Three Commentaries on Poems by Mandelstam. (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kruzhkov, Grigorii
• Is Part Of: Russian studies in literature. Volume 53:Number 1(2017)
• Page Start: 67
• Page End: 78
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Literature -- History and criticism -- Periodicals; Literature; Criticism, interpretation, etc; Periodicals; 891.7
• DOI: 10.1080/10611975.2017.1350061
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1061-1975

Abstract

Abstract : Grigorii Kruzhkov examined three of Mandelstam's poems. First, he identifies the various voices in "The Decembrist" (Dekabrist), arguing that this musical quality is an innovation in M's poetry. Reading "To Cassandra" (Kassandre), he argues that the order of the stanzas was changed to conceal its counter-revolutionary meaning, nevertheless apparent to the attentive reader who could perform the same reading. Third, in the poem "The Apartment" (Kvartira), he deciphers the significance of "Nekrasov's hammer, " suggesting that the poet identifies with the boy who is hurt when he jumps on a footboard full of nails rather than with Nekrasov, the earlier poet who condemned this practice, or the fine people riding in the new Soviet carriage of state.