Tristia (Masterplots II: Poetry, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Osip Mandelstam
- First Published: 1919
- Type of Work: Lyric
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric poetry
- Subjects: Memory, Traveling or travelers, Mythology or myths, Gender roles, Poetry or poets, Fear, Greek or Roman times, Joy or sorrow
The Poem
Osip Mandelstam’s “Tristia” is the title poem of a book published in 1922. Told in the first person, the poem reflects the mood of a person leaving his home, city, and possibly, country. The title is taken from Ovid’s book of the same name.
The poem opens with the poet’s statement that he has learned the “science of parting.” The parting is not a joyous one; it is accompanied by the weeping of women after a long night’s vigil, by the cock’s crow, and by red eyes gazing into the distance. The women’s lament mingles with the Muses’ song. All...
[The entire page is 1490 words long]
