The topic of this article is the analysis of the poem "Word". Gumilev is a bright figure in Russian literature, without which it is impossible to imagine the poetry of the Silver Age. His works are distinguished by extraordinary brightness and power of lyrical pressure. The poem to which this article is devoted is a reflection on the nature of the word and its influence on the fate of man.
Pillar of Fire
A passionate traveler and a dreamy romantic was Nikolai Stepanovich Gumilyov. The poem The Word is one of his later works. It was written in the year of the poet's death.
In his youth, Gumilyov visited the vibrant southern countries. In his early work, colorful exotic images prevail. But the Russian poet was not only a dreamy adventurer, but also a fearless warrior, and a man of honor. He would never have been able to renounce his comrades, and therefore was shot in 1921 for being accused of participating in an anti-government conspiracy.
In later works, exoticism and lyrics gave way to a philosophical theme. This can be detected by analyzing the poem “Word”. Gumilev used symbols in it, but the work is nevertheless sustained in the spirit of acmeism. The poem was included in the collection "Pillar of Fire", which is completely riddled with philosophical ideas. From the interpretation of the topic of being and symbolic images, one should begin a full analysis of the poem by N. Gumilyov.
"Word"
The first three stanzas speak of something high and torn off the ground. The following is a relatively terrestrial setting. Being the founder of acmeism, Gumilev gave his work the characteristic features of this direction: accuracy, clarity, distinctness and certainty of images. But the poem differs from others in the last collection by the presence of a symbolic balance between the heavenly and the earthly and philosophical portrayals of the balance of life and being. It contains various metaphors (“The sun was stopped with a word ...”).
Acmeists did not attach so much importance to imagery. For them, the beauty of a separate metaphor was more important. Signs of an acmeist work with some traits of symbolism can be seen by analyzing the poem “Word”. Gumilev did not accidentally combine these seemingly different poetic traditions. Indeed, thanks to the school of symbolists, he became one of the creators of a new trend in literature.
“In a word they destroyed cities”
Nikolai Gumilev in his youth dreamed of finding himself in distant lands at all costs. The young poet was attracted by exoticism and danger. He was discouraged, considering such adventures risky of life. But he went on a trip, wanting to enjoy the beauty of the African landscape. And then he created a series of wonderful lyrical works filled with distant exotic images.
In 1918, Russian emigrants rushed to Europe. It became unsafe at home. But it was at this time that the poet returned to Russia from France. It was three years before his death. An analysis of the poem “Word” gives some idea of the worldview of the poet in the last years of his life. Gumilev was not able to leave Russia again. The last collection of poems he could create only at home. He attached great importance to the word both in creativity and in life. In it, according to the poet, was divine power. But it, Gumilyov argued, could be scary and foul-smelling.
The word is God
Times, as you know, do not choose. But they live and die in them. The poet sought to know the era in which he fell to exist. A comparative analysis of Gumilyov’s poem “You spoke empty words ...” and the work to which this article is devoted reveals the poet’s fidelity to the theme of human honor. A word is not an empty phrase. And one who underestimates its significance is capable of creating a lot of grief and suffering. However, in a later poem, Christian motifs, which were previously absent in Gumilyov’s work, are visible. Perhaps, in difficult times for Russia, faith became the only way out for the poet?
Bible motives
The word in the gospel and in the Old Testament has a special meaning. In Christian culture, it is divine. The word is truth, grace, wisdom.
When the author says that in the old days the Word stopped the sun, he thereby refers to one of the episodes in the book of Joshua. In order to defeat the enemies, the successor of Moses with the help of divine power was able to do the impossible. He stopped the sun.
The numbers
The work has an antithesis. Analysis of the poem by N. Gumilyov “The Word” makes one wonder why the author contrasts the main image with numbers. Their poet used as symbols. Numbers are nothing more than the practical rules that people apply in a low, spiritual life. In the fourth stanza, which deals with the gray-haired patriarch, the poet talks about how, in ancient times, people treated the Word with great trepidation. They tried not to use it in vain. After all, it has great powerful power.
A word in the midst of earthly troubles
In the fifth and sixth stanzas Gumilev depicts contemporary reality to him. The meaningful union “but” is repeated repeatedly. With it, the author points to the perception of the word by modern people and those who lived in the Old Testament era. In ancient times, people appreciated its high value, but eventually forgot about it. The poet felt that the time in which he lives was marked by terrible events. Something important was crumbling. These feelings were transferred to his work by Nikolai Gumilev. Analysis of the poem "Word" allows you to understand the basic philosophical ideas in the mature work of the poet. The poet believed that, having forgotten the high meaning of the Word, people lost faith. The main Christian virtues were replaced by soulless judgments and attempts to organize earthly life without God.
Poetry and religion
The topic that is addressed in this poem, Nikolai Gumilev devoted several articles. They occupy not the last place in his work. Believing that poetry and religion are sides of the same coin, the Russian poet spoke of the need for spiritual work. This work should not pursue an aesthetic or ethical goal, but a higher, unknown to a mere mortal. Thanks to ethics, people adapt in society. Aesthetics develops his ability to enjoy. Religion and poetry are above these categories. The inability of people to comprehend the highest purpose of the Word, according to Gumilyov, leads to the fact that it becomes dead.
The poem "Word" covers different eras in the history of mankind. In this work, the poet speaks first of all of the high spiritual principle of man, of oblivion of the spirit, which was characteristic of the time in which he lived. Only religion and poetry can save humanity - spheres that are above the ordinary mind. And their main category is the Word.