Lessons 34–35 · 2 lessons · M. E. Rozhnova, U. T. Yaminova. Russian Language, Grade 8 (textbook for general secondary schools with Uzbek and other languages of instruction), 2nd revised edition. “Uzbekistan” Publishing and Printing Creative House, Tashkent, 2019
34
A. A. Akhmatova: life. «Не с теми я, кто бросил землю…»
Textbook: pp. 129–131
GoalLearn about A. A. Akhmatova; understand and read expressively «Не с теми я, кто бросил землю…»; explain its patriotic theme.
New words
родина · vatanэмигрант · muhojirпоэтесса · shoiraоценка · baho
Explanation
Anna Akhmatova (real surname Gorenko) was born on 23 June 1889 in Odessa. She took her pen name from her Tatar great-grandmother. In 1891 the family moved to Tsarskoye Selo, where she studied at the gymnasium; she finished a gymnasium in Kiev in 1907. She wrote her first poem at eleven. Her first collection «Вечер» (46 poems) appeared in 1912, and «Чётки» in 1914 brought her real fame. In 1922 «Anno Domini» was published. In «Реквием» she spoke for all women who lived through the years of terror and repression; it was printed in 1987, after her death. During the siege of Leningrad she flew to Moscow and then to Tashkent, where she stayed until May 1944. In 1964 she received the Italian «Etna-Taormina» prize, and in 1965 Oxford University made her an honorary doctor of letters. She died on 5 March 1966 at Domodedovo.
Worked examples
First half of the poem: the poet says she is not with those who left their homeland in hard times, and she is not swayed by their praise. Yet she pities the person cut off from home: life in a foreign land seems bitter and hard to her.
Second half: the poet speaks for those who stayed — they spent their youth in hard trials but did not dodge a single blow. She believes that history will one day justify them, and calls her generation proud, simple and patient.
Class activity
“What is the poem about?” In pairs, say the poem’s content in one sentence, then explain the words (изгнанник, странник).
Practice
1
What was Akhmatova’s real surname?
Gorenko. Her pen name came from a great-grandmother of Tatar descent.
2
Which collection made Akhmatova famous?
«Чётки» (1914).
3
Until when did Akhmatova stay in Tashkent?
Until May 1944.
4
What is the poet’s attitude to the exile?
She pities him, but she is not with them: she stayed in her homeland.