"Once in a baptismal evening ...": what is the meaning of the ballad "Svetlana?

One of the most famous works of Russian romanticism is the ballad "Svetlana". Zhukovsky took the plot in the works of the German poet Gottfried August Burger, reworked it, giving Russian color and replacing the tragic ending of the original with a happy ending. A spooky plot about a dead bridegroom leading away a bride among the western romantics turns into a terrible dream in Svetlana.

Why did the author need to rewrite someone else's ballad? Why it was not enough just to make a translation? Why did Zhukovsky change the end? Answering these questions, we will understand the meaning of the ballad "Svetlana".

Translation from German into Russian

Surprisingly, from the German-romantic work turned out colorful Russian ballad "Svetlana". Zhukovsky had already translated this ballad, and her heroine was called Lyudmila. According to its meaning and content, it is much closer to the "Lenore" of Burger, the same mystical and eerie. It was a success for readers, but the author continued to work on the story, changing and supplementing it.

The content of the ballad "Svetlana" reminds of a good Russian fairy tale, where everything ends with the victory of good over evil. The author catches on the readers fear and horror, but in the end it all turns out to be just a dream, a nightmare that does not come true. Perhaps, it was to this that the poet strove, reworking the plot. A happy ending and the wishes of happiness to the heroine radiate kindness and light, this is what the world sees Zhukovsky.

What is the meaning of the ballad "Svetlana"?

If to answer this question in a nutshell, then the meaning is in the victory of love and faith over death and darkness.

Zhukovsky believed in good. His heroine is pure soul, he prays, referring to the "angel-comforter", sincerely believes in salvation, and it comes to her in the form of a white dove. So the author conveys to us his own life belief that devilish temptations can not destroy a sinless soul.

Ballad «Svetlana»: a short summary

The action takes place on Epiphany evening, when people's beliefs can help you to look into the future and learn about destiny by means of divination. The author describes the types of fortune-telling: the girls throw the "shoe" out of the gate, feed the grain to the chicken, sing the fortunetelling songs and spell out the condemned, looking at candlelight in the mirror at night. Svetlana is sad, because for a long time there is no news from her beloved, she dreams that he would soon return.

Tormented in anticipation, she decides to look into the mirror. Suddenly her fiancé appears, joyfully reporting that the heavens are tamed, the murmur is heard. He calls her to get married. Carrying after herself, she puts Svetlana in a sleigh, and they go through the snowy plain to a strange temple, where instead of the expected wedding, the burial service of the deceased goes.

The journey ends when the sleigh stops near a small hut. Suddenly, the groom and horse disappear.

Left alone in an unknown place, Svetlana, crossing herself, enters the house where the coffin stands. A creepy deceased, in which Svetlana recognizes her lover, stands up and stretches out her dead hands to her. A white dove comes to the rescue, miraculously protecting the heroine from a terrible dead man.

Svetlana wakes up at home. Everything that happens is just a bad dream. At the same hour, the long-awaited bridegroom, healthy and happy, returns.

This is the ballad "Svetlana". The summary ends with the heroes of the wedding.

The secret power of a name

Few people remember that the name Svetlana was invented by Vasily Zhukovsky especially for this ballad. It has become firmly established, has become widespread and has reached our days. There is a light in it, it sounds very kind. It is such a bright joy that fills the girl's quiet and pure soul, her love and faith will not fade and dissolve in nothing. The meaning of the ballad "Svetlana" is already in its very name.

And night alternates with daylight

The action of eerie romantic ballads usually takes place under the cover of the night - the darkest and most mysterious time of the day, covering various secrets with darkness. Zhukovsky ends the action with daylight, the ringing of a bell and the roar of a cock. Darkness and fear replaces the return of the beloved and the long-awaited wedding, a terrible dream is left behind. And here the author himself tells us what the meaning of the ballad is: "Svetlana" is the triumph of light over darkness, the victory of love over death and faith over temptation.

Lines filled with light

The ballad of Zhukovsky is a creative gift to Alexander Andreevna Protasova (Voeikova), which, according to the author, was a muse "inspired him to the poetic mood."

The work became fatal for the author. Svetlana was called by the poet friends from the literary society Arzamas. P. A. Vyazemsky wrote in his memoirs that Zhukovsky was "Svetlana not only by name, but also by the soul." Thus, having enclosed his ideals and essence in the work, the author brought to us a "bright" faith, a world outlook and a worldview.

The ballad was reflected in the work of many Russian writers and poets, including A. Pushkin, who borrowed the "silent and sad" image of Svetlana when describing the heroine of the novel "Eugene Onegin" Tatiana.

And, although the work took the basis for the plot in a German ballad, it can be considered an original Russian, it certainly possesses a Russian flavor, close to folklore and folk art. Svetlana herself resembles the heroine of a Russian fairy tale or folk song. Personal authorship of the poet is undeniable. He believed that Russian literature, having studied Western achievements, should not blindly copy them, but try to convey it in their own way to the Russian reader.