Thursday, March 24, 2011

Romantic Elements of "First Love"

"First Love" is a work firmly set in the Romantic era, not only in terms of the narrative, but also in the mood and language of the piece. "First Love" encompasses the thoughts, passions, and bare emotion of the young Vladimir Petrovich, who experiences his first encounter with the notion of love.

"First Love" by Ivan Turgenev is set in the idyllic Russian countryside, where people are free spirits and love is in the air. People who flock to Princess Zayeskin's house speak poetry, express their deepest fantasies, and enjoy the spiritual company of one another. Often, Vladimir will account for how truly Zinaida psychologically affects him, using descriptive language to recount the heartache, fear, and sheer passion which is felt by this young man in love.

1 comment: