KH.

ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE

PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Department of Foreign Languages
Chair of Foreign Language Teaching

PAPER PRESENTATION

Topic: Alexander Pushkin ,, Eugene Onegin’’

Student’s Name/Surname: Martirosyan Zhanna
Academic Supervisor (Degree, Title): Lalabegyan A.
Faculty: Foreign Language
Year: 4

                                                            

           YEREVAN 2020

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 Contents
Introduction………………………………………………..3

Joanne Rowling…………………….………………..….....3

,, Alexander Pushkin ’’……………..……………………..4

,, Eugene Onegin’’………………………..……………….5

Characters Analysis……..………….……..……………….7

Conclusion ……………………………..……………….…8

Bibliography……………………………………………….9

Vocabulary…………………………………….….……….10

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 Introduction
Eugene Onegin is a novel in verse written by Alexander Pushkin. Onegin is considered a
classic of Russian literature, and its eponymous protagonist has served as the model for a number of
Russian literary heroes (so-called superfluous men). It was published in serial form between 1825
and 1832. The first complete edition was published in 1833, and the currently accepted version is
based on the 1837 publication.

Almost the entire work is made up of 389 fourteen-line stanzas (5,446 lines in all) of iambic
tetrameter with the unusual rhyme scheme, where the uppercase letters represent feminine rhymes
while the lowercase letters represent masculine rhymes. This form has come to be known as the
"Onegin stanza" or the "Pushkin sonnet." The innovative rhyme scheme, the natural tone and diction,
and the economical transparency of presentation all demonstrate the virtuosity which has been
instrumental in proclaiming Pushkin as the undisputed master of Russian poetry.

Alexander Pushkin's poem/novel tells the story of two sets of lovers. Eugene Onegin, the
hardened socialite, rejects the love of passionate Tatyana Larin, while his friend, poet and romantic
Vladimir Lensky, falls head over heels for her sister Olga. Onegin's annoyance at Vladimir leads him
to pretend to seduce Olga, and Vladimir challenges Eugene to a duel to revenge his love. Eugene
kills Vladimir. In his sorrow, he leaves his country estate forever. Years later, Eugene meets Tatyana,
now a confident, cold beauty, married to a prince. He falls madly in love with her; however, although
she still loves him, Tatyana must reject Eugene as he rejected her years ago.

In my opinion, reading the novel by Eugene Onegin one can get acquainted with Russian
culture and history, and those parks that were in those days.

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 ,, Alexander Pushkin ’’

Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin was a Russian poet, novelist, dramatic. He was born in 1799
in Moscow. He is considered to be one of the best authors of Russian modern literature and one of
the best poets.

Aleksandr Pushkin is ranked as one of Russia's greatest poets. He not only brought Russian
poetry to its highest excellence, but also had a great influence on all Russian literature in the
nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Early years

Aleksandr Sergeevich Pushkin was born to Sergei and Nadezhda Pushkin on May 26, 1799.
On his father's side he was a descendant of Russian nobility. On his mother's side he was related to
an African lord. But by the time Aleksandr was born, the family had gradually lost most of their
wealth and influence, and they were lowered to the position of minor nobility. Aleksandr's family life
was far from ideal. His father was domineering and easily irritated, and his mother often left the
young child alone in pursuit of her social ambitions.

Between 1811 and 1817 Pushkin attended a special school for privileged children of the
nobility. Pushkin was not a very good student in most subjects, but he performed brilliantly in French
and Russian literature.

Early works, 1814–1820

After finishing school, Pushkin led a wild and undisciplined life. He wrote about 130 poems
between 1814 and 1817, while still at school. Most of his works written between 1817 and 1820
were not published because his topics were considered inappropriate.

Some of his works are: “Mozart and Salieri”, “A feast in time of Plague” , “The Prisoner of
Caucasus”, and his life work is “Eugene Onegin”.

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 ,, Eugene Onegin’’

“Eugene Onegin” is the most famous work of a Russian author named Pushkin. It’s written in
5.600 verses and it is a novel containing 8 chapters. Pushkin wrote it almost 8 years and is now
considered one of the most significant works of Russian literature. This novel started the popularity
rising of Russian literature in the 19th century – it turned focus from Romanticism to Realism. For its
innovation, it was an inspiration to many, not only writers but also other artists.

The novel “Eugene Onegin” was written while Pushkin was in exile. He wrote nine chapters
in lyrics, but before he published it, Pushkin censored some parts of it so that it’s criticism of politics
and society, which is clearly visible through the work, would not lead to his arrests. Thus, author, not
only omitted, but also burned an entire chapter. At the end, the novel was published in eight parts.
The first part was published in 1825, the novel was completed in 1831 and published in full two
years later.

Each chapter of the novel describes some important event in Russian and world history, so
the novel touches political and social changes since the fall of Napoleon to the Decembrist Revolt in
Russia. Although the novel has many different events, controversies and problems, its basic plot is a
love story, around which all other actions revolve. But what makes the novel special are realistic
depictions of every day’s life, which are abundant. Pushkin described the people, lifestyle, problems
and challenges of life in the early 19th century, political events, including customs, fashion, a simple
everyday life of the Russian people. That is why the novel is considered an encyclopedia of Russian
society of the 19th century. It is real credible because it was written precisely at a time when its
action was happening.

Because of its thematic structure, all of the chapters can be read separately, or as part of a
whole, and yet, each thematic is closed with its chapter.

The main character of the novel Eugene Onegin is another “Byron” figure in Russian
literature. He was a nobleman who left Petersburg to live in the country. He was educated,
accustomed to comfort and “idleness”, and one which he truly yearned for were love adventures. All
this leads him to depression, so he begins to worry about the big problems of the world and society,
and sharing “pain of the world”. His restless spirit prevents him from settling down with a woman
who loves him and that he can provide with a comfortable family home. Therefore, Eugene is finally
left all alone and discouraged.

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 The figure of Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin is used in literature to introduce a prototype
“superfluous man”, who would later be a model for the main character in many other literary works.
“Superfluous man” is the one that, because of the socio-political changes, ends at the margins of
society, without its character and completely unnecessary. Therefore, that man collapses, without any
meaning or role in society, often impoverished and literally hungry, and without the meaning of
existence.

In the novel, the Pushkin created a special kind of verse, consisting of 14 verses later called
“Onegin stanza” or “Pushkin sonnet”. The novel was translated into many languages and adapted for
movies, operas, and songs. The most famous work is eponymous opera by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

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 Characters Analysis

Eugene Onegin – he was popular and well-known in high society. He wanted to state his
mind on many events but it all sounded superficial because he had no high education. He was
practical with the great sense for the economy but had no taste in art, not literature. Since he
belonged to a certain type of society he acted like them – slept a lot, went to dances and other events,
went to the theater and often socialized with the actresses. He was charming and knew how to get to
women. He often played with them and broke their hearts. He got what he wanted no matter the
price. Onegin was often a hypocrite and had a bad character. He was cranky and often not satisfied
with the life he had.

Tatyana – beautiful and shy girl. She grew up in a village, in a calm environment and spent
her days reading novels. She loved to be alone and therefore she left an impression of herself as a
mysterious woman. She wanted to feel love and she fell in love with Onegin at first sight. Her life
was submissive to him from that moment on and all she wanted to do was to see him. She was honest
and kind-hearted with little experience in love. She couldn’t keep her feeling for herself so she wrote
Onegin a letter declaring her love for him. Onegin’s rejection threw her into the adults world. Even
though she had to grow up fast she was never bitter or frustrated. She got used to new life conditions
even despite the fact that she did not approve of them. She wanted a marriage and a family and was
not ready to break her promise to her husband. For her, her honor and honesty were much more
important than the love she had for Onegin. When she grew up she started to look at the world in a
more realistic way and she kept her romantic side aside.

Lensky – an 18 years old young man who was studying in Germany when he got intoxicated
with the German authors Goethe and Schiller. He was full of life and he felt passion towards it. He
had a temper and freedom, love and friendship were the only ideals he approved of. He loved the
nature and life in the village even though he did not care much for the people who lived there. He
was young, beautiful, rich and an eligible bachelor. Onegin was his friend and he listened to his
stories because he found them interesting. He was in love with Olga and above all, he was very
faithful to her. In the end, he was the victim of his own ideals. His friend killed him and Olga
married somebody else.

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 Conclusion

Eugene Onegin is considered Pushkin’s most outstanding and characteristic work. It has been
called the first Russian novel because of its firm grasp of character and its realistic presentation of
scenes of Russian life. Pushkin combines the virtues of slow development of character and situation
of the novel with the quick epigrammatic wit of the discursive poem. He combines the pathos of a
psychologically plausible affair of the heart with the charm of genre painting. The work reflects the
author’s own gradual growth as a writer, since it was written and revised over a period of nearly ten
years.

The novel is written in fourteen-line stanzas, known simply as the Onegin stanza, since there
have been no other attempts to create a work using this verse form. The stanza implements an
intricate rhyme scheme, which ends in a couplet. The couplet rounds off the stanza and invites an
epigrammatic or aphoristic conclusion. The typical stanza contains a proposition, an exposition
elaborating it, and a summation with a final flash of wit.

The plot of the novel is very simple, and its loose form allows for a wealth of description and
poetic excursus. Only approximately one-third of the novel is concerned with the plot. The rest
consists of descriptive passages and the narrator’s digressions on the theater, literary or social
polemics, amorous recollections, or soliloquies on literary art.

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 Bibliography
1.  Biography of Pushkin at the Russian Literary Institute "Pushkin House". Retrieved 1 September
2006.
2. Aleksandr Pushkin, London 1964, Princeton 1975, Eugene Onegin a novel in verse.
Translated from Russian with a commentary by Vladimir Nabokov
3. Aleksandr Pushkin, London 1964, Princeton 1975, Eugene Onegin a novel in verse.
Translated from Russian with a commentary by Vladimir Nabokov
4. Aleksandr Pushkin, London 1964, Princeton 1975, Eugene Onegin a novel in verse.
Translated from Russian with a commentary by Vladimir Nabokov

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 Vocabulary

1. considered - считается
2. eponymous - одноименный
3. protagonist - главный герой
4. between - между
5. fourteen-line - четырнадцать строк
6. feminine - женский
7. transparency - прозрачность
8. passionate - страстный
9. confident - уверенная в себе
10. reject - отвергать
11. outstanding - выдающийся
12. combines - сочетает
13. development - развитие
14. epigrammatic - эпиграмматический
15. discursive - дискурсивный
16. plausible - правдоподобный
17. gradual - постепенный
18. implements - орудия
19. approximately - примерно
20. passages - проходы
21. digressions - отступления
22. polemics - полемика
23. recollections - воспоминания
24. superficial - поверхностный
25. environment - окружающая обстановка
26. submissive - покорный
27. kind-hearted - добрый
28. declaring - объявление

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29. intoxicated - опьяненный
30. approved - утверждено

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