A Hero of Our Time: Difference between revisions
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''A Hero of Our Time'' (Russian: "Герой нашего времени") is a classical Russian novel by [[Russian Reading|Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov]], written and revised between 1839 and 1841. |
''[[A Hero of Our Time]]'' (Russian: "Герой нашего времени") is a classical Russian novel by [[Russian Reading|Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov]], written and revised between 1839 and 1841. |
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The plot concerns a certain Grigory Pechorin, a [[Idle Rich|Russian aristocrat]], a [[An Officer and |
The plot concerns a certain Grigory Pechorin, a [[Idle Rich|Russian aristocrat]], a [[An Officer and a Gentleman|military officer]], and a [[Byronic Hero]], and follows his adventures during his stay (implied to be involuntary) in the Caucasus Region. The novel consists of five parts (plus [[Framing Device]]): |
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* ''Bela''. [[The Watson]] ([[Literary Agent Hypothesis|implied to be Lermontov himself]]) meets an [[Old Soldier]] Maxim [[Patronymic|Maximich]] while traveling across Caucasus, who tells him a story how an old friend of his (Pechorin) once fell in love with and kidnapped a highlander princess (it didn't work out). |
* ''Bela''. [[The Watson]] ([[Literary Agent Hypothesis|implied to be Lermontov himself]]) meets an [[Old Soldier]] Maxim [[Patronymic|Maximich]] while traveling across Caucasus, who tells him a story how an old friend of his (Pechorin) once fell in love with and kidnapped a highlander princess (it didn't work out). |
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Lermontov also published a short essay ''The Caucasian'' (1840; as in "someone from Caucasus", not "pale-faced"), wherein he more or less describes Maxim Maximich's [[Backstory]] (without any names). Additionally, ''AHoOT'' can be seen as a sequel to his unfinished novel ''Princess Ligovskaya'' (1838), which also features Grigory Pechorin (who may or [[In Name Only|may not]] be the same character) and is set in [[St Petersburg]]. |
Lermontov also published a short essay ''The Caucasian'' (1840; as in "someone from Caucasus", not "pale-faced"), wherein he more or less describes Maxim Maximich's [[Backstory]] (without any names). Additionally, ''AHoOT'' can be seen as a sequel to his unfinished novel ''Princess Ligovskaya'' (1838), which also features Grigory Pechorin (who may or [[In Name Only|may not]] be the same character) and is set in [[St Petersburg]]. |
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=== Tropes found in the novel include: === |
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{{tropelist}} |
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* [[Author Avatar]]: Some interpret Pechorin as this. |
* [[Author Avatar]]: Some interpret Pechorin as this. |
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* [[The Berserker]]: Pechorin has traces of this. |
* [[The Berserker]]: Pechorin has traces of this. |
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* [[The Dandy]]: Pechorin. |
* [[The Dandy]]: Pechorin. |
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* [[Deconstructor Fleet]]: In ''Bela'' and ''Taman'', Lermontov picks apart the "wacky Caucasus adventures" genre prominent during his time. The central character is a darker, more realistic take on the [[Byronic Hero]] archetype, and Grushnitsky is an outright mockery of the concept. The novel as a whole is regarded as the author's farewell to Romanticism. |
* [[Deconstructor Fleet]]: In ''Bela'' and ''Taman'', Lermontov picks apart the "wacky Caucasus adventures" genre prominent during his time. The central character is a darker, more realistic take on the [[Byronic Hero]] archetype, and Grushnitsky is an outright mockery of the concept. The novel as a whole is regarded as the author's farewell to Romanticism. |
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* [[Duel to |
* [[Duel to the Death]]: Double-subverted with Pechorin vs. Grushnitsky: {{spoiler|Grushnitsky's friends persuade him to miss on purpose and try to load Pechorin's gun with a blank, but Pechorin uncovers their plan by chance and kills Grushnitsky}}. |
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* [[Femme Fatale]]: The "Undine". |
* [[Femme Fatale]]: The "Undine". |
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* [[Foil]]: Grushnitsky to Pechorin. |
* [[Foil]]: Grushnitsky to Pechorin. |
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* [[Genre Savvy]]: Pechorin seems to be completely aware of his [[Byronic Hero]] status. |
* [[Genre Savvy]]: Pechorin seems to be completely aware of his [[Byronic Hero]] status. |
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* [[Idle Rich]]: More or less every aristocrat in the book. |
* [[Idle Rich]]: More or less every aristocrat in the book. |
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* [[Intro |
* [[Intro-Only Point of View]] |
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* [[Life Will Kill You]]: Vulich survives shooting himself in the head unscathed, then {{spoiler|is killed by a drunk Cossack returning home}}. |
* [[Life Will Kill You]]: Vulich survives shooting himself in the head unscathed, then {{spoiler|is killed by a drunk Cossack returning home}}. |
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* [[Literary Agent Hypothesis]]: The nameless traveling officer who "inherits" Pechorin's diaries is never openly identified with Lermontov. |
* [[Literary Agent Hypothesis]]: The nameless traveling officer who "inherits" Pechorin's diaries is never openly identified with Lermontov. |
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* [[Meaningful Name]]: Pechorin is named after the Pechora River, just like [[ |
* [[Meaningful Name]]: Pechorin is named after the Pechora River, just like [[Alexander Pushkin]]'s ''[[Literature/Eugene Onegin|Eugene Onegin]]'' was named after the Onega River. |
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* [[An Officer and |
* [[An Officer and a Gentleman]] |
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* [[Old Soldier]]: Maxim Maximich. |
* [[Old Soldier]]: Maxim Maximich. |
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* [[Patronymic]]: "Maximich" is actually a colloquial shortening of "Maximovich", "son of Maxim". |
* [[Patronymic]]: "Maximich" is actually a colloquial shortening of "Maximovich", "son of Maxim". |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:A Hero |
[[Category:A Hero of Our Time]] |
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[[Category:Literature]] |
[[Category:Literature]] |
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[[Category:Russian Literature]] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hero of Our Time, A}} |
Latest revision as of 03:05, 23 June 2018
A Hero of Our Time (Russian: "Герой нашего времени") is a classical Russian novel by Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov, written and revised between 1839 and 1841.
The plot concerns a certain Grigory Pechorin, a Russian aristocrat, a military officer, and a Byronic Hero, and follows his adventures during his stay (implied to be involuntary) in the Caucasus Region. The novel consists of five parts (plus Framing Device):
- Bela. The Watson (implied to be Lermontov himself) meets an Old Soldier Maxim Maximich while traveling across Caucasus, who tells him a story how an old friend of his (Pechorin) once fell in love with and kidnapped a highlander princess (it didn't work out).
- Maxim Maximich. The Watson tells of a chance meeting between Maxim Maximich and Pechorin that he accidentally witnessed. Afterwards, Maxim Maximich hands over Pechorin's diaries to him.
- Taman. An excerpt from Pechorin's diary: soon after his arrival to Caucasus, he gets involved with a local Femme Fatale and a smuggler gang.
- Princess Mary. Pechorin is stationed in Pyatigorsk and has an affair with two women: an old flame of his and the eponymous princess. In the end, he kills a guy on a duel and is reassigned to Maxim Maximich's outpost.
- The Fatalist. Pechorin is out drinking and gambling with fellow officers, and then one of them shoots himself in the head on a bet. He dies but not by the bullet.
Lermontov also published a short essay The Caucasian (1840; as in "someone from Caucasus", not "pale-faced"), wherein he more or less describes Maxim Maximich's Backstory (without any names). Additionally, AHoOT can be seen as a sequel to his unfinished novel Princess Ligovskaya (1838), which also features Grigory Pechorin (who may or may not be the same character) and is set in St Petersburg.
- Author Avatar: Some interpret Pechorin as this.
- The Berserker: Pechorin has traces of this.
- Bus Crash: Pechorin is last seen in the narrative in Maxim Maximich while en route to Persia and the intro to his diary reveals that he died on the way back.
- Byronic Hero: Pechorin is one of the most famous ones in Russian literature. However, see Deconstructor Fleet below.
- Character Title:
- The novel title refers to Pechorin, whom the author considered a contemporary hero despite his major flaws.
- Bela, Maxim Maximich, and Princess Mary are all named after the characters whose life Pechorin has a major impact upon.
- The Fatalist is not so clear cut: according to various interpretations, it can refer to Vulich, Pechorin, or Maxim Maximich (or all at once but in different senses).
- Composite Character: The author intended Pechorin to be a composite of all the creative spirits of his age.
- Custom Uniform: Grushnitsky wears a Private's coat over his officer cadet uniform.
- The Dandy: Pechorin.
- Deconstructor Fleet: In Bela and Taman, Lermontov picks apart the "wacky Caucasus adventures" genre prominent during his time. The central character is a darker, more realistic take on the Byronic Hero archetype, and Grushnitsky is an outright mockery of the concept. The novel as a whole is regarded as the author's farewell to Romanticism.
- Duel to the Death: Double-subverted with Pechorin vs. Grushnitsky: Grushnitsky's friends persuade him to miss on purpose and try to load Pechorin's gun with a blank, but Pechorin uncovers their plan by chance and kills Grushnitsky.
- Femme Fatale: The "Undine".
- Foil: Grushnitsky to Pechorin.
- Genre Savvy: Pechorin seems to be completely aware of his Byronic Hero status.
- Idle Rich: More or less every aristocrat in the book.
- Intro-Only Point of View
- Life Will Kill You: Vulich survives shooting himself in the head unscathed, then is killed by a drunk Cossack returning home.
- Literary Agent Hypothesis: The nameless traveling officer who "inherits" Pechorin's diaries is never openly identified with Lermontov.
- Meaningful Name: Pechorin is named after the Pechora River, just like Alexander Pushkin's Eugene Onegin was named after the Onega River.
- An Officer and a Gentleman
- Old Soldier: Maxim Maximich.
- Patronymic: "Maximich" is actually a colloquial shortening of "Maximovich", "son of Maxim".
- The Place: Taman is named after a small Russian town on the coast of the Black Sea.
- Reassigned to Antarctica: Pechorin is sent into the wilderness after his duel with Grushnitsky. It is implied that he was reassigned to Caucasus in the first place because of a similar incident in St Petersburg earlier.
- Russian Roulette: Kinda. Vulich's gun is a one-shot pistol... with a chance of jamming.
- Scenery Porn: Lermontov's descriptions of Caucasus mountains and the nature.
- Screw Destiny / You Cannot Fight Fate: Both tropes are Discussed and explored in The Fatalist.
- The Watson: The unnamed traveling officer who falls into possession of Pechorin's diaries.