What is an ode

Oda is a special poetic genre, extremely popular in various historical periods. It is a solemn, even pathetic poem, glorifying someone or inspiring for a feat.

Instruction manual

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Ode as a separate genre appeared before our era and at first it was a lyric poem, which suggested a choral performance. The subject was different. Thus, the ancient Greek poet Pindar (about 520–442 BC) in his solemn odes sang kings and aristocrats, who, the poet believed, were awarded the favor of the gods. The concept of a odic work in those days included hymns, praises, songs of praise in honor of the gods, Olympic winners, etc. Horace was considered a brilliant compiler:

Which of the gods returned me

The one with whom the first trips

And the horror I swore

When behind the ghost of freedom

Us Brutus desperate drove?

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Further, the development of the ode has stopped, and at the beginning of our era, it as a genre did not develop. And even in the Middle Ages this type of versification did not exist in European literature.

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The "Resurrected" ode as a solemn poem in Europe during the Renaissance. It became especially popular during the period of European classicism (16-17 centuries). A significant part of his work was dedicated to the creation of od by the founder of French classicism, François Mahlerb (1555–1628). The poet glorified the absolutist power of France. At one of the stages of creativity, Jean Baptiste Russo was engaged in the development of the odic genre.

After Malerba and Rousseau, prominent representatives of the ode genre in France were Lebrun, Lefran de Pompignan and Lamot.

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It is believed that Antiochus Cantemir brought a classic ode to Russian literature. Other literary scholars call Gabriel Derzhavin. But both of them agree that the term "ode" was not introduced by them, but by Vasily Tredyakovsky, his "solemn ode to the surrender of the city of Gdansk" is an example of a classical ode in Russian poetry.

Like the ancient Greeks, the ode in Russia was called upon to praise someone. Usually it was told about famous and great people. Since the ode was a genre of high literature, it was not accepted to praise and extol the workers or peasants. Emperors, empresses, their favorites, high dignitaries - odes were dedicated to them.

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Despite the great contribution of Kantermira, Derzhavin and Trediakovsky to the formation of the odic genre, the true founder of the Russian ode, according to most literary critics, is Mikhail Lomonosov. It was he who approved the ode as the main lyrical genre of feudal nobility literature of the 18th century and outlined its main purpose - the ministry and all exaltation of the feudal nobility monarchy in the person of its leaders and heroes:

Be silent, fiery sounds, And wobble, stop the light;

Here in the world to expand science

Elisabeth deigned.

You impudent whirlwinds, do not dare

Roar but meekly disclose

Beautiful are our times.

In silence, listen, the universe:

Xie Loshte admires

Eating great names.

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Russian poetry is characterized not only by the solemn, so-called Pindaric ode (on behalf of the ancient Greek poet Pindar), but also by love - anacreontic, moralizing - Goratian and spiritual - arrangement of psalms.

The famous writers of od in Russian literature were Gabriel Derzhavin, Vasily Petrov, Alexander Sumarokov and others.

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The end of the 18th century was marked by the beginning of the fall of European classicism and, as a consequence, by the loss of the significance of the ode. It gave way to poetic genres, new for that period of time - ballads and elegy.

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Since the late 20s of the 19th century, the ode has almost completely disappeared from European poetry (including Russian poetry). The Symbolists were engaged in attempts to revive it, but their odes were, more likely, a character of successful stylization, no more.

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Ode to the new era is not so common in poetry, as it was, for example, in the 17-18 centuries. However, modern poets often turn to this genre in order to sing heroes, victories or express enthusiasm for any event. The main criterion is not the form, but the sincerity with which the work is written.