Maude, Edward;
(2000)
Pushkin's imagery of dreams and flying.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
This thesis analyses Pushkin's imagery of dreams and flying. Although the focus of my analysis is the work written in verse and the prose fiction, I also make reference to Pushkin's non-fictional prose. For convenience of reference I include in my definition of 'the imagery of flying' all references to birds, such as the swan or eagle. In the first four chapters I examine four key thematic areas in the poetic works in which Pushkin uses this imagery: the nature of the poet and poetic inspiration (Chapter One); acts of remembrance (Chapter Two); Pushkin's political views (Chapter Three); and relations between the sexes (Chapter Four). I establish that although Pushkin employs these areas of imagery in a wide variety of contexts there is a common objective in their use. He uses the imagery of dreams and flying in order to portray his characters - for the most part male - and political figures as weak, ineffectual or romantically inadequate. By contrast, when he applies these images to himself, this can be seen as an exercise of power and a declaration of his poetic independence. One of the greatest displays of this power is that he uses the same or similar language deliberately to undermine his own creations, the characters who are dependent on him for their very existence. In the final chapter I turn to an analysis of this imagery in the prose fiction. One of the consequences of Pushkin's approach to prose is that he rarely allows himself to use this imagery which is so closely associated with poetry. However, on a number of occasions when he does use these images in the prose fiction he finally appears to question the power and independence of the poet.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | Pushkin's imagery of dreams and flying. |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Thesis digitised by ProQuest. |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10103332 |
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