Oh, how in our declining years
We love more tenderly and more superstitiously...
Shine, shine, farewell light
Last love, dawn of evening!
Half the sky was covered in shadow,
Only there, in the west, does the radiance wander, -
Slow down, slow down, evening day,
Last, last, charm.
Let the blood in your veins run low,
But there is no shortage of tenderness in the heart...
O you, last love!
You are both bliss and hopelessness.
Analysis of the poem “Last Love” by Tyutchev
Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev dedicated a poem about the strongest feeling in his life to a girl who was much younger. Having fallen hopelessly in love with a young beauty, the poet did not count on reciprocity; fate decreed otherwise. The elegy “Last Love” is one of the author’s famous works, written for Elena Denisyeva, a student at the Institute of Noble Maidens.
History of the creation of the work
Despite the fact that the age difference between the lovers was 23 years, their feelings were sincere and passionate. The novel quickly became known in society. It was impossible to hide from discussions and constant gossip, because the famous poet was always an exemplary family man. Everyone considered a relationship with a young lover immoral, but the couple decided to sacrifice their reputation in the name of love.
The romance lasted more than 14 years, until Elena Denisyeva died of illness. During this period, she gave birth to three children to the poet, despite the insulting position and condemning views from the outside.
The author spoke about all his experiences in the poem “Last Love”. In every line one can feel immense tenderness and reverence towards the young lady. The sympathy that flared up was not just passion and fleeting desire, but a feeling that penetrated to the depths of the soul.
The relationship was not devoid of romance or the desire to take care of each other. Being in adulthood, the poet understood what it meant to love truly, deeply, piercingly, mutually. For a man with wisdom from life experience, who had married twice, it was incredibly scary to lose what was so dear to his heart.
The author himself regards this stage in his life as a real gift of fate. Realizing that this love was doomed, Fyodor Ivanovich conveyed a slight sadness with notes of hopelessness in the lines of the poem: ““Oh, how in our declining years we love more tenderly and more superstitiously...”. In letters to his best friend, the poet admitted that he could not even imagine such a strong feeling in his life.
Literary features
Fyodor Tyutchev expressed all his feelings in the genre of elegy. This is the name in literature for works with content permeated with sadness and melancholy. The poem is easy to read and remember, despite the iambic tetrameter with cross rhyme used by the author. This technique is used to emphasize the confessional nature of the written lines and to emphasize the confidential intonation.
In each line, words are read with sublime pronunciation thanks to the “Oh!” particle. The elegy is not without numerous epithets that give the text imagery, brightness, and expressiveness. For amazing musicality and lightness, the author uses lexical repetitions. This style of writing, according to Tyutchev, transforms a literary work into a sincere love letter.
“Last Love” is included in the school curriculum of literature lessons. The poem is considered a unique, striking example of love poetry, since it is not dedicated to either youthful suffering, ardent passion, or separation, but is the revelation of an adult and wise man in love.
“Last Love” Fyodor Tyutchev
Oh, how in our declining years
We love more tenderly and more superstitiously...
Shine, shine, farewell light
Last love, dawn of evening!Half the sky was covered in shadow,
Only there, in the west, does the radiance wander, -
Slow down, slow down, evening day,
Last, last, charm.Let the blood in your veins run low,
But there is no shortage of tenderness in the heart...
O you, last love!
You are both bliss and hopelessness.
Analysis of Tyutchev’s poem “Last Love”
Already a mature man, an accomplished diplomat and a famous poet, Fyodor Tyutchev fell in love with the young pupil of the boarding house for noble maidens, Elena Denisyeva. The author did not even suspect that in his declining years he was capable of experiencing such strong feelings. Moreover, he was amazed that his love was reciprocated. The romance between Tyutchev and Denisyeva developed rapidly, becoming the subject of numerous disputes and gossip in high society. However, the poet could not fully believe his own happiness, as evidenced by the poem “Last Love,” written in the first half of the 1850s.
Trying to understand his feelings, Tyutchev comes to the conclusion that “in our declining years we love more tenderly and more superstitiously.” This man, wise from life experience, who was married twice and managed to raise children, discovers completely new character traits in himself that he did not even suspect. The poet compares his unexpected love with the evening dawn, which illuminates his path with a special radiance. It is in this all-consuming feeling that the author sees not only the meaning of his earthly existence, but also draws strength for inspiration, which, according to Tyutchev, has long since left him.
It is noteworthy that after meeting Elena Deniseva, the poet again turns not only to love, but also to landscape lyrics, he begins to notice that the world around him is truly beautiful. “Half of the sky is covered in shadow, only there, in the west, is the radiance wandering,” this is how the poet describes an ordinary day in his life. And what he sees outside the window most fully corresponds to the feelings that the poet experiences at this moment. He does not want the day to end so inexorably, and he internally protests that his life is nearing its end. However, the warmth that his last love gives Tyutchev warms the poet’s soul, filling it with a wide variety of feelings. “Let the blood in the veins become scarce, but the tenderness in the heart will not become scarce,” notes Tyutchev. He is touched by what he is experiencing at the moment, and at the same time never ceases to be surprised that all this is happening to him - a person who least of all expected to become the hero of an exciting love story. At the same time, the poet understands that his situation is hopeless, since his status and position in society does not allow him to divorce his legal wife. But the poet is not able to give up his love for Elena Denisyeva, believing that he has received an undeserved gift from heaven.
Love is an unpredictable feeling. It can come to a person suddenly. It is not without reason that one of the leading traditions of Russian literature is to compare love with a blow, a flash, as, for example, in the stories of Ivan Alekseevich Bunin. In poetry the situation is somewhat different. Since the lyrics concern the area of feelings, the poet expects an emotional response from the reader, hopes that everyone who reads the poem will be able to exclaim: “Yes, and I felt it! And I experienced it!”
Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev's poem "The Last Love", part of the famous "Denisyev cycle", is indeed dedicated to his last love - 24-year-old Elena Denisyeva. Of course, it is autobiographical, because the tragic story of their relationship is quite well known: the 47-year-old poet fell in love with a young student of the Smolny Institute, but could not leave his family. Exhausted by such a “double” existence, the young woman died of transient consumption, and Tyutchev lived with a sense of guilt until his death.
The poem is rightfully considered the pearl of love poetry. This is not a passionate youthful confession, this is not a bitter regret about past love - this is truly an explanation, an explanation of a wise man who has learned to appreciate the most intimate moments in love between a man and a woman. It’s moments like these that you’re afraid of jinxing, which is why the author writes: “Oh, how in our declining years we love more tenderly and more superstitiously...” Perhaps the hero actually becomes superstitious because he is afraid that he will lose something precious in his life and will never find it again.
In general, it should be noted that the person in Tyutchev’s poetry - be it “cosmic” or love - is weak and majestic at the same time. Fragile as a reed in the face of nature, he is great with some kind of inner, inexplicable strength. A similar duality is felt in this poem, only here this duality is expressed through parallelism (comparing natural phenomena with human life), more characteristic of folk poetry. In this work, the hero’s last love is associated with the evening dawn:
Shine, shine, farewell light
Last love, dawn of evening!
Literally, this should be understood this way: just as the evening dawn illuminates everything around with its last radiance, so the farewell light of last love illuminates a person’s life, which is nearing the end, because “half the sky is covered in shadow,” which means that half of the life has already been lived. How can one not recall Dante’s: “...having completed half my earthly life, I found myself in a dark forest”? But Tyutchev’s hero feels neither fear nor regret, he only asks with a humble prayer:
Slow down, slow down, evening day,
Last, last, charm.
Yes, the hero is no longer young, so "The blood in my veins is running low", but now his love expresses more kindness, care, i.e. tenderness, which "the heart is not lacking". Although in the last lines there is a hidden sadness, because the hero calls his last love “hopelessness.” And again an oxymoron characteristic of Tyutchev’s style arises: it turns out that “hopelessness” causes “bliss” in the hero! Marvelous.
Speaking about the rhythmic organization of the poem, one cannot help but mention the special sound of this work. At first it seems that the poem was written by an amphibrachium. But the last word seems to get out of the general rhythm and disrupt the harmonious sound. In poetry, this is usually called interruption of rhythm. Obviously, the author uses this technique to create a more confidential intonation in order to emphasize the confessional nature of his love confession. Repetition also causes the rhythm to slow down: "Shine, shine, farewell light...", "Slow down, slow down, evening day...", "Last, last, charm..."
Be sure to check out these other essays:
- Analysis of the poem by F.I. Tyutchev “Silentium!”
- “Autumn Evening”, analysis of Tyutchev’s poem
- “Spring Storm”, analysis of Tyutchev’s poem
The life of the famous Russian poet was not as simple as it seems at first glance. Not many readers know that Tyutchev spent almost twenty years of his life away from his homeland. He worked in Germany, where he emerged as a great poet of our time. Despite the fact that most of his poems are dedicated to his homeland, the author created them far from Russia. He skillfully conveyed the picturesque colors of Russian nature, especially focusing on the changing seasons, comparing each season with the cycle of human life.
The lyrics of Fyodor Tyutchev do not leave any reader indifferent. Many poetic works are devoted to the theme of love, about which the famous Russian poet knew a lot. He knew how to love without reserve, dissolving in feelings to the very depths.
Despite his romantic nature, the poet did not perceive the word “treason”; he simply did not consider it regrettable to love several women at the same time. An interesting fact about Tyutchev’s personal life - he lived in two families, and gave all his tender feelings and frankness to each lover.
The most unpredictable events took place in his life; each meeting left certain thoughts in the poet’s memory, which he skillfully conveyed in his brilliant work. The verse “I met you, and all the past...”, known to many readers, was written after a meeting with a woman who later became his lover.
Tyutchev's first love
In 1822, Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev entered the service of the Collegium of Foreign Affairs. By this time, the young poet had already graduated from Moscow University. As part of his work, he was sent to Munich as a Russian official-diplomat to carry out a state mission. It was here that young Tyutchev met his first love. His chosen one was the illegitimate daughter of the Prussian king, Amalia von Lerchenfeld. The young and quite beautiful girl was captivated by the worthy feelings of nineteen-year-old Fyodor, so she immediately gave herself up to mad love. The poet proposed to her, but Amalia’s relatives were categorically against this relationship, so Tyutchev faced a regrettable refusal. According to the beauty’s parents, Fedor was not rich enough.
Soon, the young diplomat had to leave the country for a while, and at that time Amalia’s wedding took place with Baron Krunder, who was a colleague of Fyodor Ivanovich. Returning to Munich, he learned about this event. This news greatly upset Tyutchev, but even his frank intention to assign a duel to his opponent could not change the current situation. Beloved Amalia remained Baroness Kründer, the wife of another man...
Throughout his life, the poet and his first lover maintained friendly relations. He dedicated several poems to this woman. The most touching lyrical work is “I remember the golden time.”
Tyutchev's first wife
The failed relationship with Amalia von Lerchenfeld made the young diplomat suffer, but not for long. Soon, Tyutchev met Countess Eleanor Peterson, who became the first wife of Fyodor Ivanovich. She fell in love with the young poet passionately and madly, conveying to her lover all her most frank and pure intentions. Eleanor surrounded her husband with incredible care and sincere warmth. The poet felt good with her, she became a reliable support and a wonderful life partner. The young wife solved all everyday and even financial problems on her own. The Tyutchevs' house was always warm and cozy, even when serious financial difficulties arose in the family budget. Eleanor was a devoted wife and hospitable hostess. The poet was happy, however, this marriage was soon destroyed by an unforeseen circumstance.
Eleanor and her children were returning from a trip to her husband. During this journey by water, a shipwreck occurred. She managed to escape, but due to severe hypothermia, the health of Tyutchev’s wife deteriorated significantly, which soon led to the woman’s death. Eleanor Peterson was barely 37 years old at that time...
The loss of his beloved wife seriously affected the poet’s condition. Tyutchev experienced this terrible event very painfully. Later, he will write several touching poems dedicated to this beautiful woman.
Mistress and new wife of Tyutchev
Despite his sincere love for his wife Eleanor, even during her lifetime, Tyutchev became interested in another woman, who became the poet’s secret lover. She was Ernestina Dernberg, a young woman in whom Fyodor Ivanovich saw a kindred spirit. He dedicated a beautiful poem to her, “I love your eyes, my friend...”. No matter how much the great Russian poet tried to hide his affair, Eleanor found out about her husband’s betrayal and even tried to commit suicide. Fortunately, this terrible event did not happen, although it did not save the life of the legal wife, who was experiencing the unpleasant betrayal of her loved one.
His wife’s attempt to commit suicide changed Tyutchev’s plans for the future. He decisively broke off relations with Ernestina in order to save his marriage with Eleanor. But two years after the death of his beloved wife, Fyodor Tyutchev nevertheless proposed to his former mistress, who, without hesitation, agreed to marry the poet.
Their life was ordinary - children, home, work. During this period, Tyutchev became somewhat absent-minded; he began to devote little time to work and family. And in 1850, Tyutchev’s new wife noticed characteristic changes in her husband’s condition. A few more months passed, Fyodor Ivanovich rented a separate apartment and moved away from Ernestina...
And only after a while, Tyutchev’s second wife learned the real reason for these changes and the sudden departure of her husband. She became the poet’s new lover - Elena Denisyeva, a student of the Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens.
The first meeting of Fyodor Ivanovich and Elena Deniseva took place in July 1850. At this time, the talented poet was already 47 years old, and the young darling was only 24 years old. They met by chance; the girl was friends with Tyutchev’s older daughters. The acquaintance of future lovers took place in the poet’s house, when a graduate of the Institute of Noble Maidens came to visit her friends. The already mature author liked Elena from the first minute; this meeting radically changed the lives of both Tyutchev and Deniseva.
For the sake of mutual love with an already famous poet, the girl had to give up her position in society. She sacrificed everything she had, but did not reject Fyodor Ivanovich’s love, even when all of Elena’s relatives and friends spoke out categorically against this “unreasonable” but truly passionate love relationship.
Their romance developed during the period of Tyutchev’s still legal relationship with his wife Ernestina. Society condemned the poet's mistress and did not want to see her in the circles of noble people. The girl suffered greatly, Fyodor Ivanovich himself was sad, but it was already impossible to change fate...
Their relationship lasted 14 years, during which time Elena Denisyeva gave birth to Tyutchev three illegitimate children. The love triangle existed until the death of the great poet’s chosen one. Ernestina was aware of this relationship; she even allowed her rival to register the children in her husband’s last name.
There were a lot of tears and suffering in the novel between Tyutchev and Denisyeva. The couple often argued and tried to break off the relationship, but the feelings between the lovers were much stronger: he could not give up Elena, and she, despite all the difficulties arising in her life because of someone else’s man, was never able to break off relations with Tyutchev.
The poet wonderfully expressed passionate and mutual love in his work. He dedicated many poems to this woman. The most striking lyrical works written in honor of the young chosen one were published in the famous poetry collection “Denisevsky Cycle”.
Analysis of the poem “Last Love”
The poem "Last Love" was written in early 1850. During this period, the poet’s fateful acquaintance with the young Elena Deniseva happened. At that moment, the already mature Tyutchev could not even imagine what strong feelings he would experience in the arms of his new lover.Fyodor Ivanovich was immensely happy, this relationship inspired his soul and gave him hope for a bright future with the woman he loved. Of course, in the future, the fate of this couple will be completely bleak... But all the saddest things will happen later, but for now, the poet in love devotes his excellent lyrical works to the new relationship. You can feel what Tyutchev felt during this period of his life by reading the poem “The Last Love.”
Oh, how in our declining years
We love more tenderly and more superstitiously...
Shine, shine, farewell light
Last love, dawn of evening!
Half the sky was covered in shadow,
Only there, in the west, does the radiance wander, -
Slow down, slow down, evening day,
Last, last, charm.
Let the blood in your veins run low,
But there is no shortage of tenderness in the heart...
O you, last love!
You are both bliss and hopelessness.
Fyodor Ivanovich quickly tried to understand his own feelings and sensations, and he purposefully conveyed these emotions in this lyrical work. Only in adulthood did he understand a very important truth - in his declining years, love acquires more frank and tender feelings that bestow strength and the desire to live, create, love...
Tyutchev even managed to discover new qualities of character in himself, which, despite so much life experience, had been invisible all this time. The author compares his last, and greatest love for dear Elena, with the evening dawn. It illuminates the path of life with its faded radiance, giving a new meaning to life’s existence.
Tyutchev's last love radically changed the worldview and meaning of the great poet's life. He began to see only beauty in the world around him. All these changes surprised the author himself. The poet was happy, but at the same time he often thought about the transience of time. Tyutchev understood the hopelessness of the situation and tried to solve all the difficulties that arose in their way, but time was inexorable.
Their love affair lasted until the death of Elena Deniseva. Her tragic departure left an unhealed wound in the soul of the oppressed poet. Until his last days, he remembered this beautiful woman who gave him boundless happiness and crazy love. Despite all the vicissitudes of fate, Tyutchev thanked fate for such a priceless gift, because he was truly lucky to become the main character of a magnificent and passionate romance with a young beauty, Elena Deniseva.
