Konstantin Balmont is the brightest representative of early symbolism in Russia. His works are filled with the search for the meaning of life, goals and unanswered questions. His poetry makes the reader think.
Our article is devoted to the work "Reeds". We will analyze Balmont's poem "Reeds" according to the plan we have drawn up, which can later be used to analyze other poetic works.
K. Balmont and symbolism
The poet was born in an era called the Silver Age in literature. The riot of currents and directions could not but captivate the young poet. Of all the directions, symbolism turned out to be the closest to Balmont. It is in the key of symbolism that the poem was created, the analysis of which we will conduct.
Analysis of Balmont's poem "Reeds" will not be complete without knowing somefeatures of this trend in the literature.
The name "symbolism" comes from the French word. It was in France that this movement originated. Its distinguishing features were the search for a special form, the expression of emotions in symbolic images. The poetry of this genre was supposed to sing of mystical spiritual impulses. Not to teach, but to captivate.
Amazing "Reeds". Poem Analysis Plan
Konstantin Balmont also aspired to search for the ideal form in poetry. The analysis of the poem "Reeds" should be carried out taking into account this aspect, because the Symbolists saw no less, if not more, meaning in the form than in the content itself.
For a more coherent analytical work, a brief plan for analyzing the poem would be appropriate:
- Title and author of the work.
- Genre and literary movement.
- Theme.
- Idea and main idea.
- Means of artistic expression.
This plan is rather schematic. Nevertheless, the analysis according to his formula will turn out to be clear and capacious.
Analysis of Balmont's poem "Reeds" according to plan
Starting to analyze the poem. Let's not repeat the author's name and title, go straight to the second paragraph.
The poem belongs to the literary movement symbolism. His genre contains elements of both landscape lyrics and philosophical ones.
The theme of the poem is the meaning of life. The idea is the transience of life,hopelessness and powerlessness in the face of fate. Thanks to the images of the swamp, wandering lights and the dying face of the moon, Balmont creates a rather gloomy picture. The analysis of the poem "Reeds" should be supplemented with a study of the means of artistic expression. These are colorful epithets "wandering", "dying", "silent"; personification (reeds whisper) and a special phonetic device - alliteration. By repeating consonant hissing sounds, the author achieves the effect of "rustling", which gives the poem a special sound.
There are comparisons in poetry, the month is compared with a dying “face”, the noise of the reeds is “with the sigh of a lost soul.”
An interesting way to attract the reader's attention is a technique called "oxymoron". It's a combination of the incompatible. In this case, it is the phrase "silently rustling." Silently, that is, without sound, but if they “rustle”, it means that there is still sound. This technique is used to create a mystical mood. The reeds do not seem to whisper, but think. What we hear is not noise, but disembodied thoughts.
Balmont's poem "Reeds": a brief analysis
"Reeds" were written by Balmont in the period of his spiritual throwing, the search for the meaning of life and the ideal form of poetry. This could not but leave its mark on the works of the author. "Reeds" are filled with a feeling of inexorable fate, which, like a quagmire, sooner or later will drag the lonely wanderer into its captivity.
The poem with a deceptively landscape title only begins with a description of a night river and reeds, a pale moon and visual night effects. Its essence is completely different - behind the rustlingthe reeds hide the silent questions of the author: “Is there a meaning to life? What is it? Is it possible to achieve it? Why does this life end so inexorably?”
It was about the meaning of life that Balmont wrote this amazing work. An analysis of the poem "Reeds" should be done after the poem has been read aloud several times. This is necessary in order to hear how skillfully the poet uses alliteration - a special combination of sounds of a certain series. In this case, these are hissing “w”, “g”, “h”, “u”. Thanks to them, the effect of artificial noise of reeds is achieved. Pay attention to the second line. Each of her words has a “sh” sound. This is the use of alliteration and the search for the very ideal form that would speak for the poet, complementing him.
In closing
Symbolist poetry was created to surprise, to make you think. Many did not understand and condemned the symbolists, but this did not make their works worse. Konstantin Balmont also fell under the hot hand of critics. Analysis of the poem "Reeds", its understanding were often subjective. They even tried to write parodies on him, condemned him for his decadent, decadent spirit. However, decades later, the condemnations were forgotten, and the poem still does not leave indifferent even the most sophisticated reader.
