Derzhavin GR, ode "Felitsa": short summary and literary analysis

Poet Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin (1743-1816 gg.) Wrote in the style of Russian classicism, which at that time forbade the connection of a high ode and satire in one work, but more on this later.

The poet belonged to a family of small noblemen who lived in Kazan. The Derzhavin family, as recorded in the personal archive of the writer himself, began with the descendants of Murza Bagrim, who voluntarily switched sides with Prince Vasily II.

Derzhavin's poetic work is mostly represented by ode: civil, philosophical, victorious-patriotic and anacreontic.

Derzhavin, "Felitsa": essays summary

A separate niche is occupied by civil odes, which are addressed to influential statesmen: monarchs and nobles. One of the most outstanding representatives of this poetic genre is the ode "Felitsa", a brief summary of it will be presented below. The poet dedicated it to the Russian Empress Catherine II.

Derzhavin began his service in the Preobrazhensky regiment of St. Petersburg, this moment coincided with the beginning of his poetic activity. For 40 years he occupied various civil and military posts and even consisted in a secret commission for the capture of Emelian Pugachev. Then he was in the service of General AA Vyazemsky. At this very time he will write his famous ode "Felitsa". The summary of this work tells about the wise and kind Kirghiz princess, who was called Felitsa. Here she acts as a just ruler, legislator and gracious monarchy.

Ode and praise

Starting with the topic: "Felitsa", a brief summary, it should be noted that Derzhavin took from his "Tale of Tsarevich Chlora" written by Catherine II for his grandchildren.

This tradition - the writing of praiseworthy images of an enlightened monarch - was continued by Derzhavin, who borrowed it from Lomonosov. These great people saw in the monarch a person who is entrusted by society to take care of the welfare of the state and its people.

The work shows a struggle directed against abuse of one's position by high-ranking grandees. All should serve for the good of Russia - this became the defining feature of Derzhavin's creativity. It was in the enlightened monarchy that he saw the power that would be worthy to lead such a powerful state as Russia.

G. Derzhavin, "Felitsa": a poem

Ode "Felitsa" brought unprecedented fame to its author and generous rewards from the Empress herself, who presented him with a precious snuff-box made of pure gold and all covered with diamonds.

In the 80s, Derzhavin was not yet so intimately familiar with Catherine II, his image he created from stories that were distributed at her own will. But the poet knew many of her associates, under the command of whom he had to serve at different times. In clothes, the idealization of the image of Catherine II goes hand in hand with the criticism of her courtyard nobles.

The merciful queen

Assistant for creating the main image was an orderly document written by Catherine II. In this "Order" she wrote about the need to relax certain laws on the death penalty, which were often used because of minor offenses. Therefore, his heroine Felitsa Derzhavin endowed such mercy and condescension, like Her Majesty Catherine II.

Felitsa in the work is glorified in the fact that she stopped persecuting those who had the courage to express all kinds of insults to her.

This is clearly stated in the dress "Felitsa". The summary describes that from the first lines of the odes one can recognize the Russian ruler Catherine II. So Derzhavin draws her image, first of all, relying on the inherent human qualities, and adds that she from the first days of her stay in Russia began to follow her rites and customs. In this case, she very much succeeded and therefore evoked sympathy for her courtyard nobles and guardsmen. There are reports that the ode to tears touched the Empress.

Derzhavin showed literary innovative abilities and combined in clothes the laudatory and accusatory beginnings with satire, and then it was unacceptable. Wise Felice and her ideal image were contrasted negligent nobles - "Murza". In the Catherine's court, they were GA Potemkin, Count PI Panin, Earls of Orlov, Prince AA Vyazemsky, and so on.

Derzhavin so accurately depicted that it was not difficult to guess who was talking about in his work.

Satire of the Grandees

The literary analysis of the "Felitsa" odes suggests that Derzhavin with deep satire emphasized all their weaknesses, petty interests and whims. Honorable people of high rank can not look so inappropriately. Here, for example, Potemkin he portrayed as a gourmet and gluttonous, who loved feasts and drinking entertainments. Orlovs liked to entertain themselves with dancing and fisticuffs. Panin, leaving his duties as others, went hunting with dogs. And Vyazemsky enlightened his mind by reading "Polkana and Bova", since he often fell asleep over the Bible.

Let's continue to study the odes briefly. Derzhavin "Felitsa" originally and very boldly presents the image of the author in the work. Lively and truthfully he wrote: "Sitting at home, I'll go to the house, playing fools with my wife ...".

The very original oriental flavor of the ode attracts attention, as it leads the narrative on behalf of the Tatar murza, and the eastern cities of Smyrna, Kashmir and Baghdad are also mentioned. Ends the ode according to tradition in high and laudatory style.

Derzhavin in his clothes compares the reign of Catherine II, who creates a number of useful laws for the state, with the unjust and cruel customs that reigned in Russia under Anna Ioannovna, called the times of the Biron regime.

The image of Felitsa in Derzhavin's Odes "Felitsa", "The Grandee"

After "Felitsa", which eternally glorified Derzhavin, the poet proceeds to dress "Grandee". Here again the construction is based on two principles - laudatory and satirical. But if in Felice there was more positive start, cheerful satire and laughter over the nobles, then in the clothes of "The Grandee" there is a different correlation of good and evil. The praise part is very small - only at the very end, more connected with the mention of PA Rumyantsev. The greater part is outweighed by an angry satire. The indignation of the author from the indifference of the nobles to their duty to their Fatherland is heard. This was not much different works of the XVIII century. Derzhavin is outraged by the position of his people and his subjects suffering from criminally indifferent courtiers, to whom a warlord, a widow with a child in his arms, and a wounded soldier could sit and wait in the waiting room for hours and wait for an audience.

Conclusion

So, we analyzed the odes briefly. Derzhavin "Felitsa" and "Velmozha" is such an appeal to satire, which later, in the 19th century, was repeated by Gogol in the novel The Tale of Captain Kopeykin and Nekrasov in Reflections at the Front Door.

The creativity was highly appreciated, and in many ways, afterwards, AS Pushkin and the Decembrist KF Ryleev imitated his predecessor.