The theme of monuments has always occupied a special place in the work of both poets. By touching on this topic in their poems, they, as it were, expressed their right to immortality. The works of both authors are very similar, but also have differences, endowed with slightly different ideological content.
The similarity of works
The poems of Pushkin and Derzhavin are similar in their structure. Their size is iambic six-foot, they contain both male and female rhymes. 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 rhyming 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 "not made by hands", "cherished", "great". Adjectives in Gavrila Romanovich's poem are "wonderful", "fleeting", "heartfelt".
Reception of inversion
In the poem "Monument" by Pushkin andDerzhavin also uses such a literary device as inversion:
"As long as the Slavic race will be honored by the universe." (Derzhavin).
"And for a long time I will be 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 more emotional coloring. In particular, a similar technique is often used in poetic works to make poems melodious, melodious.
Imitation of Horace
"Monument" was written as an imitation of Derzhavin, which, in turn, was a reworking 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 own rules, relying on their own understanding of poetry, as well as their place in history. The main point is that Alexander Sergeevich 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 high-ranking persons. Derzhavin also takes 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 alreadythrough 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 - "The people's path will not grow to him." And people's love for him is the highest value.
Thus, we can draw an important conclusion: Pushkin's values in relation to personal and civic development are an order of magnitude higher than Derzhavin's. If Gavrila Romanovich most of all appreciates his closeness to the ruling nobility, then Pushkin puts service to people in the first place. He proclaims the ideal not only of a poet, but also of a humane, progressive person.
Attitude towards autocracy of poets
G. R. Derzhavin was considered a court poet, he was revered in secular society. After all, a decade earlier, he wrote his famous ode "Felitsa", which was dedicated to singing the virtues of Catherine II. This is the difference between Pushkin and Derzhavin. After all, Pushkin was an enemy of autocracy. No matter how much Nicholas I tried to make him a court poet, none of these attempts came of it. Hence the links, persecution, constant harassment.
Summarizing life
The poem called "Monument" by Pushkin and Derzhavin was a kind of way to sum up their own life path. Derzhavin wrote the work in 1795, at the age of 52. In addition to literary creativity, Gavrila Romanovich worked hard, serving at court. However, he saw his merit to the fatherland precisely in the fact that he was able 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" - would remember him precisely for this. Pushkin, on the other hand, believed that only the Slavs would be remembered.
The poem "Monument" was written by Pushkin in 1836, a year before his death. The plot of the work was prompted by the life path of the poet, it seemed to sum up his creative path. At the time of writing the poem, Pushkin was only 37 years old. But perhaps he had a premonition of his sudden demise.
The purpose of Derzhavin's creativity
Giving a comparison of Pushkin and Derzhavin - or rather, their poetic works - it should be mentioned what value each of the poets saw in his work. Gavrila Romanovich says that he was the first to take the risk of abandoning the grandiloquent, solemn style in the odes. After all, he created "Felitsa" in the "funny Russian style." Possessing the courage and talent of a poet, he was able to "speak the truth to kings with a smile." Pushkin's work, both in form and content, is much more connected with Derzhavin's poem than with Horace's original version.
What did Pushkin see as the purpose of his poetry?
In comparing the "Monument" of Pushkin and Derzhavin, it is necessary to mention that Alexander Sergeevich saw the highest value of his poetic work in the struggle for the freedom of the people. And these ideas were reflected already in the first lines of the work: "I erected a monument to myself …". The poet saw the value of his works in the fact that he couldawaken in people "good feelings", called for "mercy for the fallen." Pushkin is the only poet of his time who dared to call on the tsar to pardon the rebellious Decembrists. The great Russian poet emphasizes the social value of his works.
Appeal to the Muses
Also, the analysis of Pushkin and Derzhavin will be incomplete if we do not consider the appeal of both poets to their muses. Gavrila Romanovich calls on her inspirer to be proud of her “just merit”, and also to express contempt for those who dare to despise her. Pushkin, on the other hand, wants one thing - that his muse should be obedient to the "command of God", not afraid of vain insults. He tells her not to demand glory from others, not to pay attention to the "blasphemy and slander" sent to her, and also not to enter into an argument with narrow-minded fools.
The political lyrics of Alexander Sergeevich depict him as one of the most advanced spokesmen 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 romantic singer of his time. Belinsky also noted that both in Pushkin and in Derzhavin, every word and every feeling is true. “Everything is in its place, everything is complete, nothing is unfinished,” he wrote about poets.
