Even political realities, repressions and coups can have a deep artistic and emotional-lyrical basis, if it is civic lyrics. Regardless of the era, there were always talented poets who were in pain for their country, their people, their future. But in their arsenal they had only words in which they expressed the mood of the people, described true patriotism and worried about the fate of their state.
Civic lyrics are ...
Social life, history and politics are the subjects of interest in this genre. In the works, poets describe collective aspirations, express their love and devotion to the motherland, talk about the fight against evil in society and show personal feelings for the fate of the state. Perhaps these are the main topics of civic lyrics.
In such poems, the scope of the art is not particularly important, the main thing is that the work should be deep and full of meaning. At all times, civilian poets were considered the defenders of their people, because they expressed their spirit and aspirations in verses.
What should be the verse?
Even today, you can find works that their authors proudly call - civic lyrics. These are mostly just big words, because in their works there is no that sincerity, depth and desire for justice. Modern authors simply try to let off steam, they rhyme the lines, expressing their personal indignation, and try to find like-minded people. And is that civic lyrics ?!
For those who are ignorant of such issues, it is worth reading the works of Lermontov, Pushkin, Nekrasov, Tyutchev, which were some of the best in this genre. Verses of civilian lyrics should:
- Be perfect in form and sound. No one has yet abolished the literary language. Rhymes written in common language, interspersed with swearing at a politician or party, are not civilian lyrics.
- The work should not be imperative or edifying. A simple story with a smooth transition to an eternal philosophical theme is the whole secret.
- Help introduce yourself to the event being described.
- Making people think about how poetry will help society.
Lyrics of Tyutchev
Civic lyrics are best viewed on something specific. For example, analyzing the works of the classics of Russian poetic thought. Perhaps, first, let's consider the lyrics of Tyutchev.
At its core, the poet was a conservative. He did not welcome revolutions and coups, and most importantly, he always believed that Russia should maintain order and calm in the countries of Europe. In his arsenal there are a lot of poems on a civil theme. For example, “The Banner and the Word”, “Russian Geography”, “Towards Pushkin on Liberty”, “Dawn”, etc. Well, of course, there are well-known lines to everyone: “You cannot understand Russia with your mind ”. Already from these lines you can see how Tyutchev’s civic lyrics are saturated with love for the Motherland and pride in their country.
Pushkin's poems
The civil poetry of A. Pushkin is distinguished by a special freedom of thought. He began to write early, while still studying at the Lyceum, where the poet's views on politics were formed. The first civil verse of Pushkin can rightfully be considered the "Message to Licinius." The poet resorts to Roman flavor, but all his questions are addressed to the Russian reader.
After some time, the ode "Liberty" comes out from under the pen of Pushkin. The composition is based on a simple, prosaic and very old idea: how ugliness is hidden behind the external beauty. The poet says that, being in captivity, people forgot how to distinguish between good and evil. But he also firmly believes in the possibility of eradicating everything negative from society by overthrowing the autocracy and limiting the ruling elite with a constitution. Otherwise, the rulers will not be afraid of “ Neither punishment nor reward .”
A bit later in the civil lyrics motives of hope for the kindness of the autocrat are traced. In Stans, Pushkin calls on the new Tsar to pardon the participants in the Decembrist uprising. But the poet’s best civil work is “To Chaadaev.” The main theme of the verse is serving the Fatherland, but it is so skillfully veiled by intimate experiences that civil motives take on a personal shape.
Lyrics of Lermontov
Civil poems of the young Lermontov began to appear after the death of Pushkin. He was the first to express his indignation by the ruling authority, writing that it was not the bullet from the pistol that was to blame for the death of the outstanding poet, but "the greedy crowd standing by the throne ."
We can say that Lermontov continued the civil traditions of Pushkin. Like his predecessor, the poet was known among the people as a freedom fighter. The work “Complaints of the Turk” was written in the form of a letter of appeal to a foreign friend, only here Lermontov told a lot of things about the rules that prevail in the country: “ A man groans from slavery and chains there. Friend! This land ... my homeland . "
Lermontov also wrote that it is impossible for a smart, sincere and honest person to live in a secular society. He was waiting for the revolution and constantly mentioned this in his works. His verses show a deep dissatisfaction with reality, a protest against autocracy, a rebellious spirit, a denial of peace and a deep, hopeless sadness from the realization of one’s loneliness. Lermontov’s works reflect the mood of his entire era.
So wrote Nekrasov
Civic motifs in the lyrics of Nekrasov vividly and believably reflect the everyday life of the Russian people. The poet compares himself with the peasants, he is tormented by remorse before oppressed people. Nekrasov has always believed that the most important thing in creativity is to love your people and homeland, "to serve them with your heart and soul ."
He represents his homeland in the image of his mother. Being far from his native country, he suffers, is inactive and is experiencing a creative crisis. But once a poet sees his native landscapes, how unspent creative energy breaks free. The main motives of his works are love for the motherland and man.
Nekrasov very plausibly depicts rural life and in almost every work he mentions that he would like to see a free man and a prosperous society. He was not a revolutionary calling for rebellion. Nekrasov considered himself a man of high morality and always said that one should not look indifferently at the troubles of other people.
Nekrasov’s civic lyrics are democratic, peasant in nature. The poet is worried about the difficult fate of people, and all he can do is believe in a happy future. And clotting his faith in rhymed lines, he shares it with the people, trying to maintain in society at least a tiny ray of bright hope. He does all the same as other poets of civic verses, only looks at society differently.