Hello dears.
Not long ago I asked your opinion about whether you and I should examine together one of my favorite poetic works not only “Our everything” (c), but in general, in principle, and by and large, I received a satisfactory answer: And this means that you should, at a minimum, at least try :-) And, although, as the wise man aptly noted in his comment and respected by me eulampij I can’t even compare closely with Nabokov, much less with Yuri Lotman (whose work I consider excellent), but I will try to tell you at least a little about those things that may not be entirely clear, which we can find in the lines immortal work. I would like to note right away that I will not analyze the impulses, essence, system of relationships and psychological nuances of the characters. Theoretically, I could, but I’m not a literary critic or a psychologist. My hobby is history, and for me a great work is also a great opportunity to plunge into an era.

Well, most importantly, we’ll read it again together, and maybe for someone I’ll even discover the clarity, beauty and greatness of this novel, written, by the way, special language- “Onegin stanza” - which was invented by Pushkin himself, mixing the style of classical English and Italian sonnet. The same 14 lines, but with its own rhythm and rhyme system. Literally it looks like this: AbAb CCdd EffE gg (uppercase letters indicate feminine rhyme, lowercase letters indicate masculine rhyme). For me, the design is openwork, making it easy to read and pleasant to digest. But it’s extremely difficult. And you understand why it took Pushkin so much time to create the entire novel (almost 8 years)
In general, if anything, don’t judge strictly :-)

Or like this...

Let's start with the epigraph. You know, in school years, I didn’t pay much attention to the epigraphs, considering them an unnecessary show off. However, time has passed, and for me this is not only an inextricable part of the work itself, but sometimes even its concentrated essence. Maybe I’m getting old, but now I myself am not averse to using the epigraph toolkit even in my posts. It brings me a certain pleasure :-)
In Eugene Onegin, the epigraph appears before the work itself. Plus there’s also a dedication there. Well, and separate epigraphs before each chapter. Sometimes we will sort it out, sometimes we won’t.
The first epigraph is written in French and can be translated something like this: “ Imbued with vanity, he possessed, moreover, a special pride, which prompts him to admit with equal indifference both his good and bad deeds - a consequence of a sense of superiority, perhaps imaginary" It is supposedly taken from a private letter, and serves to make the reader believe that the author and Eugene Onegin are good friends, that the author is, as it were, directly involved in the events.

drawing of the luminary of Russian literature

The dedication is more multi-line, its meaning is not given in full, but it was made to Pyotr Aleksandrovich Pletnev. Rector of the Department of Literature Alma mater Pyotr Alexandrovich had a sensitive and gentle character, wrote poetry and was a critic. But he criticized so courteously and delicately that he managed to be a friend of almost all the literary “stars” of that time. Including Pushkin.

P. Pletnev

The epigraph before the first chapter consists of one line: “ And live in a hurry and feel in a hurry" And the signature of Prince. Vyazemsky. This is part of the work of Pyotr Andreevich Vyazemsky - brilliant and most interesting friend Alexander Sergeevich. The work is called “The First Snow” and I don’t see the point of citing it here in full - if you wish, you can find it yourself. Vyazemsky himself was also a poet, but a unique one - he wrote only one collection of poems, even towards the end of his life.

P. Vyazemsky

But at the same time, he was a real “Renaissance man” (that’s what I call multifaceted personalities), for he was involved in many things, from translator to state affairs. The real “golden fund of the nation.” It's a pity that few people remember him these days. He was a very interesting and witty person. Book - this is short for prince. The Vyazemskys are actually Rurikovichs, and received their surname from their inheritance - the city of Vyazma. And the city’s coat of arms, by the way, is taken from their family coat of arms.

coat of arms of the princes Vyazemsky

Well, the meaning of the epigraph...Here - at your discretion. Moreover, I think it’s better to draw conclusions after you read the entire first chapter :-)
Perhaps it's time to move on to the text itself.
« My uncle is the most fair rules,
When I seriously fell ill,
He forced himself to respect
And I couldn't think of anything better.
His example to others is science;
But, my God, what a bore
To sit with the patient day and night,
Without leaving a single step!
Which low cunning
To amuse the half-dead,
Adjust his pillows
It's sad to bring medicine,
Sigh and think to yourself:
When will the devil take you!»

This piece is probably remembered by everyone who went to Soviet, Russian, Ukrainian, and other schools in the post-Soviet space. For most, this is literally all they know and remember about the novel :-) In general, it’s recognizable.
For me, the main lines in the above passage are these:
What low deceit
To amuse the half-dead,
I think they should be used as a motto by opponents of the use of drugs against male erectile dysfunction like Viagra :-))))

But let's move on.
So thought the young rake,
Flying in the dust on postage,
By the Almighty will of Zeus
Heir to all his relatives.
Friends of Lyudmila and Ruslan!
With the hero of my novel
Without preamble, right now
Let me introduce you:
Onegin, my good friend,
Born on the banks of the Neva,
Where were you perhaps born?
Or shone, my reader;
I once walked there too:
But the north is bad for me.

Postal, they are also “transport” - this is a government, state carriage, essentially a taxi. It was not very profitable to keep your own carriage, and the carriage and horses were generally ruinous. Therefore, they used “transferable” ones. Moreover, the procedure for use was very carefully regulated and a special official monitored this - stationmaster. Since Onegin did not serve, he ranked quite low in the Table of Ranks, so Eugene had a small number of horses for the entire trip, namely only 3. He rode in a troika. Therefore, he cannot “fly in the dust” in any way, since he could not change horses at every postal station, which means he was forced to take care of them and give them a rest. Moreover, there might not be any free horses, which means the trip could be significantly delayed. By the way, the time period of the trip can be approximately calculated. His uncle's estate was in the Pskov region, Evgeniy lived in St. Petersburg. From St. Petersburg to, let’s say, Mikhailovsky, it’s about 400 kilometers. Let's convert it to versts and get about 375 versts. In the summer, horses walked at a speed of 10 versts per hour, and covered about 100 versts per day. Evgeniy was forced to take care of his horses and I think he covered no more than 70 miles a day. This means that even if he didn’t wait for the horses when he changed, and rode almost non-stop, he would get somewhere around 4-5 days one way, either way. And even more.

Postal station

By the way, as you understand, you had to pay for such a “taxi”. Evgeniy was driving, most likely along the Vitebsk highway. In Pushkin’s times, the tax (running fee) on this highway was 5 kopecks per mile, which means the trip cost about 19 rubles one way. Not very much (a stagecoach to Moscow cost 70 rubles, and renting a box in a theater for a year was 500), but not little, because for 10-15 rubles you could buy a serf.

Ruble 1825.

About the line " But the north is bad for me", I think everyone knows everything :-) Pushkin so subtly trolled the authorities about his exile.
Well, let's end here today.
To be continued….
Have a nice time of day

“My uncle has the most honest rules” A.S. Pushkin.
analysis of stanza 1 of “Eugene Onegin”

Again, “Without thinking of amusing the proud light/Loving the attention of friendship”

And on the poet's birthday
a gift to those who love him
and knows.

One of the most famous stanzas in the world is the beginning of Eugene Onegin.
The first stanza of Onegin worried many literary scholars. They say that S. Bondi could talk about her for several hours. Sparks of wit, greatness of mind, grandeur of erudition - it is impossible for us to compete with all this.
But I'm a director by profession.
And to talk about this mysterious stanza, about which so many critical copies have been broken, I will take our director’s theatrical method - the method of effective analysis.
Is it permissible to judge literature using theater methods? But let's see.

First, let’s find out what is clear to us in stanza 1, and what, as they said in the times of the TSA, is shrouded in mystery.

My uncle has the most honest rules;
When I seriously fell ill,
He forced himself to respect
And I couldn't think of anything better.
His example is a lesson to others;
But, my God, what a bore
To sit with the patient day and night,
Without leaving a single step!...

So, main character galloping somewhere, simultaneously washing the bones of his uncle, who forced him to hastily take off and rush to his estate.
It’s interesting to know whether EO condemns his uncle or praises him?
“The most honest rules” - i.e. acts as is customary, as expected ( stable expression in Pushkin's times). Grinev is also a hero of “fair rules”, i.e. guarding his honor. Many authors quote I. Krylov’s famous phrase “The donkey had the most honest rules.” But she is hardly related to the character: Onegin’s uncle is not an ass at all, but a direct object to be imitated (Eugene’s own opinion).
“His example is a lesson to others”; “I couldn’t think of anything better” - i.e. everyone should act like their uncle. (Let's take it as truth for now.)
What did your uncle do that was so unusual? What does the younger generation value so highly about him?
He “forced himself to be respected.” This phrase is so blurred that we stubbornly see in it only the beautiful verb “respect”, without seeing the semantic connection with another verb - “forced”. Forced! Here it is!
How can a freedom-loving, independent EO have a positive attitude towards the idea of “forcing” someone?! Has he ever been forced to do anything in his life? Can the very fact of coercion exist in the system of his moral values?
Let's figure out what the uncle made his nephew do?
Just come to his village to say goodbye.
Is there a spiritual connection between them?
Does EO want to rush to his uncle?
Why is he doing this?
The answer for the 19th century is obvious: because in case of disobedience he could be disinherited. The owners of the inheritance also know how to perform the wrong tricks. I would refer to the famous chapters from “War and Peace” telling about the death of the old Count Bezukhov, but in our time we know better stories.
EO, who recently lost his father - and his inheritance along with him - is forced to accept his uncle's conditions. He has no other sources of life. Don't serve, really! This polished dandy, socialite EO does not know how to do this at all. Not brought up that way.
But EO also condemns the pressure that his uncle puts on him. And, not having any kindred feelings for him, EO thinks with longing about the boredom that awaits him there, calling the forced sucking up to a dying rich relative “low deceit.”
Whatever EO may be, low deceit is not characteristic of him in the slightest. Pushkin spares the hero. Arriving in the village, EO finds his uncle “on the table/ As a ready-made tribute to the land.” The sucking up is gone. You don’t have to bend down and be mean, but boldly enter into inheritance of the estate...

TO BE CONTINUED.

The book includes a novel in verse by A.S. Pushkin (1799–1837) “Eugene Onegin,” which is required reading and study in secondary schools.

The novel in verse "Eugene Onegin" became the central event in literary life Pushkin's time. And since then, A.S. Pushkin’s masterpiece has not lost its popularity; it is still loved and revered by millions of readers.

Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin
Eugene Onegin
Novel in verse

Pétri de vanité il avait encore plus de cette espèce d'orgueil qui fait avouer avec la même indifférence les bonnes comme les mauvaises actions, suite d'un sentiment de supériorité, peut-être imaginaire.

Not thinking of amusing the proud world,
Loving the attention of friendship,
I'd like to introduce you
The pledge is more worthy than you,
More worthy than a beautiful soul,
Saint of a dream come true,
Poetry alive and clear,
High thoughts and simplicity;
But so be it - with a biased hand
Accept the collection of motley heads,
Half funny, half sad,
Common people, ideal,
The careless fruit of my amusements,
Insomnia, light inspirations,
Immature and withered years,
Crazy cold observations
And hearts of sorrowful notes.

XLIII

And you, young beauties,
Which sometimes later
The daring droshky carries away
Along the St. Petersburg pavement,

My uncle has the most honest rules,
When I seriously fell ill,
He forced himself to respect
And I couldn't think of anything better.
His example to others is science;
But, my God, what a bore
To sit with the patient day and night,
Without leaving a single step!
What low deceit
To amuse the half-dead,
Adjust his pillows
It's sad to bring medicine,
Sigh and think to yourself:
When will the devil take you!

Analysis of “My uncle has the most honest rules” - the first stanza of Eugene Onegin

In the first lines of the novel, Pushkin describes Uncle Onegin. The phrase “the most honest rules” was taken by him from. Comparing his uncle with a character from a fable, the poet hints that his “honesty” was only a cover for cunning and resourcefulness. Uncle knew how to skillfully adapt to public opinion and, without arousing any suspicion, carry out their dark deeds. Thus he earned a good name and respect.

My uncle's serious illness became another reason to attract attention. The line “I couldn’t have come up with a better idea” reveals the idea that even from an illness that can cause death, Onegin’s uncle tries (and succeeds) to derive practical benefit. Those around him are sure that he fell ill due to a neglectful attitude towards his health for the benefit of his neighbors. This apparent selfless service to people becomes a reason for even greater respect. But he is unable to deceive his nephew, who knows all the ins and outs. Therefore, there is irony in Eugene Onegin’s words about illness.

In the line “science is his example to others,” Pushkin again uses irony. Representatives of high society in Russia have always made a sensation out of their illness. This was mainly due to issues of inheritance. A crowd of heirs gathered around the dying relatives. They tried in every possible way to gain the favor of the patient in the hope of reward. The dying man's merits and his supposed virtue were loudly proclaimed. This is the situation that the author uses as an example.

Onegin is the heir of his uncle. By right of close kinship, he is obliged to spend “day and night” at the patient’s bedside and provide him with any assistance. The young man understands that he must do this if he does not want to lose his inheritance. Do not forget that Onegin is just a “young rake.” In his sincere reflections, he expresses real feelings, which are aptly designated by the phrase “low deceit.” And he, and his uncle, and everyone around him understands why his nephew does not leave the dying man’s bed. But the real meaning is covered with a false veneer of virtue. Onegin is incredibly bored and disgusted. There is only one phrase constantly on his tongue: “When will the devil take you!”

The mention of the devil, and not God, further emphasizes the unnaturalness of Onegin’s experiences. In reality, my uncle’s “honest rules” do not deserve a heavenly life. Everyone around him, led by Onegin, is eagerly awaiting his death. Only by doing this will he render a real invaluable service to society.

Pe€tri de vanite€ il avait encore plus de cette espe`ce d'orgueil qui fait avouer avec la me^me indiffe€rence les bonnes comme les mauvaises actions, suite d'un sentiment de supe€riorite€, peut-e ^tre imagine.
Tire€ d'une lettre particulie`re

Not thinking of amusing the proud world,
Loving the attention of friendship,
I'd like to introduce you
The pledge is more worthy than you,
More worthy than a beautiful soul,
Saint of a dream come true,
Poetry alive and clear,
High thoughts and simplicity;
But so be it - with a biased hand
Accept the collection of motley heads,
Half funny, half sad,
Common people, ideal,
The careless fruit of my amusements,
Insomnia, light inspirations,
Immature and withered years,
Crazy cold observations
And hearts of sorrowful notes.

Chapter first

And he’s in a hurry to live, and he’s in a hurry to feel.
Prince Vyazemsky

I

“My uncle has the most honest rules,
When I seriously fell ill,
He forced himself to respect
And I couldn't think of anything better.
His example to others is science;
But, my God, what a bore
To sit with the patient day and night,
Without leaving a single step!
What low deceit
To amuse the half-dead,
Adjust his pillows
It's sad to bring medicine,
Sigh and think to yourself:
When will the devil take you!”

II

So thought the young rake,
Flying in the dust on postage,
By the Almighty will of Zeus
Heir to all his relatives. -
Friends of Lyudmila and Ruslan!
With the hero of my novel
Without preamble, right now
Let me introduce you:
Onegin, my good friend,
Born on the banks of the Neva,
Where were you perhaps born?
Or shone, my reader;
I once walked there too:
But the north is bad for me.

III

Having served excellently and nobly,
His father lived in debt
Gave three balls annually
And finally squandered it.
Eugene's fate kept:
First Madame I followed him
After Monsieur replaced her;
The child was harsh, but sweet.
Monsieur l'Abbe€, poor Frenchman
So that the child does not get tired,
I taught him everything jokingly,
I didn’t bother you with strict morals,
Lightly scolded for pranks
And in Summer garden took me for a walk.

IV

When will the rebellious youth
The time has come for Evgeniy
It's time for hope and tender sadness,
Monsieur kicked out of the yard.
Here is my Onegin free;
Haircut in the latest fashion;
How dandy London dressed -
And finally saw the light.
He's completely French
He could express himself and wrote;
I danced the mazurka easily
And he bowed casually;
What do you want more? The light has decided
That he is smart and very nice.

V

We all learned a little bit
Something and somehow
So upbringing, thank God,
It’s no wonder for us to shine.
Onegin was, according to many
(decisive and strict judges),
A small scientist, but a pedant.
He had a lucky talent
No coercion in conversation
Touch everything lightly
With the learned air of a connoisseur
Remain silent in an important dispute
And make the ladies smile
Fire of unexpected epigrams.

VI

Latin is now out of fashion:
So, if I tell you the truth,
He knew quite a bit of Latin,
To understand the epigraphs,
Talk about Juvenal,
At the end of the letter put vale,
Yes, I remembered, although not without sin,
Two verses from the Aeneid.
He had no desire to rummage
In chronological dust
History of the earth;
But the jokes of days gone by
From Romulus to the present day,
He kept it in his memory.

VII

Having no high passion
No mercy for the sounds of life,
He could not iambic from trochee,
No matter how hard we fought, we could tell the difference.
Scolded Homer, Theocritus;
But I read Adam Smith
And there was a deep economy,
That is, he knew how to judge
How does the state get rich?
And how does he live, and why?
He doesn't need gold
When simple product It has.
His father couldn't understand him
And he gave the lands as collateral.

VIII

Everything that Evgeniy still knew,
Tell me about your lack of time;
But what was his true genius?
What he knew more firmly than all sciences,
What happened to him from childhood
And labor, and torment, and joy,
What took the whole day
His melancholy laziness, -
There was a science of tender passion,
Which Nazon sang,
Why did he end up a sufferer?
Its age is brilliant and rebellious
In Moldova, in the wilderness of the steppes,
Far away from Italy.

IX

……………………………………
……………………………………
……………………………………

X

How early could he be a hypocrite?
To harbor hope, to be jealous,
To dissuade, to make believe,
Seem gloomy, languish,
Be proud and obedient
Attentive or indifferent!
How languidly silent he was,
How fieryly eloquent
How careless in heartfelt letters!
Breathing alone, loving alone,
How he knew how to forget himself!
How quick and gentle his gaze was,
Shy and impudent, and sometimes
Shined with an obedient tear!

XI

How he knew how to seem new,
Jokingly amaze innocence,
To frighten with despair,
To amuse with pleasant flattery,
Catch a moment of tenderness,
Innocent years of prejudice
Win with intelligence and passion,
Expect involuntary affection
Beg and demand recognition
Listen to the first sound of the heart,
Pursue love and suddenly
Achieve a secret date...
And then she's alone
Give lessons in silence!

XII

How early could he have disturbed
Hearts of coquettes!
When did you want to destroy
He has his rivals,
How he sarcastically slandered!
What networks I prepared for them!
But you, blessed men,
You stayed with him as friends:
The wicked husband caressed him,
Foblas is a long-time student,
And the distrustful old man
And the majestic cuckold,
Always happy with yourself
With his lunch and his wife.