Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anna Akhmatova's "Death of Sophocles" constructs an atmospheric narrative about the moment of the death of the great Athenian playwright Sophocles, contextualizing it within a wider frame of myth, divinity, and human endeavor. Written in 1961, the poem touches upon the relationship between art and mortality, the spiritual and the terrestrial. Akhmatova was well-versed in both classical and modern traditions, and her poem reads as a confluence of these two worlds.

The poem opens with a striking image: an eagle swooping down on Sophocles' house. In Greek mythology, the eagle is often seen as a messenger of the gods, most notably Zeus. Its appearance sets a tone of divine intervention or approval at the time of the playwright's death. This is reinforced by the "cry of cicadas," insects traditionally associated with artistic inspiration in ancient Greece. Together, these natural phenomena serve as earthly harbingers of a cosmic event-Sophocles' movement towards "his immortality."

Sophocles' impending death is not only a personal milestone but also a matter of national significance. He is depicted "skirting the enemy camp at the walls of his native city," suggesting that even in death, he remains engaged with the fate of Athens. Sophocles was not just a playwright; he was a general and a statesman, deeply involved in the civic life of Athens. His journey towards immortality seems to brush against the immediate, mortal concerns of his city, as if to draw a connection between the enduring value of art and the transient nature of human affairs.

The king's "strange dream" of Great Dionysus, the god of theater among other things, serves as the divine seal on Sophocles' earthly legacy. The king is commanded to lift the siege, respecting Sophocles' passing. Here, art and the artist are given a power almost equivalent to divine decree; they influence decisions of war and peace, life and death. It's a lofty ideal that resonates with the Romantic notion of the artist as a near-divine creator, but it's also very much in line with the ancient Greek concept of 'arete'-the excellence and virtue inherent in fulfilling one's potential, whether in art or heroism.

Provenance adds another layer of texture to this poem. Written during the 20th century, a period marked by significant social, political, and artistic changes, Akhmatova's lines resonate with an implicit comparison between the ancient and modern worlds. The Soviet Union, where she lived, was a context not very friendly to the free reign of the artist. Akhmatova herself faced state censorship and personal losses, including the execution of her former husband and the imprisonment of her son. Her portrayal of Sophocles isn't merely an exercise in recounting history; it's a complex interplay of homage, hope, and perhaps a subtle critique of her own time.

Structurally, the poem is concise, delivering its message through a series of vivid images and symbolic references rather than extended argument or dialogue. It builds an emotional impact not through verbosity but through the exactness and weight of each word and image.

In "Death of Sophocles," Akhmatova achieves a compelling dialogue between the past and the present, between the mortal and the immortal. The poem serves as both a tribute to a great artist and a reflection on the eternal questions of life, death, and artistic legacy.

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