Marina Tsvetaeva from Poems to Czechoslovakia

A Russian national: Born 1892: Died 1941

She had a priveleged and culturally rich upbringing. Her father was a professor and curator and her mother a concert pianist. They lived all over Europe and she went to school in Switzerland and Germany.

A very important 20th century Soviet poet

Lived through imprtant historic and personal events:

- Russian Revolution of 1917- Moscow famine and death of her daughter - Exile from Russia- Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia- Return to Stalin’s Russia- Arrested for espionage and husband shot- Committed Suicide

''I refuse to be. In the madhouse of the inhuman I refuse to live. With the wolves of the market place I refuse to howl ...''

• Tsvetaeva was an outspoken and passionate poet. She tried to draw attention to political and social problems in Russia and Europe. This often got her in trouble.

• She was imprisoned by Stalin’s government for spying, despite being innocent. As a lyrical poet, she is also famous for exploring the depths of human experiences.

After Stalin’s death in 1956, Tsvetaeva and her husband were exonerated.

Russians now celebrate her work.

Her quest for truth and honesty in her work continues to inspire her readers today.

USSR stamp featuring Tsvetaeva (1992)

““And soon all of us will sleep under the earth, we who never let each other sleep above it.”

Following the Anschluss of Austria to Nazi Germany, in March 1938, the conquest of Czechoslovakia became Hitler's next ambition.

The incorporation of the Sudetenland into Nazi Germany left the rest of Czechoslovakia weak and it became powerless to resist subsequent occupation.

On 16 March 1939, the German Wehrmacht moved into the remainder of Czechoslovakia and, from Prague Castle, Hitler proclaimed Bohemia and Moravia the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.

The occupation ended with the surrender of Germany following World War II.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_occupation_of_Czechoslovakia

Hitler plans to invade Czech

Eye-witness account

The effect of the occupation on Czech citizens can still be felt today.

Read through the extract from a blog belonging to a Prague walking tour company.

What similarities can you see between the experience described in the poem and in the blog?

- Discuss with a partner

Tsvetaeva mourned the invasion of Czechoslovakia

and the loss of the Sudetenland, as though it

were a close friend.

They took—suddenly—and took—openly—took mountains—and took their entrails, they took coal, and steel they took,they took lead, and crystal.

And sugar they took, and took the clover,they took the West, and they took the North,they took the beehive, and took the haystack,they took the South from us, and the East.

Vari—they took, and the Tatras—they took,they took our fingers—took our friends—

But we stand up—as long as there’s spit in our mouths!

May 9, 1939

Write down the

differences between

this translation and the

one in your book.

1. Discuss the voice in this poem.

2. What kind of imagery and symbolism does the poet use? How does it shape meaning?

3. How does she create tone and mood in this poem?

4. Compare her reaction to the war to another poem of your choice.

Write at least a paragraph for each answer.

Another poem from Tsvetaveva