Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin is a famous Russian writer and historian, famous for his reforms of the Russian language. He created the multi-volume "History of the Russian State" and wrote the story " Poor Lisa". Nikolai Karamzin was born near Simbirsk on December 12, 1766. The father was retired at the time. The man belonged to a noble family, which, in turn, came from the ancient Tatar dynasty of Kara-Murza.
Nikolai Mikhailovich began to study in a private boarding school, but in 1778 his parents sent the boy to the boarding school of Moscow University professor I.M. Shaden. Karamzin had a desire to learn and develop, so for almost 2 years Nikolai Mikhailovich attended the lectures of I.G. Schwartz in an educational institution in Moscow. Father wanted Karamzin Jr. to follow in his footsteps. The writer agreed with the parental will and entered the service in the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment.
Nikolay was not a military man for long, he soon resigned, but he learned something positive from this period of his life - the first literary works. After his resignation, he chooses a new place of residence - Simbirsk. Karamzin at this time becomes a member of the Golden Crown Masonic Lodge. Nikolai Mikhailovich did not stay long in Simbirsk - he returned to Moscow. For four years he was a member of the Friendly Scientific Society.
Literature
At the dawn of his literary career, Nikolai Karamzin went to Europe. The writer met with, looked at the Great French Revolution. The result of the trip was "Letters from a Russian Traveler". This book brought fame to Karamzin. Such works had not yet been written before Nikolai Mikhailovich, therefore philosophers consider the creator to be the founder of modern Russian literature.
Returning to Moscow, Karamzin begins an active creative life. He not only writes stories and short stories, but also manages the Moscow Journal. The publication published works by young and famous authors, including Nikolai Mikhailovich himself. During this period of time, “My trifles”, “Aglaya”, “Pantheon of foreign literature” and “Aonides” came out from under the pen of Karamzin.
Prose and poetry alternated with reviews, analyzes of theatrical productions and critical articles that could be read in the Moscow Journal. The first review, created by Karamzin, appeared in the publication in 1792. The writer shared his impressions of the ironic poem Virgil's Aeneid, Turned Inside Out, written by Nikolai Osipov. During this period, the creator writes the story "Natalia, the boyar's daughter."
Karamzin achieved success in poetic art. The poet used European sentimentalism, which did not fit into the traditional poetry of that time. No odes or, with Nikolai Mikhailovich, a new stage in the development of the poetic world in Russia began.
Karamzin praised spiritual world person, ignoring the physical shell. "Language of the heart" was used by the creator. Logical and simple forms, meager rhymes and the almost complete absence of paths - that's what the poetry of Nikolai Mikhailovich was.
In 1803, Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin became officially a historian. The corresponding decree was signed by the emperor. The writer became the first and last historiographer of the country. Nikolai Mikhailovich devoted the second half of his life to the study of history. Karamzin was not interested in government posts.
First historical work Nikolai Mikhailovich became "Note on ancient and new Russia in its political and civil relations." Karamzin presented the conservative strata of society, expressed their opinion on the emperor's liberal reforms. The writer tried to prove with creativity that Russia does not need transformations. This work is a sketch for a large-scale work.
Only in 1818 did Karamzin publish his main work, The History of the Russian State. It consisted of 8 volumes. Later, Nikolai Mikhailovich released 3 more books. This work helped bring Karamzin closer to the imperial court, including the tsar.
From now on, the historian lives in Tsarskoe Selo, where the sovereign gave him a separate apartment. Gradually, Nikolai Mikhailovich went over to the side of the absolute monarchy. The last, 12th volume of the "History of the Russian State" was never completed. In this form, the book was published after the death of the writer. Karamzin was not the founder of descriptions of the history of Russia. According to researchers, Nikolai Mikhailovich was the first to be able to reliably describe the life of the country.
“Everyone, even secular women, rushed to read the history of their fatherland, hitherto unknown to them. She was a new discovery for them. Ancient Russia seemed to be found by Karamzin, like America - ", - said.
The popularity of history books is due to the fact that Karamzin acted more as a writer than a historian. He respected the beauty of the language, but did not offer readers personal assessments of the events that happened. In special manuscripts for volumes, Nikolai Mikhailovich made explanations and left comments.
Karamzin is known in Russia as a writer, poet, historian and critic, but little information remains about Nikolai Mikhailovich's translation activities. In this direction, he worked for a short time.
Among the works is a translation of the original tragedy "", written. This book, translated into Russian, was not censored, so it was sent to be burned. Karamzin attached prefaces to each work, in which he assessed the work. For two years, Nikolai Mikhailovich worked on the translation of the Indian drama "Sakuntala" by Kalidas.
Russian literary language changed under the influence of Karamzin's work. The writer deliberately ignored the Church Slavonic vocabulary and grammar, giving the works a touch of vitality. Nikolai Mikhailovich took the syntax and grammar of the French language as a basis.
Thanks to Karamzin, Russian literature was replenished with new words, including “attraction”, “charity”, “industry”, “love”. There was also a place for barbarism. For the first time, Nikolai Mikhailovich introduced the letter "ё" into the language.
Karamzin as a reformer caused a lot of controversy in the literary environment. A.S. Shishkov and Derzhavin created the Conversation of Russian Word Lovers community, whose members tried to preserve the "old" language. Members of the community loved to criticize Nikolai Mikhailovich and other innovators. The rivalry between Karamzin and Shishkov ended in a rapprochement between the two writers. It was Shishkov who contributed to the election of Nikolai Mikhailovich as a member of the Russian and Imperial Academy of Sciences.
Personal life
In 1801, Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin was legally married for the first time. The wife of the writer was Elizaveta Ivanovna Protasova. The young woman was a longtime lover of the historian. According to Karamzin, he loved Elizabeth for 13 years. The wife of Nikolai Mikhailovich was known as an educated citizen.
She helped her husband when needed. The only thing that worried Elizaveta Ivanovna was her health. In March 1802, Sofia Nikolaevna Karamzina was born, the daughter of a writer. Protasova suffered from postpartum fever, which turned out to be fatal. According to researchers, the work "Poor Lisa" was dedicated to the first wife of Nikolai Mikhailovich. Daughter Sophia served as a maid of honor, was friends with Pushkin and.
Being a widower, Karamzin met Ekaterina Andreevna Kolyvanova. The girl was considered the illegitimate daughter of Prince Vyazemsky. In this marriage, 9 children were born. At a young age, three descendants died, including two daughters of Natalia and son Andrei. At the age of 16, the heir Nikolai died. In 1806, a replenishment happened in the Karamzin family - Catherine was born. At 22, the girl married a retired lieutenant colonel, Prince Peter Meshchersky. The son of the spouses Vladimir became a publicist.
Andrey was born in 1814. The young man studied at Dorpat University, but then went abroad due to health problems. Andrei Nikolaevich resigned. He married Aurora Karlovna Demidova, but no children appeared in the marriage. However, Karamzin's son had illegitimate heirs.
After 5 years, replenishment happened again in the Karamzin family. Son Vladimir became the pride of his father. A witty, resourceful careerist - this is how the heir Nikolai Mikhailovich was described. He was witty, resourceful, reached serious heights in his career. Vladimir worked in consultation with the Minister of Justice, a senator. Owned the estate of Ivnya. Alexandra Ilyinichna Duka, the daughter of a famous general, became his wife.
The maid of honor was the daughter of Elizabeth. The woman even received a pension for being related to Karamzin. After her mother died, Elizabeth moved in with her older sister Sophia, who at that time lived in the house of Princess Catherine Meshcherskaya.
The fate of the maid of honor was not easy, but the girl was known as a good-natured and sympathetic, intelligent person. Even considered Elizabeth "an example of selflessness." In those years, photos were rare, so portraits of family members were painted by special artists.
Death
The news of the death of Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin spread around Russia on May 22, 1826. The tragedy occurred in St. Petersburg. The official biography of the writer says that the cause of death was a cold.
The historian fell ill after visiting Senate Square on December 14, 1825. The funeral of Nikolai Karamzin took place at the Tikhvin cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
Bibliography
- 1791-1792 - "Letters from a Russian Traveler"
- 1792 - "Poor Lisa"
- 1792 - "Natalia, the boyar's daughter"
- 1792 - "The Beautiful Princess and the Happy Karla"
- 1793 - "Sierra Morena"
- 1793 - "Bornholm Island"
- 1796 - "Julia"
- 1802 - "Martha the Posadnitsa, or the Conquest of Novgorod"
- 1802 - "My confession"
- 1803 - "Sensitive and cold"
- 1803 - "Knight of our time"
- 1816-1829 - "History of the Russian State"
- 1826 - "On Friendship"
- Lisa-poor peasant girl, madly in love with Erast. This is a very kind, pure and naive nature.
- Erast- A young man of noble origin. Attractive, has a kind, but weak-willed disposition.
Other heroes
- Lisa's mom- a peasant woman, loves her daughter very much and dreams of giving her in marriage profitably.
- Narrator- a sentimental person, receptive to everything touching and beautiful, worries about the characters.
The reader's acquaintance with Liza and her mother
The whole story is told from the point of view of the narrator, who says that he has one favorite place. This is a mountain, not far from which the Simonov Monastery is located. The narrator often visits this place, not only because of the beautiful view of Moscow, but also because of his reflections on the story of poor Lisa.
Not far from the monastery there is a ruined shack in which this poor girl lived with her mother 30 years ago. When her father died, she and her mother began to live in poverty. The widow was inconsolable and, because of her grief, could no longer work. Lisa, who was still a very young girl (she was 15 years old when her father died), spared no effort, worked to feed herself and her mother. In addition to an amazingly kind and sublime heart, she was also a beautiful girl.
Lisa's acquaintance with Erast
The girl collected lilies of the valley and went to sell them in Moscow. One day, a handsome young man approached her and she asked him to buy flowers. He, fascinated by the beauty of Lisa, wanted to give a larger amount than the stranger wanted. However, she refused to take the extra money. The nobleman was not taken aback and asked her permission to become her only buyer. He asked where her house was, and Lisa explained to him.
The next day, a beautiful girl was waiting for him, but he never came. But when Lisa was engaged in yarn and thought about him, she saw that Erast was standing by her modest house and talking to her mother. When the young man left, the woman shared with her daughter her impression of her acquaintance. For the poor woman, he was exactly the one for whom she dreams of marrying Lisa. Her daughter objected to her that this was impossible, because they belonged to different classes.
Boating and declaration of love
Erast, despite the fact that he had a good heart and was smart, was windy and fickle by nature, he only wanted entertainment from life. But the simplicity and purity of Liza conquered him so much that he had no doubt that he had met that one.
Liza, who had been sleeping in an uneasy sleep, got up before the sun had risen and went to the banks of the Moskva River. And suddenly I noticed Erast, who was sailing on a boat. Seeing his beloved, he ran to her, took her hands, kissed her and confessed his love. Lisa was happy and said that she loved him too.
After the confession, they began to see each other daily. During their meetings, which were pure and innocent, they kissed and talked about love. Erast fell in love with Lisa more and more every day, all the former secular entertainment lost all meaning for him. The young man was sure that he would never act badly towards this charming girl.
A turning point in the relationship between Lisa and Erast
During one of their meetings, the girl came in upset feelings. The son of a wealthy peasant wanted to marry Lisa, and the mother was very happy about this, because she did not even guess that her daughter was in love. Erast promised her that they would never part. After his words, Lisa, in a fit of feelings, threw herself into his arms, and they became close.
But after this meeting, their relationship changed. Those special exalted relationships that delighted the young man were replaced by feelings that were familiar to him. Lisa continued to love him more and more. Her lover began to come to her less often, and then completely disappeared for several days. When Erast came to the meeting, he told her that this was their last meeting, because his regiment was going to war. On the day of parting, young people cried.
An unexpected meeting between Lisa and Erast and the consequences of this meeting
Two months have passed since the girl's lover went to war. Lisa missed him greatly. When she was in Moscow, she suddenly notices Erast in the carriage. Waiting for him to come out, she ran up to him and hugged him. But the young man was cold and told Liza that he was engaged. Yes, he continues to love her, but the circumstances are such that he needs to get married. But Erast wishes her only happiness, so he asks to give her 100 rubles and leaves.
The young man really was in the war, only he did not fight bravely, but lost all his fortune behind a card game. And in order to improve his financial situation, he decided to marry a rich widow who had long been in love with him.
After meeting with Erast, Lisa did not understand what to do next. Waking up, she realized that she had come to the very place on the shore where they had seen Erast. Remembering all the happy times they spent together. Seeing a neighbor girl nearby, she asked to give 100 rubles to her mother and convey her apologies. And Liza herself threw herself into the pond and drowned. The mother could not survive the loss of her daughter and died. Erast, having learned about the death of Lisa, decided that it was his fault, he did not become happy. Shortly before his death, Erast met the narrator and told him the story of poor Lisa.
Tes on the story Poor Lisa
N. M. Karamzin is a well-known Russian prose writer, journalist and historical figure. Nikolai Mikhailovich was born in the Kazan province in 1766. At first, the writer was homeschooled, after that he went to study at the Moscow Boarding School. At this time, Karamzin was fond of literature, and in particular Shakespeare. Also, the novice prose writer spoke several ancient and new languages.
In 1789 Karamzin's journey abroad began. He went to Europe, where the development of his creative way. Here Karamzin wrote the work Letters of a Russian Traveler. The text was not a biography, his letters were a literary text, the purpose was to describe the discoveries made by Karamzin during his travels.
After returning to his homeland, Nikolai Mikhailovich publishes his work “Poor Liza”, it was it that brought him recognition and fame. His creation was permeated real life, not an elevated syllable. This work contributed to the development of such a direction in literature as sentimentalism. Karamzin wanted to acquaint the ordinary reader with culture and make him a literate person. In the 1790s, Nikolai Mikhailovich began to reform the language. The main goal was to bring the literary language closer to the spoken language.
In 1803, Karamzin officially decided to engage in historical activities. He proposes his candidacy for the role of a historiographer. In 1818, the "History of the Russian State" appeared, this book would later be published in several languages at once. This huge work opens a new stage in the writer's work. Journalism is now receding into the background and historical activity comes to the fore. "History of the Russian State" is a new discovery of Russia. Karamzin wrote his work for a wide educated audience. Work on the history of Russia connected the writer and Tsar Alexander the First. Thanks to this, Nikolai Mikhailovich comes to Tsarskoye Selo to be close to the court. Closer to his death, Karamzin became a supporter of the monarchy. The writer died of a severe cold in 1826 in St. Petersburg.
Karamzin had a huge impact on journalism, reform and educational activities, history, literature and Russian culture in general. In journalism, he put forward examples of political publications, which would later become traditional. In his reform activities, Karamzin combined the literary and colloquial word. In educational activities, it was Nikolai Mikhailovich who introduced the book into home education. As a historical figure, Karamzin wrote a work that to this day remains the subject of numerous disputes and discussions. As a writer, Nikolai Mikhailovich showed by his own example that a real writer must be incorruptible and independent in his judgments.
The narrator tells about the surroundings of the Si...nova monastery, beautiful at any time of the year. He observes and represents the monks living in cells, historical events associated with the monastery.
Here she lived with her old mother in a now collapsed hut not far from the monastery of Liza. The house stood near a birch grove in a meadow 30 years ago. Her father was wealthy, sober and hardworking. When he died, Lisa was 15 years old. After his death, the land was leased out, the mother grew weaker, yearning for her beloved husband. Lisa wove linen, knitted stockings, picked flowers and berries and sold them in Moscow. Her mother dreamed of marrying off her daughter in order to die peacefully.
One spring, seventeen-year-old Liza went to sell lilies of the valley. The young man wanted to pay a whole ruble for them, but Lisa did not take the ruble, because the flowers cost 5 kopecks. The young man said that he would like her to pick flowers just for him. He asked Liza for her address.
Lisa told everything to her mother, who praised the girl for not taking extra money.
The next day, Liza picked lilies of the valley. Until the evening she waited, and then threw the flowers into the Moscow River, not wanting to sell them to others.
The next day in the evening Liza was spinning by the window and singing. Suddenly she recoiled from the window, seeing the same young man. A young man who called himself Erast suggested that his mother buy Liza's products right at their house so that Liza would not go to the city. Mother was very glad, because she was always worried when Liza left. She wishes her daughter the same groom. Lisa is embarrassed.
Erast was a rich nobleman, smart and kind, but weak and windy. He became disillusioned with secular amusements and looked for the naturalness described in idylls. Seeing Lisa, he thought that he had found his ideal.
Lisa did not sleep well that night and even before dawn she came to the river bank. Nature gradually came to life, the shepherd drove his flock. Liza dreamed of what would happen if Erast was a peasant, a shepherd. Suddenly Erast came to her on a boat. He took her hand, kissed her and said he loved her. Lisa also confessed her love. For two hours they sat on the grass, looking into each other's eyes. Erast promised to love Liza always. He asked not to say anything to his mother, so that she would not think evil. Lisa reluctantly agreed.
Lisa and Erast saw each other every evening when Lisa's mother went to bed. Their embrace was chaste. Erast decided to retire from secular amusements for a passionate friendship with a shepherdess (as he called Liza). He would like to love her all his life like a brother. But did he know his heart?
Erast, at the request of Liza, often visited her mother and liked to listen to the old woman's stories about her tender relationship with her husband Ivan.
A few weeks later, Lisa came on a date unhappy. A wealthy groom from a neighboring village wooed her. Mother is upset by Liza's refusal. She does not know about the love of her daughter and Erast. Erast promises, after the death of his mother, to take Lisa to him and live with her in a village in the forest, because Liza's peasant origin is not important to him, but her soul is important. Lisa threw herself into his arms and lost her innocence.
A thunderstorm began, Lisa was afraid of God's punishment. Erast took her home, promising to love her as before.
On the next dates, Erast was already not enough manifestations of platonic love. He could not wish for anything more and could not be proud of his feelings. Lisa lived only for Erast, and he was no longer ready to see her every evening.
Once Erast did not come for 5 days, and then said that he was going to war with his regiment. He asks the girl not to cry and take care of herself.
The young man leaves money to Lisa's mother so that Lisa will not sell her work to anyone else in his absence. The old woman wishes the good master a speedy return and dreams of inviting him to her daughter's wedding and making her grandchildren godfather.
Saying goodbye at dawn, Lisa and Erast wept. When Erast left, Lisa lost her senses. Only the thought of her mother prompted her to return home. The girl hid her sadness from her mother.
Two months later, Lisa went to Moscow to get rose water for her mother. She saw Erast, who was getting out of a magnificent carriage. Lisa rushed to him. Erast took her by the hand, brought her to his office and said that circumstances had changed, he was engaged and asked Lisa to leave him alone. Erast said that he loved Liza and gave her 100 rubles, asking the servant to escort her out of the yard.
Erast was indeed in the army, lost his fortune in cards and, upon his return, was going to marry an elderly rich widow who had long been in love with him in order to improve his affairs. The author cannot justify Erast.
Liza, being on the street, thought that Erast loved another. She fainted in confusion. When the girl approached the pond where she met with Erast, she saw the fifteen-year-old daughter of her neighbor Anyuta. Lisa gave her 10 imperials and asked her to take them to her mother and confess for Lisa in front of her, because she hid her love for the cruel man who cheated on her. Then Liza threw herself into the lake. Anyuta called people from the village who pulled Liza out, but she was already dead.
In the outskirts of Moscow, not far from the Simonov Monastery, once a young girl Liza lived with her old mother. After the death of Lisa's father, a rather prosperous peasant, his wife and daughter became impoverished. The widow grew weaker day by day and could not work. Only Lisa, not sparing her tender youth and rare beauty, worked day and night - weaving canvases, knitting stockings, picking flowers in the spring, and selling berries in the summer in Moscow.
One spring, two years after her father's death, Liza came to Moscow with lilies of the valley. A young, well-dressed man met her on the street. Upon learning that she was selling flowers, he offered her a ruble instead of five kopecks, saying that "beautiful lilies of the valley plucked by the hands of a beautiful girl are worth a ruble." But Lisa refused the offered amount. He did not insist, but said that he would always buy flowers from her in the future and would like her to pick them only for him.
Arriving home, Liza told her mother everything, and the next day she picked the best lilies of the valley and again came to the city, but this time she did not meet the young man. Throwing flowers into the river, she returned home with sadness in her soul. The next evening, the stranger himself came to her house. As soon as she saw him, Liza rushed to her mother and excitedly announced who was coming to them. The old woman met the guest, and he seemed to her a very kind and pleasant person. Erast - that was the name of the young man - confirmed that he was going to buy flowers from Lisa in the future, and she did not have to go to the city: he himself could call on them.
Erast was a rather wealthy nobleman, with a fair mind and a naturally kind heart, but weak and windy. He led a distracted life, thinking only about his pleasure, looking for it in secular amusements, and not finding it, he was bored and complained about his fate. The immaculate beauty of Liza at the first meeting shocked him: it seemed to him that in her he found exactly what he had been looking for for a long time.
This was the start of their long relationship. Every evening they saw each other either on the river bank, or in a birch grove, or under the shade of century-old oaks. They embraced, but their embrace was pure and innocent.
So several weeks passed. It seemed that nothing could interfere with their happiness. But one evening Lisa came to the meeting sad. It turned out that the groom, the son of a rich peasant, was wooing her, and the mother wanted her to marry him. Erast, consoling Lisa, said that after the death of his mother, he would take her to him and would live with her inseparably. But Liza reminded the young man that he could never be her husband: she is a peasant woman, and he is of a noble family. You offend me, Erast said, for your friend, your soul is most important, sensitive, innocent soul, you will always be closest to my heart. Liza threw herself into his arms - and in this hour, purity was to perish.
The delusion passed in one minute, giving way to surprise and fear. Liza cried, saying goodbye to Erast.
Their dates continued, but how everything had changed! Liza was no longer an angel of purity for Erast; platonic love gave way to feelings that he could not be "proud of" and which were not new to him. Liza noticed a change in him, and it saddened her.
Once, during a date, Erast told Lisa that he was being drafted into the army; they will have to part for a while, but he promises to love her and hopes to never part with her upon his return. It is not difficult to imagine how hard Liza felt the separation from her beloved. However, hope did not leave her, and every morning she woke up with the thought of Erast and their happiness upon his return.
So it took about two months. Once Lisa went to Moscow and on one of the big streets she saw Erast passing by in a magnificent carriage, which stopped near a huge house. Erast went out and was about to go to the porch, when he suddenly felt himself in Liza's arms. He turned pale, then, without saying a word, led her into the study and locked the door. Circumstances have changed, he announced to the girl, he is engaged.
Before Lisa could come to her senses, he led her out of the study and told the servant to escort her out of the yard.
Finding herself on the street, Liza went aimlessly, unable to believe what she heard. She left the city and wandered for a long time, until suddenly she found herself on the shore of a deep pond, under the shade of ancient oaks, which, a few weeks before, had been silent witnesses of her delights. This memory shocked Lisa, but after a few minutes she fell into deep thought. Seeing a neighbor girl walking along the road, she called her, took all the money out of her pocket and gave it to her, asking her to give it to her mother, kiss her and ask her to forgive the poor daughter. Then she threw herself into the water, and they could not save her.
Liza's mother, having learned about the terrible death of her daughter, could not stand the blow and died on the spot. Erast was unhappy until the end of his life. He did not deceive Lisa when he told her that he was going to the army, but instead of fighting the enemy, he played cards and lost all his fortune. He had to marry an elderly rich widow who had been in love with him for a long time. Upon learning of Liza's fate, he could not console himself and considered himself a murderer. Now, perhaps, they have already reconciled.
