Summary of “Ode”
Ode is a lyrical genre. In it, according to Trediakovsky, “it is described: matter is noble, important, rarely – tender and pleasant in speeches of very pious and magnificent.” Its origins are the choral lyrics of the ancient Greeks. Created solemn odes, glorifying a great event or a great hero; anacreontic – by the name of the ancient Greek poet Anacreon, who sang of joy and enjoyment of earthly existence; spiritual – “suggestions” of the psalms; at the end of the XVIII century. there were odes moralizing, philosophical, satirical, ode-messages and odes-elegies. But the main place among all kinds is occupied by solemn odes.
A special fate at the ceremonial ode in Russia. Her poetics is associated with the domestic tradition of panegyrics (laudable speeches), as well as with the traditions of the ancient and Western European odes. Solemn ode became the first genre in Russia in the XVIII century. which is connected with the personality
Solemn ode in Russia of the XVIII century. – this is not only a literary text, not just a word, but an action, a special rite. It is like fireworks or illuminations, which accompanied in St. Petersburg solemn events in the life of the state. Odes were ordered by the government, and their reading was part of the festive ceremony.
MV Lomonosov wrote ode dedicated to Anna Ioannovna, John Antonovich, Elizabeth Petrovna, Peter III and Catherine II. However, the content and significance of the laudable ones of Lomonosov are immeasurably wider and more important than their official court role. A commendable ode seemed to Lomonosov the most convenient form of conversation with the kings. In each of them the poet developed his ideas and plans related to the destinies of the Russian state.
Most of the odes were addressed to Elizabeth Petrovna. This is due not only to the fact that the twenty years of the poet’s life coincided with her reign, but also because
A poet acts as a creator who creates his own word with a special world, where there is no place for everyday objects and words. Consciousness of this mission gives him the right to interfere in state affairs, speak “the language of the gods” about pressing political and cultural problems, formulate his own views and give advice to the rulers.
For example, in 1747 when the Russian government was going to enter the war on the side of Austria, England and Holland, then fought against France and the German states, Lomonosov wrote his famous ode “On the day of accession to the Russian throne of Her Majesty Empress Elizabeth Petrovna in 1747” .
Lomonosov was not a pacifist, he was proud of the glory of Russian arms and the power of the Russian state, capable of standing up for himself in the face of any enemy. But, admiring the military power of Russia, Lomonosov also saw the suffering that war bears ordinary people. Therefore, glorifying the defensive wars, Lomonosov preferred the peaceful state of nations, which he called the word “silence”.
Ode begins with an introduction that contains praise to this silence, that is, to peaceful times that contribute to the prosperity of the state and the well-being of the people.
The kings, and the kingdoms of earthly consolation,
Beloved silence,
Bliss of villages, hail fences,
If you are useful and red!
Around you flowers are dazzling
And the classes in the fields turn yellow;
Treasure is full of ships
They dare to go to the sea for you;
You sypple generous hand
Its wealth is on the ground.
Turning to Elizabeth, Lomonosov glorifies her as a champion of peace, which, upon accession to the throne, stopped the war with the Swedes:
When she entered the throne,
As the highest gave her a crown,
You returned to Russia,
War put an end.
As for the peaceful prosperity of the state, even here Lomonosov had a well-thought-out program. He perfectly saw the inexhaustible riches of Russia: its deep rivers, fertile lands, fabulous subsoil. But all this, according to the poet, requires “the art of approved hands.” The main task of his time, Lomonosov believed the spread of sciences, which will help to master these treasures. The social program of Lomonosov could be realized only on one condition: it had to be accepted and approved by the monarch. In order to make his arguments as convincing as possible, the poet introduces the image of Peter I. Lomonosov praises Peter for his military success, for the creation of the navy, for the erection of Petersburg, but especially for his patronage of science. Peter becomes a living and convincing example for each of his heirs.
Briefly mentioning the reign of Catherine I, Lomonosov again turns to Elizabeth, in whom he would like to see a worthy daughter of the great father, the same patroness of science and art. In 1747, Elizabeth approved a new charter and a new staff of the Academy of Sciences, the amount of funds for science was doubled. And the poet praises the empress as a champion of enlightenment:
Silence, fiery sounds,
And shake the light,
Here in the world to expand the sciences
Elizabeth did it.
So in the ode introduced a new topic – the theme of science, training from among Russian scientists. Lomonosov did not limit the circle of scholars within the framework of one class, did not consider education and scientific activity a privilege of the nobility. This was the democratism of Lomonosov’s thinking. Talented people, “their own Platos” and “Neutons”, in his opinion, can “give birth” to all of Russia’s land. The names of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato and the great English mathematician Newton are given to them as symbols of genuine scholarship.
The final verse of the ode echoes the introductory: the poet once again praises the world and silence, and Elizabeth, and addresses with caution the enemies of Russia.
The artistic originality of the laudable ode of 1747 is entirely determined by its ideological content. Ode is an inspired monologue of the poet. This poet, who is present in all odes of Lomonosov, is not Lomonosov himself; his image is devoid of individual human traits. It’s like a spirit of poetry, the spirit of the state and the people, who expressed himself in verse. In the author’s speech are introduced typically oratorical techniques – questions, exclamations. The nature of the pathetically-agitated speech is attached to the numerous appeals of the author to the lyre, to the muses, to the sciences, to the Russian “Neutons” and “Plato”.
An important place is given to all sorts of “decorations”: personifications, metaphors, allegories and hyperboles. “The decoration,” wrote Lomonosov in “The Rhetoric,” consists in the purity of calm in the splendor and strength of this. ” The paths of Lomonosov are festive, jubilant in character. With the help of personifications, inanimate phenomena and abstract concepts become participants in a great celebration, to which the poet invites his readers. Recalling the reign of Peter I, Lomonosov wrote:
Then the divine sciences
Through mountains, rivers and seas
Hands extended to Russia.
Neva marvels at the buildings built on its recently deserted shores:
Or I have now forgotten
And from this she bent down,
Which I used to flow?
The poet uses mythological images. The embodiment of Peter the Great’s military successes is Mars, the defeated sea element is Neptune.
Lomonosov considers the advantages of poetic speech as “importance”, “magnificence”, “elevation”, “striving”, “strength”, “abundance”, etc. He uses Slavicisms, biblicalisms, high vocabulary, thus supporting the overall atmosphere of the solemn style.
In most cases, the ode consisted of stanzas with repetitive rhyme, but the ten-stanza stanza, proposed by Lomonosov, was fixed in Russian poetry. The transformer of our versification – M. MV Lomonosov – was the first to reach the heights of poetic art. His outstanding ode “On the day of her ascension to the All-Russian throne of Her Majesty Empress Elizabeth Petrovna 1747,” he wrote another bright page in the history of world lyric poetry.
Solemn odes in Russia XVIII century. wrote VK Trediakovsky, AP Sumarokov, MM Kheraskov, GR Derzhavin, radically revised this genre. But Lomonosov’s ode became classical, and later Russian poets were guided by them.
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