under a tombstone. In a gray traveling coat, Napoleon quickly rises to the helm and heads for dear France, for his little son, for his glory. He has not changed at all over the years and is ready to repeat the military path again. Returning, he calls for associates and marshals. Nobody answers his call. Someone was buried under the sands in Africa, someone - under the snows of Russia, someone remained forever on the fields of the Elbe, someone betrayed him.
The idea of a ballad
In Russia and France there was a timelessness in which there was nothing heroic. Not without reason during these years (1838 - 1840) Mikhail Yuryevich worked on the work "A Hero of Our Time". His character had the mind and strength to serve the fatherland, but there was nowhere to apply them. So the heroic personality, which the "Airship" displayed, suffocates even in real France, which changes kings, but does not change the thoughtless festive life. Everyone has forgotten the former greatness and victories that brought glory to the country. There is nothing for an extraordinary person to do here.
His heavy sigh is heard, even bitter tears welled up in his eyes. It's dawning, and the ship is waiting for him. The hero embarks on the return journey, having been deceived in his expectations. He only feels sorrowinexorable time has destroyed everything valuable for a person in this world: the affections of the heart and soul, carried away loved ones, destroyed the memory of the recent heroic past and the emperor's worldwide glory. In general - the collapse of hopes and illusions. Sic transit gloria mundi (Thus passes earthly glory).
"Airship", Lermontov: analysis
The ballad is written in amphibrach, which consists of three feet. It has 72 verses divided into 18 stanzas. Each of them has 4 lines. Rhythmic amphibrach creates monotony, routine without bursts of passion or joy. Frequent repetitions, noisily, like the waves of the sea, create the cycle of being. The verse runs one on top of the other, like waves on sea sand, emphasizing the constancy of the annual ritual. The path of the emperor is repeated every year, and yet he does not know what happened in the world, he is looking for the past in it: he calls his soldiers and marshals, turns to his son and waits for his appearance. He does not address anyone in particular, he does not call anyone by name. It is the call of the lonely in the desert. Further, memories become more specific, geographically accurate, but time flows from victory to defeat.
Lermontov, using exaggerations, makes a powerful hero out of a small plump man (his steps are large, his hands are powerful), his homeland is not provincial Corsica, but great France. Quicksand the author recalls three times. The hero can't get out of it. Therefore, without calling anyone, he embarks on the return journey, only hopelessly waving his hand and lowering his head to his chest.
This deep philosophical work debunks the romantic imagehero, showing him as a person with all the feelings inherent in personality.
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