Introduction
Ruslan and Ludmila Mikhail Glinka is an ancient poem that was written in 1820 by a Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin, who ventured into poetry in 1817. Pushkin was a political activist, and this somehow influenced his writing and poetry especially. The poem has been converted into many different forms over the years, for example by putting background soundtracks to make it a song, as a poem and it has also been narrated as a Spoken Word poem in recent years. Basically, it has undergone a lot of evolution.
The poem
This poem is written in the design of a tale, as it has a dedication (dedicated to the poet’s anonymous lover), the main body that consists of six songs and an epilogue.
There are six songs discussed in this poem. In the first song, Ludmila, the daughter of Prince Vladimir is getting married to Ruslan, and there is a big feast, and Ruslan’s foes have attended too. However, on the wedding eve, there is strange thunder and lightning, after which the bride goes missing. An old man helps him rescue her from a sorcerer, and the man was a warrior in his tougher days just like Ruslan, but unlike him, the old man’s love, Naina, rejected him.
In the second song, Rogday, Ruslan’s rival, decides to abandon his search for Ludmila and seeks to kill Ruslan instead. He attacks arider he happens to come across thinking its Ruslan, only to realize that it’s not him. Instead, it is Farlaf, a rival of Ruslan’s. an old lady, however, guides him on where to find Ruslan. Meanwhile, Ludmila is captured by Chernomor the wizard, and finds herself feeling empty without Ruslan. Meanwhile, Ruslan is attacked by his challenger Rogday, but defeats them.
In the third song, Naina visits Chernomor, telling him that she still loves the old Finn she left, and this gives Chernomor the idea to make advances on Ludmila. Meanwhile, in pursuit of Ludmila, Ruslan finds himself on a deserted battlefield, and mourns. Suddenly he comes across ahead, a head that belonged to Chernomor’s brother, whom he slays. However, the brother holds no grudge against Chernomor.
In the fourth song, Ratmir, another one of Ruslan’s rivals comes across a beautiful maiden who houses him and he soon forgets all about Ludmila.
In song five, Chenomor verbally attacks Ruslan, and this leads to a fight. He finally traces Ludmila and the two run away with Chernomor also. They happen to meet with the head, which dies in peace without avenging on Chernomor. Naina in this song also appears to Farlaf, telling him that his time has come, and as he rides his horse, he finds Ruslan succumbing to a wound he thrust a sword at him.
In the sixth and the last song, Chernomor rejoices upon seeing Ruslan laying lifeless. Farlaf takes Ludmila back to Vladimir, Ludmila’s father but they find their hometown under attack. However, Finn the medicine man finds Ruslan and raises him back to life with his magical waters. He also hands him a ring to break Ludmilla’s curse. He goes straight to her, touches her face with it and Ludmila awakens. At this point, Vladimir gives the couple his blessings and they live happily thereafter. In the epilogue, the writer seems to mourn a failed love affair.
Conclusion
Pushkin has utilized the use of songs efficiently in his poem, as he has in fact divided it all into six continuous songs. This has made the poem interesting because the songs create suspense (Dargel, 1994). The audience and readers want to know what is in the next song, and this creates the impact of suspense and expectancy all through the poem.
References
Dargel, Nancy. Ruslan and Ludmilla A Novel in Verse. New York, NY: Bergh Publishing, Inc. 1994. Print.
Pushkin, Alexander. Ruslan and Ludmila. Edinburgh: Raduga Publisher, C.I.S. 2000. Print.