This article will be devoted to one of the most famous poets of the Silver Age. More precisely, we will analyze Gumilyov's poem "Memory".
Poems were written in 1920.In it, the writer refers to the theme of memory and the change of the human soul. For greater clarity, Gumilev compares a person to a snake. And his conclusion is disappointing - the snake, having the ability to dump the skin, retains its young soul, and man is not given such luxury, his soul changes, not the body: "Only the snakes shed their skin ... We change souls, not bodies."
In reflections, the poet returns to his past and understands that in his life he "changed his soul" four times. In accordance with these hypostases, the poem can also be divided into four parts for the convenience of analysis.
Let's begin the analysis of Gumilev's poem "Memory" withdescription of the first "soul" of the poet. In this hypostasis, he is still an "ugly and delicate" child, who only has "a tree and a red dog" from friends. Before the reader appears a lonely ugly duckling, who, however, is destined to change, "becoming a swan arrogant."
According to Gumilev's contemporaries, in his childhood he really was a very unattractive child, do not forget about his congenital squint.
Critics correlate this hypostasis of the poet with the firstthe publication of a collection of poems Gumilev in 1905, which was called "The Way of the Conquistadors." This book was very romantic and sensual. Later, Gumilev repeatedly said that he would at all forget about its existence.
Indeed, it turns out that in his youth hewas a completely different person, unlike himself now. These past "souls" absolutely do not cause the lyrical hero to yearn for the deceased or sentimental. On the contrary, he describes them with a coldness and even a certain disgust, completely not understanding them.
That brought us the analysis of the poem Gumilev"Memory" to the third "soul" of the lyrical hero, which is embodied in the shooter and navigator. This lyrical hero of his past hypo relates much more favorably: "I love the chosen one of freedom."
Dreams of distant countries and cities beckoned by Gumilyovsince childhood. During his life, the poet traveled to Africa, Abyssinia, Egypt, Italy. And judging by the praise, courage and description of the wonderful life of a traveler, the passion for adventure has not left the lyrical hero over the years. He dreams of the freedom that he once had, despite all the dangers that he had to face. But then he "sang the waters loudly and envied the clouds."
Alas, but this stage of life has sunk into oblivion. There is no longer that fearless and free traveler. Once again, the soul had to be reborn.
Tells about his life Gumilev NikolayStepanovich in this poem. And here we come to the moment when it fell to the poet to take part in the First World War. Then Gumilev went to the front among volunteers, believing that he was doing his duty to the Motherland: "I traded out merry freedom / For a sacred, long-awaited battle."
In war, the poet was promoted to the rank of ensign of a hussar regiment and was distinguished by unprecedented courage in battle. For this, he was twice awarded the St. George Cross: "St. George touched twice."
Despite all the awards, Gumilyov NikolayStepanovich never was a supporter of the war and did not accept it, which is also stated in the poem. The battle for him is only flour, but not a place where you can show your valor.
It was during the war that the fourth “soul” was born, which loves the motherland, believes in the best and people, empathizes with their sufferings and torments. Homeland becomes the key image of this part of the poem.
However, despite the fact that at the time of writing in Russia there was a revolution, the writer does not mention it at all. As if for her it was not.
The last stanzas are particularly strong out ofthe pen that Nikolai Gumilev held in his hand. “Memory” ends with a traveler with a hidden face, in front of which an eagle flies, and behind him comes a lion. These characters symbolize Christ and his companions - Mark, associated with the symbolism of the lion, and John, embodied in the eagle.
Thus, Gumilev compares the immortality of God,who bequeathed his teaching to followers, and the immortality of the poet, who preserved his thoughts in verse. The author, of course, doubts his immortality, speaking of the birth of new souls, which means the death of old ones, but he has the only hope for eternal life - creativity. Only it can help a person become equal to God.
So, we’ve finished writing a summary.verse and its analysis. In fact, the poem became a kind of autobiography of Gumilyov, in which he reflected all the spiritual changes that had ever occurred in him.
