Divination in Epiphany and the poem "Svetlana"

The poem "Svetlana" was first published in the journal "Vestnik Evropy", in 1813. with the subtitle: “Al. An. Oh ... howl. " She was a wedding gift to A.A. Protasova, who was the sister of the poet's beloved girl, Mashenka Protasova.

The ballad tells the story of 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 her heart. What better to say and wish the girl before the wedding, of course, happiness, which she dreamed of more than once.

Be, creator, her cover!
No sorrow wound
Not a shadow of a moment of sadness
Let it not touch her ...

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

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 a folk character. Svetlana, wondering about her betrothed, is the image of a girl waiting and hoping 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 it is close enough to the word “Christmastide”.

Turning to the theme of Epiphany fortune-telling, Zhukovsky made the ballad truly Russian. Lines from it became epigraphs, it was included in the "Educational book on Russian literature." The ballad formed even among the noble society a certain model of the celebration of Christmastide. We can say that "Svetlana" became Zhukovsky's most valuable literary find.

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

It is in the mirror reflection that we see a girl with a slightly frightened gaze, in which the 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 K. Bryullov's painting in the image of a Russian girl, the unfading light of the fatherland, which shines in every Russian.

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

Here in the light room the table is set
White shroud;
And on that table stands
Mirror with a candle ...

Here is one beauty;
Sits down to the mirror;
With secret timidity she
Looks in the mirror;
It's dark in the mirror; around
Dead silence;
Candle with quivering fire
A little shine ...

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

The shyness in her excites the chest,
It's scary for her to look back,
Fear clouded the eyes ...

... Weakly the candle smolders,
It will shed a trembling light
Then it will be eclipsed again ...
Everything is in a deep, dead sleep,
A terrible silence ...

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

"Ah! A terrible, terrible dream!
He does not broadcast good -
Bitter fate;

But in the morning, waking up, everything turns out to be different - she meets her betrothed on the doorstep, ...

What is yours, Svetlana, dream,
A soothsayer of torment?
Friend with you; he is still the same ...

... The same love in his eyes,
Those are pleasant to the eyes;
Those on sweet lips
Lovely conversations.
Open up, 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, and, for the most part, dreams are false, like fortune-telling, which cannot predict the truth, but you need to believe in God, who is the creator and cover, and misfortune will seem only a terrible dream.

O! do not know these terrible dreams
You, my Svetlana ...
Be, creator, her cover!
No sorrow wound
Not a shadow of a moment of sadness
Let it not touch her ...

Here are my ballads:
"Our best friend in this life
Faith in Providence.
The law of the builder is good:
Here misfortune is a false dream;
Happiness is awakening. "

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