Мцыри

by Mikhail Lermontov, Михаил Юрьевич Лермонтов

Don Mager translates a much loved epic Russian poem into the English language. Mtsyri is one of Lermontov's many works set in Georgia. It is celebrated for its eloquent depiction of the Caucases Mountains and Georgian landscape. Mtsyri's battle with the leopard is similar to a popular Georgian folk legend and there are at least fourteen versions of the folksong ?Young Man and a Tiger.? Don Mager

Genres: Russia, Poetry, Classics, Fiction, Russian Literature, School, 19th Century

30 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1839

About the author

Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov (Михаил Юрьевич Лермонтов), a Russian Romantic writer, poet and painter, sometimes called "the poet of the Caucasus", was the most important Russian poet after Alexander Pushkin's death. His influence on later Russian literature is still felt in modern times, not only through his poetry, but also by his prose.

Lermontov died in a duel like his great predecessor poet, Aleksander Pushkin.

Even more so tragically strange (if not to say fatalistic) that both poets described in their major works fatal duel outcomes, in which the main characters (Onegin and Pechorin) were coming out victorious.

Reviews

[Magdalen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll dream, some brother, or some friend,
how, gently, over me he'll bend,
how, tenderly, he'll wipe my brow
clean of death's icy sweat, and how
he'll sing to me in undertone
of that dear country, once my own...
and so I'll sleep- no curse, no groan!

Мцыри translated in English as "The novice" is a tragic and confessional poem that consists of 26 parts (and some say the story was based on a monk's life Lermontov met in Georgia, if that's true this poem becomes even more dreadful) Lermontov's writing is beautiful and he was obviously influenced by romanticism. He gives us so many vivid landscapes of Caucasus, you can picture everything in your head with great details. And although the descriptions are fascinating and delightful, the story is heart breaking.

I am astonished and I am not even fond of poems like this. Lermontov is considered one of the most important Russian poets and even though he is not so popular among Europeans, Russians praise him and I cannot blame them.

PS: Demon you are next!

[Turkan Kasamanli]

Когда я стану умирать,
И, верь, тебе не долго ждать,
Ты перенесть меня вели
В наш сад, в то место, где цвели
Акаций белых два куста...
Трава меж ними так густа,
И свежий воздух так душист,
И так прозрачно-золотист
Играющий на солнце лист!
Там положить вели меня.
Сияньем голубого дня
Упьюся я в последний раз.
Оттуда виден и Кавказ!
Быть может, он с своих высот
Привет прощальный мне пришлет,
Пришлет с прохладным ветерком...
И близ меня перед концом
Родной опять раздастся звук!
И стану думать я, что друг
Иль брат, склонившись надо мной,
Отер внимательной рукой
С лица кончины хладный пот
И что вполголоса поет
Он мне про милую страну..
И с этой мыслью я засну,
И никого не прокляну!..."

[Anastasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75/5

*Read for class.

Please, note, that when I'm giving these stars ratings for classics, I'm only rating my own enjoyment, not the value of the book. Lermontov was, of course, a genius. And I liked his writing style, his verse. I just, personally, didn't enjoy the story too much. I got the nostalgia and lack of freedom, but maybe it's just not something that I've experienced in any way to relate to. Or maybe his writing just didn't get to me.

[Halina Hetman · Rating 1 out of 5]

For diving deeper into this author's work and biography, here is a YouTube video on Lermontov:

[Nika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Большая поклонница произведений Лермонтова.
Мцыри - второе любимое произведение после Демона.
Просто шедевр!

[Chimeddolgor Ch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Люблю.

[Justyn Gronek · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is very similar to Pushkin’s “Prisoner of the Caucasus”. The main difference is that with Pushkin, the character suffers in silence while melancholically reminiscing of his past life and making no attempt to leave. With Lermontov, he is not only active in his suffering but also tries to escape (which ultimately is the cause of his death). He is also more tragic because he only remembers his country from early childhood and therefore, he’s not even sure what he’s missing here. All he knows is that this isn’t his home. I think this comparison serves as an interesting way to understand the changes in russian romanticism over the years (despite how short-lived this era was in russian literature).

[mmasjam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Очень люблю звучность и надрыв стиха, слушаю, как музыку, так это красиво

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Georgia I love Georgians SAKARTVELO FOREVER 🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪

[dănuț]

мцыри e un nume atât de bun pentru o pisică. trebuie să-mi iau o pisică

[Anna Petruk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome.

[Anna Kļaviņa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Мцыри - на грузинском языке значит "неслужащий монах", нечто вроде "послушника". (Прим. Лермонтова)

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a song of freedom, tragic and powerful.

[Biblioworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

в очередной раз убеждаюсь, что Лермонтов мне не нравится ни как человек ни как писатель, ни как поэт.

Мцыри считается классикой романтизма, изучают в школе.
Но на мой взгляд он во-1х плох технически, меня лично он вообще не втягивает и не уносит так, как это происходит, например, когда я читаю Пушкина.

Во-2х я могу только теоретически понять, что именно романтического в этой истории увидел Лермонтов, но на практике его изложение заставляет меня лишь пожать плечами и не вызывает сопереживания.

[Mila Mitrovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Меня могила не страшит:
Там, говорят, страданье спит
В холодной вечной тишине;
Но с жизнью жаль расстаться мне.
Я молод, молод... Знал ли ты
Разгульной юности мечты?
Или не знал, или забыл,
Как ненавидел и любил;
Как сердце билося живей
При виде солнца и полей
С высокой башни угловой,
Где воздух свеж и где порой
В глубокой скважине стены,
Дитя неведомой страны,
Прижавшись, голубь молодой
Сидит, испуганный грозой?
Пускай теперь прекрасный свет
Тебе постыл: ты слаб, ты сед,
И от желаний ты отвык.
Что за нужда? Ты жил, старик!
Тебе есть в мире что забыть,
Ты жил,— я также мог бы жить!”

[Sebastian · Rating 4 out of 5]

26 stanzas about personal freedom, about being captive and the fights and sufferings we put up for gaining or regaining it. Lermontov gathered material on travels in his beloved Caucasus, for this poem, apparently, in a monastery, with one sole monk left. It's a lovely exhibit on how to express another one's tale, with own emotion and skill.

[Raphael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great stuff -- thank you, Grandma, for suggesting I read this! I read it in English, translated by Charles Johnston, who I feel did a superb job with this translation.
Considering that this was absolutely fire and that it seems to be his third most well-known work (based on its popularity on Goodreads) -- uh, yeah, I'd love to hopefully read some more of his stuff.

[Eithan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful poem, you can feel the intense feeling of the young boy, the running away, the feeling of freedom, seeing his own people, and the crushing realization when he understands that he won't be successful running away. At the end one can feel the thoughts of death.

[Cinquantaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Скажи мне, что средь этих стен
Могли бы дать вы мне взамен
Той дружбы краткой, но живой,
Меж бурным сердцем и грозой?

[Diane Hakobian · Rating 5 out of 5]

nearly cried...he is one of the bests

[Alissa Maljar · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Lermontov journey started off this poem. Eccentric, emotional, full of dignity and nature-brought beauty.

[Zwverl' · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Hsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Перечитываю каждый год

[Artem Zinnatullin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Классно.

Тбилиси, Грузия, 2022.

[corpys · Rating 2 out of 5]

впечатляет рифма

[rania · Rating 4 out of 5]

idc if its formally boring i am mtsyri and mtsyri is me and thats ALL that matters

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favourite work by Lermontov since school 🙏🏻

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

words are unnecessary…this is a poem i just let my heart speak for, without uttering a single word, because it would harm the feeling of the transcedental…paradise…

[potato turtle · Rating 4 out of 5]

bardzo ladne ale troche meczylam sie czytajac (ale mysle ze to wina mojej glowy niz lermontowa)
emocje idealnie czuc w opisach i ogolnie opisy sa przepiekne

[Ганна Кузьо · Rating 5 out of 5]

Цікаво порівняти з твором Пушкіна на подібну тему (http://bit.ly/2jkkFjt)