"Nobleman" Gabriel Derzhavin
Not decoration of clothes
Today my muse glorifies,
Which, in the eyes of the ignorant,
Dresses up jesters as nobles;
It is not pomp that I sing;
Not idols behind the crystal*,
In the kivots* they shine with metal,
They will hear my praise.I want to honor dignity
Which by themselves
They knew how to earn titles
By deeds praising oneself;
Who is neither a noble family nor a rank,
Neither happiness was decorated;
But those who gained valor
Respect from the citizens.An idol put to shame*
The foolish mob deceives;
But if the artists' gaze is in it
Doesn’t feel direct beauty, -
Behold the image of false rumors,
Behold a lump of gilded mud!
And you, without spiritual goodness,
Aren't all nobles like that?Not Persian pearls* on you
And it’s not the Brazilian stars that are clear*,-
For those who love the truth of the eyes
Only virtues are beautiful
They are mortal praise.
Caligula! your horse is in the Senate
Couldn't shine, shining in gold:
Good deeds shine.A donkey will remain a donkey
Although shower him with stars*;
Where should one act with the mind,
He just flaps his ears.
ABOUT! the hand of happiness is in vain,
Against the natural rank,
Dresses up a madman as a gentleman
Or into the noise of a fool,Whatever springs you imagine,
So that my husband can manage to
You can’t wear a mask* forever,
And the truth must be revealed.
When he was not overthrown in battles, in courts,
In the councils of the tsars - co-statists,
Everyone thinks I'm Chupyatov*
In Moroccan ribbons and stars.Leaving the scepter, the throne, the palace,
Having been a wanderer, in dust and sweat,
Great Peter, like some kind of god,
He shone with majesty at work:
Honorable and in rags hero!
Catherine in low stakes
And not on the royal throne
She was a great wife.Indeed, if pride is flattered
I wouldn’t have captured an arrogant mind, -
That our nobility, honor,
How is it not elegance that is spiritual?
I am a prince - since my spirit shines;
Owner - if I master passions;
Bolyarin - since I’m rooting for everyone,
Friend to the king, the law, and the church.The nobleman must be
The mind is sound, the heart is enlightened;
He must set an example
That his title is sacred,
That he is an instrument of power,
Support for the royal building;
His whole thought, words, deeds
There must be benefit, glory, honor.And you, the second Sardanapalus!*
What are you running all your thoughts towards?
So that your life may pass
Among games, among idleness and bliss?
So that purple and gold look everywhere
In your halls they admired,
The pictures in the mirrors were breathing,
Musia*, marble and porcelain?Is that why you need a spacious light,
Stretched out your servile hands,
For your fancy lunch
The tribute brings the most delicious dishes,
Tokaj* - thick wine pours,
Levant* - rich coffee with stars,
So that I don’t want for the world’s work
Will you give up one moment?There water flows in the clearings
And, noisily rushing upward, they sparkle;
There roses bloom in the middle of winter
And in the groves the nymphs sing
To look at everything
You are a gloomy, indifferent eye,
Among the joys seemed boring
And yawned in satiety?Eagle, soaring in height,
The sun is already shining in the midday rays, -
But your palace is barely dawning
Blushes through the curtains of scarlet*;
Barely over the quivering breasts
Circe lying with you
Roses and lilies shine,
You sleep with her peacefully, but what about there?And there is a wounded hero,
Your former boss, -
Who came to you in the hall
To accept your order for service, -
Between your golden servants,
With his laurel head drooping,
He's been sitting and waiting for you for an hour!And there - the widow is standing in the hallway
And she sheds bitter tears,
With a baby in her arms,
He desires your protection.
For your benefits, for honor
She lost her husband;
Having known him in you before as a friend,
I came to bring my prayer.And there - at the staircase sunrise
Came bent over on crutches
Fearless, that old warrior
Decorated with three medals,
Whose hand is in battle
Delivered you from death:
He wants to stretch out his hand
A piece of bread from you.And there, where the fat dog lies,
The gatekeeper is proud of his braid, -
There is a regiment of lenders,
Those who came to you for debts.
Wake up, sybarite! Are you sleeping
Or do you only slumber in sweet bliss,
You don’t listen to the voice of the unfortunate
And in a depraved heart you think:"I have a moment of peace
More pleasant than in history;
Live for yourself only,
It's only joy to be able to drink rivers,
Just sail with the wind, weigh down the mob with a yoke;
Shame, conscience - alarm for weak souls!
No virtue! there is no god! -
Villain, alas! - And thunder struck.Blessed is the people who are full
Pious faith towards God,
The law always protects kings,
Honors morals, strictly virtues
The inherited pearl of wives, children,
In unanimity there is bliss,
In justice there is equality,
Freedom is in control of passions!Blessed are the people! - where the king is the head,
Nobles - healthy members of the body,
Everyone diligently performs their duty,
Without touching someone else's business;
The head does not expect intelligence from the legs
And it doesn’t take away the strength from your hands,
He offers her his eyes and ears, -
She commands herself.This solid knot of nature
If the kingdom only lives happily, -
Nobles! - glory, celebration
You have no other choice but to be truthful;
How to watch over the people, love the king,
To strive for the common good;
Don't bend before the throne like a snake,
Stand and speak the truth.O Russian wakeful people,
Fatherly guardian of morals!
When the entire mortal race is relaxed,
What glory are you not involved in?
What kind of nobles do you not have? -
He was brave in the midst of swearing sounds;
Here the fearless Dolgorukov gave*
An answer to the formidable monarch.And in our times I see
That I am the glorious Camilla*,
Whose labors, war
And old age has not tired the spirit.
From the thunder of sonorous victories
He went down to his hut indifferently,
And from the plow again obediently
He lives in the field of Mars.To you, hero! wishes husband!
The glorious nobleman is not rich in luxury;
Idol of hearts, captivator of souls,
Leader, crowned with laurel!
I sang a song to the righteous here.
Glory to her, be comforted,
Fight the storms again, take heart,
Ascend like a young eagle.Bet - and from your height
Through the darkness of the vague ether
Fly like a stream of thunder
And, having fallen asleep in the bosom of the world,
They made the king more happy.-
Spread your late shine among the people,
How he repays his debt to nature
The blush of the evening dawns.
Analysis of Derzhavin’s poem “Nobleman”
Poetic works in some cases can serve not only for aesthetic pleasure, but also for intellectual development. The odes of Gabriel Romanovich Derzhavin can tell a lot about the customs and events of the late 18th century.
One of the most topical works of the poet is the poem “Nobleman”. It contains at the same time teaching, criticism, and reflection on the ideal political system in Russia during the Enlightenment. It was written in 1794, and for a long time Gavriil Romanovich denied authorship, since the poem very sharply condemned the figures of the era.
For example, the poet gives this metaphor for the work of Senate ministers in the lines of an ode:
A donkey will remain a donkey
…
Where should one act with the mind,
He just flaps his ears.
Of course, Catherine’s eminent nobles could not like such a comparison. And how the poet goes about the empress’s entourage! Using recognizable images, epithets and allusions, the author draws a portrait of the most prominent royal favorite, Prince G. A. Potemkin:
And there is a wounded hero,
Like a harrier that has turned gray in battle,
Your former boss
Who came to you in the hall
…
He's been sitting and waiting for you for an hour.
The poem presents a large number of characters of the past and present. The poet skillfully interweaves history, comparing the heroes of the past with their contemporaries. At the same time, people who became famous due to their cruelty, stupidity and other negative qualities and actions are placed on a par with the proud people who lived during Derzhavin’s time. Thus, the same Potemkin earned the epithet “the second Sardanapalus” for his craving for idleness and love of feasts. The poet compares nobles who strive to receive awards without doing anything useful to the crazy merchant Chupyatov, who decorated his suit with fake orders.
There are, according to the poet, worthy people. Hinting at them, Gabriel Romanovich uses comparisons with glorious heroes of the past. For example, the author compares Count P. A. Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky with the Roman consul Camillus, pointing to his name in the expression “the blush of the evening dawn.”
Reflecting on the correct structure of the state, the poet offers his own model. In his understanding, the country appears as an organism, where the king is the head, and officials serve as hands. It is interesting that a similar idea (the organic theory of the origin of the state) would only be formulated towards the end of the 19th century.
Despite all its political relevance, the ode “Nobleman” is not without artistic value. It uses non-trivial epithets (“gilded dirt”, “spiritual elegance”, “vigorous people”), enhancing the emotional intensity of the anaphora (“And there...”, “Blessed are the people!”). The composition of the poem itself inspires involuntary respect for the talent of Gabriel Romanovich: the poet managed to maintain the same form for 25 stanzas. The stanza consists of two quatrains, the first has the rhyme abab, and the second has the ring rhyme cddc.
It is worth noting that despite the fact that the ode “Nobleman” was written more than 200 years ago, it still does not lose its poignancy.
Analysis of the ode "The Nobleman" by G.R. Derzhavin according to plan.
History of creation.
The ode “Nobleman” was written in 1794. Its writing was preceded by important events in Derzhavin’s life. In December 1791, Russian Empress Catherine II encouraged him in his career and appointed him as her cabinet secretary. Bringing the famous poet closer to her, Catherine II hoped that, in gratitude for her mercy, he would glorify her with his poems. Derzhavin viewed this appointment completely differently. He was not only a poet, but served all his life, holding various positions in the government apparatus. He developed his own understanding of human social responsibilities.
Derzhavin was not a radical thinker, he was not an educator - he considered serfdom legal and was a supporter of the monarchy in Russia.
At the same time, Derzhavin was shocked by the disasters of the people. He saw how officials and landowners robbed their subjects and “nourishers of the fatherland.” Officials were engaged in robbery - both small and large, in the courts and in the Senate, rootless nobles and well-born princes, nobles close to the throne. The abuses of the authorities and the lawlessness that reigned throughout the empire aroused Derzhavin's indignation.
That is why Derzhavin perceived his appointment as cabinet secretary as a conscious invitation to him to the post of assistant to the empress, who would help with his advice to eradicate crimes in government institutions of Russia.
But Catherine II was fed up and bored with the impudent cabinet secretary, who constantly pestered her with his advice, teachings, and demands. In the fall of 1793, Catherine II relieved Derzhavin of his duties as cabinet secretary. But she did not want to quarrel with the prominent poet, so he was awarded the high rank of Privy Councilor, the Order of Vladimir of the second degree and was appointed senator. Derzhavin's dream of Catherine II, an enlightened monarch, collapsed. It turned out to be impossible to fulfill one’s duty to the fatherland in the public sphere and to use the power of the empress to combat the lawlessness and crimes of major officials. And it was then that Derzhavin decided to turn to poetry. The creation of the satirical ode “Nobleman” was such a fulfillment of the poet’s civic duty.
Main themes and ideas.
The ode attempts to depict a social portrait of a Russian nobleman. Thoughts about the appointment, rights and responsibilities of nobles, dignitaries of the empire, people exercising administrative power in the country had long been ripening in Derzhavin. The poem is based on one of Derzhavin’s Chitalagai odes “On Nobility,” but the text was rewritten anew and significantly expanded: the ten original stanzas turned into twenty-five. The ode “Nobleman” is an excited and inspired monologue of the author, i.e. namely Gavrila Romanovich Derzhavin, explaining how the top officials in the state should act and exposing their vices. These poems are designed for oratory. Then, who other than Derzhavin could introduce such a remarkable comparison into a pathetic ode filled with civil indignation:
A donkey will remain a donkey
Although shower him with stars;
Where should one act with the mind,
He just flaps his ears.
An important feature of the ode, which characterizes the high level of Derzhavin’s literary skill, was the fact that in this work he presented a collective portrait of the nobleman and generalized his distinctive features. This is not Potemkin or Zubov, but also Potemkin, and Zubov, and Bezborodko, and Naryshkin, and Panin, and Repnin, and many, many other well-born and “random” ones, i.e. people who were in favor with the queen, whom Derzhavin knew, observed as a subordinate and as a writer, and then sketched in his beautiful ode. Derzhavin attacks the queen’s favorites, who, without possessing any merits, like Zubov, suddenly acquired great weight in the state. The satire in the ode is directed against the phenomenon of “nobility” in general. The poet, without skimping on color, describes the luxurious lifestyle of nobles, satiated with pleasures, living without the slightest concern about anything:
For your fancy lunch
The tribute brings the most delicious dishes,
Tokay - thick wine pours,
Levant - rich coffee with stars,
So that I don’t want for the world’s work
Will you give up one moment?
Then there is a momentary contrast, the nobleman at noon enjoys sleep in the arms of his Circe, “And there?” - the poet asks sternly and immediately answers:
And there is a wounded hero,
Like a harrier that has turned gray in battle...
...And there - the widow is standing in the entryway
And she sheds bitter tears...
...And there - to the staircase sunrise
Came bent over on crutches,
Fearless, that old warrior
Decorated with three medals,
Whose hand is in battle
Delivered you from death
He wants to stretch out his hand
For bread from you a piece...
“Wake up, sybarite!” - Derzhavin is indignant, and in conclusion he points out the true responsibilities of state dignitaries:
...How to watch over the people, love the king,
To strive for the common good,
Don't bend before the throne like a snake,
Stand and speak the truth.
Positive heroes for Derzhavin are the commanders Rumyantsev and Suvorov. The most prominent place in the gallery of Derzhavin’s portraits is occupied by Suvorov. Derzhavin briefly and expressively recreates Suvorov’s personal appearance, his individual portrait. This is Suvorov, with all the habits and behavioral characteristics inherent in him and only him.
Target:
develop skills in composing a dialogue based on materials from a textbook article, working with textbook illustrations, and research work with text; the ability to highlight the main thing in a listened message;
cultivate interest in Russian history and literature.
Equipment: Literature textbooks and workbooks for 8th grade, multimedia presentation.
DURING THE CLASSES.
I. Organizing time.II. Checking homework, updating previous knowledge.
1.Referring to homework. Constructing a dialogue based on materials from the textbook article “From the Literature of the 18th Century,” p.64, part 1.
Why is the 18th century a turning point for Russian literature and for culture in general?
Under what conditions did Russian literature of the 18th century develop?
What new literary trend was the harbinger of the decisive rise of all Russian art?
Name the names of Russian writers of this period, whose work was the first step towards the golden age of Russian culture.
2.Updating previously acquired knowledge.
What work of G. R. Derzhavin did you study in 7th grade? What is his artistic idea? (Ode to “Rulers and Judges”).
What facts of the biography of G. R. Derzhavin do you know?
3. Student’s report about G.R. Derzhavin (based on materials from lesson 16 and workbooks of grade 7, articles in the textbook for grade 8 “G.R. Derzhavin”, pp. 65-70, part 1).
4. Addressing homework. Answers to textbook questions 1-4.
5. Referring to the textbook illustration. Report on the portrait of A. A. Vasilievsky (1815).
The last, latest pictorial portrait of Derzhavin was painted by A.A. Vasilievsky in 1815, a year before the poet’s death. The artist depicted Derzhavin in his favorite outfit - a cap and robe trimmed with fur. The artist did not flatter people: a tired old man is looking at us. This is how Pushkin saw Derzhavin at the Lyceum exam in 1815: “Derzhavin was very old. He was in a uniform and velvet boots. Our exam tired him very much. He sat with his head resting on his hand. His face was meaningless, his eyes were dull, his lips drooped; his portrait (where he is shown in a cap and robe) is very similar.”
Now a portrait of the poet in a cap and robe is kept in the All-Russian Museum of A.S. Pushkin in St. Petersburg, a version of this portrait is in the State Literary Museum in Moscow.
From the original portrait of Vasilievsky, the lithographer Fasler printed a portrait of Derzhavin, signing under it the first four lines from the poem “River of Times...”.
The river of times in its quest
Takes away all people's affairs,
And drowns in the abyss of oblivion
Nations, kingdoms and kings.
This was the first posthumous portrait of the great poet.
III. Learning new material.
1.Identification of the topic, purpose, lesson plan.
2. Work on the topic of the lesson. Analysis of the ode “Nobleman”.
2.1. Presentation of the book by A.V. Zapadov “Poets of the 18th Century”.
The works of A. V. Zapadov, dedicated to the works of M. V. Lomonosov, G. R. Derzhavin, N. I. Novikov, A. P. Sumarokov, M. M. Kheraskov and other Russian writers of the 18th century, are widely known.
2.2. Referring to the textbook. Reading the definition of ode, p. 81, part 1.
2.3. Expressive reading of the ode “Nobleman”.
2.4. Revealing initial impressions.
2.5. Report on the portrait of Prince A. Kurakin by V. L. Borovikovsky (1799)
“Portrait of Prince A. Kurakin” is one of the peaks in the development of Russian ceremonial portraiture.
While executing a commissioned portrait of Emperor Paul I’s closest associate, Borovikovsky recalled the words of his teacher D. Levitsky: “We have to portrait not only those whom we respect, who are close to our hearts. Here's my advice: turn to the principle of still life. Objects can tell a lot about those to whom they belong...”
And the artist masterfully transforms his image into a “still life” sparkling with jewelry, attributes of power and titles.
The “Diamond Prince,” nicknamed “the peacock” by Derzhavin, is depicted in a huge portrait among a palace setting, every detail of which “comments” on his personality - a pompous, experienced courtier, a cunning and resourceful intriguer.
The figure is placed next to the bust of Emperor Paul I, on the left there is a view of the Mikhailovsky Palace, on the chair lies the mantle of a knight of the Order of Malta. The painter creates a majestic image of a nobleman who loves luxury and occupies a high position at court. The prince's face becomes the logical center of the portrait. Borovikovsky gives him an accurate psychological description. According to a contemporary, “from a young age, Prince Kurakin was very handsome and naturally had a strong, even athletic build. But luxury... softened his physical and mental energy, and his epicureanism was visible in all his movements, and his radiant quietness captivated and respected him for a long time, but in the new reign, with new ideas, it gave reason to compare him with a peacock.”
What unites the image of the nobleman, recreated in the ode of G. R. Derzhavin and in the portrait of V. L. Borovikovsky?
2.7. Teacher's word.
The ode “Nobleman” is an excited and inspired monologue by the author, explaining how the top officials in the state should act and exposing their vices. It is based on one of Derzhavin’s odes “On Nobility,” but the text was rewritten and significantly expanded: the ten original stanzas turned into twenty-five.
An important feature of the ode, characterizing the high level of Derzhavin’s literary skill, is a collective portrait of the nobleman, a generalization of his distinctive features. These are Potemkin, and Zubov, and Bezborodko, and Naryshkin, and Panin, and Repnin, and many, many other well-born and “random” people, that is, people who were in favor with the queen, whom Derzhavin knew, observed as a subordinate and as a writer.
Derzhavin attacks the tsarina’s favorites, who, having no merits like Zubov, suddenly acquired unexpectedly great weight in the state. The satire in the ode is directed against the phenomenon of “nobility” in general.
The work is based on an antithesis: the ideal image of an honest and incorruptible statesman is contrasted with a collective portrait of the tsar's favorite, robbing the country and the people.
2.8. Research work with text. (Task 3 of the workbook, p. 25. part 1)
Write out words and phrases from the text.
1 option
“Words and combinations of words that convey the image of an honest and incorruptible statesman.”
Option 2
“Words and combinations of words that paint a portrait of the Tsar’s favorite, robbing the country and the people.”
Honest and incorruptible
statesman
Results of the work
What kind of unworthy nobleman is depicted by G. R. Derzhavin?
The nobleman’s theme begins with a short and caustic, aphoristic-sounding description: “A donkey will remain a donkey, // Although you shower him with stars; // Where he should act with his mind, // He only flaps his ears.”
This characteristic entails the author’s sad reflection on the inadmissibility of a situation where chance elevates a fool who has no merit to the state to unattainable heights: “Oh! In vain is the hand of happiness, // Against the natural rank, // Dressing up a madman as a master // Or a cracker as a fool.”
Derzhavin creates a collective image of Catherine’s temporary worker, spending his days in gluttony, “among games, amid idleness and bliss.” The nobleman, satiated with pleasures - “a lump of gilded dirt” - rests peacefully until noon, while his hallway, vestibule, staircase, and courtyard are filled with unfortunates, vainly awaiting help.
2.9. An expressive reading of the ode from the words “And you, the second Sardanapalus!..” to the words “And you yawned in satiety.”
What are the features of depicting the nobleman’s pastime?
Write down words that allow you to imagine the picture in full (colors, sounds, smells).
Derzhavin introduces into his “Nobleman” such words as “dirt”, “donkey”, “flap your ears”, “fool”, “front”, “entry”. Which lexical layer do these words belong to?
2.10. Teacher's word.
In almost every work of his, to a greater or lesser extent, Derzhavin violates the norms of classicism. He no longer adheres to a strict distinction between high and low genres. His ode contains both laudatory and accusatory principles.
In the same work, Derzhavin can say in a high syllable: “For those who love the truth of the eyes // Only virtues are beautiful, // They are the praise of mortals...” - and then, in the next stanza, almost fable verses: “A donkey will remain a donkey, // Although shower him with stars...” (“Nobleman”).
2.11. Task 5 of the workbook, p.26, part 1.
Write down all examples of catchphrases and aphorisms from the ode. Explain their meaning.
2.12. Lexical work: rags, donkey.
A donkey will remain a donkey, // Although you shower him with stars; // Where he should act with his mind, // He only flaps his ears.”
About narrow-minded (“mentally limited, stupid”) people.
“Good deeds shine. A hero is honored and in rags."
Only intelligence, legality, justice, generosity are worthy of respect, and not wealth and nobility.
In which work, studied in grade 7, does a jaded nobleman contrast with humble petitioners who need his help?
The poem by N. A. Nekrasov “Reflection at the Main Entrance” contains a realistic image of reality and is also built on the contrast of the lifestyle of the “owner of luxurious chambers” and the poor people.
Read expressively a fragment of an ode by G. R. Derzhavin, which depicts a similar picture.
2.13. Expressive reading from the words “And there is a wounded hero...” to the words “And thunder struck.”
What do these works have in common? I
Nekrasov's poem and Derzhavin's ode realistically depict reality.
2.14. Teacher's word.
Do not think that the thunder struck the arrogant self-lover. Derzhavin knew very well that this does not happen in life, and the last phrase should be understood differently. Once upon a time, the ancient Greeks believed that the thunder that struck during someone’s speech was the highest confirmation of the justice of the words spoken.
So in “The Nobleman,” thunder thunders in confirmation of the proudly self-satisfied exclamation of the temporary worker: “There is no virtue! there is no God!”, coinciding with the thoughts of the poet himself that at Catherine’s court there is nothing to look for virtue, truth, honesty, conscience, shame.
The sharply satirical depiction of the nobles of the Catherine century in this ode is combined with a programmatic statement of the demands that the poet made of the dignitary, the first assistant of the sovereign, and of the monarch himself, who should not act according to his whim in matters of public administration.
What, according to G. R. Derzhavin, should a statesman be? Referring to table materials.
2.15. An expressive reading of the ode from the words “Blessed is the people who are full...” to “She commands herself.”
What should a fair government system look like?
Derzhavin's concept boils down to a hierarchically structured patriarchal society. Society represents a single body, the role of the “head” of which, that is, the decisive authority, is given to the monarch, the king. The people, with childlike faith, rely on the “head,” maintaining complete unanimity. Without having their own will in the political whole, the people can, however, experience the admiration of experiencing a common concerted action.
2.16. An expressive reading of the ode from the words “With this solid knot of nature...” to the end of the ode.
What role should nobles play in society?
Nobles are “healthy members of the body”, transmission and mediating links between the people and the monarch, forming a hierarchical structure. Accurate execution of the functions of the state mechanism entrusted to them, zeal and truthfulness in fulfilling the role of conductors of “information” from the “body” to the “head” and from the “head” to the “body” constitute, according to Derzhavin, the basis of the well-being of the state.
With whom does G.R. Derzhavin compare the worthy nobleman? What is the meaning of this equation?
Fight the storms again, take heart,
Ascend like a young eagle.
2.17. A message about the symbolic meaning of the image of an eagle holding scales in its beak.
Eagle is the most common symbol associated with divinity, courage, faith, victory, greatness and power, especially imperial power. The image of an eagle was used in the heraldry of many countries. It is a heraldic symbol of power, dominance, generosity and insight. Like the lion, the eagle is perceived as a royal bird.
Eagle holds scales in its beak- a symbol of justice, an attribute of allegories of law and justice. Comparing a nobleman with a royal bird indicates the position of the author, who wants to see in the nobleman the ideal of courage, generosity, justice, and legality.
2.18. Teacher's word.
The ode “Nobleman” touches on one of the most important, if not the central, themes of Derzhavin’s political thoughts.
The poet's innovation in the ode genre is due to the fact that he eliminated the antithesis “earthly - divine”, which determined the relationship between subjects and the monarch in Lomonosov’s poems. The monarch is transferred to the earthly plane and equalized with the common man. Sometimes a tsar or even a powerful nobleman in Derzhavin can be called an “earthly god,” but the “earthly god” lives and reigns, conscious of it or not, before the eyes of the “Most High God,” who will one day “rise” and “judge” him according to his deeds his. The rights of a king are given to the monarch by the supreme authority of God, or the supreme Law.
Name the signs of classicism in the ode “Nobleman”. What are the deviations from classicism?
Filling out the second part of the table (task 8 of the workbook, p. 27, part 1).
Features of classicism and innovation in Derzhavin’s poetry
IV. Summing up the lesson.
V. Homework.
1. Expressive reading of a poem by G.R. Derzhavin “Monument”, p.78, part 1.
2.Individual task:
Prepare an expressive reading of the translation from Horace M.V. Lomonosov “I erected a sign of immortality for myself...”;
Prepare a report about the portrait of Catherine II by V. Borovikovsky.
The great Russian poet Gavrila Romanovich Derzhavin left a significant mark on the history of not only Russian, but also world literature. He wrote poems glorifying the victory of Russian weapons and praised famous commanders. His poetry often contains philosophical motifs and anacreontic lyrics. But the most important place in the poet’s work is occupied by civil accusatory poems addressed to persons endowed with great political power. Solemn style, pathos of denunciation, biblical imagery - all this was deliberately used
Derzhavin in his civil lyrics to express his own views and beliefs.
Particularly striking among such poems is the ode “The Nobleman,” in which the author tried to paint a social portrait of a person standing close to the throne and appointed to carry out the will of the sovereign. A. S. Pushkin would later call the poet “the scourge of nobles.” And this characteristic really accurately and aptly reflects the essence of all Derzhavin’s poetry. With unprecedented artistic energy, the author of “The Nobleman” smashes the “block of gilded dirt” proud of the “coats of arms of his ancestors,” dressed in “Moroccan ribbons and stars.”
In a poem
Before us in all its colors, in all its undisguised essence, appears the tsar’s favorite, openly robbing the country and people, forcing innocent people to suffer. The author gives a brief but extremely apt description of such a nobleman:
A donkey will remain a donkey
Although shower him with stars;
Where should one act with the mind,
ABOUT! the hand of happiness is in vain,
Against the natural rank,
The madman is dressed up as Mr. Or the cracker of a fool.
And such a “master” spends his life “among games, amid idleness and bliss.”
Derzhavin's satire is filled with angry feelings. Dressed in iambic tetrameter, with which odes were previously written, this satire took on odic expressiveness and force. Trying to reach the sleeping mind of the nobleman, to show him real life, the poet uses repetitions that enhance the angry pathos of the work: “There the waters flow in the leaks... there the roses bloom in the middle of winter and the nymphs sing in the groves.” But what are all these benefits and beauties for?
Is it so that You look at everything with a gloomy, indifferent eye,
In the midst of joys seemed boring And yawned in satiety?
“Roses and lilies shine,” and the idle and soulless nobleman “sleeps peacefully,” blind to suffering and deaf to the voice of the people thirsting for help and protection.
The accusatory characterization of the tsar's favorite, who forgot about his public duty, is concretized in two contrasting pictures. Derzhavin depicts the luxurious life of the “second Sardanapal”, whose thoughts are occupied only with
So that purple and gold look everywhere in your palaces, so that the pictures in the mirrors breathe, Musia, marble and porcelain...
All the desires and needs of such people are limited to the fact that the table is filled with exquisite dishes, that Tokay pours thick wine, and “Levant - rich coffee with the stars.”
Against the background of this splendor and idleness, the humiliated position of people dependent on a high-ranking nobleman is especially acutely felt:
And there is a wounded hero,
Like a harrier that has turned gray in battle...
He's been sitting and waiting for you for an hour!
And there - the widow stands in the hallway and sheds bitter tears,
With a baby in her arms,
He desires your protection.
And there - at the top of the stairs, the bent Fearless one came on crutches, that old warrior... Whose hand in battle delivered you from death.
And there, where the fat dog lies, The gatekeeper is proud of his braid, There is a regiment of lenders, who have come to you for debts.
But the soulless “sybarite” sleeps, for whom the “moment of peace” is “more pleasant than in history,” he does not heed the “unfortunate voice.”
Derzhavin addresses the sybarite with angry words and a demand to wake up and heed the voice of conscience. However, does the concept of conscience exist for someone who strives to “live for himself only, to be able to drink rivers of joy only”? In the minds of such an insignificant person, shame and conscience are “anxiety for weak souls,” for him there is “no virtue,” “no God.” But the poet confidently threatens the villain with a fair trial, he is convinced that the hour of reprisal will come, that thunder will strike over the heads of indifferent fools.
Along with the condemnation of the nobles, the work sounds the belief that the hour will come for our state when the king will truly be the head, and the nobles will be “healthy members of the body” who “diligently perform their duty.” However, when this time would come, the poet, like any other of his contemporaries, could not foresee.
G. R. Derzhavin is the greatest poet of the 18th century. He saw the meaning and task of his poetic creativity in depicting reality truthfully and in bright colors: “In heartfelt simplicity, talk about God and tell the truth to kings with a smile.” His diverse poetic works opened the way for the further development of Russian literature. It is no coincidence that the name of this poet was remembered with warmth and gratitude by his poetic heirs, among whom was the great A.S. Pushkin.
(1
ratings, average: 5.00
out of 5)
Essays on topics:
- Every poet sooner or later sums up the results of his literary activity and, looking back, tries to determine the most important thing for which...
- People first started talking about Vladimir Vysotsky in the early seventies. His intelligible and simple monologue songs attracted the attention of a variety of people....
- There was a legend in the family of Mikhail Lermontov that this noble family traced its roots back to the Scots, among whom was the bard Thomas...
- Nikolai Nekrasov was never a sophisticated love lyricist, although he had plenty of reasons to write such poems. However, the poet...
An important place in the work of G. R. Derzhavin is occupied by civil accusatory poems, among which the ode “Nobleman” especially stands out. It is based on the early ode “To Nobility,” written twenty years earlier. The new poem was expanded and sparkled with all the colors of Derzhavin’s talent.
The ode “Nobleman” reflected the poet’s inherent sense of justice and his understanding of legality. Derzhavin's own civil service was accompanied by a number of sharp shocks. He was an adviser to the revenue expedition, but his too honest and straightforward performance of his official duty aroused the hatred of his boss and was sent by the governor, first to the Olonets province, and then to Tambov. Soon Derzhavin became the personal secretary of Catherine II, but the new position brought disappointment: having seen court life from the inside, Derzhavin condemnedly said that Catherine ruled the state more according to “her own appearances than according to the holy truth,” and he himself “bored her with his truth.”
As we can see, the topic raised in the ode “Nobleman” was very close to Derzhavin as a citizen and poet. In his daily activities for the good of the fatherland, he often encountered injustice, arrogance, and extortion. Naturally, he expressed his protest against this in the usual and most expressive way - with the help of poetry. According to D.D. Blagoy, Derzhavin “stands out sharply from the mass of his contemporaries... with high intellectual and moral qualities that make him one of the most remarkable people of Catherine’s time.”
In his works, Derzhavin approached realistic art. He, in particular, sought not to describe individual human properties, not to personify human vices and virtues, but to paint living portraits. Thus, in the ode “The Nobleman,” Derzhavin made an attempt to paint a social portrait of a man standing close to the throne and destined to carry out the direct will of the sovereign.
The ode is based on an antithesis: the ideal image of an honest and incorruptible statesman is contrasted with the collective image of the tsar's favorite, robbing the state and the people. The introduction is based on the artistic device of negative parallelism. The poet warns that his muse does not glorify the decoration of clothes, “which in the eyes of the ignorant dresses jesters into nobles,” but the focus of his attention is on the virtues earned by righteous and praiseworthy deeds. The poet’s programmatic task is to inspire that “only virtues are beautiful, they are the praise of mortals.” It is not for nothing that the poet turns to the image of Caligula, who, according to legend, appointed his horse to the highest government position of consul.
The associations are very transparent: nobles who consider their main advantage to be the nobility of their family or closeness to a royal person are like Caligula’s horse. Their activities are also useless and meaningless, since, in fact, they are absent altogether.
Another accusatory chord in the ode “Nobleman” is a brief and caustic description of the statesman:
A donkey will remain a donkey
Although shower it with stars.
Where should one act with the mind,
He just flaps his ears.
This characteristic entails the author’s sad reflection on the inadmissibility of situations when chance elevates a fool who has no merit to the state to unattainable heights:
Oh, the hand of happiness is in vain,
Against the natural rank,
Dresses up a madman as a gentleman
Or a fool's joke.
Remaining a statesman for whom supreme power remains an ideal, Derzhavin offers this ideal as an example for narcissistic nobles to follow. The author is surprised why Peter, “like some kind of god,” did not shy away from any work, but the nobles consider physical work shameful for themselves. In his opinion, Empress Catherine “would not have been a great wife even on the royal throne.”
The incriminating characterization of a nobleman who forgets about his public duty is concretized in two contrasting pictures. On the one hand, Derzhavin depicts the luxurious life of the “second Sardanapalus”, living among games, idleness and bliss. The palaces of the nobles delight the eye with purple and gold, a whimsical dinner consists of many exquisite dishes. For what merits is an idle nobleman allowed to decorate his life with excessive luxury? Fountains in which water flows and, noisily rushing upward, sparkles; in the middle of winter roses bloom, and nymphs sing in the groves. Is all this beauty really only setting off the gloom and indifference of the nobleman, his boredom and satiety?
At the same time, a line of humiliated petitioners crowds into the reception area. The wounded hero, “like a harrier turned gray in battle,” has been sitting for an hour waiting for an audience. Once he was the boss of the current nobleman, but now he has come to accept an order for his service. And in the entryway a widow with a baby in her arms is shedding bitter tears. Her husband nobly defended his homeland, leaving his family unprotected. The question arises: for what did the glorious warrior die? Is it really so that the well-fed nobleman, not forgetting his benefits, would later disdain his inconsolable widow with a child in her arms? A bent old disabled warrior arrived on crutches, whose hand, outstretched for a piece of bread, had once protected a nobleman from death in a fierce battle. However, the nobleman is indifferent to those asking. The final chord is the author's angry appeal to the sybarite with the demand to wake up and heed the voice of conscience. You cannot corrupt your heart and mind with imaginary convictions, believing that shame and conscience are the lot of weak Souls.
In his positive program, Derzhavin affirms the transcendental value of man. Based on this, the rules of conduct for a nobleman should be extremely simple: be truthful, love the king, look after the interests of the people, live for the common good, and not for your own personal good. And it must be said that, following these rules in life, Derzhavin set a brilliant example for his compatriots.
