Why is Pushkin Relevant?

This question surely pops into students’ heads once in a while, especially when reinforced by a popular saying «Пушкин — наше все»[1]. How did he become a synonym of Russian literature, an exemplary who passed the ultimate test of time?

When Pushkin was born in 1799, the Russian language was far more different than now. At the time, Russian literature was dominated by formal, complicated language that was far removed from how everyday people spoke. Authors judged words harshly, often criticising others’ creations for the lack of «poetic force» in their lexical choice. The lack of inversed syntax or usage of regional lexis could be considered as a lack of skill.

Pushkin changed this. He revolutionized Russian by bringing the spoken language into his poetry and prose, making it more natural and fluid. Pushkin shaped a new literary language that felt closer to how people actually spoke. He combined elements of classical Russian with the simpler, more colloquial speech of the common people, giving his work a unique texture. His use of language allowed Russian literature to connect with a much broader audience.

His epic poem Ruslan and Ludmila, for example, used a variety of traditional Russian folk forms but injected them with a new sense of energy and rhythm. His most famous work, Eugene Onegin, is a «novel in verse» that combines the structure of the classic European novel with the beauty of Russian verse and, most importantly, Russian culture how it is shown in language. By connecting vertically disjointed planes of language, Pushkin bridged the gap between high literature and the everyday language of the people, creating a more accessible and relatable form of literary expression.

Mr Viacheslav, Russian Upper School Teacher

[1] Pushkin is our everything.