Vasily Zhukovsky: a short biography and creativity

Want to get acquainted with such a famous poet as Vasily Zhukovsky? A brief biography of him should interest lovers of literature. Starting as a sentimentalist, Zhukovsky became one of the founders of Russian Romanticism. His poetry is full of images of folk fantasy, melancholic dreams. Vasily Zhukovsky translated works by J. Byron, F. Schiller, "Odyssey" by Homer. We propose to get acquainted with his life and work.

The Origin of VA Zhukovsky

Vasily Zhukovsky was born in with. Mission of the Tula province 29.01.1783. His father, AI. Bunin, was the landlord of this village, and his mother - a captive Turkish woman. Vasily Zhukovsky has received a patronymic and a surname from the friend Bunin, Andrey Grigorevicha Zhukovsky. The Bunin family, shortly before the birth of the future poet, suffered a terrible sorrow: in a short time, six out of 11 people died, including the only son who was studying at the time at the University of Leipzig. Maria Grigoryevna, heartbroken, in memory of her son decided to take the newborn into her family and raise him as her own son.

Studying at the boarding school

Soon the boy became the favorite of the whole family. At the age of 14, Vasily entered the university boarding school in Moscow. He studied there for 4 years. The board did not give extensive knowledge, but under the guidance of teachers, students often met to read their literary experiences. The periodicals printed the best of them.

The first works

Soon Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky published his first works. His biography was marked by his debut in print in 1797. The first published work - "Thoughts at the Tomb." It was created under the impression of VA Yushkova's death. During the training in the boarding house (from 1797 to 1801) the following creations of Zhukovsky were published: in 1797 - "May morning", in 1798 - "Virtue", in 1800 - "Mir" and "To Tibullu", in 1801 - To man "and others. In all of them the melancholy note predominates. The poet is struck by the transience of the entire earthly life, the fragility of life, which seems to him full of suffering and tears. This mood was mainly due to the literary tastes of that time. The fact is that the first works of Vasily Andreevich appeared when many admired the "Poor Lisa" of Karamzin, published in 1792. There were countless imitations.

However, not everything was explained by fashion. The circumstances of the birth of Vasily Zhukovsky were not forgotten by others, nor by him. He had an ambiguous position in the world. Childhood and the youth of the poet were not happy.

First transfer, return to the village

By the time of study at the hostel is also the first translation of Zhukovsky - the novel "The Boy at the Stream" Kotzebue (1801). Vasily Andreevich entered the service at the end of the course of study, but soon decided to give it up. He settled in Mishensky in order to continue his education.

Creativity 1802-1808 years

In 1803, Zhukovsky's novel "Vadim Novgorodsky" was written and published. It shows that around this time the poet began to study the history of Ancient Rus.

During his life in the village (1802-1808) Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky practically did not publish his works. His biography is marked by the appearance of only a few new creations. In the "Herald of Europe" in 1802 was placed his famous "Rural Cemetery" - an alteration or a free translation from Gray. This work immediately attracted attention. Naturalness and simplicity became a new discovery of the time when high-flown pseudo-classicism still reigned. About the same time, Zhukovsky created "Maryna Roshcha" - a story written in imitation of "Poor Liza."

Vasily Andreevich in 1806 responded to the general patriotic mood "The song of the bard over the coffin of the Slav conquerors." "Ludmila" appeared in 1808. This was a remake of the work of "Lenore" by Burger. It was with the ballad "Ludmila" that Romanticism entered the domestic literature. Vasily Andreevich was seized by that side of him, where he was striving deep into the Middle Ages, into the world of medieval legends and legends.

Zhukovsky was inspired by the success of Lyudmila. Transformations and translations from this time continuously follow one after another. Vasily Andreevich translated mostly German poets. And the most successful of his works are connected with the works of Schiller. At this time Zhukovsky created original works. Appeared, for example, the first part of the poem "The Twelve Sleeping Maidens" under the title "Thunderbolt", as well as several prose articles.

Moving to Moscow, editorial activity

At the same time, Zhukovsky Vasiliy Andreevich became the editor of the "Bulletin of Europe". A brief biography of him marked the move to Moscow to fulfill this post. Editorial activity continued for two years, from 1809 to 1810. At first Vasily Andreevich worked alone, then together with Kachenovsky. To the latter, the "Herald of Europe" finally passed.

Heart drama of Zhukovsky

After that Zhukovsky returned to his village and experienced a deep heartfelt drama here. A few years ago he began to study with his nieces, the daughters of EA Protasova, the youngest daughter of the landowner Bunin. Ekaterina Afanasyevna was widowed a short time before and settled in Belovo. Vasily Andreevich passionately fell in love with Maria Protasov, her eldest pupil. The favorite motives of his lyrics are dreams of mutual love and family happiness. However, the feeling of Zhukovsky soon acquired a melancholy tinge. Family ties made this love impossible in the eyes of others. The poet had to carefully hide his feelings. Only in poetic outpourings did it find an outlet. However, without hampering Zhukovsky's scientific studies. He began with special zeal to study history, Russian and universal, and acquired a thorough knowledge.

"Singer in the camp of Russian soldiers" and "Svetlana"

Zhukovsky in 1812 decided to ask for the hands of Mary Protasova from her mother, but received a strong refusal. Hindered marriage related relationships. Vasily Andreyevich soon after left for Moscow. Here Zhukovsky Vasily Andreevich joined the militia. Briefly about this his experience can say the following. Fascinated by the patriotic enthusiasm with which the Russian troops were captured, Zhukovsky wrote "A Singer in the camp of Russian soldiers" in the camp near Tarutin. This work immediately became more famous. It sold out in thousands of lists for the army and all of Russia. The new ballad of Zhukovsky's "Svetlana" refers also to 1812. Despite the Russian introduction, this work developed the motives for "The Lenore" by Burger.

Life and work of Zhukovsky at court

The military life of Vasily Zhukovsky did not last long. He contracted typhus at the end of 1812 and retired in January 1813. In 1814 appeared "The Epistle to the Emperor Alexander", after which the Empress Maria Feodorovna wanted Zhukovsky to come to St. Petersburg. Maria Protasova in 1817 married Professor Mayer. In the poetry of Zhukovsky, and later, dreams of love will sound. However, the girl was weak health and in 1823 she died. Will Maria Protasov be able to forget and find a life companion Vasily Zhukovsky? The biography of his future years will give you an answer to this question.

The main notes of Zhukovsky's poetry

"The longing of love," "longing for afar," "sorrow for the unknown," "longing for separation" - these are the main notes of Vasily Andreevich's poetry. Her character was almost completely dependent on the mystical mood of Zhukovsky, caused by unfulfilled dreams of love. Thus, the circumstances of the time, the sentimental literary tastes that prevailed in society, could not have been better suited to the personal feelings of the poet. Zhukovsky by adding romantic content to his work greatly expanded the sentimentalism of Russian literature, established before him. However, developing in his works new motives, he followed mainly the instructions of personal feelings.

The poet Vasily Zhukovsky took from medieval romanticism only that which corresponded to his own mystical dreams and aspirations. The significance of his work consisted in the fact that Zhukovsky's poetry, being subjective, at the same time served the common interests of the development of literature. Subjectivism of him was an important step in the way of the removal of verbal creativity from the pseudo-classicistic cold. Zhukovsky introduced the world of inner life into literature, which until then was practically unknown to him.

The period from 1817 to 1841 - the time when Vasily Andreevich lived at the court. At first he was a teacher of Russian. His pupils were Princess Elena Pavlovna and Alexandra Fedorovna. And since 1825 Vasily Andreevich became the tutor of Alexander Nikolaevich, heir to the throne. At this time Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky often traveled abroad. The poet went there both on official business and for treatment.

Zhukovsky's travels and new works

The works of Zhukovsky appear at this time as if by accident. For example, after traveling to Switzerland and Germany in the autumn of 1820, Vasily Andreevich started in Berlin for the transfer of Schiller's "Orleans Virgin". In 1821 he graduated from it. And under the impression of the Chillon castle, located in Switzerland, the translation of the "Chillon Prisoner" Byron (in 1822) was created.

Vasily Zhukovsky spent the winter of 1832-33. Near the Lake Geneva. A whole series of translations from Herder, Schiller, Uhland, fragments of the Iliad and others appeared at this time. Vasily Andreevich traveled in 1837, Russia and part of Siberia, along with the heir to the throne. And in the years 1838-39. He went with him and to Western Europe. Zhukovsky in Rome became friends with Gogol, which influenced the development of the mystical mood in his later work.

Marriage

Classes with the heir ended in the spring of 1841. The influence that Zhukovsky had on him was beneficial. And now we answer the question about how the personal life of Vasily Zhukovsky developed. In Düsseldorf, on April 21, 1841, the marriage of Vasily Andreevich (he was already 58 years old at that time) was held with the 18-year-old daughter of the painter Reitern, his longtime friend. Zhukovsky spent the last 12 years of his life in Germany with his wife's family.

Vasily Zhukovsky: biography of recent years

In the first year of his marriage life he wrote fairy tales "Tulip tree", "Cat in boots", "About Ivan Tsarevich and Gray Wolf". The translation of the "Odyssey" (the first volume) appeared in 1848, and the second - in 1849. The poem "The Traveling Jew", unfortunately, did not have time to finish Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky. His brief biography ends in Baden-Baden in 1852, April 7. It was then that Vasily Andreevich died. He left his wife, daughter and son. But not only them. A great artistic heritage left us Zhukovsky Vasily Andreevich.

His creativity is included in the school program on literature. By the works of Vasilii Andreevich, many are still read to this day, and interest in his personality does not die out. So you also got acquainted with the biography of such a great Russian poet as Vasily Zhukovsky. We described his creativity only briefly, but it deserves a detailed study. Continue to get acquainted with this poet, certainly worth it.