“We are not given to predict” analysis of Tyutchev’s poem according to plan briefly

Tyutchev’s poem “We are not given to predict” is a kind of poetic aphorism that the poet leaves as a parting word for posterity. A brief analysis of “We are not allowed to predict” according to the plan, used in a literature lesson in the 11th grade, will become the basis for understanding the philosophical views of its author.

Brief Analysis

Before reading this analysis, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the poem We cannot predict.
History of creation - the poem was written in 1869, when Tyutchev, by his own admission, already felt that he was on the verge of extreme old age. It was published only in 1903 in the almanac “Northern Flowers”.

The theme of the poem is the role of the poetic word for society in general and in the life of each individual in particular.

The composition —the quatrain—can be roughly divided into two equal-sized parts, and in the first the poet says that human reactions are unpredictable, and in the second he shows that sympathy can be a reaction to a poetic word.

Genre : lyric poem.

The poetic meter is iambic tetrameter with adjacent rhyme.

Comparison – “how grace is given to us.”

Metaphor – “our word will respond.”

“It is not given to us to predict...” F. Tyutchev

“It is not given to us to predict...” Fyodor Tyutchev

It is not given to us to predict how our word will respond, - And we are given sympathy, Just as grace is given to us...

Analysis of Tyutchev’s poem “We are not given the power to predict...”

The name of Fyodor Tyutchev is associated not only with literature, but also with Russian diplomacy, since this man represented the interests of Russia abroad for almost 20 years. However, few people know that Tyutchev was not only a romantic poet and a famous statesman, but also a philosopher who strove for inner harmony, despite the chaos of the world around him. However, the poet himself was convinced that every Russian person is a philosopher by nature, because he knows how to comprehend the secret and deep meaning of life, without at all striving for it.

As an example, Tyutchev in his memoirs repeatedly refers to his own life, noting that he is characterized by moments of enlightenment, when a certain immutable truth is revealed to his inner gaze. At such moments, the poet often formulated his thoughts in poetic form, and an example of this is the work entitled “We are not given to predict...”, written in 1869. By this time, Tyutchev, by his own admission, felt like a “very old man” who had gained experience and wisdom, but was unable to use it for his own good.

The first lines of this short quatrain are general in nature, since the poet speaks not on his own behalf, but on behalf of all people, asserting: “We are not given the opportunity to predict how our word will respond.” The author puts great meaning into this phrase, believing that language is given to man not only for communication, but also for managing the world. Indeed, with the help of words you can elevate your neighbor or destroy him . change the course of history, prevent any catastrophe, or, conversely, ignite a bloody war. Tyutchev the poet and Tyutchev the diplomat know firsthand about the power of words. But at the same time, the author is convinced that a person is not able to appreciate this powerful gift, he does not know how to control the word and does not know what the consequences will be if he utters it.

Tyutchev sees this as the highest craft, because the ability to manipulate words is given only to a select few - those who truly deserve it. Otherwise, the word itself would lose its significance, turning instead of a formidable weapon into a children's toy that is unable to influence the thoughts and feelings of others. For everyone else, “sympathy is given as a consolation, just as grace is given to us.” This phrase means that words are capable of awakening in the human soul all the brightest and kindest things that are hidden under a layer of feigned indifference. And this should be perceived as the highest gift and grace of God.

History of creation

This deeply philosophical quatrain was written in 1869 - Tyutchev was then in St. Petersburg. This was the late period of his work, a period of philosophical reflection on the life and place of the poet in society. The result of these thoughts was the poem “We are not given to predict.”

But more than three decades passed before it was appreciated by literature lovers - the work was published only at the beginning of the twentieth century, in 1903, many years after the death of the author. It was published in the almanac “Northern Flowers”.

These poetic lines reflected Tyutchev’s entire life experience both as a poet and as a diplomat. He thought a lot about what role the word plays in a person’s life, whether it shapes his behavior and character, expressing his idea in a small but very capacious poem.

The history of the poem “We are not allowed to predict”

Famous poem by the poet F.I. Tyutchev
“It is not given to us to predict” was written at the end of February 1869 during his stay in St. Petersburg. This period was the final one in the poet’s work and life. This poem is a kind of philosophical miniature - compressed, brief and extremely expressive, which cannot leave true connoisseurs of deep poetry indifferent. It can be noted that this work came from the pen of a very mature and wise man who has seen and experienced a lot. As for publication, the almanac “Northern Flowers” first published it only at the beginning of the twentieth century (in 1903). Thus, after writing this work, almost three and a half decades passed before it was published and appreciated by lovers of literature. Apparently, it arose as a result of F.I. Tyutchev’s many years of thinking about the meaning of people’s lives, the role of words in shaping their behavior and mood.

Academician Zhirmunsky noted that every word the poet used is a theme, and it can be used as an independent artistic motif. Researchers of the work of F.I. Tyutchev also agree with his opinion, emphasizing the depth and poetry of the poetic works of this Russian poet. Fans of his work very often quote his poems, which have become especially popular among the people.

Subject

The main theme is reflections on relationships between people and life in general through the prism of the poetic word. The poet is in philosophical thought about what impact his work and creativity in general has on people’s lives, whether it is necessary, whether it can help them take the path of good.

This work reflects the poet’s attitude to carelessness in statements and to life in general.

The work relates to philosophical lyrics: the poet reflects on lofty matters, emphasizes the important role of the spiritual in social life and expresses the opinion that what is happening in real life is irreversible. It is this idea that Tyutchev ultimately focuses on. Thanks to the precise selection of words, each of which is in its place, the use of verbs and clear iambic tetrameter with adjacent rhyme, Tyutchev manages to put the maximum of his philosophical idea into the poem.

The main idea of the poem

Researchers of Tyutchev’s work believe that the poet in this poem calls for extreme caution when using words that can lead to unexpected consequences.
If some words revive and restore hope to people, then others can simply destroy a person morally and even physically, thereby harming his relatives and friends. The poem belongs to the genre of poetic aphorism, and it is filled with philosophical lyrics. In this literary work, Tyutchev reflects on the role of words in people's lives, how it can influence their destinies and role in human society. The poet closely connects the divine principle and human existence, placing emphasis on the irreversibility of what is happening in real life.

Despite the fact that the poem consists of only one quatrain, it contains a very deep philosophical meaning. It reflects the poet’s attitude to life, as well as to what rashness in statements can lead to. In addition, Tyutchev believes that the divine principle controls people, their thoughts and actions. He expresses the same idea in a number of other works.

In general, this work by Tyutchev can be considered in the context of the poet’s thoughts on philosophical topics, among which we can highlight the role of the word in people’s lives. And the poet’s despair runs through the entire poem, that it is impossible to find harmony in the process of communication between people. Just four lines contain a deep philosophical meaning that only true connoisseurs of high poetry can unravel!

Composition

Despite the small size of the work, it can be divided into two parts.

In the first, the poet talks about the impossibility of predicting how the spoken word will respond - that is, about the variability of human nature, which responds to poetic creations in the most unpredictable way. At the same time, the final lines of the quatrain express the hope that kindness, compassion and other good feelings can still be awakened in a person in this way.

Thus, Tyutchev briefly answers a very important, even “eternal” question for Russian literature: is the word necessary, is it possible to make the world a better place with its help. The poet's opinion is unequivocal - yes.

Poem Structure

The poem carries a completely complete thought.
It is a kind of period sentence. To write it, the author used iambic tetrameter, and it is a quatrain with a ring rhyme. Metaphor, anaphora and extended comparison are the paths that Tyutchev uses in this masterpiece. The work can be divided into two parts, each of which consists of two lines. Both parts are harmoniously combined with each other, creating the melody and rhythm of the verse. This circumstance was noted by literary scholars who studied Tyutchev’s work.

In the first part, the poet argues that human reactions to words can be quite unpredictable:

It is not possible for us to predict how our word will respond...

Here, not only the communication of people as such is emphasized, but also the poetic word, which goes to the broad masses and spreads among poetry lovers. In this work, Tyutchev sought to reflect the surrounding reality in artistic images, which is an urgent task for Russian poetry at all times. And it should be noted that in the presented fragment Tyutchev succeeded almost one hundred percent!

The second part of the poem tells about people’s reaction to the poetic word, about the fact that they awaken such sublime feelings as compassion, kindness and empathy. And here the poet compares sympathy with grace. Tyutchev believed that sympathy for the problems, concerns and troubles of people around him is a great grace for every person.

And we are given sympathy, Just as we are given grace...

In simple terms, the first part of the poem is the cause, and the second is the effect, but together they form a single whole, creating a unique picture of the poet’s worldview. And this poem reveals an essential part of the poet’s soul, who looks at life with a certain mystical slant.

Means of expression

In fact, very few artistic means are used in the poem - a detailed comparison “how grace is given to us,” the metaphor “our word will respond,” anaphora “how-how,” but the poem is also very small.

The sublime vocabulary used in it also plays an important role - it emphasizes the importance of the thought that the poet expresses, its closeness to the spiritual world.

It is not for nothing that the poet ends the quatrain with silence - in this way he hints that readers need to think about the importance of words, evaluate their meaning and think before saying something.