Poem Analysis
Plot of the Poem
Within the poem, the poet tells a story in which, Natasha, a Merchant’s daughter had missing for three nights. Upon returning abode, Natasha’s parents inquire her where she had been in the last three days. Filled with misery, she is incapable to explain where she had been. Her parents give up on interrogating her. After a little while, Natasha sobers up. While become less tense with her mates at the shingle-gate, Natasha shouts when a youthful man riding on a horse passes by. The uproar caught the heed of Natasha’s parents. They inquire their daughter to clarify if the youthful man had injure her. A day later, an aged woman came to Natasha’s parents and tell them about the youthful man’s interest in their daughter. Natasha’s father concurs and he pleas Natasha to wed the youthful wealthy man. Natasha is overwhelmed with both sadness and delight, but she determines to marry the youthful man. A wedding ceremony is organized and throughout the party, the bridegroom recognizes that the groom is miserable.
Both the bridegroom and the groom’s parents attempt to find out why; Natasha describes she had a scary (evil) dream in which she saw a youthful girl being murdered by a group of men who seemingly were brothers. In the dream, the youthful men were partying, but the girl was upset. Natasha likens the difficult situation of the girl in her drums to hers. She is uncertain with her new beloved and she returns the ring; this shocks Natasha’s parents and the bridegroom.
What does the tile contribute to the reader’s understanding?
The heading of the poem is ‘the bridegroom’. The poem is about Natasha’s wedding to a youthful and wealthy bridegroom. The heading assists the reader to connect with the poem.
Who is speaking? What is the Situation?
The narrator come into sight to be an observer who sights the proceedings from a distance. The narrator gives a image of the difficult situation that befell a merchant’s daughter, Natasha. The whole story has both sadness and joy.
What difficult, unusual, or special words does the poem contain?
There are several unusual words in the poem and they include:
Sledge...sleigh
Brocaded…with raised designs woven into the fabric.
Stricken with foreboding…feeling that something terrible will happen.
Troika…Sleigh drawn by a group of three horses
Novgorod…Russian city
Ikona…sacred religious pictures
Mead...drink made of fermented aqua and honey
Tumult…noisy uproar
What words need explaining?
The following words needed referencing, therefore they are not in English: Novgorod, ikona and troika.
How does the poem develop…Personal Statement or story?
Both of these statements develop the story:
He flew on and Natasha froze...
He gazed as he flew past and Natasha gaze….
This statement commences the story: For three days, Natasha, the merchant’s daughter, was missing. The third day, she ran in, distraught…This statement initiates the story.
What is the main idea of the poem?
The poem narrates the difficult situations of a youthful girl who is wedded off to a suitor and yet the two hadn't known each well. The poem appears to oppose this practice as the wedding was not successful in the end.
What kind of figurative language is the poem using?
Figurative language:a sallow should not spend all its time singing (figurative language)… it is time for you to build a nest for your children (illusion/symbolism).
Natasha’s dad was requesting Natasha to wed.