The Mermaid. from the Russian of Pushkin
The Mermaid is a poem by Alexander Pushkin that tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a mermaid and ultimately drowns while trying to reach her. The poem explores themes of love, desire, and the dangers of obsession.
By George Borrow · First published 1837 · Genre: Poetry, Fantasy, Folklore · 634 words
First lines
Close by a lake, begirt with forest, To save his soul, a Monk intent, In fasting, prayer and labours sorest His days and nights, secluded, spent; A grave already to receive him He fashion'd, stooping, with his spade, And speedy, speedy death to give him, Was all that of the Saints he pray'd.
As once in summer's time of beauty, On bended knee, before his door, To God he paid his fervent duty, The woods grew more and more obscure: Down o'er the lake a fog descended, And slow the full moon, red as blood, Midst threat'ning clouds up heaven wended -- Then gazed the Monk upon the flood.
What this Textopian page supports
The Mermaid. from the Russian of Pushkin is listed on Textopian as a poem by George Borrow, dated 1837 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: George Borrow
- Date: 1837 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Fantasy, Folklore, Gothic, Romanticism
- Length: 634 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a rhythmic and lyrical quality, characteristic of poetry.
- Fantasy — The presence of a mystical mermaid and supernatural elements like fog and moonlit transformations align with fantasy themes.
- Folklore — The narrative draws on traditional folklore motifs, such as a monk encountering a mystical creature by a lake.
- Gothic — The eerie atmosphere, mysterious events, and themes of fear and the supernatural are typical of Gothic literature.
Tags
mermaid · Russian literature · fairy tale · romanticism · folklore · poetry · mythology · nature · love · fantasy · narrative · adventure