Analysis of the poem "The Poet and the Citizen". Analysis of Nekrasov's poem "The Poet and the Citizen"

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

The work of N. A. Nekrasov is a bright and interesting page in Russian classical literature. Continuing and enriching the ideas and paths outlined by Pushkin and Lermontov, Nekrasov stepped far ahead in the development of those democratic ideals, patriotic views and trends that were declared in the work of his great predecessors. The muse of Nikolai Alekseevich is the “muse of anger and sadness”, the sister of a peasant woman who was beaten with a whip on the Haymarket. All his life he wrote about the people and for the people, and "homely" Russia - impoverished, destitute and beautiful - rises before us from the pages of his poetry collections as if alive.

History of Creation

An analysis of the poem "The Poet and the Citizen", like any other work of art, should begin with a study of the history of its creation, with the socio-political situation that was developing in the country at that time, and the biographical data of the author, if they are both something related to the work. Date of writing the text - 1855 - June 1856. It was first published in the author's collection, published in the same 56th. Prior to this, Chernyshevsky announced Nekrasov's book by publishing in the next issue of Sovremennik a small review and analysis of the poem "The Poet and the Citizen" and its text, as well as several more bright and biting works in Nekrasov's way, including the bitter satire "The Forgotten Village".

The publications caused a great resonance in society and sharp dissatisfaction with the authorities and official criticism. In The Poet and the Citizen, the autocratic government saw (quite rightly, by the way) harsh criticism of itself and subversive, revolutionary appeals. The entire issue of Sovremennik, as well as the edition of the book, were withdrawn from free access and prohibited from reprinting. The magazine itself was threatened with closure. And Nekrasov, who was abroad at that time, was threatened with arrest upon his return. Why was the reaction of the authorities and censorship so violent? An analysis of the poem “The Poet and the Citizen” will help to understand this.

Literary traditions and continuity

When Nekrasov heard rumors about the excesses of the government in the field of culture, public opinion, literature, he replied that Russian writers saw "censorship storms and worse." And democratic values, civic consciousness and a sense of responsibility of a creative person to society, country, time and his own talent are adopted by Nekrasov from his older brothers in writing - Pushkin (suffice it to recall his famous"Conversation of a bookseller with a poet") and Lermontov ("Journalist, reader and writer"). An analysis of the poem "The Poet and the Citizen" makes it possible to trace how Alexei Nikolayevich developed and deepened great poetic traditions.

Pure Art and the Democratic Line

50-60s The 19th century was an extremely stressful time for Russia. Despite the reaction, police oppression and autocratic censorship, dissatisfaction with the political climate is growing in the country, and the self-awareness of the progressive sections of the population is growing.

Serfdom is bursting at the seams, the ideas of popular liberation, anger and revenge are in the air. At this time, intense debates are being held among representatives of the creative intelligentsia. "Poet and Citizen" - Nekrasov's verse - clearly reflects their essence. Representatives of the so-called “pure art” (on their behalf, the Poet is arguing in the work) believe that poetry, literature, as well as music, painting, should talk about the “eternal”. That real art is above socio-political problems and daily bread. As an example of such a position, Nekrasov cites a quote from Pushkin's work ("The Poet and the Citizen", the verse "We were born for inspiration / For sweet sounds and prayers …"). An ardent opponent of this point of view and a defender of an active life position in art is the Citizen in the poem. It is he who reflects the views and ideas of the author himself, democratic tendencies and aspirations.

Theme and idea of the poem

Nekrasov never divided his poetry into purely lyrical, intimate,and civil. These two directions, seemingly completely different, harmoniously combined in his work into one common stream. “The Poet and the Citizen” (an analysis of the poem proves this statement) is a programmatic work in the sense that it reveals the most important concepts for the author, touches on burning issues.

Nekrasov clearly and openly expressed his creative and socio-political credo: it does not matter who you are by profession and beliefs. It is important that you are the son of your country, which means that you are a citizen who is obliged to fight for it, for a better life, prosperity, both economic and spiritual. Unfortunately, very few people agree with him. Therefore, the Citizen exclaims with bitterness: "There are many good hearts / To whom the homeland is holy." In the "time of grief and sorrow" talented, honest, educated people have no right to sit on the sidelines, sing of the "beauties of nature" and "sweet kindness." Artists, especially writers, are endowed with a special gift - to influence the minds and hearts of people, to lead them along - to a feat. To fulfill one's duty, to give oneself to the service of the Motherland and the people - this is what Nekrasov sees as the purpose of the creative personality. “The Poet and the Citizen”, which we are analyzing, is a manifesto-poem, an appeal-poem that openly calls on all fellow writers to take the side of the people: “There will be no worthy citizen / He is cold in soul to his homeland / There is no bitterer reproach for him … ".

Composition of the work and stylistic features

So, the theme of the poem is the poet and poetry, their role insocial and political movement of the country. The main idea and main idea are expressed in the following lines: “Be a citizen…/ Live for the good of your neighbor…”. In order to express it more clearly and more understandably, more vividly to convey to readers, Nekrasov chooses the original form for the lyric

works are a dramatized dialogue, an ideological dispute. The replicas of the heroes are interspersed with passionate monologues of the Citizen, full of rhetorical appeals and exclamations, making his speeches extremely emotional. At the same time, the Poet conducts his own internal dialogue. A large number of imperative verbs, socio-political vocabulary, invocative intonations create in readers the very active and effective mood that Nekrasov is striving for. “The Poet and the Citizen” is a poem by which he fully managed to prove to the masters of the word that their task is not “fine literature” and delighting the ears of its lovers, not idle talk, but serving the people. The work in question has not lost its relevance even today.