In the summer of 1811 in Tsarskoye Selo was opened a new elite educational institution, which was equivalent to the university education. Among the first lyceum students was the twelve-year-old Alexander Pushkin, who later called the lyceum "a homeland for his soul". The opening ceremony was attended by the royal family. A moral guideline for the whole period of study was the speech of A.P. Kunitsyn, professor of moral sciences, who in his parting speech urged young nobles to honor the laws, love freedom, glory and homeland. We present interesting facts about Pushkin's lyceum years.
1. Young Alexander Pushkin came to the lyceum together with his uncle, who used his connections with the founder of the lyceum, Minister Speransky, with whom Vasily Lvovich was well acquainted, to provide the boy with a place in an elite institution. The aunt of the future lyceum's aunt collected 100 rubles for his journey, which she handed to Vasily Lvovich for safety. However, only 3 rubles were returned to Pushkin from this money.
2. So that the lyceum students would not be distracted from their studies, at first they were forbidden to write poems. However Pushkin continued to write even during lessons. Later, when the teachers realized that the ban did not work, they organized a literary magazine, where young talents could publish their works.
3. Pushkin paid attention only to those subjects that he liked, so he was listed among the poorly performing lyceum students. Teachers noted that the young man has a sharp mind with no signs of diligence. Thus, for example, Alexander received the nickname "French" for his mastery of the French language. Pushkin learned the language at the age of nine. At the same time he became addicted to French literature. His favorite subjects during his studies were Russian and French literature and history. The teachers noted the young man's flexible and sharp mind with no diligence.
4. At graduation from the Lyceum in 1817, Pushkin was 26 in academic achievement out of 29 graduates. On results of 15 examinations excellent results were only on fencing, the Russian and French literature.
Poetry
1. In the lyceum years the first poem by Pushkin "To a friend of a poet" dedicated to V. Kuchelbecker was published. The poem was secretly sent by A. Delvig to the magazine "Vestnik Evropei" and printed under the pseudonym of Alexander NKShP. The author was 15 years old at the time.
2. The poem "Memories of Tsarskoye Selo", read at the exam at the end of the initial stage of training, dissolved the presence of G. Derzhavin. Under the impression of Derzhavin wanted to hug the poet, but Pushkin ran out of the hall in extreme excitement and he could not be found for a long time.
3. the lyceum period of poetic creativity was deservedly appreciated by such masters as Vyazemsky, Zhukovsky, Batyushkov. Pushkin was admitted to the literary club "Arzamas", among whose members was Karamzin. The poet began to write poems to order, including for the imperial family.
Friends.
1. Among friends of Pushkin lyceum students were A. Delvig, V. Kuchelbecker, I. Pushchin. The poet was hot by nature, and often had quarrels from nothing, after which he repented deeply and sincerely. Inappropriate spices hurt friends. After one of the insulting epigrams, the first duel took place in the address of V.Kuchelbecker, as a result of which the opponent shot to the side, and Pushkin threw a gun into the snowdrift. Friends hugged each other and made up. Duels - it is very bad, the Christian church death on a duel is equated to suicide.
2. One day, a short note appeared in the handwritten magazine "The Lycée Sage": "William, read your poems to make me fall asleep sooner. Küchelbecker was very offended. Later in the same magazine a cartoon was placed, the center of which was a long nose of Kuchelbecker sticking out of the pond.
3. For Pushkin the years of study were firmly connected with friends. Annually, until the end of his life, on the anniversary of the lyceum, he wrote poems, the key theme of which was friendship.