Nervi de toamnă: simbolismul bacovian într-o poezie despre moarte
George Bacovia's "Nervi de toamnă" - A Literary Commentary
George Bacovia (1881-1957) was a Romanian poet who is considered one of the most representative figures of symbolism and modernism in Romanian literature. His poetry is characterized by a pessimistic and melancholic vision of life, expressed through images of decay, death, loneliness, and urban alienation. One of his most famous poems is "Nervi de toamnă" ("Autumn Nerves"), which was first read by the author at Alexandru Macedonski's literary circle in 1904.
George Bacovia Nervi De Toamna Comentariu Literar
In this article, we will provide a literary commentary on this poem, focusing on its title, theme, verses, figures of speech, motifs, lyrical self, and elements of versification. We will also offer a personal opinion on the poem and its message.
Introduction
The significance of the title
The title of the poem, "Nervi de toamnă", can be translated as "Autumn Nerves" or "Autumnal Nerves". It suggests a state of agitation, anxiety, and tension that is caused by the arrival of autumn. The word "nerves" can also imply a physical and emotional fragility, a vulnerability to external stimuli, and a loss of control over one's feelings. The title thus prepares the reader for a poem that explores the negative effects of autumn on the psyche of the lyrical self.
The theme
The theme of the poem is the sadness and despair that result from the anticipation of death. The lyrical self observes the fading of life everywhere around him, as autumn symbolizes the end of a cycle and the approach of winter. He feels isolated from the social world and trapped in his own gloomy thoughts. He also experiences a sense of decay and deterioration in his body and soul, as he realizes that he is getting closer to his inevitable demise.
Commentary on the verses
The first four verses
The poem begins with an auditory image: "E toamnă, e foșnet, e somn..." ("It's autumn, it's rustling, it's sleep..."). The rustling sound suggests a lack of harmony and peace in the environment, as well as a sign of change and movement. The word "sleep" implies a state of lethargy, indifference, and detachment from reality. It also foreshadows the idea of death as a final sleep.
The second verse introduces a contrast between the lyrical self and the rest of the world: "Eu singur și cu gândul meu..." ("I alone and with my thought..."). The use of singular pronouns emphasizes his isolation and loneliness. He has only one thought that occupies his mind: his impending death.
The third verse reveals this thought more explicitly: "Mai am puțin și voi muri..." ("I have little left and I will die..."). The use of future tense indicates a certainty and inevitability about his fate. He does not express any hope or resistance, but rather accepts his condition with resignation.
The fourth verse reinforces this idea by adding a temporal specification: "Într-o zi tristă de noiembrie..." ("On a sad day of November..."). November is usually associated with autumn and its gloomy atmosphere. It is also the month that precedes December, which marks the beginning of winter and the end of the year. Therefore, November represents a transitional period between life and death, between past and future.
The next four verses
The fifth verse introduces another contrast between the lyrical self and nature: "Pe când natura se despoaie..." ("While nature undresses..."). Nature is personified as a woman who takes off her clothes, implying a process of exposure and vulnerability. This could also suggest a sexual connotation, as nature prepares for a union with death.
The sixth verse continues this image by describing nature's appearance: "De frunze galbene și roșii..." ("Of yellow and red leaves..."). The leaves are symbols of life that have changed their color due to autumn. Yellow and red are warm colors that contrast with the coldness of death. They also create a visual effect that resembles fire or blood, implying a sense of violence or passion.
The seventh verse shows how nature affects the lyrical self: "Eu simt cum sufletu-mi se coace..." ("I feel how my soul is baking..."). The verb "to bake" implies a high temperature that causes pain and suffering. It also suggests a transformation or alteration of his essence. His soul is not only affected by nature's changes, but also by his own emotions.
The eighth verse explains this further: "De-atâta jale și pustiu..." ("From so much sorrow and emptiness..."). He feels an intense sadness that consumes him from within. He also feels an emptiness that surrounds him from without. He has no joy or meaning in his life. He is alone in a barren world.
The last four verses
The ninth verse repeats the first one: "E toamnă, e foșnet, e somn..." ("It's autumn, it's rustling, it's sleep..."). This creates a circular structure that emphasizes the monotony and hopelessness of his situation. Nothing has changed since he started his meditation. He is still trapped in his autumnal nightmare.
The tenth verse repeats the second one: "Eu singur și cu gândul meu..." ("I alone and with my thought..."). This reinforces his isolation and obsession with death. He has no one to share his feelings with or to distract him from his morbid thoughts.
The eleventh verse repeats the third one: "Mai am puțin și voi muri..." ("I have little left and I will die..."). This reminds us of his fatalistic attitude and his lack of agency over his destiny. He does not try to change or improve his situation. He simply waits for death to come.
The twelfth verse repeats part of the fourth one: "Într-o zi tristă de noiembrie..." ("On a sad day of November..."). This concludes his poem with an image that summarizes his mood and outlook. He expects to die on a sad day that reflects his inner state. He does not specify which day exactly, because it does not matter to him. Any day in November would be suitable for his demise.
Figures of speech
Alliteration
Alliteration is a figure of speech that consists of repeating consonant sounds at the beginning or within words in close proximity. For example:
"E toamnă, e foșnet..." ("It's autumn, it's rustling...") - repetition of /t/ and /f/ sounds.
"De frunze galbene și roșii..." ("Of yellow and red leaves...") - repetition of /g/ and /r/ sounds.
"Eu simt cum sufletu-mi se coace..." ("I feel how my soul is baking...") - repetition of /k/ sound.
"De-atâta jale și pustiu..." ("From so much sorrow and emptiness...") - repetition of /t/ sound.
a musical effect that enhances the sound and rhythm of the poem. It also draws attention to the words and their meanings, creating a contrast or a connection between them.
Personification
Personification is a figure of speech that consists of giving human qualities or abilities to non-human entities. For example:
"Pe când natura se despoaie..." ("While nature undresses...") - nature is personified as a woman who takes off her clothes.
"Eu simt cum sufletu-mi se coace..." ("I feel how my soul is baking...") - the soul is personified as something that can be baked.
Personification creates a vivid and imaginative image that appeals to the senses and emotions of the reader. It also suggests a relationship or a comparison between the human and the non-human elements.
Symbolism
Symbolism is a figure of speech that consists of using an object, a person, a place, or an idea to represent something else, usually abstract or complex. For example:
"E toamnă..." ("It's autumn...") - autumn symbolizes the end of life, the decay of nature, and the approach of death.
"E somn..." ("It's sleep...") - sleep symbolizes a state of detachment, indifference, and lethargy. It also symbolizes death as a final sleep.
"De frunze galbene și roșii..." ("Of yellow and red leaves...") - the leaves symbolize life that has changed its color due to autumn. Yellow and red symbolize fire or blood, implying violence or passion.
Symbolism allows the poet to convey deeper and more complex meanings through simple and concrete images. It also invites the reader to interpret and analyze the poem beyond its literal level.
Literary motifs
Autumn
Autumn is a recurring motif in Bacovia's poetry, as well as in other symbolist poets. Autumn represents the season of decline, decay, and death. It is associated with coldness, darkness, rain, fog, and wind. It creates a gloomy and depressing atmosphere that reflects the mood and feelings of the lyrical self.
Death
Death is another recurring motif in Bacovia's poetry, as well as in other modernist poets. Death represents the ultimate fate of all living beings, the end of existence, and the loss of identity. It is associated with fear, despair, resignation, and loneliness. It is often anticipated or desired by the lyrical self as a way of escaping from his miserable condition.
Loneliness
Loneliness is another recurring motif in Bacovia's poetry, as well as in other urban poets. Loneliness represents the state of being isolated from other people, from society, and from oneself. It is associated with sadness, emptiness, alienation, and lack of communication. It is often caused by or causes a sense of difference or inadequacy in the lyrical self.
The lyrical self
The characteristics of the lyrical self
The lyrical self is the voice or persona that expresses his thoughts and feelings in the poem. He is not necessarily identical to the poet himself, but rather a fictional construct that represents a certain perspective or attitude. In this poem, the lyrical self can be characterized as follows:
He is a male speaker who uses masculine pronouns ("eu", "mi", "meu").
He is an adult speaker who has lived long enough to experience life's hardships and disappointments.
He is a pessimistic speaker who has no hope or joy in his life.
He is a fatalistic speaker who accepts his destiny without resistance or protest.
He is a solitary speaker who has no friends or companions to share his feelings with.
He is a sensitive speaker who feels deeply affected by nature's changes and his own emotions.
The relationship between the lyrical self and the world
The relationship between the lyrical self and the world can be described as follows:
He is detached from the world, as he does not interact with anyone or anything except nature.
He is different from the world, as he does not fit in with society's norms or expectations.
the world, as he suffers from its changes and hostility.
He is inferior to the world, as he has no power or influence over it.
Elements of versification
The rhyme scheme
The rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhymes at the end of each verse. It is usually indicated by letters that represent the sounds. For example:
E toamnă, e foșnet, e somn... A Eu singur și cu gândul meu... B Mai am puțin și voi muri... B Într-o zi tristă de noiembrie... A
In this example, the rhyme scheme is ABBA, meaning that the first and the fourth verses rhyme, and the second and the third verses rhyme. The poem has three groups of four verses that follow this rhyme scheme.
The rhythm and meter
The rhythm is the musical quality of the poem, created by the alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables. The meter is the number and arrangement of syllables in each verse. For example:
E toamnă, e foșnet, e somn... x / x / x / x / Eu singur și cu gândul meu... x / x / x / x / Mai am puțin și voi muri... x / x / x / x / Într-o zi tristă de noiembrie... x / x / x / x /
In this example, each verse has eight syllables and follows a trochaic tetrameter, meaning that it has four feet of two syllables each, with the stress on the first syllable (x /). The poem has a regular and consistent rhythm and meter throughout.
The enjambment and caesura
The enjambment is a figure of speech that consists of breaking a syntactic unit (a phrase, a clause, or a sentence) by the end of a line or between two verses. It creates a sense of continuity or suspense. For example:
Pe când natura se despoaie De frunze galbene și roșii...
In this example, the phrase "Pe când natura se despoaie" ("While nature undresses") is broken by the end of the first verse and continues in the second verse. This creates a sense of anticipation for what nature undresses of.
The caesura is a figure of speech that consists of creating a pause within a line or a verse by using punctuation marks or natural pauses in speech. It creates a sense of separation or emphasis. For example:
Mai am puțin // și voi muri...
In this example, there is a caesura after "Mai am puțin" ("I have little left"), marked by two slashes (//). This creates a sense of contrast or resignation between what he has left and what he will do.
Conclusion
A summary of the main points
In conclusion, "Nervi de toamnă" is a symbolist poem by George Bacovia that expresses his sadness and despair caused by the anticipation of death. The poem uses various literary devices such as alliteration, personification, symbolism, enjambment, and caesura to create a gloomy and depressing atmosphere that reflects his mood and feelings. The poem also explores some recurring motifs in Bacovia's poetry such as autumn, death, and loneliness. The lyrical self is characterized by his isolation, pessimism, fatalism, sensitivity, and detachment from the world.
A personal opinion on the poem
Personally, I find this poem very powerful and moving. It conveys a deep sense of human suffering and vulnerability in the face of mortality. It also shows how nature can affect our emotions and thoughts in different ways. I admire Bacovia's ability to create such expressive and suggestive images with simple words and sounds. I think this poem is a masterpiece of Romanian literature and a universal expression of human condition.
FAQs
What is the main theme of "Nervi de toamnă"?
The main theme of "Nervi de toamnă" is the sadness and despair that result from the anticipation of death.
What are some symbols used in "Nervi de toamnă"?
Some symbols used in "Nervi de toamnă" are autumn (symbolizing decay and death), sleep (symbolizing detachment and death), leaves (symbolizing life that changes color due to autumn), yellow and red (symbolizing fire or blood).
What is the rhyme scheme of "Nervi de toamnă"?
The rhyme scheme of "Nervi de toamnă" is ABBA.
What is the meter of "Nervi de toamnă"?
The meter of "Nervi de toamnă" is trochaic tetrameter.
What are some figures of speech used in "Nervi de toamnă"?
Some figures of speech used in "Nervi de toamnă" are alliteration (repetition of consonant sounds), personification (giving human qualities to non-human entities), symbolism (using an object to represent something else), enjambment (breaking a syntactic unit by the end of a line or between two verses), caesura (creating a pause within a line or a verse).