I erected a monument to myself, a miraculous original. Anthology of one poem: Pushkin’s “Monument” and Russian censorship

Compare verse Monument to Pushkin, Derzhavin, Horace

PUSHKIN'S VERSE
I erected a monument to myself, not made by hands,
The people's path to him will not be overgrown,
He ascended higher with his rebellious head
Alexandrian Pillar.

No, all of me will not die - the soul is in the treasured lyre
My ashes will survive and decay will escape -
And I will be glorious as long as I am in the sublunary world
At least one piit will be alive.

Rumors about me will spread throughout Great Rus',
And every tongue that is in it will call me,
And the proud grandson of the Slavs, and the Finn, and now wild
Tungus, and friend of the steppes Kalmyk.

And for a long time I will be so kind to the people,
That I awakened good feelings with my lyre,
That in my cruel age I glorified Freedom
And he called for mercy for the fallen.

By the command of God, O muse, be obedient,
Without fear of insult, without demanding a crown,
Praise and slander were accepted indifferently
And don't argue with a fool.

DERZHAVINA'S VERSE

1Monument
I erected a wonderful, eternal monument to myself,
It is harder than metals and higher than the pyramids;
Neither a whirlwind nor a fleeting thunder will break it,
And time's flight will not crush it.
So! - all of me will not die, but part of me is big,
Having escaped from decay, he will live after death,
And my glory will increase without fading,
How long will the universe honor the Slavic race?
Rumors will spread about me from the White Waters to the Black Waters,
Where the Volga, Don, Neva, the Urals flow from Riphean;
Everyone will remember this among countless nations,
How from obscurity I became known,
That I was the first to dare in a funny Russian syllable
To proclaim Felitsa’s virtues,
Talk about God in simplicity of heart
And speak the truth to kings with a smile.
O muse! be proud of your just merit,
And whoever despises you, despise them yourself;
With a relaxed, unhurried hand
Crown your brow with the dawn of immortality.

VERSE HORACE

I erected a monument more eternal than durable copper
And royal buildings above the pyramids;
Neither the acrid rain nor midnight Aquilon,
Not a series of countless years will destroy.

No, I won’t all die, and I’ll have a better life
I will avoid funerals, and my glorious crown
Everything will be green until the Capitol
The high priest walks with the silent maiden.

And they will say that he was born where the talkative Aufid
Runs quickly, where among the waterless countries
From the throne Dawn judged the hardworking people,
That from nothingness I was chosen to glory

“I erected a monument to myself, not made by hands...” A. Pushkin

Exegi monumentum.

I erected a monument to myself, not made by hands,
The people's path to him will not be overgrown,
He ascended higher with his rebellious head
Alexandrian Pillar.

No, all of me will not die - the soul is in the treasured lyre
My ashes will survive and decay will escape -
And I will be glorious as long as I am in the sublunary world
At least one piit will be alive.

Rumors about me will spread throughout Great Rus',
And every tongue that is in it will call me,
And the proud grandson of the Slavs, and the Finn, and now wild
Tungus, and friend of the steppes Kalmyk.

And for a long time I will be so kind to the people,
That I awakened good feelings with my lyre,
That in my cruel age I glorified freedom
And he called for mercy for the fallen.

By the command of God, O muse, be obedient,
Without fear of insult, without demanding a crown;
Praise and slander were accepted indifferently
And don't challenge a fool.

After the tragic death of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin on January 29, 1837, a draft of the poem “I erected a monument not made by hands”, dated August 21, 1836, was discovered among his papers. The original work was given to the poet Vasily Zhukovsky, who made literary corrections to the poem. Subsequently, the poems were included in the posthumous collection of Pushkin’s works, which was published in 1841.

There are a number of assumptions related to the history of the creation of this poem. Researchers of Pushkin’s work argue that the work “I erected a monument to myself not made by hands” is an imitation of the work of other poets, whom Pushkin simply paraphrased. For example, similar “Monuments” can be found in the works of Gabriel Derzhavin, Mikhail Lomonosov, Alexander Vostokov and Vasily Kapnist - brilliant writers of the 17th century. However, many Pushkin scholars are inclined to believe that the poet gleaned the main ideas for this poem from Horace’s ode entitled “Exegi monumentum.”

What exactly prompted Pushkin to create this work? Today we can only guess about this. However, the poet’s contemporaries reacted rather coolly to the poem, believing that praising one’s literary talents was, at the very least, incorrect. Admirers of Pushkin’s work, on the contrary, saw in this work the hymn of modern poetry and the victory of the spiritual over the material. However, among Pushkin’s close friends there was an opinion that the work was full of irony and was an epigram that the poet addressed to himself. Thus, he seemed to want to emphasize that his work deserves a much more respectful attitude from his fellow tribesmen, which should be supported not only by ephemeral admiration, but also by material benefits.

The notes of the memoirist Pyotr Vyazemsky, who supported Pushkin, also speak in favor of the “ironic” version of the appearance of this work. friendly relations and argued that the word “miraculous” has a completely different meaning in the context of the work. In particular, Pyotr Vyazemsky has repeatedly stated that the poem is not talking about the literary and spiritual heritage of the poet, since “he wrote his poems with nothing more than his hands,” but about his status in modern society. After all, in the highest circles they did not like Pushkin, although they recognized his undoubted literary talent. But, at the same time, with his work, Pushkin, who managed to gain national recognition during his lifetime, could not earn a living and was forced to constantly mortgage his property in order to somehow ensure a decent standard of living for his family. This is confirmed by the order of Tsar Nicholas I, which he gave after Pushkin’s death, obliging him to pay all the poet’s debts from the treasury, as well as assigning maintenance to his widow and children in the amount of 10 thousand rubles.

In addition, there is a “mystical” version of the creation of the poem “I erected a monument to myself not made by hands,” whose supporters are convinced that Pushkin had a presentiment of his death. That is why, six months before his death, he wrote this work, which, if we discard the ironic context, can be regarded as the poet’s spiritual testament. Moreover, Pushkin knew that his work would become a role model not only in Russia, but also in foreign literature. There is a legend that a fortune teller predicted Pushkin’s death in a duel at the hands of a handsome blond man, and the poet knew not only exact date, but also the time of his death. Therefore, I made sure that poetic form take stock of your own life.

Monument to A.S. Pushkin in Tsarskoe Selo (photo by the author of the article, 2011)

The poem “I erected a monument to myself not made by hands” was written in 1836, six months before Pushkin’s death. Not the best better times the poet was worried then. Critics did not favor him; the tsar banned him from the press. best works, gossip was spreading in secular society about his person, and in family life everything was far from rosy. The poet was cramped cash. And his friends, even his closest ones, treated all his hardships with coolness.

It is in such a difficult situation that Pushkin writes a poetic work, which over time becomes historical.

The poet seems to be summing up his work, sincerely and frankly sharing his thoughts with the reader, assessing his contribution to Russian and world literature. A correct assessment of his merits, an understanding of future glory, recognition and love of his descendants - all this contributed to helping the poet calmly deal with slander, insults, “not demand a crown from them,” and be above it. Alexander Sergeevich speaks about this in the last stanza of the work. Perhaps it was precisely the painful thoughts about misunderstanding and underestimation of him by his contemporaries that prompted the poet to write this important poem.

“I have erected a monument to myself not made by hands” is to some extent an imitation of the famous poem “Monument” (which, in turn, is based on a verse by Horace). Pushkin follows Derzhavin’s text, but puts a completely different meaning into his lines. Alexander Sergeevich tells us about his “disobedience”, that his “monument” is higher than the monument to Alexander I, the “Alexandrian Pillar” (opinions of literary researchers about which monument we are talking about differ). And that people will constantly come to his monument, and the road to it will not be overgrown. And as long as poetry exists in the world, “as long as at least one pyit is alive in the sublunary world,” the poet’s glory will not fade.

Pushkin knows for sure that all the numerous nations that make up “Great Rus'” will treat him as their poet. Pushkin deserved the love of the people and eternal recognition because his poetry awakens “good feelings” in people. And also because he “glorified freedom”, fought as best he could, creating his important works. And he never stopped believing in the best, and for the “fallen” he asked for “mercy.”

Analyzing the poem “I erected a monument to myself not made by hands,” we understand that this work is a philosophical reflection on life and creativity, it is an expression of its poetic purpose.

The genre of the poem “I erected a monument to myself not made by hands” is an ode. It is based on the main Pushkin principles: love of freedom, humanity.

The meter of the poem is iambic hexameter. He perfectly conveys the determination and clarity of the poet’s thoughts.

In the work not only " phraseological combinations, but also a single word, entails a whole range of associations and images that are closely connected with the stylistic tradition that was familiar to lyceum poets.”

The number of stanzas in the poem is five. The last stanza is kept in a solemn and calm tone.

And the proud grandson of the Slavs, and the Finn, and now wild

The function of polysyndeton is “to encourage the reader to generalize, to perceive a number of details as a whole image. When perceived, the specific is transformed into the generic, namely, “the peoples of the Russian Empire.”

The idea of ​​the poem “I erected a monument to myself not made by hands” is most likely inspired by the memories of Pushkin. It was he, the closest and devoted friend of Alexander Sergeevich, who was the first to understand the greatness of Pushkin and predicted his immortal glory. During his lifetime, Delvig helped the poet in many ways, was a consoler, protector, and in some ways even Pushkin’s teacher. Anticipating his imminent death and saying goodbye to creative activity, Pushkin seemed to agree with Delvig’s words, asserting that his prophecies would come true, despite the narrow-minded fools who were destroying the poet as they had destroyed his brother “in muse and destiny,” Delvig himself, five years earlier.

I erected a monument to myself, not made by hands... (A.S. Pushkin)

(full text of the poem)
Exegi monumentum*.

I erected a monument to myself, not made by hands,
The people's path to him will not be overgrown,
He ascended higher with his rebellious head
Alexandrian Pillar.

No, all of me will not die - the soul is in the treasured lyre
My ashes will survive and decay will escape -
And I will be glorious as long as I am in the sublunary world
At least one piit will be alive.

Rumors about me will spread throughout Great Rus',
And every tongue that is in it will call me,
And the proud grandson of the Slavs, and the Finn, and now wild
Tunguz, and friend of the steppes Kalmyk.

And for a long time I will be so kind to the people,
That I awakened good feelings with my lyre,
That in my cruel age I glorified Freedom
And he called for mercy for the fallen.

By the command of God, O muse, be obedient,
Without fear of insult, without demanding a crown,
Praise and slander were accepted indifferently,
And don't argue with a fool.

*) I erected a monument.. (beginning of Horace’s poem)

The work of A. S. Pushkin in recent years his life is extremely diverse: artistic and historical prose, poetic works on various topics. Among his latest works is the poem “I have erected a monument to myself, not made by hands.”

Background of the “Monument” and perception by contemporaries

Theories about the history of writing the poem “I Erected a Monument to Myself” are a little ambiguous.

Pushkin composed it in response to the poem “Two Alexanders,” written during his lyceum years by his friend Delvig. Literary historian and Pushkin scholar Vladislav Felitsianovich Khodasevich called this background to the creation.

Other Pushkin literary scholars highlight several more theories that touch on the origins of the poem “I erected a monument not made by hands.”

Pushkin imitated the previously existing works of writers: G. Derzhavin, A. Vostokov, M. Lomonosov, V. Kapnist.

The second theory originates in Ancient Rome and affects creative path Horace, author of the ode Exegi monumentum.

The poem was received ambiguously by contemporaries and descendants.

Faith in the speedy recognition of his works, awareness of future love and recognition from descendants - the topics touched upon in the poem were received coldly by the poet's contemporaries. Since self-praise of personal literary talents was not held in high esteem. And this is precisely what, in their opinion, Pushkin did in his work.

“I erected a monument to myself not made by hands” was perceived by fans of the author’s work as a hymn to poetry and hope for the triumph of the soul over the body.

“Monument” and the fate of the poet

A draft of the work was discovered in a heap of papers after the poet’s death. helped the poem appear in the playwright's posthumous collected works (1841).

Pushkin wrote “I erected a monument to myself not made by hands” literally five months before the fatal duel that caused his death: the poem is dated August 21, 1836. The work became a fateful prediction of approaching death.

At the New Year's ball, Alexander Sergeevich personally read his “Monument”.

Pushkin wrote the poem, which comprehends the fate of the poet in the prism of human history, in difficult years for himself: critics took up arms against him, tsarist censorship was fierce and banned most of his works from publication, secular society discussed gossip about him and his wife, and family life gave a crack. Perhaps it was precisely this atmosphere that influenced a deep look that made it possible to objectively evaluate the playwright’s personal creative contribution to literature.

Self-irony and epigram?

Among those close to Alexander Sergeevich, there was an opinion that the work was filled with notes of self-irony. They called the “Monument” an epigram, the object of which was Pushkin himself.

This theory is confirmed by the direction of the poem: it is addressed to a poet whose work is not respected among his fellow tribesmen, although it should have aroused their admiration.

The memoirist adhered to the theory of the “ironicity” of the poem “I erected a monument to myself.” Pushkin and Vyazemsky were friends, so the literary critic insisted that fans misread the work. He stated that it was not about spiritual and literary heritage, but about society’s recognition of himself. After all, it is known that the contemporaries in whose circles the poet moved openly disliked him as a person. But at the same time they recognized the great creative potential that Pushkin possessed.

“I erected a monument to myself not made by hands” also had a “mystical” side.

Anticipating death

Supporters of the “mystical” version were of the opinion that the poem was a prediction of the poet’s impending death, which he knew about in advance. Starting from this position and discarding Vyazemsky’s version of the irony of the work, we can say that “Monument” became Pushkin’s spiritual testament.

The prophetic vision affected not only the poet’s life, but also his work. The prose writer and playwright knew that future generations would not only praise and honor him, but would also consider him worthy of imitation.

There is also a legend that long before his tragic outcome, Alexander Sergeevich knew on what specific day and at what time of day he would die. It says that a fortune teller predicted his death at the hands of the famous blond.

Anticipating his approaching death and wanting to sum up his life, Pushkin turned to the most accessible source for himself - the pen - and wrote “Monument”.

Pushkin. The poem “I erected a monument to myself not made by hands.” Brief Analysis

One can safely call Alexander Sergeevich himself a lyrical hero. The plot is the fate of the author, considered in the context of human history, as well as subsequent contributions to literature.

The poet wonders what place he has in this world, what kind of relationship he has with society and readers. He hopes that his life, wasted in creative quests and impulses, was not in vain and will benefit his descendants. He hopes that after death they will remember him: “No, all of me will not die.”

The poem also raises the problem of the poet and poetry, poetic glory and poetic heritage. Pushkin writes that the poet will overcome death thanks to his creative heritage and recognition by his descendants.

Each line of “Monument” is permeated with pride that the poet’s poetry was free and highly moral: “I glorified freedom and called for mercy for the fallen.”

The poem with the epigraph Exegi monumentum (in the translation “I erected a monument”), on the one hand, is filled with bright and joyful colors, personifying eternal life art, but, on the other hand, it is a little gloomy and sad, because this is the poet’s swan song, summed up by Pushkin himself.

“I erected a monument to myself, not made by hands.” Artistic reading

The rhythm of the poem can be called slow; it is this slowness that gives it a majestic rhythm. This effect was achieved thanks to a single meter of verse (iamb with trochee), ideal for quatrains (quatrains), alternating female and male rhymes.

Numerous also contributed to the creation of a conducive atmosphere in the work. Among them are: anaphora (single beginning of lines), inversion (reverse word order), series of homogeneous members.

The majestic tone of the work was achieved thanks to the epithets: “a monument not made by hands”, metaphors: “my soul will survive the ashes and escape decay”, personifications: “the muse... accepted praise and slander indifferently And do not challenge the fool”, metonymy: “rumor about me will spread throughout Rus' great." Lexical means include the frequent use of Slavicisms (dokoli, piit, glavoy, erected).

Based on the artistic and lexical richness of the poem, it is logical to conclude that, as Alexander Sergeevich predicted, he created for posterity with his creativity a “monument not made by hands.” Pushkin will live thanks to the works he wrote.

Exegi monumentum

I erected a monument to myself, not made by hands,
The people's path to him will not be overgrown,
He ascended higher with his rebellious head
Alexandrian Pillar.

No, all of me will not die - the soul is in the treasured lyre
My ashes will survive and decay will escape -
And I will be glorious as long as I am in the sublunary world
At least one piit will be alive.

Rumors about me will spread throughout Great Rus',
And every tongue that is in it will call me,
And the proud grandson of the Slavs, and the Finn, and now wild
Tungus, and friend of the steppes Kalmyk.

That I awakened good feelings with my lyre,
That in my cruel age I glorified Freedom
And he called for mercy for the fallen.

By the command of God, O muse, be obedient,
Without fear of insult, without demanding a crown,
Praise and slander were accepted indifferently
And don't argue with a fool.

Pushkin, 1836

The poem is written on the theme of ode Horace « To Melpomene» ( XXX ode to book III), where the epigraph is taken from. Lomonosov translated the same ode to Horace; Derzhavin imitated her in his poem “ Monument».

Exegi monumentum- I erected a monument (lat.).
Alexandria pillar- Alexander Column, monument to Alexander I in St. Petersburg on Palace Square; Pushkin " I left St. Petersburg 5 days before the opening of the Alexander Column, so as not to be present at the ceremony along with the chamber cadets, my comrades" The reason, of course, was deeper - Pushkin did not want to participate in the glorification of Alexander I.

In the draft manuscript of the 3rd stanza, other nationalities living in Russia are also named who will name Pushkin: Georgian, Kyrgyz, Circassian. The fourth stanza originally read:

And for a long time I will be so kind to the people,
That I have found new sounds for songs,
That, following Radishchev, I glorified Freedom
And he sang mercy.

Following Radishchev- as the author of the ode " Liberty" And " Traveling from St. Petersburg to Moscow».
I praised Freedom- this refers to Pushkin’s freedom-loving lyrics.
Called for mercy for the fallen- Pushkin speaks about his “ Stansach» (« In the hope of glory and goodness..."), about the poem " Friends", O " Pier of Peter I", maybe about " Hero”, - those poems in which he called on Nicholas I to return the Decembrists from hard labor.