"Last Love" F. Tyutchev
The theme of love is one of the central themes in the works of writers and poets of the 19th century. Fedor Ivanovich Tyutchev was no exception, in whose work one can find lyrical works dedicated to women who occupied an important place in the life of the poet. Thus, the poem "Last Love", written in 1852-1854, refers to the "Denisiev cycle". Poems dedicated to Elena Alexandrovna Denisyeva are rightfully considered the crown of Tyutchev's love lyrics, because the story of tragic love, reflected in more than fifteen poems, happened in real life. The forbidden love between an adult poet and a young student of the Smolny Institute could not but leave a trace in the work of Tyutchev.
There was everything in this love: deep affection, and sincere love, and a sense of guilt in front of the beloved woman, and the tragic denouement, which was the early death of Denisyeva. The poem "Last Love" was written by the poet already in adulthood, which is why instead of ardent and passionate confessions, we see sincere, gentle, kind words that speak of the poet's affection and more careful attitude to his beloved woman.
At the very beginning of the poem “Oh, how in our declining years we love more tender and superstitious,” the lyrical hero, together with the reader, is surprised at these new feelings that filled his mind. The particle "O", which occurs in the poem once again gives an elevated intonation to the whole work, and numerous repetitions: "Shine, shine, parting light ...", "Slow down, slow down, evening day, Extend, extend, charm" give special musicality to the whole work. Thus, it is possible to define the genre of a poem as an elegy - a lyrical genre containing in poetic form the emotional result of philosophical reflection on the complex issues of mankind.
Tyutchev is an unsurpassed master of landscape lyrics, which is also reflected in the poem "Last Love". The poet shows how closely nature is connected with human life, comparing the feeling of love with light. The tragedy of the love of a poet and a young girl lies in the fact that this feeling is fleeting, ends with the onset of darkness "the farewell light of Love of the last, evening dawn." The last love is essentially hopeless - the night comes, love ends, but the lyrical hero does not lose his fortitude “But tenderness does not fail in the heart ... Oh, you, the last love,“ You are both bliss and hopelessness ”. Indeed, it is a great happiness to experience the noble feeling of mutual tender love, that feeling that will be stored in the depths of the soul all my life, which should not be shared. “Oh, how in our declining years We love more tender and superstitious ...”.
In the poem "Last Love", lexical repetition is the main artistic element that helps the reader to catch the confidential, confessional intonation of the lyrical hero. He seems to be talking to an invisible interlocutor. "Shine, shine farewell light ...", "Slow down, slow down, evening day, Last, last the charm". To attract special attention of the interlocutor, before whom the lyrical hero reveals his soul, the author uses one of the artistic tropes - the oxymoron "evening day", and also says that the "hopelessness" of love can cause him an unusual feeling of "bliss". In this case, the use of an oxymoron creates an atmosphere of internal contradiction that torments the lyrical hero.
The poem "Last Love" reveals to the reader the doom of forbidden love, and at the same time teaches not to despair and accept this feeling with gratitude. In the works of Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev there are reflections of a philosophical nature on various topics, but the theme of tragic love can rightfully occupy one of the most important places in the poet's work.
The life of the famous Russian poet was not as simple as it seems at first glance. Not many readers know that Tyutchev spent almost twenty years of his life away from his homeland. He worked in Germany, where he was formed as a great poet of our time. Despite the fact that most of his poems are dedicated to the homeland, the author created them far from Russia. He skillfully conveyed the picturesque colors of Russian nature, especially focused on the change of seasons, comparing each season with the cycle of human life.
The lyrics of Fyodor Tyutchev do not leave any reader indifferent. Many poetic works are devoted to the theme of love, about which the famous Russian poet knew a lot. He knew how to love without a trace, dissolving in feelings to the very depths.
Despite the romantic nature, the poet did not perceive the word "treason", he simply did not consider it regrettable to love several women at the same time. An interesting fact about Tyutchev's personal life is that he lived in two families, and he gave all his tender feelings and frankness to each lover.
The most unpredictable events took place in his life, each meeting left certain thoughts in the poet's memory, which he skillfully conveyed in his brilliant work. The well-known verse for many readers “I met you, and all the past ...” was written after meeting with a woman who later became his lover.
Tyutchev's first love
In 1822, Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev entered the service of the Collegium of Foreign Affairs. By this time, the young poet had already graduated from Moscow University. For work, he was sent to Munich as a Russian official-diplomat to carry out a state mission. It was here that young Tyutchev met his first love. His chosen one was the illegitimate daughter of the Prussian king - Amalia von Lerchenfeld. A young and rather beautiful girl was captivated by the worthy feelings of the nineteen-year-old Fedor, so she immediately gave herself up to meet crazy love. The poet proposed to her, but Amalia's relatives were categorically against this relationship, so Tyutchev was awaited by a regrettable refusal. According to the parents of the beauty, Fedor was not rich enough.
Soon, the young diplomat had to leave the country for a while, and at that time Amalia's wedding took place with Baron Krunder, who was a colleague of Fyodor Ivanovich. Returning to Munich, he learned about this event. This news upset Tyutchev very much, but even his frank intention to assign a duel to his opponent could not change the situation. Beloved Amalia remained Baroness Krunder, the wife of another person ...
Throughout his life, the poet and his first lover maintained friendly relations. He dedicated several poems to this woman. The most touching lyrical work is "I remember the golden time."
Tyutchev's first wife
The failed relationship with Amalia von Lerchenfeld made the young diplomat suffer, but not for long. Soon, Tyutchev met Countess Eleanor Peterson, who became the first wife of Fyodor Ivanovich. She fell in love with the young poet passionately and madly, conveying to her lover all her most frank and pure intentions. Eleanor surrounded her husband with incredible care and sincere warmth. The poet felt good with her, she became a reliable support and a great life partner. The young wife solved all domestic and even financial problems on her own. The Tyutchevs' house was always warm and comfortable, even when serious financial difficulties appeared in the family budget. Eleanor was a devoted wife and hospitable hostess. The poet was happy, however, this marriage was soon destroyed by an unforeseen circumstance.
Eleanor, along with the children, was returning from a trip to her husband. During this journey on the water, a shipwreck happened. She managed to escape, but due to severe hypothermia, the health of Tyutchev's wife deteriorated significantly, which soon led to the death of a woman. Eleanor Peterson at that time was barely 37 years old ...
The loss of his beloved wife seriously affected the state of the poet. Tyutchev very painfully survived this terrible event. Later, he will write several touching poems dedicated to this beautiful woman.
Mistress and new wife of Tyutchev
Despite sincere love for his wife Eleanor, even during her lifetime, Tyutchev was carried away by another woman who became the secret mistress of the poet. She was Ernestine Dernberg, a young woman in whom Fyodor Ivanovich saw a kindred soul. He dedicated to her a beautiful poem "I love your eyes, my friend ..". As the great Russian poet did not try to hide his novel, Eleanor found out about her husband's betrayal and even tried to commit suicide. Fortunately, this terrible event did not happen, although it did not save the life of the legal wife, who was experiencing an unpleasant betrayal of a loved one.
An attempt by his wife to take her own life changed Tyutchev's plans for the future. He decisively broke off relations with Ernestine in order to save his marriage to Eleanor. But two years after the death of his beloved wife, Fyodor Tyutchev nevertheless made an offer to his former mistress, who, without hesitation, agreed to marry the poet.
Their life was ordinary - children, home, work. For this period, Tyutchev became somewhat absent-minded, he began to devote little time to service and family. And in 1850, Tyutchev's new wife noticed characteristic changes in her husband's condition. A few more months passed, Fedor Ivanovich rented a separate apartment and moved out from Ernestina ...
And only after a while, the second wife of Tyutchev found out the real reason for these changes and the sudden departure of her husband. She became the new lover of the poet - Elena Denisyeva, a pupil of the Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens.
The first meeting between Fyodor Ivanovich and Elena Denisyeva took place in July 1850. At this point, the talented poet was already 47 years old, and the young chosen one was only 24 years old. They met by chance, the girl was friends with Tyutchev's older daughters. The acquaintance of future lovers took place in the poet's house, when a graduate of the Institute of Noble Maidens came to visit her friends. Elena liked the already mature author from the first minute, this meeting radically changed the life of both Tyutchev himself and Denisyeva.
For the sake of mutual love with an already famous poet, the girl had to give up her position in society. She sacrificed everything she had, but did not reject the love of Fedor Ivanovich, even when all Elena's relatives and friends spoke out categorically against these "not reasonable", but truly passionate love relationships.
Their romance developed during the period of still legal relations between Tyutchev and his wife Ernestina. Society condemned the poet's mistress and did not want to see her in the circles of noble people. The girl suffered greatly, Fedor Ivanovich himself was sad, but it was already impossible to change fate ...
Their relationship lasted 14 years, during this period Elena Denisyeva gave birth to Tyutchev three illegitimate children. The love triangle existed until the death of the chosen one of the great poet. Ernestina was aware of these relationships, she even allowed her rival to write down the children in her husband's surname.
In the novel by Tyutchev and Denisyeva there were many tears and suffering. The couple often quarreled, tried to break off relations, but the feelings between the lovers were much stronger: he could not abandon Elena, and she, despite all the difficulties that arise in her life because of a strange man, could not break off relations with Tyutchev.
The poet remarkably expressed passionate and mutual love in his work. He dedicated many poems to this woman. The brightest lyrical works written in honor of the young chosen one were published in the famous poetry collection "Denisiev Cycle".
Analysis of the poem "Last Love"
The poem "Last Love" was written in early 1850. During this period, the fateful acquaintance of the poet with the young Elena Denisyeva happened. At that time, the already mature Tyutchev could not even imagine what strong feelings he would have to experience in the arms of a new lover.Fedor Ivanovich was immensely happy, these relationships inspired his soul, gave hope for a brighter future with his beloved woman. Of course, in the future, the fate of this couple will turn out to be completely bleak ... But, all the saddest things will happen later, but for now, the poet in love dedicates his excellent lyrical works to new relationships. You can feel what Tyutchev felt during this period of his life by reading the poem "Last Love".
Oh, how in our declining years
We love more tenderly and more superstitiously ...
Shine, shine, parting light
Last love, evening dawn!
Half the sky was engulfed by a shadow,
Only there, in the west, radiance wanders, -
Slow down, slow down, evening day,
Last, last, charm.
Let the blood run thin in the veins,
But tenderness does not fail in the heart ...
Oh, last love!
You are both bliss and hopelessness.
Fedor Ivanovich was rapidly trying to understand his own feelings and sensations, and he purposefully conveyed these emotions in this lyrical work. Only in adulthood did he understand a very important truth - in his declining years, love acquires more frank and tender feelings that give strength and desire to live, create, love ...
Tyutchev even managed to discover new qualities of character in himself, which, despite such a great life experience, were invisible all this time. The author compares his last, and greatest love for dear Elena, with the evening dawn. It illuminates the path of life with its faded radiance, giving a new meaning to life's existence.
Tyutchev's last love radically changed the outlook and meaning of the life of the great poet. He began to see only beauty in the world around him. All these changes surprised the author himself. The poet was happy, but at the same time he often thought about the transience of time. Tyutchev understood the hopelessness of the situation, tried to solve all the difficulties that arose on their way, but time was inexorable.
Their love affair lasted until the death of Elena Denisyeva. Her tragic departure left an unhealed wound in the soul of the oppressed poet. Until his last days, he remembered this beautiful woman who gave him boundless happiness and crazy love. Despite all the vicissitudes of fate, Tyutchev thanked fate for such an invaluable gift, because he was really lucky to become the main character of a magnificent and passionate romance with a young beauty - Elena Denisyeva.
"Last Love" Fyodor Tyutchev
Oh, how in our declining years
We love more tenderly and more superstitiously ...
Shine, shine, parting light
Last love, evening dawn!Half the sky was engulfed by a shadow,
Only there, in the west, radiance wanders, -
Slow down, slow down, evening day,
Last, last, charm.Let the blood run thin in the veins,
But tenderness does not fail in the heart ...
Oh, last love!
You are both bliss and hopelessness.
Analysis of Tyutchev's poem "Last Love"
Being already a mature man, an accomplished diplomat and a famous poet, Fyodor Tyutchev fell in love with a young pupil of a boarding house for noble maidens Elena Denisyeva. The author did not even suspect that in his declining years he was able to experience such strong feelings. Moreover, he was amazed that his love is mutual. The romance of Tyutchev and Denisyeva developed rapidly, becoming the subject of numerous disputes and gossip in high society. However, the poet could not fully believe his own happiness, as evidenced by the poem "Last Love", written in the first half of the 1850s.
Trying to sort out his feelings, Tyutchev comes to the conclusion that "in our declining years, we love more tenderly and more superstitiously." This wise man, who has been married twice and managed to raise children, discovers completely new character traits that he did not even suspect about. The poet compares his unexpected love with the evening dawn, which illuminates his path with a special radiance. It is in this all-consuming feeling that the author sees not only the meaning of his earthly existence, but also draws strength for inspiration, which, according to Tyutchev, has long since left him.
It is noteworthy that after meeting Elena Denisyeva, the poet again turns not only to love, but also to landscape lyrics, he begins to notice that the world around him is really beautiful. “Half the sky was covered by a shadow, only there, in the west, a radiance wanders,” this is how the poet describes an ordinary day from his life. And what he sees outside the window most fully corresponds to the feelings that the poet is experiencing at this moment. He does not want the day to decline so inexorably, and internally protests against the fact that his life is nearing its end. However, the warmth that his last love gives Tyutchev warms the poet's soul, filling it with a wide variety of feelings. “Let the blood run thin in the veins, but tenderness does not run thin in the heart,” notes Tyutchev. He is touched by what he is experiencing at the moment, and at the same time he does not cease to be surprised that all this is happening to him - the person who least of all expected to become the hero of a fascinating love story. At the same time, the poet understands that his position is hopeless, since the status and position in society does not allow him to divorce his lawful wife. But the poet is not able to give up his love for Elena Denisyeva, believing that he received an undeserved gift from heaven.
Love is an unpredictable feeling. It can come to a person suddenly. No wonder one of the leading traditions of Russian literature is the comparison of love with a blow, a flash, as, for example, in the stories of Ivan Alekseevich Bunin. In poetry, things are somewhat different. Since the lyrics concern the realm of feelings, the poet is waiting for an emotional response from the reader, he hopes that everyone who has read the poem will be able to exclaim: "Yes, I felt it too! And I survived it!"
Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev's poem "Last Love", which is part of the famous "Denisiev cycle", is indeed dedicated to his last love - 24-year-old Elena Denisiev. Of course, it is autobiographical, because the tragic story of their relationship is quite well known: the 47-year-old poet fell in love with a young pupil of the Smolny Institute, but could not leave his family. Exhausted by such a "double" existence, the young woman died of transient consumption, and Tyutchev lived with a sense of guilt until his death.
The poem is rightfully considered the pearl of love poetry. This is not a passionate youthful confession, this is not a bitter regret about past love - this is truly an explanation, an explanation of a wise man who has learned to appreciate the most intimate moments in love between a man and a woman. It is precisely such moments that you are afraid to jinx it, which is why the author writes: "Oh, how in our declining years we love more tenderly and more superstitiously..." Perhaps the hero actually becomes superstitious because he is afraid that he will lose something precious in his life and never gain it again.
In general, it should be noted that a person in Tyutchev's poetry - even in "cosmic", even in love - is weak and majestic at the same time. Fragile, like a reed, in the face of nature, he is great by some kind of internal, inexplicable force. A similar duality is felt in this poem, only here this duality is expressed with the help of parallelism (comparison of natural phenomena with human life), which is more characteristic of folk poetry. In this work, the last love of the hero is associated with the evening dawn:
Shine, shine, parting light
Last love, evening dawn!
Literally, this should be understood as follows: as the evening dawn with its last radiance illuminates everything around, so the farewell light of the last love illuminates a person’s life, which is nearing its end, because “the shadow has covered half the sky”, which means that half of life has already been lived. How can one not recall here Dante's: "... having passed my earthly life halfway, I found myself in a gloomy forest"? But the hero of Tyutchev does not feel any fear or regret, he only asks with a humble plea:
Slow down, slow down, evening day,
Last, last, charm.
Yes, the hero is no longer young, so "blood runs low in veins", but now his love expresses more kindness, care, i.e. tenderness, which "does not languish in the heart". Although in the last lines there is hidden sadness, because the hero calls the last love "hopelessness". And again, an oxymoron characteristic of Tyutchev's style arises: it turns out that "hopelessness" causes "bliss" in the hero! Marvelous.
Speaking about the rhythmic organization of the poem, it is impossible not to say about the special sound of this work. At first it seems that the poem was written in amphibrach. But the last word seems to get out of the general rhythm and breaks the harmonious sound. In poetry, this is commonly called rhythm interruption. Obviously, the author uses this technique to create a more trusting intonation in order to emphasize the confessional nature of his love confession. The slowness of the rhythm is also caused by repetitions: "Shine, shine, parting light...", "Slow down, slow down, evening day...", "Long, last, charm..."
Be sure to check out other essays:
- Analysis of the poem by F.I. Tyutchev "Silentium!"
- "Autumn Evening", analysis of Tyutchev's poem
- "Spring Thunderstorm", analysis of Tyutchev's poem
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