10 interesting facts from the biography of Fyodor Tyutchev, a talented Russian poet

Everyone knows Fedor Ivanovich Tyutchev as a poet, publicist, politician, diplomat and translator. His works are popular and known not only in Russia, but throughout the world. Most often he wrote in such directions as romanticism and pantheism.

It is impossible to name exactly which work made him famous, changed his life, brought fame and success. Simply because all his creations are brilliant and touch some strings of the soul.

Tyutchev lived only 69 years, he had an interesting and varied life. But only those who are interested in his work know about this.

In this article, we will consider 10 interesting facts from the biography of Fyodor Tyutchev.

10 The teacher developed Tyutchev’s poetic inclinations

The poet’s family is considered intelligent. His parents took care of the education of their children (there were three of them in the family). Fedor studied at home, but this did not affect the level of knowledge.

On the contrary, it brought more benefits. He received an excellent education mainly thanks to Semyon Raich. This teacher saw talent in little Fyodor and instilled in him a love of poetry. Often engaged in versification with the child. Also with his help, the future poet mastered Latin.

9. At the age of twelve he was already translating the odes of Horace

With the help of his teacher, Fedor began his acquaintance with ancient Roman poetry. He mastered Latin at such a good level that he could already read both the works and the biography of the authors himself.

At the age of twelve, he independently translated the odes of Horace without any problems and the advice of a teacher.. We can safely say that Semyon Raich greatly contributed to the formation of the future poet.

Interesting fact: after graduating from Fedor, Semyon Raich taught Mikhail Lermontov.

8. Was acquainted with Schelling and Heine

Tyutchev studied at the Faculty of Literature at Moscow University, graduating in 1821. But this happened three years earlier than the system and the course required.

After graduation, he went to St. Petersburg to be enrolled in the State Collegium of Foreign Affairs there, in 1822. Rumor has it that the connections of his father, and not his own merits, helped the young poet in this.

However, three months later he was already included in the Russian diplomatic mission as a freelance attaché. So Fedor Tyutchev ends up in Munich. Here he meets Schelling and Heine.

Heine is a German poet, publicist and famous critic, and Schelling is a German philosopher. Before that, Tyutchev was already familiar with their work, so he valued this friendship. They, in turn, also appreciated the poet, considered him a fairly educated person and an interesting conversationalist.

7. Married Eleanor Peterson

Working and permanently located in Munich, he meets Eleanor Peterson, nee Countess Bortner. She was very beautiful and feminine.

He decides to marry her in 1826. In this marriage, they had three delightful daughters. There was love and understanding. Tyutchev wrote that this woman loved him like no one else ever did. Her love is greater than the love of her parents for him.

For twelve years of marriage, he never doubted his choice, making sure every day that his wife is ready for anything in the name of love for her husband.

6. The tragedy on the ship “Nicholas I”

Family life was interrupted by the tragedy on the ship “Nicholas I”. The Tyutchev family sailed on it from St. Petersburg to Tallinn. However, in the Baltic Sea, the ship was in distress. Tyutchev’s wife and daughters managed to escape with the help of Turgenev, who sailed on the same ship. However, Eleanor’s health was seriously undermined. She died in 1838.

Eyewitnesses claim that this was a strong blow for Tyutchev, he spent several hours near her, being absolutely heartbroken.

However, the fact that already in 1839 he married Ernestine Dernberg again was confirmed in the same way. There were rumors that they had a relationship even before the death of Eleanor, but there was no exact confirmation.

5. Actively participated in Belinsky’s circle

Until 1844, Tyutchev remained abroad, even when his mission there had long since ended. When the writer returned to his homeland, to Russia, he very quickly received the position of senior censor worker in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Immediately he becomes one of the members of Belinsky’s circle.. It was a very famous place in the literary environment. Such writers as Dostoevsky, Goncharov, Herzen, Turgenev, Nekrasov and many others passed through the Belinsky Circle.

There were not only novice writers, already established, but also lawyers, translators, publishers and travelers. Princes, counts, officers, employees and engineers also met. Tyutchev very quickly became a part of this world.

4. He was the creator of “rhyming slogans”

Tyutchev had some disagreements with the authorities. However, at that time he took up “rhyming slogans”. All poetry was only for the benefit of state interests. Only precisely those interests that the writer himself understood and approved of.

Here are vivid examples of this type of creativity: “Gus at the stake”, “Slavs” and “Vatican Anniversary». These works are also calledpublicistic articles in verses. Despite the different points of view of the authorities and Tyutchev, he held a high post for 15 years.

3. Three periods of creativity

During his life, Tyutchev wrote more than 400 works. Despite the fact that they all have some similarities, they are usually divided into three periods.

First period: 1810s – early 1820s. This period is also called early. The author is just starting to write, his youthful poems are a bit archaic in style, reminiscent of the poetry of the 18th century.

Second period: second half of the 1820s – 1840s. This includes all the poems that were written after the work “Glimpse”. After all, it is there that the originality of his poems is noticed for the first time. He finds his own style and creates masterpieces, combining the romanticism of Europe and the pantheism of Schiller.

Third period: 1850s – 1870s. Between the second and third for almost a whole decade, Tyutchev does not pick up a pen. His last poems become political. Also among the latter, the “Denisiev cycle” is known, which refers more to love lyrics.

2. Work on the “Denisiev cycle”

Tyutchev is rightfully considered a master of love lyrics. His poems so reliably convey everything that a person in love experiences, which is why there is no doubt.

This cycle of works was dedicated to the woman whom the poet loved most of all – Elena Aleksandrovna Denisyeva. However, the cycle itself was formed without the participation of the author later. Therefore, sometimes it is not always clear to whom exactly this or that poem is intended: his second wife Ernestine or Elena.

1. Tried to form a positive opinion about Russia in the West

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave Tyutchev the task of shaping the image of Russia in the West in a more positive way.. He wrote many articles in French to be printed and distributed throughout Europe. In these articles, Tyutchev described the relationship between Russia and other countries. The West liked such works, as they satisfied curiosity a little.

The writer tried to explain the misunderstood Russia, and the European people, in turn, tried to understand and accept it. We can say that Tyutchev coped with the task, because his articles largely changed the attitude towards Russia.