☰ Contents · Russian language

A. S. Pushkin: life and poems

Lessons 26–27 · 2 lessons · S. Yu. Islambekova, U. T. Yaminova, Z. Kh. Abduraimova. Russian Language, Grade 7 (textbook for general secondary schools with Uzbek and other languages of instruction), 2nd revised edition. “Uzbekistan” Publishing and Printing Creative House, Tashkent, 2017
26

A. S. Pushkin: life and work

Textbook: pp. 87–89
GoalTell in Russian what the textbook says about Pushkin’s life and main works.
New words
гувернёр · murabbiyлицей · litseyустное народное творчество · xalq og‘zaki ijodiпоэма · doston
Explanation

Aleksandr Sergeyevich Pushkin (1799–1837) was born in Moscow into a noble family. He grew up with his elder sister Olga and younger brother Lev under tutors, his grandmother and his nanny. He learned to read early and read a lot in his father’s library. His grandmother Maria Alekseyevna taught him Russian letters and told him of old times and Peter I, and his nanny Arina Rodionovna knew many folk songs and tales. In 1811 (the book says at eleven; in fact he was twelve) he was taken to Petersburg and studied for six years at the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, where he made faithful friends. On 8 January 1815, at an exam, he read his own poem in front of the poet Derzhavin. Pushkin wrote over a thousand poems, several long poems, fairy tales for children and the verse novel «Евгений Онегин». According to the book he was mortally wounded in a duel in January 1837 (the dates are old style).

Worked examples
“Детство Пушкина” (Pushkin’s childhood). «Саша Пушкин рос в Москве. Бабушка учила его читать, а няня Арина Родионовна знала много сказок и песен. Мальчик часто ходил в библиотеку отца и мечтал стать поэтом.» (Sasha Pushkin grew up in Moscow. His grandmother taught him to read, and his nanny Arina Rodionovna knew many tales and songs. The boy often went to his father’s library and dreamed of becoming a poet.)
Works: «Медный всадник», «Полтава», «Бахчисарайский фонтан» (long poems); «Сказка о рыбаке и рыбке», «Сказка о царе Салтане», «Сказка о золотом петушке» (fairy tales); «Евгений Онегин» (verse novel).
Class activity

“Interview with the poet”. In pairs: one is Pushkin, the other a journalist. Questions: «Где вы родились?», «Кто вас учил?», «Где вы учились?». Answers must match the book’s facts.

Practice
1
Who were the closest people to Pushkin in childhood?
2
Where did Pushkin study, and for how many years?
3
Name three of Pushkin’s fairy tales.
4
Why do you think the nanny’s tales mattered to the future poet?