Eugene Onegin: Realism in Russian Literature

Study Notes

Eugene Onegin

The novel covers events from 1819 to 1825, including the reign of Alexander I and the Decembrist uprising.
The time of action and creation of the novel almost coincide, reflecting the important events of the first quarter of the 19th century.

Structure and Features

Each chapter can be the last one or have a continuation, with an open structure in time.
The novel is rightly considered the best literary creation of the 19th century, with its poems gathering in motley chapters.
The author emphasizes the novel's encyclopedic nature, reflecting Russian life and society.

Plot

The poem opens with Eugene Onegin's lamentations about his uncle's illness and his subsequent journey to Petersburg.
The first chapter tells about Onegin's origin, family, and life before receiving the sad news.
Onegin inherits his uncle's property and becomes friends with his neighbor Lensky, a passionate romantic poet.
Tatyana falls in love with Onegin and writes him a frank letter, but he rejects it, leading to a duel with Lensky that ends in Lensky's death.

Themes and Style

The novel is a real encyclopedia of the life of a 19th-century Russian man, tracing the stylistic features of realism.
The poem depicts different strata of the Russian population, showcasing the author's growing experience as a creator.
The novel reveals the dramatic fate of the nobility intelligentsia against the backdrop of Russian life.

History of Creation

Pushkin worked on the novel for more than seven years, considering it a magnificent creation and a feat.
The novel was written in verse, with Pushkin deciding to give up romanticism as the leading creative principle.
The original idea presupposed the existence of nine chapters, but one chapter had to be deleted due to political issues.

Description

Explore the significance of the novel in verse 'Eugene Onegin' as a reflection of nineteenth-century Russian society, with a focus on the stylistic features of realism. Delve into the social strata depicted throughout the work and the evolution of AS Pushkin as a creator.