The Patriotic War of 1812 is still considered the clearest example of the take-off of the Russian patriotic spirit, when a single people stood up to repulse the enemy invasion, without division into ranks and estates.
The events of the main battle with the army of Napoleon, which took place near Moscow, remained in the people's memory, on the canvases of artists, on the pages of novels and in poetic lines. The poem, considered the best, is called Borodino. Who wrote this poetic hymn to Russian patriotism became known during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Battle of Borodino, in 1837.
Poet, officer, patriot
He was destined to live a very short life, but the amount of work done and the scale of the gift are staggering, his name is among the greatest geniuses who wrote in Russian. Both in poetry and in prose, he wrote texts that excite us, living two centuries later. Mikhail Yurievich Lermontov was born on October 15, 1814 in Moscow.
A Scottish trace was found among its roots; he himself wrote as about his ancestor about the 17th century Spanish nobleman Francisco Lerma, but he was brought up in the Russian environment and was surrounded by native speakers of a truly folk Russian language. A penchant for engaging in literature, a surprisingly receptive nature became the prerequisite for the fact that Lermontov’s literary talent quickly became known to all reading Russia.
After unsuccessful attempts to obtain a university education in Moscow and St. Petersburg, which ended in a conflict with the faculty, Lermontov graduated from the guards school of ensigns and began a military career. Subsequently, according to the memoirs of contemporaries, he proved himself in military operations in the Caucasus as a brave and skillful officer.
Anniversary of the Patriotic War of 1812
The youngest contemporary of the Napoleonic invasion was Lermontov’s great predecessor, Pushkin, who, in his youth, was unable to take part in the war, but was closely acquainted with many heroes of World War II. From their midst appeared the Decembrists, whose thoughts were largely shared by Pushkin.
The heroes of the “thunderstorm of 12 years” also surrounded Lermontov, the generation of Napoleon’s winners actively participated in the life of Russian society, he personally knew many. From childhood, he listened to the stories of war veterans - peasants. And it is here that the story of the creation of the poem "Borodino" begins, because his cousin - Athanasius Alekseevich Stolypin - participated in the battle of Borodino.
"Tell me, uncle ..."
He was the brother of Elizabeth Alekseevna Arsenyeva - the poet’s grandmother, who adored Mikhail Yurievich, raised him and who eventually buried Lermontov in his estate after the death of the poet in a duel. From the very beginning of the Napoleonic campaign, Afanasy Stolypin was an artillery officer, was wounded in Prussia in 1807, during the battle on the Borodino field he fought in one of the hottest sections - at the Shevardinsky redoubt. He was marked by Kutuzov himself and was awarded a golden weapon - a sword with the inscription: "For courage." Staff Captain Afanasy Stolypin participated in the overseas campaign of the Russian army in 1814, and until his retirement, he was respected among his colleagues.
Mikhail Yurievich was 26 years younger than him, and friendship and family relations developed between them. Therefore, when he became the one who composed the poem “Borodino”, who wrote at the beginning of his appeal: “Tell me, Uncle,” many understood where he heard stories about those formidable days, who are the prototype of the protagonist-narrator and who the author is contacting.
"Borodin Field"
The first appeal of the poet to the theme of the Borodino battle took place in 1830, when he wrote the poem "Field of Borodin." Some vivid images and comparisons have already been found in it, the assessment of the soldier’s feat has been outlined, which is put on a par with the victories of Peter the Great near Poltava and the exploits of the Suvorov soldiers. But of course, the poet felt that the topic touched upon requires a larger implementation.
The first version of the poem-monument to the heroes of Borodin Lermontov wrote at the age of 16. Considering how quickly the talent of the poet was growing up, you can understand who came to the time of the 25th anniversary of the battle near the village of Borodino, who wrote the final version of the poem. This is a mature personality, a poet who owns this mastery of versification.
Feat of the people
The most famous poem about the war of 1812 was the result of serious reflections caused by the approach of the 25th anniversary of the start of the war with Napoleon. The poet wanted to express his opinion on the reasons for the victory, on the role of the common people, who endured the main burden of military deprivation.
The main idea that penetrates the poem “Borodino” is that Napoleon’s army was defeated not only by Kutuzov’s solid character, not only by his military talent and knowledge of brilliant generals and officers, by their personal valor and courage, but also by the fact that he was against a foreign invasion the whole nation rose in that the Russian soldier showed staunchness greater than the invader from Napoleon’s army, in that the military spirit of the Russian army was stronger.
And this thought could not but find a response in society, the patriotic glow of the poem “Borodino” could not be ignored. Who wrote a text full of high spiritual content, but set forth in an earthly and accessible language, could not help but be heard.
The story of a soldier
The genius of Lermontov found an amazing form for the story of one of the most significant events in Russian history - military and socio-political. The story of the enormous severity of the initial period of the war, of the retreat, of how hatred of the enemy was accumulating, is conducted on behalf of an ordinary soldier in a simple sincere manner, in ordinary spoken language.
This language describes the cruel events on the Borodino field: the languid expectation of a decisive battle, furious attacks, reckless courage of soldiers and commanders and terrible losses on both sides. The simplicity of the presentation of events only confirms the truth of the story, gives the events special significance.
About the motherland, about courage, about glory
The Russian soldier once again had to go to the Borodino field, protecting the capital from the enemy. In 1941, an appeal again sounded: “Guys, not Moscow is behind us!” - and everyone knew who wrote the poem Borodino. After all, only a true genius, a true patriot could create lines of such rightness and power. That was exactly Mikhail Yurievich Lermontov.