M. Lermontov "Prophet": analysis of the poem. Analysis of the poem “Prophet” (M. Yu. Lermontov) Genre, direction and size
People have always been interested in the spiritual side of life. Since ancient times, the realization has come that everything cannot be so meaningless. It was precisely in search of the essence that humanity came, in part, to religion, philosophy and atheism. If the latter categories are more aimed at understanding the role of a person, then the first is at relationships with a higher principle.
How can one understand God if no one has seen him? That's what prophets are for. or intermediaries capable of hearing and conveying the will of the Lord to ordinary people.
Prophets in different religions
Soothsayer, interpreter, “speaker forward.” These synonyms show how people understood the term "prophet". This is the definition of the word, but not its deep meaning.
Similar people are known in all religions of the Near and In some faiths there was only one such person (Zoroastrianism - Zatarushtra), in others there were many. But it most accurately defines the problem
The Koran says that such people are sent to Earth to return humanity to monotheism.
Eliyahu (Elijah)
One of the most famous prophets of Israel, who lived in the ninth century BC. He was born and raised in the town of Thisva. Translated from Hebrew, his name means “my God.” In Russian, the name is read “Ilya” (Ilia).
As a champion of the true faith, Elijah opposed King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who decided to return the cult of Baal and Ashtoreth to Israel.
In the process of fighting the rulers, he showed several miracles. For example, the rains stopped for a while, and then, at his word, it began to rain. He caused hunger and brought down fire from heaven to earth. It is also believed that he was fed by birds and angels. For his merits, Elijah was taken alive into heaven. It is precisely this example of virtue and defense of the faith that illustrates what a “prophet” is.
He is revered not only in Christianity. In Judaism they believe that he should anoint the Messiah; in Islam, Elijah is known as Ilyas.
Even in Orthodoxy, he is famous for his fiery chariot, the only attribute that is repeated in all religions.
Joshua
If you thoroughly study the sources regarding the term “prophet”, the analysis will give unexpected results. Such people were not always peaceful, and often, judging by the Bible, very warlike.
Joshua, the son of Nab, originally called Hosea, received his name from Moses. They emerged from Egyptian slavery together, and soon he was already commanding a detachment of Jews.
Subsequently, Joshua becomes the direct successor of Moses and leads the expansion of the Israelites into the Holy Land.
First of all, with the help of angels, he levels Jericho to the ground. This city was famous for its impenetrable walls, but thanks to a certain ritual they turned to dust.
During his conquests, he wipes out the population of the captured cities.
He subjugated the entire land from Gaza to Gibeon to the people of Israel and called for them to worship only the Lord, and not different gods, as in Egypt.
Thus, we have understood a little about the concept of a prophet - who he is, what such figures did, judging by the Christian and Jewish traditions. Now let's see what Muslims think about this.
Types of prophets in Islam
This religion, in the texts of the sacred books and commentaries on them, pays special attention to the prophets. Twenty-eight of them are mentioned. According to the Koran, this category of people is distinguished by the presence of five qualities at the same time.
Firstly, they are always honest, even if something threatens their life.
The next feature is loyalty and commitment to the concepts of honor. That is, they will not let their followers down.
A prophet is a person who is wiser and more understanding than others and surpasses them in everything.
Fourth principle. They convey the words of Allah despite difficulties such as disbelief, aggression and others.
The last quality. These messengers are always sinless both in actions and in thoughts.
So, we figured out what a prophet is in Islam. Let's now see into what categories Muslim theologians divide them.
Firstly, this is “nabi”, which is actually a direct translation of the word “prophet” into Arabic. These people meet the five qualities listed above, but do not receive Allah's message for everyone. Only guidelines in terms of personal actions. They convey to people in subsequent generations what the “rasul” received.
Idris
According to scholars of the Holy Scriptures, he is identified with Enoch. He is a descendant of Adam and Eve's third son Seth. According to the Koran, he lived about 350 years, according to the Bible - 365.
It is believed that Idris passed on knowledge to people about the alphabet, astronomy, and taught how to make clothes. In addition, for his merits he was taken to heaven alive.
The hadith says that during his miraj, Muhammad met him in the fourth heaven. They say that he and Eliyahu will appear before the Second Coming.
Nuh
Probably the most famous prophet is Noah or Nuh in the Arabic tradition. Even the most notorious atheists are familiar with his name. Still, judging by the Holy Scriptures, it was he who built the ark and saved representatives of humanity, as well as a couple of each type of animal. That is, it turns out that we owe our existence to him. Let's see what Islam says about this.
Muslims consider Noah to be a messenger who received instructions directly from Allah and passed them on to people. Judging by the Koran, Nuh, at the age of fifty, goes to the “infidels” to guide them on the true path. But all his attempts were unsuccessful. Even his son turned away and joined the pagans.
Then the prophet asks Allah to send troubles on the offenders, in response, the rains stop falling over the fields of the infidels. But it did not help. Then Nuh prays for the destruction of all infidels. An angel comes to him with the news that his request has been heard. It is necessary to plant date pits and begin to build the ark. When these trees bear fruit, there will be a great flood. Only those on the ship will be saved.
About 80 people and many different birds and animals survived the disaster. Nuh is often called the “second Adam.” The modern races are believed to have descended from his sons.
Ibrahim
In the Middle East, the most revered prophet is Abraham, or Ibrahim. He is called the ancestor of the Jews and Arabs. From his son Ismail came the Arabs, and from Isaac the Israelis.
Ibrahim is recognized as Rasul and the first person who began to preach monotheism. The verses of the Koran say that he was disappointed in the representatives of his people who worshiped idols, and began to call on them to change their faith. They wanted to burn Abraham for damaging the temple, but the angels carried him and his relative Lut to Palestine.
Here Ibrahim builds the Kaaba, from a barren wife, thanks to prayers, he has a son. He undergoes a test of faith when Allah asks him to sacrifice his child.
In principle, Muslims consider this prophet to be a Hanif. This word means that he was respectable and faithful, but did not preach Islam, since this religion did not yet exist.
Yusuf
According to the Scriptures, this man had a very beautiful appearance and the gift of correctly interpreting dreams. For these virtues, his older brothers hated him and threw him into a well so that the caravan workers would find him and sell him into slavery.
The father, Yakub, was told that his youngest son had been torn to pieces by a wolf. But the prophet Yusuf was able not only to survive, but also to succeed significantly. At first he became the favorite of all the capital's Egyptian women, but because of his refusal to share a bed with the pharaoh's wife, he ended up in prison. They released him from there only after he correctly interpreted the dream for Pharaoh and saved the Egyptian people from hunger.
Subsequently, the prophet Yusuf becomes a government official, guardian of food and takes his relatives to him from hungry Palestine.
Muhammad
Without a doubt, the Prophet Muhammad is the most revered historical figure in all. He is considered a messenger, and after mentioning his name, devout Muslims always add “peace and blessings from Allah be upon him.” Judging by research data, this man lived only sixty-one years, but the legacy that has remained through the centuries still plays an important role.
Sharia (religious and which the prophet Muhammad brought to people, in Islam is considered the only true one. Arab scholars say that each messenger of God came to earth with a set of rules for his era, and so Mohammed was the last of a series of prophets. The next phenomenon will mean the beginning of the Day of Judgment .
Thus, in this article we figured out who the prophets are and got acquainted with some of them.
Good luck, dear readers!
The question of who a poet is has always been answered differently. Each era had its own idea of what role a writer of poetry plays in society. Lermontov's "Prophet" introduces us to romantic views on the author of verses.
Mikhail Yuryevich presented the poem “Prophet” to the public in 1841. By this time, the author had already written many works, and he could well imagine that there was a poet for the people.
It is noteworthy that this poem, full of deep emotions, was written shortly before the death of the writer. Here the author thinks about his life path and comprehends it. It is worth remembering that in 1841 Lermontov finally decided to retire and devote his life to serving literature. Such an intention could make the writer think about the role of the poet in the life of society.
Genre, direction and size
Lermontov focuses on the biblical story - the book of the prophet Jeremiah, therefore the poem is close to the genre of legend. Turning to a religious text is not accidental: in the era of romanticism, poetic abilities were considered as a gift from above - from God.
The motif of the prophet occupies one of the main places in Russian lyrics. It is no secret that Mikhail Yuryevich’s favorite poet was A.S. Pushkin. With his poem he continues the line begun by his idol. But the topic did not end with this “tandem”: Rozenheim, Nekrasov, Pleshcheev addressed it.
The versification also refers to the Pushkin model: the poetic meter is iambic tetrameter, and the rhyme is cross.
Composition
The poem is divided into stanzas, which is typical for late romanticism. There are seven of them in the work. The sixth and seventh quatrains loop the poems. They illustrate what is said in the first two - the evil words of people addressed to the poet. The central one is the fourth quatrain, which speaks of the harmony that the prophet found.
Thus, the composition is harmonious and mathematically verified: the climax speaks of balance, and the parts framing it tell the reader about conflict.
Images and symbols
The appearance of the image of the prophet in Lermontov's works is justified by the history of his family. According to legend, Mikhail Yuryevich’s ancestor, Thomas Learmont, who lived in Scotland in the 13th century, had the gift of clairvoyance and was famous for being a skilled sorcerer. In the 16th century, his descendant, Georg Lermont, ends up in Russia - this is how the Lermontov family begins.
A striking example of the image of a poet-prophet in Lermontov’s work is the lyrical hero of the youthful poem “Prediction,” where the author predicts the events of the revolution of the early twentieth century. “My Soul” is another work of this kind. Here Lermontov guesses his own fate: “I foreknew my lot, my end...”
The lyrical hero in “The Prophet” appears as a mature and integral personality. He does not complain about people or his fate, but rejoices in finding his refuge - the desert. It symbolizes the place where divine revelation descends. The image of the prophet created by Lermontov resembles a holy fool - a beggar wanderer who refused all earthly goods for the sake of serving Christ.
Themes and mood
- Loneliness. The poet-prophet is fully aware of his mission - to tell people the truth. But this is not always pleasant for the public. Therefore, he is forced to seek peace and solitude in the desert, where the stars listen to him. Without depriving himself of society, the hero cannot fully realize his abilities, therefore the prophet performs the feat of hermitage. When the author talks about exile, he is full of despair and compassion for people. The mood changes to joyful when talking about nature and the stars.
- Poet and poetry- main theme. Creativity is a gift from heaven. And you need to treat it with due responsibility. To endure misunderstanding, loneliness - to make many sacrifices so that the world knows the divine words.
- Poet and crowd. The people do not want to accept the poet, people resist the precepts of love and truth. Instead of heeding the words of the prophet, she drives him out. Likewise, truthful, sincere poems often found themselves under the yoke of criticism, and their authors in exile.
Idea
The main idea of the poem is to steadfastly and courageously follow your destiny. People are not pleased to know the truth about themselves, but still there must be someone who broadcasts it. And this is a poet-prophet. He is called to teach greedy and envious people to live in peace and harmony. The lyrical hero understands that it will not be easy, but he is ready for difficulties and hardships. After all, the “eternal judge” himself called him to this ministry.
The meaning of the poem was gained by the poet, because he himself was often forced to fight duels, defending his right to straightforwardness and honesty of judgment. One of these fights killed him.
Means of artistic expression
In the first stanza there is a metaphor: “In the eyes of people I read // Pages of malice and vice.”
The author emphasizes the hero’s intentions with the epithet “pure,” which speaks of the sincerity and selflessness of the prophet. This, by definition, is contrasted with the “proud” smile of an old man, who instills contempt in children for people like this poet. The lyrical hero paints his portrait through the gaze of a person from the crowd: “How gloomy, and thin, and pale he is!”
The poem contrasts the desert and the human world, and the guide between them is a prophet who knows the truth.
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"Prophet" Mikhail Lermontov
Since the eternal judge
He gave me the omniscience of a prophet,
I read in people's eyes
Pages of malice and vice.I began to proclaim love
And the truth is pure teachings:
All my neighbors are in me
They threw stones wildly.I sprinkled ashes on my head,
I fled the cities as a beggar,
And here I live in the desert,
Like birds, God's gift of food;Keeping the eternal covenant,
The earthly creature is submissive to me;
And the stars listen to me
Joyfully playing with rays.When through the noisy hail
I'm making my way in a hurry
That's what the elders tell their children
With a proud smile:“Look: here is an example for you!
He was proud and did not get along with us:
Fool, he wanted to assure us,
What God says through his lips!Look, children, at him:
How gloomy and thin and pale he is!
Look how naked and poor he is,
How everyone despises him!
Analysis of Lermontov's poem "The Prophet"
The date of creation of one of Lermontov’s last works coincides with the year of his death - 1841. In “The Prophet” the author continues the theme of the purpose of the creative gift set by Pushkin. The allusions to the master’s lines are obvious: a similar title, an abundance of Church Slavonic vocabulary, recognizable Christian motifs and images.
The initial intertextual connection with Pushkin's creation relieves Lermontov's lyrical character from the obligation to explain his past in detail: he experienced a similar transformation. Along with his extraordinary gift, the soothsayer also acquired a higher goal - to bring the word of divine truth to society. The relationship between the poet-seer and society becomes the theme of the passionate monologue of Lermontov's hero.
The noble missionary did not stir people's hearts. Having shown his unique gift to the world, the hero was faced with envy, “malice” and “vice”. The public not only remained deaf to speeches about “love and truth,” but showed “rabid” aggression in response to calls. Both unfamiliar listeners and “all our neighbors” turned away from the character. The situation of misunderstanding and rejection developed quite rapidly: two initial quatrains of a poetic text were enough to model it.
The theme of prophecy through suffering, depicted by Lermontov, has a specific Old Testament source, the book of the prophet Jeremiah. The Jewish predictor spent half a century calling his people to repentance and correction, and went through numerous trials: he was thrown into prison and threatened with death. The deafness of society resulted in dire consequences - the destruction of Jerusalem and the loss of freedom. Under the weight of trials and human misunderstanding, Jeremiah once dared to doubt God and give up his business. However, he overcame temporary weakness and walked the sorrowful path of the soothsayer to the end.
Lermontov's character lacks the stock of patience and perseverance inherent in the Old Testament image. Having lost hope of establishing relations with society, the prophet chooses the path of hermitage, becoming a “beggar”, living like the birds of the air. Leaving the city into the desert, he moves in a vector directly opposite to Pushkin’s “colleague,” who was heading from the place of transformation to the people.
Before fleeing, the prophet acts like the ancient Jew: he sprinkles ashes on his head. The custom, which is intended to remind a mortal of his sinful nature, was used in practice as a sign of grief, an irreparable loss. Having lost faith in human reason, the hero is completely separated from society. A well-known ritual is a visible sign of renunciation from society.
It turned out that even in the desert one can carry out a high mission. The “creature of the earth” and the stars become the grateful listeners of the beggar prophet. Significant details - the submission of animals and the joyful play of rays of light - serve as gratifying evidence of understanding between the seer and nature. The latter turns out to be closer to the divine principle than human society.
There is no hope that society will find the strength to improve in the future. The content of the three final quatrains is dedicated to this idea. The words of proud old men addressed to little listeners are full of insulting assessments of the seer. He is accused of pride, quarrelsomeness, and stupidity. The portrait of the hero uses uniform short adjectives with connotations of poverty and failure. The anaphors “look” and “how” enhance the negative emotional charge of direct speech.
Having rejected God's messenger, society doomed itself to a hopeless future, which is “either empty or dark.”
Continuing the classic theme, the poet solves it in a romantic way, concentrating on the confrontation of a lonely hero with the hostile world of people.
“Prophet” is a milestone poem that marks the final change in M.Yu.’s worldview. Lermontov. The change, reflected in the poet’s work since 1836 (in the poems “Poet”, “Dagger”, “Journalist, Reader and Writer”, “Don’t Trust Yourself”), crystallized in “The Prophet” - a short and bitter result of Mikhail Yuryevich’s thoughts about the fate of the herald of truth and the messenger of fate, the truth in the world.
It is worth noting that Lermontov’s position was influenced not so much by the poet’s personal reasons and lifestyle as by the state of society. After the Decembrists' speech on Senate Square, a period of reaction began in Russia; the screws were tightened, censorship became increasingly strict, and those who sought to tell the truth and criticize the existing system faced a sad fate. Some were tried and exiled, some were kept for years in the Peter and Paul Fortress awaiting reprisals, others were simply made outcasts in society. And society itself no longer wanted to listen to the rebels. The famous speeches of the People's Will and other harbingers of the revolution were still far away, and people who felt subtly and thought broadly, like Lermontov, found themselves virtually isolated. All this is reflected in the poet’s work.
The main theme of the poem
As in Pushkin’s poem of the same name, in Lermontov’s “Prophet” the theme of the relationship between the poet (with whom the prophet is related) and society is heard most clearly. But if Alexander Sergeevich’s prophet accepts his destiny and prepares to “burn with a verb,” then Lermontov acquaints readers with the consequences of this act. The prophet lives in isolation, surrounded by a wall of misunderstanding. He is an outcast, no one listens to his words, he is driven out from everywhere, and the only place where he can exist peacefully is a corner of the wild. But there is no one there to preach or prophesy.
Lermontov's prophet does not love people - he probably cannot, seeing too well how mired they are in vice and malice, how closed they are in their little lives, not wanting to hear a word of truth. Mikhail Yuryevich protests against this misunderstanding, still seeing the meaning in the prophetic accusatory speeches, but the bitterness of disappointment has already penetrated too deeply. There is no hope in The Prophet, not even a hint of a possible good outcome. Identifying himself with the main character of the work, Lermontov expresses uncertainty that the works of his life are needed by someone, that he will leave a memory of himself, and that his work will not sink into oblivion. The prophet is despised and ridiculed, the prophet is not needed - but he still exists because that is his purpose.
Structural analysis of the poem
The work is written in the genre of lyrical confession. To enhance the dramatic effect M.Yu. Lermontov uses bright, expressive vocabulary, does not shy away from loud accusations, speaks frankly about mental suffering - this is emphasized by the words “fool,” “malice,” the expressions “threw stones” and “I ran as a beggar.” In this way, the image of a persecuted, truly unhappy person is formed.
The meter of the work is iambic tetrameter, cross rhyme in all quatrains except the final one. There, a girdling is used, which adds a clear final accent to the composition of the work. Thanks to the active use of outdated vocabulary, the “Prophet” resembles religious texts and ancient tales. It seems that we are really listening to the confession of a messenger of truth, tired of life and disappointments, desperate to reach people.
“The Prophet” is a very mature work, created at the end of the life and work of M.Yu. Lermontov. It reflected the excitement and anxiety that worried the poet, his disappointment from being misunderstood by society, from the sad state of the country, from the inability to convey his thought to humanity.
