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Kulikovo pt I
Connections to Zhivago
Kulikovo pt II
100
In 1880 Blok was born on his grandparent's estate into this social class.
What is aristocratic/wealthy class?
100
This collection was Blok's first published volume of symbolist poetry.
What is "Verses on the Beautiful Lady"?
100
In the first section of the poem, the speaker longs to free Russia from this group.
What are the Tartars, or the Golden Horde?
100
In his novel, Pasternak writes that this character, as well as most students and intelligentsia, are "mad about Blok".
Who is Yurii Zhivago?
100
Although the poem "On the Field of Kulikovo" was written by Blok in 1908, in reality it tells the story of a battle which occurred in this year.
What is 1380?
200
In 1903 Blok married this young woman, who inspired his first volume of symbolist poetry.
Who is Lyubov Mendeleyevna?
200
This play was Blok's first public attempt at a theatrical satire and met with mixed reviews in 1906.
What is "The Puppet Show"?
200
In the second section of the poem, we find the speaker praying for composure as he surveys this location.
What is the battlefield?
200
In the novel, Yurii makes the comment that this time of year in Russia reminds him of Blok's symbolist imagery.
What is Christmastime?
200
In the poem, Blok uses this literary device to mimic the sound and feel of galloping horses during battle.
What is repetition / repeated words and phrases?
300
In 1906, Blok graduated from this university with a degree in philology and law.
What is the University of St Petersburg?
300
This poem written in 1907 was inspired by the actress Natalya Volokhova and departed somewhat from the symbolist style.
What is "The Snow Maiden"?
300
In the third section of the poem, we find these two groups of men engaged in preliminary battle.
What are the Russian princes and the Golden Horde (Tartars)?
300
True or False? Yurii Zhivago and other characters from the novel continue to praise Blok throughout their experiences, even in hard times, claiming him to be the true spokesman of Russian life.
False. As Yurii grows older and witnesses the atrocities of war, he grows detached from Blok and the symbolist style, just as Blok himself became disenchanted with the poetic movement.
300
Throughout the poem, Blok uses personification to emphasize the mourning of Russia, comparing the country to a ________.
What is a woman?
400
Blok's writings became significantly less symbolist and more political as he became aware of this reality in Russia.
What is social inequality?
400
This poem was Blok's most well-known work on the subject of the October revolution, containing allusions to Christ and the apostles.
What is "The Twelve"?
400
In the fourth section of the poem, we find the speaker describing the battle scene with particular emphasis on these two elements.
What are motion and sound?
400
Toward the end of the novel, Misha Gordon quotes lines from this poem by Blok.
What is "Those Born in Obscure Years"?
400
Although the meter varies in each stanza, this straightforward rhyming pattern is dominant throughout the poem.
What is ABAB?
500
In 1909, Blok traveled through these two countries, which inspired a collection of essays on art.
What are France and Italy?
500
This poem was written toward the end of Blok's life in 1919, encouraging Russian resistance to western ideas and influences.
What is "The Scythians"?
500
In the fifth and final section of the poem, we find the Russian princes victorious over the Tartars. The princes were led by this man, who was a Grand Duke at the time.
Who is Dmitri Donskoi?
500
Misha Gordon comments that the difference between Blok's poetry and the reality of post-war Russia is that "The children are _____, and the terrors are _____."
What are "children" and "terrible"?
500
This prominent Russian writer is quoted in the fourth section of the poem, predicting "inescapable disasters" and a future of revolution.
Who is Vladimir Soloviov?