Analysis of Bely's poem "Motherland": a brief overview

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The analysis of Bely's poem "Motherland" occupies an important place in the school curriculum, since this poet is one of the most iconic figures in Russian literature. He was a symbolist, and patriotic motifs figured prominently in his work. However, the author was distinguished by a specific vision of the image of Russia; many accused him of decadence and decadent moods, which, however, was characteristic of many of the author of the turn of the century - a turning point in the life of our country.

Author's views

Analysis of Bely's poem "Motherland" should begin with a brief description of his worldview. The poet, like his contemporary A. Blok, loved his country and therefore tried to portray it in the most reliable images. In his works, he tried to abstract from abstract epithets, comparisons and other literary devices that his predecessors used. On the contrary, he tried to “ground down” familiar sketches, thereby returning to the traditions laid down by N. Nekrasov. It is important to remember that the author had a positive attitude towards revolutionary upheavals, as he believed that fundamental changes would benefit Russia.

Unfortunately, in his poems, he did not raise the question of the terrible cost of these very changes. Here it will be interesting to compare his position with Blok's. The latter, towards the end of his life, having seen devastation, poverty and desolation, began to look differently at the revolutionary transformations, noting their cruelty, while Andrei Nikolaevich continued to believe in it.

About the revolution

Analysis of Bely's poem "Motherland" will help students better understand the work of this poet. The work was written in 1917, that is, just at the very time when the first Russian revolution took place and the second was approaching. The introductory quatrain begins with very bright and expressive epithets that emphasize the power and greatness of the country. The author compares Russia with a strong element that sweeps away everything in its path.

At the same time, he repeats the name of the country three times in order to emphasize its new power, which he saw in the revolution. The last line immediately attracts attention: the poet himself is ready to give his life in the name of this violent revolutionary storm, sincerely believing that it will bring good to the country.

Image of Russia

The analysis of Bely's poem "Motherland" must be supplemented with a symbolic description given by the poet to his land. The fact that he sees old Russia in rather gloomy colors is indicative. He writes about devastation, about deaf depths and does not find anything good and good in it, which is unfair. He praises the changes that have come, in every possible way, drawing terrible revolutionaryupheavals in bright and joyful colors, which did not correspond to the real historical reality at all. The author calls to accept the coming changes as a blessing, focusing on the fact that they must renew the country.

Thoughts for the future

As a final lesson on the poet's work, schoolchildren can offer an analysis of Bely's poem "Motherland". “Cry, storm element” is the first line that immediately sets the mood for the whole work. An important place in this work is occupied by those places that are dedicated to the author's thoughts about the future of the country.

He uses expressive epithets that symbolize the power of Russia: images of space, planets, the fiery core of the Earth appear in his lines. All this is imbued with the pathos of the revolutionary struggle, which embraced a significant part of the intelligentsia at the time in question. Being a symbolist, the poet carries out his main idea of the inevitability of revolution in colorful metaphors, each of which is filled with philosophical content.

Image of a poet

Analysis of Andrei Bely's verse "Motherland" must necessarily include the image of the lyrical hero himself, i.e. the author himself. This will help to better understand the idea of the poet. The latter declares his readiness to sacrifice his life for the sake of a new life and revolution.

He takes pleasure in watching the violent changes that have taken place in the country. The reader sees the image of the future Russia preciselyeyes. The poet filled his lines with revolutionary romance, which would later become the main theme of Soviet literature. The lyrical hero himself acts as a potential fighter for the renewal of life.

About Russian nature

Analysis of the poem "Motherland" (Bely, according to the plan, a brief review of the work of which should be mentioned at the beginning of the review) is also very important for understanding the author's works. This essay was written in 1908, that is, just in the very period when the first Russian revolution had just ended. Here the poet paints the Russian landscape in rather dull colors. He writes about a cold clearing, cold fogs, gloomy weeds and poor people.

The author is extremely pessimistic: he does not see anything encouraging in familiar pictures and declares that the dull land invites thoughts not about life, but about death, which, of course, is unfair. However, the poet was distinguished by his own worldview and saw in Russian nature something heavy and even gloomy, which in many respects has something in common with some of Blok's works about Russia. Andrey Bely's verse "Motherland" is very similar to his work about our country. However, he speaks of her fate even harsher, painting her story in gloomy colors. The author writes about the suffering of the common people, the motive of death runs like a refrain through all the quatrains. Motives of decadence set the tone for the entire poem, making it not only heartfelt, but also quite gloomy.