Vasily Trediakovsky
Encyclopedia
Vasily Kirillovich Trediakovsky ' onMouseout='HidePop("96786")' href="/topics/Astrakhan">Astrakhan
– in Saint Petersburg
) was a Russia
n poet, essayist and playwright who helped lay the foundations of classical Russian literature
.
Trediakovsky was a Russian literary theoretician and poet whose writings contributed to the classical foundations of Russian literature. The son of a poor priest, Trediakovsky became the first Russian not of the nobility to receive a humanistic education abroad, at the Sorbonne
in Paris
(1727–30) where he studied philosophy, linguistics and mathematics. Soon after his return to Russia he became acting secretary of the Academy of Sciences
and de facto court poet.
In 1735 Trediakovsky published Новый и краткий способъ къ сложенью российскихъ стиховъ ("A new and brief way for composing of Russian verses"), a highly theoretical work for which he is best remembered. It discussed for the first time in Russian literature such poetic genres as the sonnet
, the rondeau
, the madrigal
, and the ode
. In 1748 appeared his Разговор об орфографии ("A Conversation on Orthography"), the first study of the phonetic structure of the Russian language
. He continued his advocacy of poetic reform in О древнем, среднем и новом стихотворении российском (1752; "On Ancient, Middle, and New Russian Poetry").
Trediakovsky was also a prolific translator of classical authors, medieval philosophers, and French literature
. His translations frequently aroused the ire of the censors, and he fell into disfavour with his Academy superiors and conservative court circles. In 1759 he was dismissed from the Academy. His last major work was a translation of Fenelon's Les aventures de Telemaque (1766; Tilemakhida), which he rendered in Russian hexameter
s. His works marked the transition from syllabic versification to metric verse
, more suited to the sound of the Russian tongue.
Astrakhan
Astrakhan is a major city in southern European Russia and the administrative center of Astrakhan Oblast. The city lies on the left bank of the Volga River, close to where it discharges into the Caspian Sea at an altitude of below the sea level. Population:...
– in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
) was a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n poet, essayist and playwright who helped lay the foundations of classical Russian literature
Russian literature
Russian literature refers to the literature of Russia or its émigrés, and to the Russian-language literature of several independent nations once a part of what was historically Russia or the Soviet Union...
.
Trediakovsky was a Russian literary theoretician and poet whose writings contributed to the classical foundations of Russian literature. The son of a poor priest, Trediakovsky became the first Russian not of the nobility to receive a humanistic education abroad, at the Sorbonne
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(1727–30) where he studied philosophy, linguistics and mathematics. Soon after his return to Russia he became acting secretary of the Academy of Sciences
Russian Academy of Sciences
The Russian Academy of Sciences consists of the national academy of Russia and a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation as well as auxiliary scientific and social units like libraries, publishers and hospitals....
and de facto court poet.
In 1735 Trediakovsky published Новый и краткий способъ къ сложенью российскихъ стиховъ ("A new and brief way for composing of Russian verses"), a highly theoretical work for which he is best remembered. It discussed for the first time in Russian literature such poetic genres as the sonnet
Sonnet
A sonnet is one of several forms of poetry that originate in Europe, mainly Provence and Italy. A sonnet commonly has 14 lines. The term "sonnet" derives from the Occitan word sonet and the Italian word sonetto, both meaning "little song" or "little sound"...
, the rondeau
Rondeau (poetry)
This article is about the poetry form. For other uses, see Rondeau.A rondeau is a form of French poetry with 15 lines written on two rhymes, as well as a corresponding musical form developed to set this characteristic verse structure...
, the madrigal
Madrigal (music)
A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition, usually a partsong, of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Traditionally, polyphonic madrigals are unaccompanied; the number of voices varies from two to eight, and most frequently from three to six....
, and the ode
Ode
Ode is a type of lyrical verse. A classic ode is structured in three major parts: the strophe, the antistrophe, and the epode. Different forms such as the homostrophic ode and the irregular ode also exist...
. In 1748 appeared his Разговор об орфографии ("A Conversation on Orthography"), the first study of the phonetic structure of the Russian language
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
. He continued his advocacy of poetic reform in О древнем, среднем и новом стихотворении российском (1752; "On Ancient, Middle, and New Russian Poetry").
Trediakovsky was also a prolific translator of classical authors, medieval philosophers, and French literature
French literature
French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
. His translations frequently aroused the ire of the censors, and he fell into disfavour with his Academy superiors and conservative court circles. In 1759 he was dismissed from the Academy. His last major work was a translation of Fenelon's Les aventures de Telemaque (1766; Tilemakhida), which he rendered in Russian hexameter
Hexameter
Hexameter is a metrical line of verse consisting of six feet. It was the standard epic metre in classical Greek and Latin literature, such as in the Iliad and Aeneid. Its use in other genres of composition include Horace's satires, and Ovid's Metamorphoses. According to Greek mythology, hexameter...
s. His works marked the transition from syllabic versification to metric verse
Meter (poetry)
In poetry, metre is the basic rhythmic structure of a verse or lines in verse. Many traditional verse forms prescribe a specific verse metre, or a certain set of metres alternating in a particular order. The study of metres and forms of versification is known as prosody...
, more suited to the sound of the Russian tongue.
See also
- Mikhail LomonosovMikhail LomonosovMikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov was a Russian polymath, scientist and writer, who made important contributions to literature, education, and science. Among his discoveries was the atmosphere of Venus. His spheres of science were natural science, chemistry, physics, mineralogy, history, art,...
, who "created the basis of the modern Russian literary language"