Analysis of Gumilev's poem "Captains", a summary

The article presents an analysis of Gumilyov's poem "Captains". You will learn the content of each of its four parts, as well as what images, ideas, artistic features are inherent in each of them.

Before we begin the analysis of Gumilev's poem "Captains", we note that this is one of the most significant creations of Nikolai Stepanovich. It fully reflects the nature of the poet. Nikolai Gumilev was a delicate romantic who dreamed of traveling. Unknown unknown spaces and related secrets have always attracted N. S. Gumilev. The analysis of the poem "Captains" would be logical to begin with the history of the creation of this cycle.

History of the cycle

The author managed to realize the dream of distant countries after the birth of this work. Nikolay Stepanovich (his portrait is presented above) has made a research trip. However, when the cycle was created, in 1909, he was still full of dreams. It should be assumed that another factor that prompted Nikolai Gumilev to create the "Captains" is that he was at that time in Koktebel, a seaside town located on the coast of the Crimea. In this city there lived another Russian poet, Maximilian Voloshin, to which Gumilev went on a visit.

There is a version according to which the work was created together with a whole group of poets, discussing each line. Nevertheless, according to the memoirs left by Alexei Tolstoy, Nikolai Gumilev locked himself in the room for several days in a row, working on the "Captains", and only then presented his poems to the court of friends. Apparently, the romantic mood, sea air, old dreams - all this inspired Gumilev to create the cycle that interests us.

Composition

In the cycle included four works Gumilev N. Analysis of the poem "Captains" allows you to note that they are bound by a common theme and the idea of freedom. Works are combined with images and romantic pathos. As the analysis of Gumilyov's poem "Captains" shows, each of them is a definite part of the whole, devoted to a particular topic. We will consistently characterize each of them.

The first poem of the cycle

In the cycle, the first poem includes only 4 stanzas. The author achieves a clear rhythm with the help of cross rhyme, incomplete (cane / bridge) and full (pearl / southern) rhythm. The size of this poem is an anapaest. The general idea is conveyed to the reader through a consistent composition. And it consists in the fact that brave captains are not afraid of adversities, because their life is devoted to sea adventures. The author creates with the help of characteristic vocabulary and epithets the collective image of these captains.

Collective image of the conquerors of the sea

The first work of the cycle of interest to us became the visiting card of such an author as NS Gumilev. The poem "Captain" is interesting because the imagination of Nikolai Stepanovich created a romantic image of conquerors of the sea. This is a picturesque, bright projection of author's ideas about the ideal of a person, his contemporary. Nicholas Stepanovich attracts a distant star, her invocatory flicker. He is attracted by the line of the retreating horizon. The lyrical hero seeks to escape from the everyday life of civilization and home comfort. A fresh, primordial world promises the joy of discovery, adventure and a drunken taste of victory.

Analysis of Gumilev's poem "Captains" (the first part) allows us to identify the following: the lyrical hero of the work came into the world not in order to be a dreamy contemplative. He longs to be a strong-willed participant in life that is going on before his eyes. Reality for him consists of moments of overcoming, struggle, pursuit, succeeding each other.

The background of the first poem

Gumilev is captured by the poetry of this volitional impulse. He does not even notice how the plural within a complex sentence ("lead captains") changes to a single ("who ... remembers ... or ... tears"). You can see that this poem has a common "marine" background. The author creates his conditional-romantic sweeping contrasts ("Malstrem - stranded", "basalt - pearl", "polar - southern"). "Refined" subject details are submitted close-up. This, for example, "shreds of foam" with a boot or "gold" with cuffs.

We can say that the "Captains" are built as a description in the poems of the picturesque canvas. A strong man, ascended over a crowd of extras and elements, is at the center of the composition. The sea background was created by the author using the standard techniques of marine painting ("wave crests", "shreds of foam", "hurricanes", "rocks").

The exterior of the captain

In the external appearance of the captain himself, however, there is more deliberate dandyism, accessories of theatricality than direct acceptance of this risky profession. For example, in it one can not find the slightest hint of the hardships of life, so urgent on the ship. As a picturesque ornament we even perceive Gumilyov's metonymy "salt of the sea", which is in line with "high boots", a fashionable "cane" and decorative "lace".

The second part of the cycle

The next, the second part of the cycle, also consists of 4 stanzas, which are united by one idea. Gumilev in this part of the work introduces us to specific personalities. He presents the readers of famous captains: pirates, travelers, pioneers. These are people who do not represent their lives without a ship and the sea. Nikolai Stepanovich also cites the names of specific historical figures.

As for the verse size, it is also an anapaest. There is a complete cross rhyme, as well as a consistent composition. The lyrical hero of the work compares himself with the great captains. He imagines what these people felt and hopes that one day he will also have the opportunity to experience something like this.

The third poem from the series "Captains"

Let's go on to describe the third part of the cycle, which Gumilev ("Captains") created. Analysis of the poem shows that it also consists of 4 stanzas, united by the author in a sequential composition. Gumilev in this part speaks of captains not just as naval wanderers. Despite the fact that they are devoted to the sea with all their heart, they sometimes pull on land, home.

The third poem is dedicated to the meeting with the motherland. The land gives seafarers what they were deprived of during the wanderings. It's a game of dice and cards, beer, women, attempts to find out the fate of a fortuneteller ... However, the "call of the dope" after a while is silent. Each seaman again remembers his real destiny. Again, the "captain's mouthpiece", calling for sailing, becomes more important to him. Thus, in the third poem the land is compared by the author with the sea. And on it you can find a lot of entertainment, but the soul of the captain still invariably asks at sea.

Final part

In the last, fourth part, tells about the legends that are among the sailors, Gumilev ("Captains"). The analysis of the poem completes the general analysis of the cycle presented in the article. The author tells about how legends and stories attract seamen and inspire feats. Like the previous ones, the final part consists of 4 stanzas. They are related to each other in meaning and are united by a complete cross rhyme.

Flying Dutchman

The final poem of the cycle of interest to us is devoted to sea riddles and legends. One of them is the story of the famous ghost ship Flying Dutchman. It is a symbol of death. He portends death to anyone who sees this ghost in the sea. The author does not give an answer to the question of where this ship came from. He does not explain what goals the Flying Dutchman pursues. Obviously only one thing - the legend of this ship is, perhaps, the most terrible for every seaman. However, this makes it even more attractive. Nikolai Stepanovich, however, still gives his own interpretation of this myth. He notes that the Flying Dutchman shows people the way to the edge of the world. He leads to the place where the "terrible road" of the "captain with the face of Cain" lay. This path is only one way. However, the one who dares to go to the end of it, learns the secrets of the universe. The price for this secret knowledge is life, as Nikolai Gumilev ("Captains") believes. An analysis of the poem reveals the author's conviction that in the life of each of these brave heroes there comes a time when he wants to meet the Flying Dutchman in the boundless sea spaces. Very effective final.

No wonder students are asked to analyze the poem "Captain" Gumilev according to plan. This work is very important for understanding the features of the poet's work. In addition, it in itself is very interesting, especially for young readers, many of whom, like the author, are attracted to distant countries and brave heroes.