Russian Poets

Anna Ahkmatova: Tartar sounding name with Open 'A's' on the ends of the names, Her real name was Anna Gorenko, Non-avant guarde, Modern Classicism, Pedigree, Collage like diversification of content, Humbled by past literature, emotional subtlety, intimacy of history, political stance relating to imprisoned son. Wrote during the October Revolution.


Voznesenksy: Studied with Pasternak till his death. Critics claim he is ambiguous and formalistic. Thematic variety, emphasis on Architecture, linguistic variety (describes his tombstone as 'a lump of Rock', and uses scientific language but expresses bewilderment toward technology) He thought form should be a back-drop, a looming presence and he was ambiguous it might have been a mask because he was one of the few who remained defiantly prolific during political campaign against his work and other artists by Kruschev. Wrote about America. WIDE POPULARITY during 60s during the anti-art campaign of Kruschev.


Khlebnikov: Radical Poet. Poetic conception of Time in a grand scheme, "King of Time" for prosody, metre, timing, Use of historical-fictive & non-fictive interplay, Traces Russian language back to Slavic Culture rooted in Persia to distance it from Western Europe and the bourgeois. Russian Futurist, avant guarde poetry. Wrote during October Revolution.


Mayakovsky: Died by Suicide via Russian Roullette, on third attempt. Prodigal aspect, young success. Friends with Pasternak. Propagandist as well as poet for the Bolsheviks. Acclaimed by Stalin and Pasternak (a seemingly contradictory feat).


Pasternak: Known for Doctor Zhivago. Organic unity, natural aspect. One of the least "alienated" of 20th century Poets. Touted for lyric beauty. Radically original as if the world were born everyday. Synthesis of sound, image and narrative elements linked together with the specificity of objects. Wrote during the October Revolution.