The theme of the war in the work of Lermontov. Lermontov's works about the war

The theme of the war in the work of Lermontov is one of the main places. Speaking about the reasons for the poet's appeal to her, it is necessary to note the circumstances of his personal life, as well as historical events that influenced his worldview and found a response in the works.

Important events from the biography

Mikhail Yurievich Lermontov was born in 1814, when the Russians finally defeated the troops of Napoleon. At the age of eleven he witnessed the Decembrist uprising on the Senate Square. From the Pugachev rebellion it was separated for some fifty years. The year 1830 marked the French Revolution, and the peasants' unrest began in Russia. The future poet and prose writer at that time was sixteen years old. It is not surprising that two wars - the Patriotic War of 1812 and the Pugachev uprising - were deeply embedded in the memory not only of Lermontov, but also of many of his contemporaries.

The war with Napoleon particularly excited the poet for many reasons. First of all, it, of course, showed all the strength and power of the Russian people. Also, the description of the war of 1812 was a kind of complaint about the modern generation living in shame. Moreover, Lermontov's father took part in it, and the favorite grandfathers of the poet - Afanasy and Dmitry Stolypin - became heroes of Borodin. Therefore, it is not surprising that the topic of war was constantly discussed at home. Lermontov, like a sponge, absorbed these conversations.

Poems about the war

They spoke of the war both at Moscow University and at the School of Guards Sub-Providers and Cavalry Junkers, where Lermontov studied. Poems about the war of 1812 he began to write quite early, while still a teenager.

"The Field of Borodino"

One of the first works dedicated to the battle of Borodino was the poem "The Field of Borodino". He wrote it at the age of seventeen. In this youthful poem, Lermontov demonstrates his determination to fight for his Motherland to the end. The narrative is conducted from the first person, therefore it is difficult for the reader to understand with whom he is conducting a dialogue - with a simple soldier, officer, infantryman or artilleryman. The image of the hero does not pretend to historical documentary, because the young Lermontov has not yet got rid of romantic worldviews. His speech is still far from the people's, he uses the book words, inspired by Zhukovsky's lyrics. For example: "the sons of midnight", "grave canopy," "fateful night."

"Borodin's Field" is very different from everything that was written about the battle earlier. And it's not even that the poem perfectly combines the author's fiction and the real events of the battle. Lermontov's hero is full of life, there is not that detachment that was inherent in the heroes of the above-mentioned Zhukovsky.

The Two Giant

The military theme is one of the main ones, to which the young Lermontov wrote. The war of 1812 is also touched upon in the poem The Two Giant. In it, the poet allegorically depicts Russia's victory over Napoleon. He uses vernacular expressions, song motifs and fairy-tale formulas, the epic images of "Russian Knights" who defeat the evil.

Especially striking is the laconic rivalry between the "daring" newcomer and the wise "Russian giant". In these two opponents we see an allegorical confrontation between Russia and France, Kutuzov and Napoleon, two armies, two peoples. One - the "old Russian giant" - shows all the strength and unshakable will of the Russian people, and the other - a "three-week-old daring" - confidently and boldly, in Napoleonic terms, believes that by taking Moscow, he will win.

Russian knight is absolutely calm, as if he knew that he would not lose. The second giant is in dreams of a solemn victory, his reason is clouded by past victories. In this we see his recklessness, and even insolence, even if he was brave, courageous, strong. Lermontov about the war was precisely this opinion: the Frenchman was conceited. Therefore, the poem did not show the battle, because it could not have been at all.

Borodino

Analyzing the works of Lermontov about the war, it is impossible not to say a few words about the famous poem of the poet - "Borodino", written in 1837, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Patriotic War of 1812.

In school years we learned by heart these fiery lines. For the first time in the literature, war is described from the point of view of an ordinary artillery soldier. In "Borodino Field" Lermontov already tried to show the battle as a mass battle, but it was in "Borodino" that he managed to draw a really epic picture: the outcome of the fight entirely depended on the actions of the people, their unity and solidarity. Soldiers were ready at the cost of their lives to achieve victory: "we will stand our heads for our homeland."

The hero from Borodino is simpler, more "popular" than his romantic predecessor. Lermontov manages to show us through the common words the psychology of the hero, the usual warrior: "the ears on the crown", "the morning the guns lit", "the big field". Lermontov wrote Borodino based on facts. This time, he abandoned the author's fiction, recreating the picture of the battle according to reliable sources. Despite the small volume, Borodino became a whole poem about the Napoleonic War.

The Caucasian War

The theme of the war in Lermontov's work is unlikely to be fully covered without mentioning the Caucasus. He certainly takes a special place in the heart of the poet. Here he lived, fell in love for the first time, fought and died.

For the first time in the Caucasus, Lermontov came as a six-year-old child when Grandmother Elizaveta Arsenyeva brought him to medical treatment. At the age of eleven, the young poet first experienced a deep sense of love, which he remembered for life.

In 1837, the unknown Lermontov, shocked by unexpected news of the death of Pushkin, wrote a poem "The Death of a Poet." Overnight he becomes famous, but along with fame he gets a link to the Caucasus. True, thanks to the efforts of her grandmother, she lasted only a few months.

In 1840, after a duel with Ernest Barant, Lermontov was again sent to the Caucasus. The second link was very different from the first, which was more like a journey through picturesque places. This time Nicholas the first demanded that Lermontov take part in the battles. The war in the Caucasus in those years was aggravated by the uprising of the mountaineers.

In battle, the poet distinguished himself as a brave and cold-blooded warrior. He was not at all afraid of being killed, so he could ride alone near the positions where the enemies were. It is known that the mountaineers themselves respected the poet for fearlessness. It is worth believing that it was in the Caucasus that Lermontov's attitude to the war was formed.

The poet drew from childhood. Often in pictures he depicted the Caucasus, his picturesque landscapes, battles in which he participated. Thanks to these pictures, we can learn much about the military events experienced by Lermontov. The poet was struck by the beauty of the high mountains, the rites and customs of the local people. Most likely, it is from here and originates so colorful literature Lermontov.

Valerik

During the exile to the Caucasus, the theme of the war in Lermontov's work was replenished with new works. One of them was the poem "Valerik". Participating in military battles, Lermontov led a magazine, which formed the basis of Valerik. The poem is named after the river flowing in the Caucasus. Comparing "Valerik" with summaries from the magazine, you can see that they coincide not only with facts, but with the style of writing, and even whole lines.

The beginning of the poem is a love message addressed to Varvara Lopukhina, feelings to which the poet carried through many years. However, against the background of the bloody slaughter, love seems to him childish. Moreover, he understands that the beloved does not love him, and at last he is ready to say goodbye to her. The description of the battles is necessary for the poet to show all the ugliness, cruelty of the war, its meaninglessness.

Conclusion

The theme of the war in the work of Lermontov is a red thread through all his works. The Patriotic War of 1812 , the Decembrist uprising, the Caucasian War - a difficult time fell on the 27 years that Lermontov lived. Verses about the war came out from under his pen amazingly "popular", patriotic and penetrating. The poet showed us the strength, courage, courage, power of the Russian people, all those qualities that were not alien to himself.