Love and Death: Nikolai Gogol and the peculiarities of his poetics

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol occupies a unique place in the history of Russian literature, combining profound philosophical prose, satire and mysticism in his works. His writings are rich in symbolism, subtle allusions and enigmatic motifs such as love, death and the suffering of the soul. What shaped Gogol’s distinctive poetics? How does he explore the themes of love and death in his texts?

Nikolai Gogol was an outstanding Russian prose writer and essayist whose work had a major influence on the development of Russian literature. His early works, such as "Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka", are deeply imbued with the spirit of Ukrainian life and cultural traditions, reflecting his Cossack heritage. 

In the story "The Night Before Christmas", Gogol masterfully combines different literary styles to create a unique artistic world. He immerses the reader in the atmosphere of a folk ballad, free from intellectual stereotypes and prejudices. The literary plot serves as a canvas to reveal the beauty and truth hidden in the depths of folklore. Elements of the fantastic, so characteristic of Gogol’s prose, are also present: "At last the long-desired sleep, that universal comforter, visited him — but what a sleep! Never hadheseendreamsmoredisjointed".

In "The Enchanted Place", the power of evil not only manifests itself but triumphs, highlighting human helplessness in the face of its mysterious power. Gogol seems to imbue his prose with a therapeutic effect, carefully constructing narratives of remarkable symmetry and inner harmony. 

Gogol’s mother considered her son a genius and credited him with inventing the steam engine, the railway and other technological innovations of his time. However, among the students at St Petersburg University, where Gogol taught history, he was not known as an outstanding teacher. He often missed lectures, and when he did attend, he spoke for only half an hour instead of the allotted two. The writer Nikolai Ivanitsky recalled: "Gogol’s lectures were very dry and dull: not a single event provoked him to a lively or animated discussion. He looked at past centuries and extinct tribes with sleepy eyes". 

Gogol always struggled financially. Despite the success of his works, he never received substantial royalties. In one of his letters to Pushkin, he complained: "Booksellers are a breed of people who could be hanged from the nearest tree without a shred of conscience". Gogol always carried a gospel with him and read a chapter of the Old Testament every day. 

Some theories suggest that Gogol did not die, but fell into a lethargic sleep. However, this claim is contradicted by the memoirs of the sculptor Nikolai Ramazanov, who made a death mask of Gogol. The only point on which modern scholars agree is that Nikolai Gogol had an immense influence on the development of both Russian and world literature. 

Lecturer 

Nina Shcherbak is Associate Professor in the Department of English Philology and Cultural Linguistics at St Petersburg University, Master of Arts (the United Kingdom), a writer and screenwriter. She is also a scriptwriter for science television shows, author of fifteen monographs, and books on linguistics, literature, language philosophy, and English literature.

The lecture will be held as part of the events to mark the 300th anniversary of St Petersburg University, the oldest university in Russia.

The meeting will be held online in Russian with simultaneous interpreting into Spanish.

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