Out of obscurity, I became famous for that. Analysis of the poem "Monument" G
Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin entered the history of Russian literature as the founder of autobiographical poetry, in which the praise of one's own uniqueness runs like a red thread. This will be confirmed by the analysis of the poem "Monument" (Grade 9), in which the poet sings of his talent. Thanks to a brief analysis of the "Monument" according to the plan, students in grade 9 will be able to fully prepare for the lesson in literature and the upcoming exam.
Full text of the poem "Monument"
I erected a wonderful, eternal monument to myself,
It is harder than metal and higher than pyramids;
Neither his whirlwind, nor thunder will break the fleeting,
And time will not crush him.
So! - all of me will not die, but a large part of me,
Fleeing from decay, after death he will live,
And my glory will grow without fading,
How long will the universe honor the Slavs?
The rumor will pass about me from the White Waters to the Black ones,
Where the Volga, Don, Neva, the Urals pour from the Riphean;
Everyone will remember that among innumerable peoples,
How from obscurity I became known for that,
That I was the first to dare in a funny Russian syllable
Proclaim the virtues of Felitsa,
In the simplicity of the heart to talk about God
And tell the truth to kings with a smile.
O muse! be proud of just merit,
And whoever despise you, despise those yourself;
With a leisurely, unhurried hand
Crown your forehead with the dawn of immortality.
Analysis of the poem "Monument" by Derzhavin
Option 1
In our view, Derzhavin often hides behind the glory of his famous followers - Pushkin and. However, his merit to Russian poetry is very great. In the XVIII century. there was no modern Russian language yet. It was extremely inconvenient for understanding, replete with ancient Slavic and extremely "heavy" words and phrases.
Derzhavin gradually began to introduce colloquial speech into literature, simplifying and facilitating its perception. Derzhavin was considered a "court" poet, he was the creator of a large number of solemn odes. At the same time, he used his high position to spread and popularize the Russian language. He considered the main merit in life not his work, but his general contribution to the creation of national literature. To this he dedicated the poem "Monument" (1795).
The work, as subsequently and, immediately aroused critical appraisals. Derzhavin uses a heroic style associated with classical ancient Greek patterns. In solemn style, he declares that he has created an indestructible monument in his honor. He is not subject to any force and even time. Moreover, the poet is sure that his soul will continue to live and increase its glory.
To such a proud and self-confident statement, a small but very significant remark is made: “as long as the universe will honor the Slavic race.” It explains Derzhavin's pathos. The poet glorifies his contribution to Russian literature. Derzhavin had grounds for such an assertion. In Russian poetry at the turn of the XVIII-XIX centuries. he was indeed the brightest representative. Thanks to the poet, Russian literature was able to seriously declare itself. Derzhavin longed for it to take its rightful place in world culture.
The poet sees his personal contribution, first of all, in bringing poetry closer to the majority of the population. He considers this impudent, since earlier literature was considered the lot of only the upper class.
At the end, the poem finally loses its personal coloring. Derzhavin addresses directly to the muse of poetry, before which he bows and gives her a well-deserved honor.
In response to reproaches of indiscretion, the poet rightly answered that critics do not see the main meaning of the poem behind the sublime words. He always aspired to the development of national literature. He considered it very important to spread it among all segments of the population. This will lead to the emergence of new talents that will continue his great work and become evidence that the poet's soul continues to live. This is the immortality of Derzhavin.
Option 2
Almost every poet in his work addresses the theme of eternity, trying to find an answer to the question of what fate is in store for his works. Horace was famous for such epic odes, and later many Russian writers, among whom was Gavriil Derzhavin. This poet is one of the brightest representatives of classicism, who inherited the European traditions of composing his poems in a “high calm”, but at the same time adapted them to colloquial speech so much that they were understandable to almost any listener.
During his lifetime, Gavriil Derzhavin was treated kindly by Empress Catherine II, to whom he dedicated his famous ode “”, however, his contribution to Russian literature was appreciated by descendants only after the death of the poet, who became a kind of spiritual mentor for Pushkin and Lermontov.
Anticipating such a development of events, in 1795 Gavriil Derzhavin wrote the poem “Monument”, which he originally called “To the Muse”. This work, in its form, was sustained in the best traditions of ancient Greek poetry, but its content was considered by many to be defiant.
and immodest. Nevertheless, reflecting the attacks of critics, Derzhavin advised them not to pay attention to the pompous style, but to think about the content, noting that he did not praise himself in this work, but Russian literature, which, finally, managed to break out of the tight shackles of classicism and become easier to understand.
Naturally, a huge merit in this belongs to Derzhavin himself, which he mentioned in his poem, noting that he erected a monument to himself that is “harder than metals” and “higher than the pyramid.” At the same time, the author claims that he is not afraid of either storms, or thunder, or years, since this structure is not of a material, but of a spiritual nature. Derzhavin alludes to the fact that he managed to "humanize" poetry, which from now on is destined to become publicly available.
And it is quite natural that future generations will be able to appreciate the beauty of the poetic style, which was previously available only to the elite. Therefore, the poet has no doubt that if not glory, then immortality awaits him. “All of me will not die, but a large part of me, having escaped from decay, will begin to live after death,” the poet notes. At the same time, he emphasizes that the rumor about him will sweep throughout the Russian land.
It was this phrase that aroused the indignation of the poet's opponents, who attributed excessive pride to Derzhavin. However, the author had in mind not his own poetic achievements, but new trends in Russian poetry, which, as he foresaw, would be picked up by a new generation of writers. And it is their works that will gain wide popularity among various segments of the population due to the fact that the poet himself will be able to teach them “to talk about God in simplicity of heart and speak the truth to kings with a smile.”
It is noteworthy that in his assumptions about the future of Russian poetry, whose forehead will be crowned with the "dawn of immortality", Gavriil Derzhavin turned out to be right. It is noteworthy that shortly before his death, the poet was present at the final exam at the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum and listened to the poems of the young Pushkin, whom he “went down to the grave and blessed.”
It was Pushkin who was destined to become the successor of the poetic traditions that were laid down in Russian literature by Derzhavin. It is not surprising that the famous Russian poet, imitating his teacher, subsequently created the poem “I erected a monument to myself not made by hands”, which echoes Derzhavin’s “Monument” and is a continuation of the multifaceted debate about the role of poetry in modern Russian society.
A brief analysis of the poem "Monument" by G.R. Derzhavin
Option 1
The poem "Monument" was created in 1795 by Derzhavin. The meaning and theme of the work are intertwined. It is about the role of the poet in the world and the memory of him after death. analyzes his own work, and concludes that he has done a great job. His merit is that he was the first to engage in autobiographical poetry, he is also the first poet who wrote about himself.
In this poem, the author says that he will continue to live even after death, because the Russian people will continue to read his creations. Derzhavin also points out that poetry is a great opportunity to correct the vicious morals of the people, to enlighten and inspire them.
Derzhavin's emphasis is especially clearly traced here. He always wrote sincerely. In addition, the author indicated in the verse his role in Russian poetry. After all, he wrote many works dedicated to great figures and rulers. The size of the poem Monument is iamb, cross rhyme. The verse is read slowly, as it is solemn. There are many simple words, and openly pretentious. But here they look harmonious.
Option 2
Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin is a great Russian poet of the 18th century. In his work, he illuminated all the problems that were present in the high society of Russia.
In 1795, he wrote the poem "Monument", in which he proclaimed his right to immortality.
Initially, the poem was called "To the Muse". Which is the result of an extraordinary ideological awareness of the “eternal theme” of the memory of a person, and it has always been a topic of excitement for many lyricists, starting from the moment the ancient Egyptian poetic culture was born and formed.
The main difference between Derzhavin's subtle poetry is sincerity. Felice Derzhavin called Catherine II. Back in 1783, praise was published, which Derzhavin dedicated to the empress with the same name, which brought the author national fame. And when he praised the empress, he did not flatter, but wrote the truth, and believed that all the attributed virtues were characteristic of her in reality.
In verse, he absolutely accurately defined his poetic principles. And "Monument" - in this sense, is a very important aesthetic document. Relying on tradition, the poet discovered the essence of his artistic innovation, and it was precisely this that was supposed to ensure Derzhavin's "immortality". The poem also contains some moments from the personal life of the author himself.
The poem is based on the image of the monument. In Derzhavin's work, he is a memory of talent and art. With the greatest warmth, the writer treated his Muse, believed that only she moved his pen.
In "Monument" Derzhavin argued the eternity of his literary work, defining his undoubted merits to the motherland. But the poet was no less proud of his people. Thus, in the "Monument" the poet is presented as an instrument of higher powers, which was directed to destroy the vices that act at the behest from above.
Derzhavin's "Monument" became a direct prototype of A. S. Pushkin's poem "I erected a monument to myself not made by hands." It was the poem of Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin that became the first poem in the history of Russian literature, which independently revealed the theme of the miraculous monument of the poet.
Option 3
In 1795, Derzhavin Gavril Romanovich wrote the poem "Monument", in which he expresses his point of view on the poet and poetry. He likens his work to “wonderful. eternal" monument. In Russian literature, Derzhavin became the founder of autobiographical poetry and was the first Russian author to choose his own fame as the theme of his poems.
The poem captures the theme of the poet's immortality in his works. The author reflects on the impact of poetry on contemporaries and descendants, on the poet's right to respect and love of fellow citizens.
The idea of the poem lies in the fact that Derzhavin considered the purpose of art and literature - to promote the spread of education and the cultivation of love for beauty, to correct vicious morals.
The main feature of Derzhavin's poetry was sincerity. In the poem “Monument”, he expresses his opinion about power without any fear and explains what his services to Russian literature are: “... the first I dared to proclaim in a funny Russian syllable about Felitsa’s virtues, In heartfelt simplicity, talk about God and the truth to the kings with speak with a smile.
Derzhavin's poem is written in iambic, in each quatrain the first line rhymes with the third, the second with the fourth, that is, a cross rhyme.
The unhurried, solemn rhythm of the verse corresponds to the importance of the theme. To give solemnity to poetic speech, the poet uses the words - forehead. be proud, proclaim, dared, innumerable; various epithets - a leisurely hand, hearty simplicity, fair merit, a wonderful, eternal monument, fleeting thunder.
Derzhavin in his poem presents the lyrical hero as a proud, just, strong person, and this person is not afraid to defend his opinion, and always achieves his goal.
This poem made a positive impression on me. I support the lyrical hero and agree that the poet's work will remain with people for centuries.
Option 4
The theme of the role and vocation of the poet was touched upon by many authors more than once, but it was G.R. Derzhavin was the first Russian writer who chose his own uniqueness and the uniqueness of his work as a theme for his work.
The poem "Monument" was written in 1759. The poet compares his works with a “wonderful, eternal” monument and thus indicates that the poet is immortal in his works. He talks about the role poetry plays for future generations and contemporaries, how it affects them.
The main idea of the work is the author's idea that the purpose of art and literature is difficult to overestimate, because it is precisely it that brings up enlightenment, love for beauty and other qualities that are important for a worthy person.
All of Derzhavin's works are remarkable for their amazing sincerity, and the Monument is no exception. He, without any hesitation or timidity, expresses his opinion about the authorities and explains exactly what his services to Russian literature are.
The poem is written very concisely and rhythmically (the first line from the third, the second from the fourth), so reading and learning it is quite simple. And also such writing allows you to feel the depth of the topic covered by the author.
Numerous use of various rich epithets (with a leisurely hand, sincere simplicity, fair merit) and “loud” words, such as - become proud, proclaim, uncountable, further root the idea in the mind of the reader that this work is important not only for the author himself, but also for each of us.
Of course, one cannot but pay attention to the exclamatory sentences that the author unusually harmoniously arranges throughout the poem (at the beginning and towards the end), which helps us to be in a kind of fighting mood throughout the reading. Derzhavin's lyrical hero immediately evokes quite strong emotions in the reader. Appears as a man strong, stubborn, confident in his rightness. This, as we understand it, helps him achieve his goals.
Analysis by stanzas "Monument"
Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin is a great Russian poet of the 18th century. In his work, he covered the problems of Russian high society. The poet noted both the good aspects of life (the activities of the empress) and the negative ones (the destructive activities of the nobles). Also, Derzhavin's lyrics included his own life.
The distinctive features of the poet's work can be easily traced on the example of the poem "Monument", which was written in 1775. This work contains some information from the life of Derzhavin himself. His hero is not fictional, he breathes and acts. That is why the poems begin with the personal pronoun "I": "I erected a wonderful, eternal monument to myself." And then the story about myself continues: "... the first I dared to proclaim in a funny Russian syllable about the virtues of Felitsa."
Felice Derzhavin called Catherine II. As early as 1783, an ode dedicated to the Empress with the same title was published, which brought literary fame to Derzhavin.
Another distinctive feature of Derzhavin's poetry is the combination of "high" and "low" words. By this the poet achieves a very great expressiveness:
I erected a wonderful, eternal monument to myself,
It is harder than metal and higher than pyramids...
Rumors will spread about me from the White Waters to the Black Waters...
And next to these simple and understandable lines for everyone, there are verses in the "Monument" filled with high vocabulary. Especially revealing is the last quatrain, filled with heroic enthusiasm and faith in one's destiny:
And whoever despises you, despise those yourself.
The poem is based on the image of the monument. In Derzhavin's work, he becomes a memory of talent and art. The artistic device underlying the poem is a metaphor.
Another favorite technique of the poet is gradation. For example:
In the simplicity of the heart to talk about God
Along with these techniques, Derzhavin also used animation. Here is a quatrain, consisting entirely of animations:
So! - all of me will not die, but a large part of me,
Fleeing from decay, after death he will live,
And my glory will grow without fading,
How long will the universe honor the Slavs?
In the "Monument" Derzhavin affirmed the eternity of his literary work, defined his undoubted merits to the Fatherland (Everyone will remember that among countless peoples, / How out of obscurity I became known for that). But the poet was no less proud of his people (As long as the universe honors the Slavic race).
With the greatest warmth, the poet treated his Muse, believing that it was she who moved his pen:
O muse! be proud of the just merit...
With a leisurely, unhurried hand
Crown your forehead with the dawn of immortality.
Thus, in the "Monument" the poet is presented as an instrument of higher power, aimed at the destruction of vices and acting at the behest from above.
Literary analysis of the poem
This poem was first recorded on paper in 1795, when Derzhavin was fifty-two years old and already in the mature period of his work. At this age, he already acquired poetic and office success, and also began to analyze his role in Russian poetry and culture.
The genre of the poem is ode. But not quite an ordinary ode, Derzhavin was the first of the Russian poets, although indirectly, but dedicated an ode to himself. It can be called a slightly selfish ode; but from another country, the talent, scale and influence of the poet's personality deserve it.
The size of the poem: iambic six-foot. Type of rhyme: cross rhyme.
The main idea and theme of the poem is the belief in the immortality of both poetry in particular and art in general. Derzhavin tells us that a person does not have to build cities, perpetuate himself in granite or be the center of attention of his era, but he only needs to create art and then he will be remembered without unnecessary attributes.
But in addition to everything else, Derzhavin also puts forward several conditions for future poets: First, to be absolutely honest always and everywhere and with anyone. Let the king be in front of you, or the emperor, but if you are a poet, you are obliged not to flatter, but to cut with truth like a sword.
Secondly, they are not shy and even proud of their own successes and merits. Derzhavin shows by his own example that if you really did well in the struggle for glory and achieved something grandiose, then there is nothing shameful in boasting about it. Thirdly, like the example of the poet from his last stanza, boundlessly, aimlessly, but permanently, briskly and vehemently glorify, praise. The very condescending in creativity, but at the same time the elusive poetic muse.
To maintain the majesty and grandiloquence of his poem, in order to emphasize its exorbitant importance, Gabriel uses many different artistic techniques. Epithets: a monument (what) wonderful, eternal; whirlwind (which) fleeting; funny syllable. Etc. Hyperbole: Metals are harder and also taller than pyramids. Metaphors: time is flight; dawn of immortality. Avatars: no thunder can break; flight will not crush time. It is also worth noting the general choice of words for this poem, many of which are considered very sublime and rare. The poem abounds in exclamation and the spirit of high poetry.
Comparison of "Monuments" by Derzhavin and Pushkin
Option 1
When making a comparison of the poems "Monument" by Derzhavin and Pushkin, one must remember that the very first author of the "Monument" was Horace, who lived in Rome 2 thousand years ago. Everything that was later born in Russian literature was interlinear, free translations, imitations. There is a translation of the poem by A. Fet, M. Lomonosov, V. Kapnist.
The "monuments" of Derzhavin and Pushkin are an imitation of the Roman poet, who really survived the 2nd millennium in the memory of people.
But adhering to the style of Horace, Derzhavin and Pushkin expressed in poems their understanding of the role of poetry, their place in literature. Moreover, Pushkin created his "Monument" under the influence of Derzhavin.
We can say that Gavrila Romanovich Derzhavin was a "court" poet, for which he was honored in high secular society. He was caressed in the yard. Ten years earlier, Gavrila Romanovich wrote the Ode "Felitsa", in which the heroine of the sublime work meant Catherine II.
Pushkin, under the influence of the events of the early 19th century and the mood that prevailed in society, became an ardent enemy of the autocracy. And no matter how later Nicholas I wanted to make a poet out of Alexander Sergeevich, praising those in power, nothing came of it. Hence the persecution, persecution, exile.
Gavrila Romanovich wrote his "Monument" in 1795, when he was 52 years old. Most of the way through life. Along with literary creativity, Gavrila Romanovich occupies responsible government posts, works a lot. But he sees his service to the “peoples” not in public service.
Derzhavin's "Monument" is a kind of summing up.
That I was the first to dare in a funny Russian syllable
Proclaim the virtues of Felitsa,
Talk about God in simplicity of heart
And tell the truth to kings with a smile.
Derzhavin believes that any reader from the White Waters to the Black Waters will praise him at all times for the fact that he glorified Catherine the Second, and in her person - the monarchy. Ah, Gavrila Romanovich did not know that the monarchy is not eternal, that someday it will be replaced by another system. It never occurred to him that there might be another power.
Pushkin also begins his poem with the words “I erected a monument to myself,” but unlike Derzhavin, he says that not only the Slavs will remember him.
Rumors about me will go throughout the great Russia,
And every language that is in it will call me,
And the proud grandson of the Slavs, and the Finn, and now wild
Tungus, and a Kalmyk friend of the steppes.
Pushkin's poem does not just echo Derzhavin's lines. But making a comparative analysis of the poems, we see that Pushkin dared to argue with the luminary of the passing era, before whom he himself bowed.
And for a long time I will be kind to the people,
That I aroused good feelings with lyre,
That in my cruel age I glorified freedom
And he called for mercy on the fallen.
By the command of God, O muse, be obedient;
Not afraid of resentment, not demanding a crown,
Praise and slander were accepted indifferently
And don't argue with the fool.
So says Pushkin. Derzhavin sees his muse differently:
O muse! be proud of just merit,
And whoever despise you, despise those yourself;
With a leisurely, unhurried hand
Crown your forehead with the dawn of immortality.
Alexander Sergeevich wrote his poem in 1836, when he was 37 years old. It's too early to draw conclusions. Although, they say that people often foresee their death. How to know.
The Muses are 9 goddesses - the patroness of the arts. In the last lines, where the authors turn to their Muse, they outline their view of poetry. Pushkin sees his task in the glorification of Freedom. The same theme - the role of the poet in society sounds in Pushkin's "Prophet", in the ode "Liberty" and his other poems. The poem Monument - Pushkin, Derzhavin are very similar, but the poems are filled with different ideas.
Option 2
G. R. Derzhavin and A. S. Pushkin have a poem with the same name - “Monument”. However, the similarities between the two works do not end there. Both poems go back to a free translation of the ode of the ancient Roman poet Horace “To Melpomene”, made by M. V. Lomonosov.
Moreover, Derzhavin's and Pushkin's poems are very similar in form. We can say that they develop according to a single pattern, they use common formulas: “I have erected a monument to myself not made by hands” - “I have erected a wonderful, eternal monument to myself”;
“No, all of me will not die” - “So! – all of me will not die”; “The rumor about me will spread throughout all Great Russia” - “The rumor will spread about me from the White Waters to the Black Waters”, etc.
However, the poems of these poets are filled with different ideological content. Thus, Derzhavin presents himself in his "Monument" as a man and a poet. He is not only a creator, but also a courtier. Therefore, he will be honored for the fact that he sincerely and truthfully was able to talk with the kings, was able in a new artistic form - "dared in a funny Russian style" - to speak about the virtues of those in power: "Proclaim the virtues of Felitsa." Except
Moreover, Derzhavin credits himself with having the courage to talk about higher spiritual values, about God.
Pushkin, in his “Monument”, positions himself, first of all, as a poet, and only through this - as a citizen and a humane person. Already in the first lines, he emphasizes his closeness to the people - "The people's path will not grow to him." It is the people's glory for him that is the most valuable: "And for a long time I will be kind to the people..."
What does Pushkin take credit for? Most of all, the poet appreciates humanism in his work (“I awakened good feelings with a lyre”, “I called for mercy for the fallen”) and uncompromising love of freedom, opposition to the existing system (“In my cruel age I glorified Freedom”).
Thus, Pushkin's values stand one step further in terms of personal and civic development than Derzhavin's. If an artist of the 18th century appreciates his artistic merits and closeness to power, then the artist of the 19th century puts the moral and social merits of his poetry in the first place, proclaiming the ideal not only of a poet, but also of a progressive person.
The work of G. R. Derzhavin awakens the brightest feelings, makes one admire his talent and simplicity of presentation of ideas. The work "Monument" was a program for the poet. It contains the most important of his life values. For more than two hundred years, readers have loved this work and consider it one of the wonderful examples of autobiographical poetry.
Theme and idea
The first thing to mention when preparing an analysis of Derzhavin's "Monument" is the theme of the work. It consists in the glorification of poetic creativity, as well as the affirmation of the high destiny of the poet. Poems and odes that he wrote during his life, the author likens to a wonderful monument. G. R. Derzhavin is the founder of autobiographical creativity in all Russian literature. As the main theme of his works, he chose glory and greatness.
The theme of Derzhavin's "Monument" - the immortality of poetry - is covered not only in this poem, but also in many other works of the poet. In them, he reflects on the role of art in society. Derzhavin also writes about the poet's right to popular love and respect. The main idea of the poem is that art and literature contribute to the enlightenment and dissemination of beauty in society. They also have the ability to correct vicious morals.
"Monument" Derzhavin: the history of creation
Derzhavin wrote his poem in 1795. It refers to the mature stage of creativity of the court poet. At this stage, he already summed up the results of his life and work, comprehended the path he had traveled, tried to understand his place in literature, as well as the history of society. The work "Monument" was created by the poet on the basis of Horace's ode, it is its free interpretation. The main characters of Derzhavin's "Monument" are the Muse and the lyrical hero. The poem is autobiographical. The image of the poet is not detached from everyday life, he is one with it.
The poet's poem consists of four stanzas. Let us continue the analysis of Derzhavin's "Monument" by analyzing its content. The first stanza contains a direct description of the monument. The poet emphasizes its strength, using a hyperbole-comparison: "Metals are harder ... higher than the pyramids." This monument is not subject to the passage of time. And already from this description, an attentive reader can conclude that, in reality, Derzhavin's monument is intangible.
In the second stanza, the author asserts his own immortality, emphasizing that his poetry is nothing but a national treasure. And in the third stanza, the reader will learn about how great the poet's glory will be in the future. The fourth describes the reasons for this glory: "I dared to speak the truth with a smile in a funny Russian style." The poet also refers to his Muse. In the final lines of the poem "Monument" by Derzhavin, the poet's independence from the opinions of others is expressed. That is why his work deserves true immortality. In his poem, the poet shows the lyrical hero as a proud, strong and wise person. In his work, Derzhavin foresees that many of his works will live on even after his death.
"Monument" Derzhavin: artistic means
In his poem, the poet openly addresses readers. After all, only by serving the truth, the writer and artist acquires the right to originality, independence. The main idea that a schoolboy can mention in the analysis of Derzhavin's "Monument" is this: the value of creativity lies in its sincerity. Sincerity is one of the main features of Derzhavin's poetry.
The originality of the work is conveyed by the poet as follows:
- The size of Derzhavin's "Monument" is iambic six-foot. With its help, the poet conveys a leisurely escape from the hustle and bustle.
- The sublime structure of his thoughts corresponds to the simplicity of the syllable, achieved through the use of grandiloquent expressions and rather economical literary means of expression. The poem uses cross rhyme. The genre of Derzhavin's "Monument" is an ode.
- The solemn sound of the work is given by the vocabulary of high style (“brow”, “proud”, “dared”).
- G. R. Derzhavin gives a majestic image of poetic inspiration through the use of numerous epithets and metaphors. His muse crowns herself with the "dawn of immortality", and her hand is "slow", "unconstrained" - in other words, free.
Also, for the sake of completeness of the literary analysis, it is necessary to mention the main images in Derzhavin's "Monument" - this is the Muse and the lyrical hero. In the work, the poet addresses his inspiration.
What exactly is the merit described in the "Monument"?
So, we can conclude that the merits of the poet lie in his ability to speak the truth to the rulers with an open mind and with a smile. In order to understand the seriousness of all these merits of Derzhavin, one must trace the path of his ascent to the poetic Olympus. The poet was mistakenly given to the soldiers, although he was a descendant of impoverished nobles. The son of a widow, Derzhavin was doomed to many years of service as a soldier. There was no place for poetic art in it. However, even then Gavrila Romanovich was visited by poetic inspiration. He diligently continued to educate himself, as well as write poetry. By coincidence, he helped Catherine become Empress. But this did not affect his financial situation - the poet barely made ends meet.
The work "Felitsa" was so unusual that for a long time the poet did not dare to publish it. The poet alternated his address to the ruler with a description of his own life. Contemporaries were also struck by the description in the ode of base matters. That is why in his poem "Monument" Derzhavin points to his merit: he "proclaimed" about the "virtues of Felitsa" - he managed to show the ruler as a living person, to describe her individual characteristics, character. This was a new word in Russian literature. This can also be told in the analysis of Derzhavin's "Monument". The poetic innovation of the author consisted in the fact that he managed to write a new page in the history of literature with a “funny Russian style”.
Mention related to the ode "God"
Another of his merit, which the poet mentions in the work, is the ability to “talk about God in sincere simplicity.” And in these lines, he clearly mentions his ode called "God", written in 1784. It was recognized by Gavrila Romanovich's contemporaries as the highest manifestation of his talent. 15 times the ode was translated into French. Several translations have also been made into German, Italian, Spanish and even Japanese.
Fighter for the truth
And one more merit, which is described in the poem "Monument" by Derzhavin, is the ability to "tell the truth to kings with a smile." Despite the fact that he reached high ranks (Derzhavin was a governor, senator, personal secretary of Catherine II), he did not stay in any position for a long time.
Derzhavin fought against the embezzlers of the state, constantly showed himself as a champion of the truth, tried to achieve justice. And these are the characteristics of the poet from the lips of his contemporaries. Gavrila Romanovich reminded the nobles and officials that, despite their position, their lot is exactly the same as that of mere mortals.
The difference between Derzhavin and Horace
Of course, one cannot say that Derzhavin's work was devoid of pathos. However, the poet had the right to use it. Gavrila Romanovich boldly changed the idea that was put into the poem by Horace. In the first place, he put the veracity of his work, and only in second place is what, according to the ancient Roman poet, should be in the spotlight - the perfection of the poem. And the difference in the life positions of poets of two different eras is expressed in their works. If Horace achieved fame only because he wrote a good poem, then Gavrila Romanovich became famous for the fact that in the “Monument” he openly tells the truth to both the people and the king.
A work that can be understood
Derzhavin was a prominent representative of classicism in literature. It was he who adopted European traditions, according to the rules of which works were compiled in a sublime, solemn style. However, at the same time, the poet managed to introduce a lot of simple, colloquial speech into his poems. This is what he made them easy to understand for representatives of the most diverse segments of the population.
Criticism of the poem
Derzhavin composed his poem "Monument" to elevate and praise Russian literature. To our great regret, critics completely misinterpreted this work, and a whole flurry of negativity fell upon Gavrila Romanovich.
He faced accusations of boastfulness and excessive pride. Derzhavin recommended to his furious opponents not to pay attention to the solemn style, but to think about the meaning that lies in the work.
Solemn style
The poem is written in the genre of an ode, but to be more precise, this is a special kind of it. The work corresponds to a high, solemn style. Written in iambic with pyrrhic, it acquires even greater majesty. The work is filled with solemn intonations, refined vocabulary. Its rhythm is slow, majestic. Numerous homogeneous members of the sentence, the technique of syntactic parallelism, as well as a large number of exclamations and appeals allow the poet to achieve this effect. A high style is also created with the help of vocabulary. G. R. Derzhavin uses a large number of epithets (“wonderful”, “fleeting”, “eternal”). There are also a lot of obsolete words in the work - Slavicisms and archaisms (“erected”, “death”, “despite the forehead”).
Significance in literature
We examined the history of the creation of Derzhavin's "Monument", analyzed the works. In the final part, the student can talk about the role of the poem in Russian literature. In this work, Gavrila Romanovich continues the tradition of summing up the results of life, which was laid down by Lomonosov. And at the same time, the poet managed to stay within the canons of such creations. This tradition was continued in the work of Pushkin, who also turned to the original source, but at the same time he also relied on Derzhavin's poem.
And even after A. S. Pushkin, many of the leading Russian poets continued to write poems in the “monument” genre. Among them, for example, is A. A. Fet. Each of the poets himself determines the meaning of poetry in the life of society, relying both on the literary tradition and on his own creative experience.
It is necessary to read the verse “Monument” by Derzhavin Gabriel Romanovich as an arrangement of a similar work written by Horace. At the same time, this ode is completely independent and expresses the views of the poet. Written in 1795, it is an attempt to find an answer to the difficult question - what awaits the poem after their creator leaves. Studying the ode in the classroom at a literature lesson, it is easy to see its depth and penetration. Derzhavin attached much importance to his legacy - and he expresses confidence that it will live on even after his own death.
Against this background, it is interesting that the real contribution of the poet to literature was appreciated only in the next century - and in the text of Derzhavin's poem "Monument", which must be fully taught at school, one can see a kind of foresight of this. Many critics felt that the author of the ode boasted of himself and made indiscreet statements, but it is enough to think about its content by reading it online to see that this is actually not the case.
As rightly stated in this work, Derzhavin laid the foundations of the poetic tradition and wanted talented poets to continue it. After a long time, one of them will pay tribute to his memory by writing his own poem with the same name - it will be Pushkin.
I erected a wonderful, eternal monument to myself,
It is harder than metal and higher than pyramids;
Neither his whirlwind, nor thunder will break the fleeting,
And time will not crush him.
So! - all of me will not die, but a large part of me,
Fleeing from decay, after death he will live,
And my glory will grow without fading,
How long will the universe honor the Slavs?
The rumor will pass about me from the White Waters to the Black ones,
Where the Volga, Don, Neva, the Urals pour from the Riphean;
Everyone will remember that among innumerable peoples,
How from obscurity I became known for that,
That I was the first to dare in a funny Russian syllable
Proclaim the virtues of Felitsa,
In the simplicity of the heart to talk about God
And tell the truth to kings with a smile.
O muse! be proud of just merit,
And whoever despise you, despise those yourself;
With a leisurely, unhurried hand
Crown your forehead with the dawn of immortality.
I erected a wonderful, eternal monument to myself,
It is harder than metal and higher than pyramids;
Neither his whirlwind, nor thunder will break the fleeting,
And time will not crush him.
So! - all of me will not die, but a large part of me,
Fleeing from decay, after death he will live,
And my glory will grow without fading,
How long will the universe honor the Slavs?
The rumor will pass about me from the White Waters to the Black ones,
Where the Volga, Don, Neva, the Urals pour from the Riphean;
Everyone will remember that among innumerable peoples,
How from obscurity I became known for that,
That I was the first to dare in a funny Russian syllable
Proclaim the virtues of Felitsa,
Talk about God in simplicity of heart
And tell the truth to kings with a smile.
O muse! be proud of just merit,
And whoever despise you, despise those yourself;
With a leisurely, unhurried hand
Crown your forehead with the dawn of immortality.
Analysis of the poem "Monument" by Derzhavin
In our view, Derzhavin often hides behind the glory of his famous followers - Pushkin and Lermontov. However, his merit to Russian poetry is very great. In the XVIII century. there was no modern Russian language yet. It was extremely inconvenient for understanding, replete with ancient Slavic and extremely "heavy" words and phrases. Derzhavin gradually began to introduce colloquial speech into literature, simplifying and facilitating its perception. Derzhavin was considered a "court" poet, he was the creator of a large number of solemn odes. At the same time, he used his high position to spread and popularize the Russian language. He considered the main merit in life not his work, but his general contribution to the creation of national literature. To this he dedicated the poem "Monument" (1795).
The work, as subsequently and, immediately aroused critical appraisals. Derzhavin uses a heroic style associated with classical ancient Greek patterns. In solemn style, he declares that he has created an indestructible monument in his honor. He is not subject to any force and even time. Moreover, the poet is sure that his soul will continue to live and increase its glory.
To such a proud and self-confident statement, a small but very significant remark is made: “as long as the universe will honor the Slavic race.” It explains Derzhavin's pathos. The poet glorifies his contribution to Russian literature. Derzhavin had grounds for such an assertion. In Russian poetry at the turn of the XVIII-XIX centuries. he was indeed the brightest representative. Thanks to the poet, Russian literature was able to seriously declare itself. Derzhavin longed for it to take its rightful place in world culture.
The poet sees his personal contribution, first of all, in bringing poetry closer to the majority of the population. He considers this impudent, since earlier literature was considered the lot of only the upper class.
At the end, the poem finally loses its personal coloring. Derzhavin addresses directly to the muse of poetry, before which he bows and gives her a well-deserved honor.
In response to reproaches of indiscretion, the poet rightly answered that critics do not see the main meaning of the poem behind the sublime words. He always aspired to the development of national literature. He considered it very important to spread it among all segments of the population. This will lead to the emergence of new talents that will continue his great work and become evidence that the poet's soul continues to live. This is the immortality of Derzhavin.
I erected a wonderful, eternal monument to myself,
It is harder than metal and higher than pyramids;
Neither his whirlwind, nor thunder will break the fleeting,
And time will not crush him.So! - all of me will not die, but a large part of me,
Fleeing from decay, after death he will live,
And my glory will grow without fading,
How long will the universe honor the Slavs?The rumor will pass about me from the White Waters to the Black ones,
Where the Volga, Don, Neva, the Urals pour from the Riphean;
Everyone will remember that among innumerable peoples,
How from obscurity I became known for that,That I was the first to dare in a funny Russian syllable
Proclaim the virtues of Felitsa,
Talk about God in simplicity of heart
And tell the truth to kings with a smile.O muse! be proud of just merit,
And whoever despise you, despise those yourself;
With a leisurely, unhurried hand
Crown your forehead with the dawn of immortality.
Analysis of Derzhavin's poem "Monument"
Almost every poet in his work addresses the theme of eternity, trying to find an answer to the question of what fate is in store for his works. Homer and Horace were famous for such epic odes, and later many Russian writers, among whom was Gavriil Derzhavin. This poet is one of the brightest representatives of classicism, who inherited the European traditions of composing his poems in a “high calm”, but at the same time adapted them to colloquial speech so much that they were understandable to almost any listener.
During his lifetime, Gavriil Derzhavin was treated kindly by Empress Catherine II, to whom he dedicated his famous ode "", however, his contribution to Russian literature was appreciated by posterity only after the death of the poet, who became a kind of spiritual mentor for Pushkin and Lermontov.
Anticipating such a development of events, in 1795 Gavriil Derzhavin wrote the poem "Monument", which he originally called "To the Muse". This work in its form was sustained in the best traditions of ancient Greek poetry., however, its content was considered by many to be defiant and immodest. Nevertheless, reflecting the attacks of critics, Derzhavin advised them not to pay attention to the pompous style, but to think about the content, noting that he did not praise himself in this work, but Russian literature, which, finally, managed to break out of the tight shackles of classicism and become easier to understand.
Naturally, a huge merit in this belongs to Derzhavin himself, which he mentioned in his poem, noting that he erected a monument to himself that is "harder than metal" and "higher than the pyramid." At the same time, the author claims that he is not afraid of either storms, or thunder, or years, since this structure is not of a material, but of a spiritual nature. Derzhavin hints that he managed to "humanize" poetry, which from now on is destined to become publicly available.. And it is quite natural that future generations will be able to appreciate the beauty of the poetic style, which was previously available only to the elite. Therefore, the poet has no doubt that if not glory, then immortality awaits him. “All of me will not die, but a large part of me, having escaped from decay, will begin to live after death,” the poet notes. At the same time, he emphasizes that the rumor about him will sweep throughout the Russian land.
It was this phrase that aroused the indignation of the poet's opponents, who attributed excessive pride to Derzhavin. However, the author had in mind not his own poetic achievements, but new trends in Russian poetry, which, as he foresaw, would be picked up by a new generation of writers. And it is their works that will gain wide popularity among various segments of the population due to the fact that the poet himself will be able to teach them “in heartfelt simplicity to talk about God and speak the truth to kings with a smile.”
It is noteworthy that in his assumptions about the future of Russian poetry, whose forehead will be crowned with the "dawn of immortality", Gavriil Derzhavin turned out to be right. It is noteworthy that shortly before his death, the poet was present at the final exam at the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum and listened to the poems of the young Pushkin, whom he "went down to the grave and blessed." It was Pushkin who was destined to become the successor of the poetic traditions that were laid down in Russian literature by Derzhavin. It is not surprising that the famous Russian poet, imitating his teacher, subsequently created the poem “I erected a monument to myself not made by hands”, which echoes Derzhavin’s “Monument” and is a continuation of the multifaceted debate about the role of poetry in modern Russian society.