#kheraskov

[coastofsunypurchase-blog]

Shevyrev: That upstart Belinsky, picked out of the gutter by the editor Nadezdhin- using the Telescope to hold up to ridicule our best, our finest. Listen to this- “...that despite the fact that our Kherakov has made himself the equal of Homer and Virgil...”

[ruslit]

Kheraskov: 1771-1779: he wrote his epic 'Rossiad'

Based in Moscow, associates with Sumarokov, but is not as archaic or high

Best known for his three epics – they are masterpieces and not anything like Trediakovsky

It was a very interesting story:

Queen Sumbeka, queen of Kazan, calls to kill all Russians

Ivan has a vision! He calls a Duma, goes to war

Lot of spiritual consultation in Kazan; she should marry Alel, a Tatar loyal to Russia to avoid a catastrophe

Look at all this! It’s more than just a battle, it’s looking a lot more like a novel than an epic now!

Classical in its paradigms, but Christianized: the Christian/Muslim “spirits” play the role of the ancient gods

Alexandrines (6 foot iambs in rhymed couplets) – that’s a pretty heavy constraint and not necessary for epics

He brings in all kind of Enlightenment ideas when describing the court – it is obviously not a classical epic, but one set in Russia (and seemingly influenced by 18th century thought)

He has found a sweet spot that is definitely high style, but not illegible like Trediakovsky

He had a big decision as to picking a topic – he could have done Peter, but he reaches back, before Peter, to the time when other would have disparaged as the dark times

This is the only big, full, serious epic to come out of the 18th century

[ruslit]

Horatian Odes: Kheraskov was the master – Благополучие ('Prosperity'): not high style

Lomonosov translated the original 'exegi monumentum', gets pretty close to the original from Latin

A philosophical, moral reflection, it doesn’t have to be about yourself

More intellectual discourse than high styles: not as elevated as Torzhestvenny or Spiritual odes

“gentle” moral like in Blagopoluchie

[ruslit]

Kheraskov's second novel, Cadmus and Harmony (1786), is an adventure novel set in mythical Thebes, and his third, Polydorus, Son of Cadmus and Harmony (1794) is its sequel, an allegorical denunciation of the French Revolution and its godless leaders.

Kheraskov's novelistic style is ornate and intricate. Exceedingly "literary", it lacks a natural storyteller's unselfconscious grace.

[ruslit]

Kheraskov's first novel, Numa, or Flourishing Rome (1768), a conte philosophique, creates a utopian ream of an enlightened monarchy under Numa Pompilius, mythical king of Rome.

[ruslit]

Kheraskov wrote nine tragedies and five plays in the style of the 'come die larmoyante'.

His tragedies follow the classicist canon, but his plots are livelier and more believable than Sumarokov's, and his dialogue more natural. He also followed the trend toward greater national awareness, which is seen in his late tragedy "Moscow Liberated" (1798).

[ruslit]

Once theatre had become an institution supported by the court, more playwrights emerged, producing plays in the manner of the European theatre in vogue at the time.

As early as 1758 Kheraskov produced a three-act tragedy, The Nun of Venice, which was a departure from the classicist canon in that its characters were not royal personages, the action could be perceived as contemporary, and the plot had possible political implication. 

But mainly it was aimed at moving the audience to tears.

[ruslit]

Kheraskov continued the tradition, started by Trediakovsky, of the philosophical epic. His Vladimir (1785), The Oecumene (1790), and The Pilgrims (1795) .