Divination at Epiphany and the poem "Svetlana

The poem "Svetlana" was first published in the journal "Bulletin of Europe", in 1813. subtitled "Al. An. Pr ... howl. She was a wedding gift from A. A. Protasova, who was the sister of the poet's beloved girl, Masha Protasova.

The ballad tells a story about a fortune-telling girl who sees a terrible dream in front of a mirror, but this is only a dream, but in reality happiness, a meeting with a loved one, a wedding - the ringing of bells ... And the wishes of the author of the ballad, kind and sincere, coming from the bottom of the heart. What can be better said and wished to the girl before the wedding, of course, happiness, which she dreamed of more than once.

Be, the creator, cover her!
No sadness wound
Not a moment of sadness shadow
Don't touch her...

Be her whole life bright,
Be cheerful as it was
Days her friend.

The poetic Svetlana immediately became so understandable and close to everyone that she began to live her own life, guessed by the poet - the life of a charming girlish image created by the folk character. Svetlana, wondering about her betrothed, is the image of a girl who expects and hopes for happiness.

An unusual name for that time - Svetlana, V.A. Zhukovsky borrowed from Vostokov's romance, but in real life this name did not yet exist (it appeared later, after the revolution). Svetlana is a name that personifies light, and is close enough to the word - "Christmas".

Turning to the theme of Epiphany divination, Zhukovsky made a truly Russian ballad. Lines from it became epigraphs, she entered the "Educational book on Russian literature". The ballad formed a certain model of celebrating Christmas time even among the noble society. We can say that "Svetlana" has become the most valuable literary find of Zhukovsky.

Karl Bryullov arrived in Moscow on the eve of Christmas. Christmas divination in Russia were widespread. And perhaps, having seen such an everyday fortune-telling scene that V.A. Zhukovsky revived with his poetic feeling, he doubly wanted to perpetuate a young Russian girl, fortune-telling in front of a mirror.

It is in the mirror image that we see a girl with a slightly frightened look, in which hope for happiness shines. She attracts with her purity and spontaneity.

"Svetlana" caused a lively response in Moscow. Let it depict a girl, most likely of peasant origin, but her image found a lively response in every Russian soul. Svetlana Bryullova is a touch of tenderness and simplicity, spontaneity and truthfulness.

In the ballad V.A. Zhukovsky and the picture of K. Bryullov in the image of a Russian girl, the unfading light of the fatherland that shines in every Russian.

Creating a picture inspired by a poem by V. A. Zhukovsky, Bryullov depicted Svetlana in a Russian folk costume, sitting in front of a mirror. At night, a dim candle burns a little, a young girl in a kokoshnik and a sundress sits by the mirror.

Here in the room the table is set
white veil;
And on that table is
Mirror with candle...

Here is one beauty;
He sits down by the mirror;
With secret timidity she
Looks in the mirror;
Dark in the mirror; around
Dead silence;
Candle with tremulous fire
A little glow...

With hope, Svetlana peers into the mysterious depths, because she too has heard terrible stories about Christmas divination many times ...

Shyness in her excites the chest,
She's scared to look back
Fear blurs the eyes...

... Weak candle smoldering,
That will shed a trembling light,
It will fade again...
All in deep, dead sleep,
Terrible silence...

In Zhukovsky's ballad, a girl falls asleep in front of a mirror and sees a terrible dream, which, as it seems to her, portends a bitter fate.

"Ah! terrible, terrible dream!
He does not speak well -
bitter fate;

But in the morning, waking up, everything turns out differently - she meets her betrothed on the threshold, ...

What is your dream, Svetlana,
Torment prophet?
A friend is with you; he is still the same...

... The same love in his eyes,
Those are pleasant looks;
Those on sweet lips
Sweet conversations.
Open well, God's temple;
You fly to heaven
Faithful vows...

And as if for the edification of young girls, V.A. Zhukovsky says that dreams are only dreams, moreover, for the most part, dreams are false, like fortune-telling that cannot predict the truth, but you need to believe in God, who is the creator and cover, and misfortune will seem like a terrible dream.

ABOUT! do not know these terrible dreams
You, my Svetlana...
Be, the creator, cover her!
No sadness wound
Not a moment of sadness shadow
Don't touch her...

Here are my ballads:
"The best friend to us in this life
Faith in providence.
The blessing of the maker of the law:
Here misfortune is a false dream;
Happiness is an awakening."

Literary critics awarded V. A. Zhukovsky the title of singer Svetlana, and Karl Bryullov became the second singer.