Derzhavin and his “Marble Bust”

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Abstract

This paper deals with Derzhavin’s autobiographical poetry as exemplified by his poem “My Bust”. A marble bust which Derzhavin had ordered for himself is a source of hope and self-doubt for his lyrical speaker. Does he actually deserve the honour represented by this sculpture and, if the answer is yes, on which grounds? Accordingly, the lyrical monologue turns into a sequence of sharply contrasting moods of confidence and self-deprecation, which is unique in eighteenth-century Russian poetry. The dramatism of this monologue calms down at the end of the poem in a spirit of Horatian wisdom. The poem is remarkable for its self-critical and self-ironic character. The article closes with a reflection on Derzhavin and his claim of eternal fame.

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Joachim Klein

University of Leiden

Author for correspondence.
Email: j.h.klein6@icloud.com

Doct. Sci. (Philol.), Professor Emeritus

Netherlands, Leiden University PO Box 9500 2300 RA Leiden

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