The theme of monuments has always occupied a special place in the work of both poets. Touching this subject in their poems, they seemed to thereby express their right to immortality. The works of both authors are very similar, but also have differences, endowed with slightly different ideological content.
Similarity of works
The poems of Pushkin and Derzhavin are similar in construction. Their size is a six-legged iambic, both male and female rhymes are present in them. In each of the verses, the first line rhymes with the third, the second with the fourth and so on. In other words, both authors use the cross-rhyme method.
Comparing the poetic works of Pushkin and Derzhavin, it is also worth noting that both poets do not spare bright, lively epithets in them. Alexander Sergeevich uses such words as “miraculous”, “treasured”, “great”. The adjectives in the poem by Gavrila Romanovich are “wonderful”, “fleeting”, “cordial”.
Reverse Inversion
In the poem "Monument" by Pushkin and Derzhavin, a literary device such as inversion is also used:
"How long the Slavs kind the universe will honor." (Derzhavin).
"And for a long time I will be so kind to the people ...". (Pushkin).
This method allows you to highlight the most important members of the sentence, focus on your idea, give the poem a great emotional coloring. In particular, a similar technique is often used in poetic works to give poems melodic, melodious songs.
The imitation of Horace
"Monument" was written as an imitation of Derzhavin, which, in turn, was a remake of Horace's ode. Thus, the poem “Monument” was actually written about 2 millennia ago. Everything that was subsequently born in Russian literature was a response to this work of the Roman poet. However, imitating Horace, Pushkin and Derzhavin adhered to their rules, relying on their own understanding of poetry, as well as their place in history. The main point is that Alexander Sergeyevich created his work under the influence of Derzhavin.
How do poets see themselves?
Gavrila Romanovich presents himself in his work not only as a creator, but also as a courtier. Therefore, they will honor him, because he was able to openly talk with senior officials. Derzhavin also takes the credit for talking about the highest spiritual values, about God.
Pushkin, on the contrary, in his work sees himself, first of all, as a poet. And already through the image of the poet, he comes to understand himself as a citizen, a servant of society, a humane person. At the very beginning of his work, he emphasizes his closeness to the people - "A popular path will not grow over to him." And folk love for him is the highest value.
Thus, an important conclusion can be made: Pushkin's values ​​in relation to personal and civic development are an order of magnitude higher than Derzhavin's values. If Gavrila Romanovich values ​​his closeness to the ruling nobility most of all, then Pushkin puts service to people in the first place. He proclaims the ideal not only of the poet, but also of a humane, progressive person.
Attitude to the autocracy of poets
G.R.Derzhavin was considered a court poet; he was revered in secular society. Indeed, a decade earlier, he wrote his famous ode "Felitsa", which was dedicated to singing the virtues of Catherine II. There is a difference between Pushkin and Derzhavin. After all, Pushkin was an enemy of the autocracy. No matter how much Nicholas I tried to make him a court poet, none of these attempts came out. Hence the links, persecution, constant bullying.
Life summary
A poem called “Monument” by Pushkin and Derzhavin was a peculiar way to summarize the results of one’s own life. Derzhavin wrote the work in 1795, at the age of 52. In addition to literary work, Gavrila Romanovich worked a lot, serving at the court. However, he saw his merit before the fatherland precisely in the fact that he managed to sing the great empress, which was mentioned by the poet in the Monument. Derzhavin believed that all the inhabitants of the earth - "from the White waters to the Black ones" - would remember him precisely for this. Pushkin believed that only the Slavs would remember.
The poem "Monument" was written by Pushkin in 1836, a year before his death. The plot of the work prompted the poet’s life itself, it seemed to summarize his creative path. At the time of writing the poem, Pushkin was only 37 years old. But perhaps he foresaw his sudden demise.
The goal of Derzhavin’s work
Giving a comparison to Pushkin and Derzhavin - or rather, to their poetic works - one should also mention the value that each of the poets saw in their work. Gavrila Romanovich says that he was the first to risk the refusal of the arrogant, solemn syllable in odes. After all, he created "Felitsa" in the "funny Russian syllable." Possessing the courage and talent of the poet, he was able to "speak the truth to the kings with a smile." Pushkin's work, both in form and in content, is much more connected with the Derzhavin poem than with the original version of Horace.
What did Pushkin see the purpose of his poetry?
In comparing the “Monument” by Pushkin and Derzhavin, it is necessary to mention that Alexander Sergeyevich saw the highest value of his poetic creativity in the struggle for the freedom of the people. And these ideas were reflected already in the first lines of the work: “I have erected a monument to myself ...”. The poet saw the value of his works in that he was able to arouse “good feelings” in people, called for “mercy for the fallen”. Pushkin is the only one of the poets of his time who dared to call the tsar to pardon the Decembrist rebels. The great Russian poet focuses on the social value of his works.
Appeal to muses
Also, the analysis of Pushkin and Derzhavin will be incomplete if you do not consider the appeal of both poets to their muses. Gavrila Romanovich calls on her mastermind to be proud of the “merit of the fair”, as well as to express contempt for those who dare to despise her. Pushkin wants one thing - that his muse should be obedient to “the commandment of God,” not afraid of wrongs. He tells her not to demand fame from others, not to pay attention to the “blasphemy and slander” sent to her, and not to argue with the foolish fools.
The political lyrics of Alexander Sergeyevich depict him as one of the most advanced exponents of public opinion of his era. At the time when Pushkin created the “Monument”, he also wrote many other poems. Belinsky said of him that he was not so much a classical poet as a romanticist singer of his time. Belinsky also noted that both Pushkin and Derzhavin have every word and every feeling true. “Everything in its place, everything is complete, nothing unfinished,” he wrote about poets.