What is Russia most often associated with in the perception of most people? Can be called different symbols. Foreigners will definitely remember vodka, matryoshka and balalaika. And even the bears that supposedly walk along our streets. But for a Russian person, the birch tree will undoubtedly be the closest. After all, it is the birch tree that is most pleasant to meet, “returning from distant wanderings.” After exotic trees, spreading palm trees and suffocating-smelling tropical plants, it is so pleasant to touch the cool white bark and breathe in the fresh smell of birch branches.
It is not for nothing that the birch tree was sung by almost all Russian poets. A. Fet, N. Rubtsov, A. Dementyev wrote about her. Songs, legends, tales were written about her. Time passed, power and the political system changed, wars passed, mounds grew on former battlefields, and the birch tree, as it pleased hundreds of years with its bright face, continues to delight. “I love the Russian birch tree, sometimes bright, sometimes sad...” - the Russian Soviet poet Alexander Prokofiev wrote so simply and at the same time passionately about this most important symbol of Russia.
The remarkable 20th century lyricist Sergei Aleksandrovich Yesenin also contributed to the collection of works about birch. Growing up in the Ryazan province, in the village of Konstantinovo, in an ordinary peasant family, Sergei saw birch trees under the windows of his home from childhood. By the way, they are still growing, having outlived the poet by almost a hundred years.
Poem by Sergei Yesenin "White birch", at first glance, seems straightforward. Probably because of this apparent simplicity, everyone teaches it, starting with kindergarten. Indeed, only four quatrains, tetrameter trochee, no tricky, incomprehensible metaphors- this is what makes the perception of this poem so simplified.
But if we remember that any lyrical work is intended not only to express the poet’s feelings, but also to evoke a reciprocal emotional response from the reader, then it becomes clear why this poem, written a century ago (in 1913), is still so familiar to many fans and connoisseurs of Russian poetry.
The Yesenin birch appears in the form of a sleeping beauty:
Covered with snow
Exactly silver.
The personification used by the poet allows the reader to notice that the birch tree itself was covered with snow, and not the frost used its power. That's why brushes "blossomed with white fringe" yourself too. And here it is, a bright image - a beauty resting "in sleepy silence", and a rich beauty: after all, she covered herself with snow, "like silver", the brushes are decorated with white fringe, which was used only by representatives of high society, and the snowflakes in the birch dress are burning "in golden fire".
Of course, a Russian person who grew up on fairy tales about a princess sleeping in a crystal coffin will invariably imagine only such an image when reading this analysis of the poem. This drowsiness is explained by the time of year, because in winter all the trees “sleep”. Even the dawn appears slowly, as if afraid to disturb the peace of the Russian beauty:
And the dawn is lazy
Walking around
Sprinkles branches
New silver.
But Yesenin’s “sleepy birch trees” will appear in another work written a year later - in the poem “Good Morning!” . Here it is much more difficult to understand why, in the midst of summer, birch trees are also like a dream.
“We all come from childhood,” said the French writer and pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Perhaps, watching the birch tree all my childhood "under your window", Seryozha Yesenin created one for himself image of a birch, which he carried through all his work and his entire short life.
Researchers of Yesenin’s work once calculated that 22 names of different trees appeared in his works. Probably, the poet himself did not think about this when he created his lyrical masterpieces. But for some reason, it was the birches that formed for him the very “land of birch chintz” that he left so early.
- “I left my home…”, analysis of Yesenin’s poem
- “You are my Shagane, Shagane!..”, analysis of Yesenin’s poem, essay
- “Letter to a Woman”, analysis of Yesenin’s poem
Analysis of Yesenin’s poem “Birch”
We begin the analysis of Yesenin’s poems by characterizing the poet as a person who passionately loves his native land, the nature of his land, every grass, every tree growing near his home. “The white birch tree under my window” arouses the poet’s admiration, and he devotes a whole poem to it, as to his beloved woman. He admires the winter birch tree. It would seem how wonderful it can be in winter: bare trees, cold, emptiness. And Yesenin says that the tree was covered with “snow, like silver.” He sees her not as a frozen tree, but as a beauty with fluffy branches on which snow “tassels” hang like a “white fringe.” What a fascinating picture appears before the reader’s eyes! This poem is extremely lyrical. It is filled with epithets: the poet’s fire is “golden”, and the silence is sleepy; and metaphors: “snowflakes are burning”, “dawn, lazily walking around”, etc. This work glorifies not only the Russian birch, but also the long, cold winter, when the snow “showers the branches... with silver.” Thanks to Yesenin for helping us see the magic and beauty in her.
Analysis of Yesenin’s poem about winter “Winter Sings and Calls”
So simple, so familiar from childhood, Yesenin’s poem about winter, “Winter sings and cries”... It’s as if a grandmother, playing with her grandson in winter, recites Russian nursery rhymes to him: “Winter cries - ... lulls her to sleep,” or a Russian fairy tale about playful sparrows or small birds , tender, freezing in winter. It seems that the people themselves wrote this poem, so Yesenin is able to convey the charm of the Russian language and Russian folklore. Again, like a song, metaphors and epithets flow from the lips of the great poet. These are “shaggy forest”, “gray clouds”, “blizzard... spreading”, “orphan children”, the mad roar of a blizzard, the smiles of the sun, etc. The picture of nature in this poem, although winter, is very colorful. And again Yesenin amazes the reader. Analysis of the poem allows us to notice and admire the most simple things: floating clouds, blizzards, blizzards, birds, etc. How beautiful our land is...
Analysis of Yesenin’s poem about winter “Porosh”
In the poem “Porosh,” the great Russian poet Yesenin again sings of nature in winter: a dormant forest when a dream tells him a fairy tale, and a pine tree strewn with snow. He imagines her as an old woman tied with a white scarf. It seems to Yesenin that the pine tree “bent over like an old woman, leaning on a stick.” And again, the author has extraordinary metaphors, striking in their accuracy, lyricism, and harmony: “ringing under a hoof in the snow,” snow “spreading a shawl,” a road running “like a ribbon into the distance.” A few words, and the reader sees endless Russia, cold, snowy, but so beloved by the great poet.
Analysis of Yesenin’s poem about winter “I’m wandering through the first snow...”
In the poem “I’m wandering through the first snow...” Yesenin again returns to the theme of winter and Russian birch. He says that “the swans sat down in the meadow,” and not the snow lies in the fields. “The naked breasts of birches,” like those of a beloved woman, he wants to “press to his body.” Yesenin is a very original poet-singer of his Fatherland. Russian literature is unthinkable without his work. Such subtle, reverent poetry, filled with immense love for Russia, cannot but be considered great.
Yesenin was 18 years old when he left his village in order to try his luck in big city. Like a magician, he brings to life in the reader’s imagination the beauty of familiar things. Folklore and expressiveness are what is attractive in the poem “Birch”. It, like a Russian folk song, fills the soul with warmth and light. Sergei Alexandrovich wrote the poem “Birch” in 1913, even before the tragic events in Russian Empire, which radically influenced state policy. Along with many other poems about nature, it belongs to the poet’s early work. In his youth, his attention was most occupied by the theme of the peasant landscape.
Brief compositional Yesenin:
“Birch” is one of those poems in which you can clearly see that its composition is based on a description of nature. It consists of four quatrains. The first includes the main meaning of a poetic work: in it the writer reveals to the reader the source of his inspiration. The main compositional device is personification. In addition, the analysis of Yesenin’s poem indicates a lack of plot development, climax and denouement. This work can confidently be classified as a landscape genre.
A brief rhythmic analysis of Yesenin's poem gives general idea about its form. Playfulness and lightness are ensured by the structure, which contains three forms of syllabic-tonic versification: monosyllabic trochee, iambic pentameter and disyllabic dactyl. Female and male rhyme constantly alternate with each other, with the first line ending with a female rhyme, and the last with a male rhyme. Throughout the entire verse, Yesenin used the same rhyme, which is called “single”: only the second and last lines of the quatrain (АВСВ) rhyme in it. A brief phonetic analysis of Yesenin’s poem: there are a lot of long vowels, in particular O And e, and sonorant consonants n And R. Due to this, the intonation when reading aloud turns out to be affectionate and gentle. Yesenin's style is full of sensory experiences that instantly fill the reader's imagination with eloquent images.
Semantic analysis of the poem:
Although Yesenin was attracted to city life, in his soul he remained faithful to the beauty of the Russian hinterland and, yearning for the landscapes of his small Motherland, wrote many lyrical poems on this topic. The theme of this short, but no less beautiful, work is nature. The main role in the creation poetic image plays the attitude towards the birch of the lyrical hero, with whom Yesenin himself associated himself. Analysis of the poem and the impressions it evokes reveal to the reader the youth, lightness and romance of the author. At first glance, the title of the poem “Birch” is simple and uncomplicated, but it personifies the poet’s deep affection. Glorifying our native birch tree is a whole tradition. For Yesenin, it is not only a tree: it is a symbol of Russia. In addition, in his poems, the author more than once compared the image of his beloved woman with this truly Russian tree. Love for Russia itself was Yesenin’s unique talent, because this feeling is the only thing that can bestow immortal glory on the poet.
Plan for stylistic analysis of the poem “White Birch” by S. Yesenin
The poem "Birch" was written by Sergei Alexandrovich in 1913, i.e. before the start of the tragic events that changed the history of the Russian Empire (First World War, revolution of 1917, Civil War etc.). 18-year-old Yesenin, who has just radically changed his lifestyle from rural to urban, remains faithful to the former ideals of peasant life, singing in poetry the beauty of his small Motherland.
The style is artistic.
The goal is to influence the feelings and thoughts of readers through the creation of images.
The main function is aesthetic.
The addressee of the speech is a wide segment of society - the intelligentsia, workers, students, etc.
The theme of the text is that S. Yesenin is able to see beauty and splendor in the simplest and most ordinary, like a magician reviving pictures familiar from childhood with the power of words.
The poem "Birch" refers to early period creativity of S.A. Yesenin, where Russian nature and rural life determined the themes of his poems. The beauty of this natural world merges with the poet’s ardent love for the Motherland, for Russia. Nature, countryside and homeland are united in his poems in a single sense of beauty. Love for the Motherland was for Yesenin one of the most powerful sources of all his poetry.
Type of speech - description
Type of speech - monologue
Form of speech – written
Sphere of communication – artistic
The genre of the poem is landscape, touching, heartfelt and tender.
Features of the composition: the poem has only four stanzas, the first is the semantic center of the work.
The title of the poem is simple and uncomplicated, but very symbolic, because... birch - for the poet, as for most Russian people, is a symbol of Russia, as well as a deep poetic female image, which is repeatedly found in the poet’s work (“... The sleepy birch trees smiled, their silk braids disheveled...”, “... like a stranger’s wife, he hugged the birch tree ").
For transmission emotional mood The author uses figurative and expressive means and figures of speech.
The structure of the poem is obviously circular, because the first and last stanzas correlate with each other (“... covered with snow, like silver”, “... sprinkles the branches with new silver.”). The absence in the poem of a plot, plot development, climax and denouement speaks of the circular structure of the work.
Yesenin’s bright, original language is replete with comparisons, personifications and metaphors, which creates a bright and original poetic style of Sergei Alexandrovich, unlike anyone else.
Avatars:
“...the birch tree...is covered with snow...”, “...snowflakes are burning...”, “...dawn,... going around, sprinkles the branches...”, etc.
Epithets: “white birch”, “sleepy silence”, “golden fire”.
Comparisons: “...covered with snow, like silver.”, “...tassels blossomed with white fringe.”
The beauty of the landscape, its fabulousness and folkloric nature creates such a technique asinversion: “...and the birch tree stands,” “...and the snowflakes are burning.”
Two expressions: “silver” and “in golden fire” attract Special attention, because they create a mood of solemnity and beauty of winter birch.
We see the grace and inaccessibility of this cold beauty, but the words “under my window” make the birch more dear, closer. It resembles an elegant image of a bride in a white wedding dress and veil (“tassels with white fringe”). “Snowflakes burn in golden fire” - this is the shining crown of the bride.
In the last stanza the main role assigned to dawn. The special role of dawn is emphasized by the unionA
, which singles it out and includes it in the general movement of life. It combines sedateness and majesty. She takes care of the birch tree, like a mother blessing her daughter.
It is necessary to pay attention to phonetic features poems: an abundance of drawn-out vowel sounds, especially (e) and (o) (white, birch, snow, silver, sleepy, in golden fire, going around, etc.) and sonorant consonants (p), (n).
1. White - keyword (white angel, white church, white Rus', white clothes). White color in the old days it was identified with the divine, it meant participation in God: a white angel, white vestments, white robes of saints. The image of a white birch evokes a feeling of joy, shining light, purity, and the beginning of a new life.
2. Personification (like a bride).
3. Multi-valued comparison (expensive; beautiful, filigree work).
4. Artistic detail. White paint on white (hidden life).
5. The conjunction “and” unites the lyrical narrative.
6. “Birch” on Indo-European languages- brilliant, proud, regal.
7. Pronoun“my” emphasizes the personal relationship and involvement of the poet with the person depicting.
8. Covered myself with snow - word"covered up" creates a feeling of animation in the image of a birch tree, which appears alive, spiritually, and in many ways similar to a woman. In one of her movements one can guess the desire to be beautiful. And the desire to hide, to preserve what is hidden inside. And an attempt to preserve the charm that it radiates - light, elegant, blinding with whiteness.
9. But there is a dawn - a divine phenomenon, it guards the birch, strengthens its role. So Yesenin, describing the birch tree, the symbol of Rus', expresses his patriotic feelings.
10. Participial turnover makes you pause, which conveys the sedateness of what is happening, paints a majestic picture.
The poem is literally sung like a folk song.
Despite the fact that the poem before us is a landscape, the personality of the author is easily understood by the reader. This is clearly a very young, enthusiastic and slightly naive man, full of love to native nature and the surrounding world.
Sergei Alexandrovich Yesenin
White birch
Below my window
Covered with snow
Exactly silver.
On fluffy branches
Snow border
The brushes have blossomed
White fringe.
And the birch tree stands
In sleepy silence,
And the snowflakes are burning
In golden fire.
And the dawn is lazy
Walking around
sprinkles branches
New silver.
It is not for nothing that the poet Sergei Yesenin is called the singer of Russia, since in his work the image of his homeland is key. Even in those works that describe mysterious eastern countries, the author always draws a parallel between overseas beauties and the quiet, silent charm of his native expanses.
The poem “Birch” was written by Sergei Yesenin in 1913, when the poet was barely 18 years old.
Sergei Yesenin, 18 years old, 1913
At this time, he was already living in Moscow, which impressed him with its scale and unimaginable bustle. However, in his work, the poet remained faithful to his native village of Konstantinovo and, dedicating a poem to an ordinary birch tree, it was as if he was mentally returning home to an old rickety hut.
The house where S. A. Yesenin was born. Konstantinovo
It would seem, what can you tell about an ordinary tree that grows under your window? However, it is with the birch tree that Sergei Yesenin associates the most vivid and exciting childhood memories. Watching how it changes throughout the year, now shedding its withered leaves, now dressing in a new green outfit, the poet became convinced that the birch tree is an integral symbol of Russia, worthy of being immortalized in poetry.
The image of a birch tree in the poem of the same name, which is filled with slight sadness and tenderness, is written with special grace and skill. The author compares her winter outfit, woven from fluffy snow, to silver, which burns and shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow in the morning dawn. The epithets with which Sergei Yesenin awards the birch are amazing in their beauty and sophistication. Its branches remind him of brushes of snow fringe, and the “sleepy silence” enveloping the snow-dusted tree gives it a special appearance, beauty and grandeur.
Why did Sergei Yesenin choose the image of a birch tree for his poem? There are several answers to this question. Some researchers of his life and work are convinced that the poet was a pagan at heart, and for him the birch tree was a symbol of spiritual purity and rebirth.
Sergei Yesenin at the birch tree. Photo - 1918
Therefore, at one of the most difficult periods of his life, cut off from his native village, where for Yesenin everything was close, simple and understandable, the poet is looking for a foothold in his memories, imagining what his favorite looks like now, covered with a blanket of snow. In addition, the author draws a subtle parallel, endowing the birch with the features of a young woman who is no stranger to coquetry and a love of exquisite outfits. This is also not surprising, since in Russian folklore the birch, like the willow, has always been considered a “female” tree. However, if people have always associated the willow with grief and suffering, which is why it got its name “weeping”, then the birch is a symbol of joy, harmony and consolation. Knowing Russian folklore very well, Sergei Yesenin remembered folk parables that if you go to a birch tree and tell it about your experiences, your soul will certainly become lighter and warmer. Thus, an ordinary birch tree combines several images at once - the Motherland, a girl, a mother - which are close and understandable to any Russian person. Therefore, it is not surprising that the simple and unpretentious poem “Birch,” in which Yesenin’s talent is not yet fully manifested, evokes a wide variety of feelings, from admiration to slight sadness and melancholy. After all, each reader has his own image of a birch, and it is to this that he “tryes on” the lines of this poem, exciting and light, like silvery snowflakes.
However, the author’s memories of his native village cause melancholy, since he understands that he will not return to Konstantinovo soon. Therefore, the poem “Birch” can rightfully be considered a kind of farewell not only to his home, but also to childhood, not particularly joyful and happy, but, nevertheless, being one of the poet’s best periods his life.
