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: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Mermaid. from the Russian of Pushkin by George Borrow
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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