1. Natalia Poplawska and my group
Professor Meena Nayak
ENG 252
23 April 2014
Proposal for a Group Project
Topic: Homeland in poetry
Texts we will use: “Requiem” by Anna Akhmatova and “Inwokacja” by Adam Mickiewicz
Introduction: Describe “Homeland” in one word (What is the first word that comes to your
mind when you hear the word homeland?) Group members share their answers with the class.
Then, we open it up to the class to answer the same question.
Show 2 minutes of the Music video “Identity”.
Having short parts of five poems about homeland on the PowerPoint.
Short explanation to transition from the meaning of homeland to the meaning of homeland
specifically for Russia and Poland.
Thesis: The poems “Requiem” by Anna Akhmatova and “Inwokacja” by Adam Mickiewicz
illustrates the beloved and longed homeland as defined by identity, political history, religion, and
cultural values.
Main Idea #1: Identity
Sub Point #1: The meaning of Homeland
Evidence #1: Primary Source:
“No foreign sky protected me, no strangers wings shielded my face”
“Such grief might make the mountains stoop, reverse the waters where they flow”-
“The Yenisei swirls, the north star shines as it will shine forever”
“And Russia, guiltless, beloved, writhed under the crunch of bloodstained boots, under the
wheels of black Marias”
Evidence #2: Secondary Source:
“Enormously resilient, intensely obstinate, she refused to emigrate, though she had numerous
opportunities to do so. To her, being a Russian meant living in Russia no matter what its
government did to her and her loved ones, and being a lyric poet meant writing the truth. In
poem 4 of Requiem, Akhmatova looks back at herself as the heroine of her early books and
comments – Read poem 4. Yet she had the tenacity to stay in Russia and the capacity to move
from her private anguish to the ubiquitous suffering of her nation in the thirties”
(Hemschemeyer).

2. “Some of her gravest and most emphatic poems repeat her claim to have stood fast, accepted
persecution, remained with her people, not sheltered “under a foreign wing”
Summary of Analysis for this point: No other country had the financial, military, or political
resources to help the millions of people suffering from human rights violations ]besides having
people migrate to their countries, although Akhmatova repeatedly made it clear that she would
never leave her country by free will. This is another testament to her character. Although there is
no chronological order to the poem “Requiem”, this stanza was put at the beginning to show how
alone the Russian people were from the world and each other. The second quote enforces the
notion that such suffering makes the landscape and bodies of water native to Russia look morose
and gloomy as if the actual land is suffering along with the people. She makes actual bodies of
waters and mountains suffer with the people through pathetic fallacy in order to show how
injustice has not only plagued the charisma of the people, but it has also depressed the land, as if
aware of what is going on and dying with the people. The Yenisei is the largest river that flows
north into the Arctic Ocean. Instead of running its course north as it should, it swirls in circles as
if disturbed or in doubt. The North Star shines, as it will forever is a reference to Christianity.
The North Star or God will always shine north and bright to lead people to salvation, but the
Yenisei is not God and is suffering with the people, therefore, not flowing north.
Another reference to land being ignored or uninvolved in massacre of Russians as if the earth
itself was being persecuted for no other reason that being there. Akhmatova wants to drive home
the point that it is the common people and the land, together that are being killed: the people for
being Russian, the land for being in Russia and it is through the military and the government that
they die.
Sub point #2: Identity
Evidence #1:
“And if my country should ever assent to casting in my name a monument, I should be proud to
have my memory graced, but only if the monument be placed not near the seas on which my eyes
first opened, my last link with the sea has long been broken, but here, here I endured three
hundred hours in line before the implacable iron bars, because even in blissful death I fear to
lose the clangor of the Black Marias”
“One day somebody in the crowd identified me. Standing behind me was a woman, with lips blue
from the cold, who had, of course, never heard me called by name before. Now she started out of
the torpor common to us all and asked in a whisper”
“Can you describe this?” I said “I can”
“I woven them a garment that’s prepared out of poor words, those that I overheard”
Evidence #2: Secondary Source:

3. “For this reason the poet must never forget, or allow the new barbarism to blot out the past.
Akhmatova saw her poetic role as one of remembering and bearing witness. As Roberta Reeder
points out in her admirable introduction to The Complete Poems of Anna Akhmatova, “for
Akhmatova, to forget was to commit a mortal sin. Memory had become a moral category: one
remembers one’s misdeeds, atones, and achieves redemption.” And in those miserable years in
which Soviet culture sought to impose a Communist stereotype on every aspect of society, the
poet’s personal memories were as communally precious as statements bearing witness to public
events and universal suffering “-Bayley.
“In this context Nayman makes an unexpected and devastating point. Strictly speaking, Requiem
is the ideal embodiment of Soviet poetry that all the theorists describe.” Its hero is the people,
the narod, not the people as the regime wanted them to be, and was continually and
hypocritically invoking, but the people as they actually were” –Bayley
Summary of Analysis for this point: Akhmatova realized that she was a famous poet and that
millions of people wanted to hear what she’d write. When she mentions a statue being placed in
her honor, she specifies its location. She will not accept a statue placed near her hometown by
the sea, because that was a long time ago and is not what she wants to be remembered for. She
wants the memory of that time and place to be remembered by her statue at the gate where the
prison stood, where countless brothers and husbands were slaughtered and helpless women stood
in front of the gate waiting for a sign of hope. That is where she wants her memory placed so no
one would forget what happened there. When describing the scene where she is standing outside
the gate and a frozen looking women with blue lips Identifies her as a person and not as just
another body in the sea of women, she asks her to describe the place for the same reason, so no
one will forget. It can be argued that Requiem was written for the women of Russia who suffered
more than the actual men who were imprisoned because that is what Akhmatova can relate to,
and perhaps because there isn’t a lot of poetry dedicated to the nameless mothers and the pain
they go through waiting to hear word of their loved ones. Her poem is her gift, it is the garment
as she says, that is all she can give back to the people, it is written as a witness and an observer.
Evidence #3: Primary source:
“oh Lithuania my fatherland”
First stanza praises the love for a nation but proclaiming one is aware of it only once it is gone
The words “you are like health” is repeated in every stanza in order to drill the significance of
the meaning behind it to the reader.
“My country is health” –
“Meanwhile, bear my soul heavy with yearning's dull pain,
To those soft woodland hillocks, those meadows, green, gleaming,

4. Spread wide along each side of the blue-flowing Niemen,
To those fields, which by various grain painted, there lie
Shimmering, with wheat gilded, and silvered with rye”
Summary of Analysis for this point: This poem delves on the themes of loss, and longing for a
separated country to be one again. The poet realizes how important and necessary Poland is for
him and the rest of those born there, but only truly understands how much after it has been taken
away and divided. Similar to Requiem, “Inwokacja” delves into the theme of longing and
suffering of the land; because it is meant to emphasize that the land suffers along with the people
as if they are one entity, that when separated, they suffer together. In regards to Identity, without
their land, or under the control of another country the people of Poland are not people and they
cannot identify themselves as being Russian, Prussian or Austrian, because they are Polish.
When their country and freedom is returned, then, they will be able to identify themselves as
individuals but more importantly as a country, patriotic under one flag. The poet reminisces on
the landscape unique to Poland, the shape and color the life of the earth.
Main Idea #2: Political History
Topic Sentence: Both Russians and Poles experienced significant and similar changes in their
homeland and their experience created political issues which added dark pages to their history.
Brief intro of main idea: There are so many similarities between Russia and Poland. Poland used
to be the second largest European state which makes it really similar to Russia. The political
problems put unbearable burden on Russians and Poles which changed them as nations. Both
countries fought for getting back their freedom that they once had.
Sub Point # 1: Unbearable Burden on people
Evidence#1: Primary Source: Prologue
“That was a time when only the dead
could smile, delivered from their wars,
and the sign, the soul, of Leningrad
dangled outside its prison-house;
and the regiments of the condemned,
herded in the railroad-yards,
shrank from the engine's whistle-song
whose burden went, "Away, pariahs!"
The stars of death stood over us.
And Russia, guiltless, beloved, writhed
under the crunch of bloodstained boots,
under the wheels of Black Marias.”
Summary of Analysis for this point: Akhmatova unfolds the pain and suffering that she sees in
her society. She creatively describes the political issues as “The stars of death”. She says the

5. political problems affected the whole nation that the only individuals that are smiling are the
dead ones. The burden of emotional suffering that Russian’s government put on its people was
horrible. Russians lost their hope by being prisoners in their own country and not being scared of
death anymore, but putting it on their wish list.
Evidence#2: Secondary Source: “Acton pointed out the fact that the Polish state, as an elective
monarchy with republican institutions, was not fully legitimate from the point of view of
dynastic absolutism. Nevertheless, he also stressed that Poland had always been a recognized
member of the European family of nations and that its partition was therefore "an act of wanton
violence, committed in open defiance not only of popular feeling but of public law". He meant,
of course, the eighteen-century "law of nations" which tried to protect the rights of political
nations, i.e. nations having their own states (including states with a limited sovereignty), but not
the rights of ethnic nationalities which, unlike Poland, could not ground their aspirations in
political legitimism.”
Summary of Analysis for this point: Poles had to fight for their right as a European country and
stand for their right. Being a stateless nation and being a member of European family of nations
contradicted each other and, sadly, Poles had to fight for their rights. In Akhmatova’s poem
Russians prisoners were suffering in a same way and had to fight for their lives. Both Poles and
Russians had to go through a journey of suffering only to gain their basic rights as humans.
Sub Point # 2: Fighting for getting the freedom back
Evidence #1: Primary Source:
“O Lithuania, my native land,
you are like health--so valued when lost
beyond recovery; let these words now stand
restoring you, redeeming exile's cost.
It makes me hope a homesick exile might return.”
Evidence #2: Secondary Source: Roman Szporluk, a distinguished American historian of
Ukrainian background said in his book Communism and Nationalism:
"The Poles were able to awaken the theory of nationality in Europe precisely because they had
been deprived of their independent statehood, which they had enjoyed for centuries, at exactly
that moment when they were becoming a modern nation, a contemporary of the new age of
sovereignty of the people. For this reason, the Polish case deserves to be placed alongside the
French Revolution as a major historical event that had a direct ideological significance in the
history of nationalism....."
Summary of Analysis for this point: Poles had to define their nationalism after they lost their
independence. Losing freedom and becoming a stateless nation forced them to fight for getting
their freedom back. According to the eighteen- century "law of nations" Poland disappearance
from the map violate all the norms of law. Many people from both radical side and liberal side
agreed that Poland is historically legitimate, but they didn't consider how Poland's situation will
have universal applications. Poles journey to get their freedom back affected Europe

6. significantly, and their journey was similar to what Russians experienced as Akhmatova
beautifully described it in her poem. European countries didn’t help as much as they could
neither to Poles nor Russians. The journey to freedom taught them many hard lessons such as;
perseverance, courage and facing their fears. Mickiewicz demonstrates how after realizing his
country has been split the narrator ponders on what a prize and value his stolen land is. He gives
hope for the future by saying that with the same patriotism for the country and realization of the
consequences, the Polish people will restore their country back. This poem delves on the themes
of loss, longing for a separated country to be one again. The poem ends with hope for the future
and the restoration of peace.
Main Idea #3: Religion
Topic Sentence: The strong bond with religion in Orthodox Russia and Catholic Poland
influenced the analyzed poems and gave the oppressed people a sense of belonging to the same
nation.
Brief intro of main idea: Sharing a common religion during oppression helps the people preserve
their own culture. The homeland becomes a sacred place and remains in the hearts of its
residents, even thou it is lost as a tangible land or territory.
Sub Point # 1: Biblical magnitude of Akhmatova’s suffering
Evidence: The Crucifixion
Summary of Analysis for this point: Akhmatova makes many allusions to the crucifixion of
Christ. She compares her son to Jesus. They both were unlawfully sentenced and experienced
cruel punishment, even thou they were innocent. Akhmatova also compares herself and her own
suffering to the suffering of Mary, the Mother of Christ.
Sub Point # 2: Unity of the Russians under God
Evidence #1: Primary Source:
“Pray for me. Pray.”
“And I pray not for myself alone . . .
for all who stood outside the jail”
“my tortured mouth,
through which a hundred million people shout,
then let them pray for me, as I do pray
for them”
Evidence #2: Secondary Source:

7. “One of the main unifying symbols in the Russian state was Orthodoxy. The image of the state as
an external form of the realization and spreading of the true faith inherited from the Byzantine
imperial concept entered organically into the Russian imperial model. As Svetlana Lur’e notes.
The identity of the citizens of the empire was built not on ethnicity, but along religious lines;
national diversity was ignored by the state” (Nikonova, 6-7).
Summary of Analysis for this point: Akhmatova constantly uses prayer as a form of unity with
her people, the Russians. She acknowledges her homeland being under tyranny. However, she
sees the hope for freedom and she calls out for collective prayers as well as prayers for each
other. Praying together and praying for others gives Christians a sense of belonging and unity.
By staying connected to the Russian people, Akhmatova feels connected to her beloved but lost
homeland, free Russia. The critical essay cited as evidence #2 emphasizes the strong bond with
religion and church in Russia. It also points out the critical role that religion plays when it comes
to people of the same nation staying united under God in order to preserve their homeland.
Sub point # 3: God’s and Virgin Mary’s patronage over Poland
Evidence #1:
Holy Virgin, defender of the Shrine
at Czestochowa (…) who saved me once
with her miraculous glow. My tearful mother
entrusted me (it was her only chance,
I was near death) so when there was no other
cure, she helped to open up my eyes,
and once my lids were raised, though weak, I made
a pilgrimage to offer thanks and praise.
Summary of Analysis for this point: Adam Mickiewicz addresses his poem to the Holy Virgin
Mary whose miraculous and symbolic painting is located in Czestochowa. This is a reference to
the Pole’s cult of Our Lady of Czestochowa. It is believed that She is a patron of Poland and that
Her painting saved the nation from the foreigner attacks many times. It also performs miracles,
such as healing the sick. Mickiewicz himself was brought to the miraculous painting when he
was nearly dead as a child. As a consequence of that entrustment into the Virgin Mary, Adam
recovered and later made a pilgrimage to Czestochowa. Remembrance of the religious practices
make Mickiewicz feel like he is in his homeland. This bond also gives him the sense of
belonging and unity with all the Poles.
Evidence #2:
This memory of resurrection has stayed
alive in me since childhood; it makes
me hope a homesick exile might return

8. Summary of Analysis for this point: Mickiewicz has hope and trust in God, who has the power to
return the lost homeland just as he returned the poet’s health. Resurrection is an allusion to Christ
raising from the death three days after his crucifixion. It is also an allusion to Jesus performing a
miracle and bringing a dead man back from the death. Mickiewicz relates those two resurrections to
his own, personal one from his childhood. Then, he also hopes for the resurrection of the lost
country. He believes that the return of Poland as a free homeland will be done as God’s and Virgin
Mary’s miraculous grace.
Main Idea#4: Cultural Values
Topic Sentence: Close relationships with families and the bond with landscape build up the
image of homeland in the minds of both poets.
Brief intro of main idea: Russian and Polish cultures are based on very close relationships with
immediate and extended family. Bond between a mother and a son is especially strong. The
remembrance of family members helps the poets remember their temporarily lost homeland.
Thus, “home” where a person lives with his or her family and “homeland” become similar
concepts. Landscape is a visual form of homeland. Thinking and writing about it transforms the
poets’ minds into the beloved homeland.
Sub Point # 1: A mother-son relationship in Russia
Evidence #1: Primary Source:
For seventeen months I have cried aloud,
calling you back to your lair.
I hurled myself at the hangman's foot.
You are my son, changed into nightmare.
Evidence #2: Secondary Source:
“Mothers have an obligation to protect the interest of their sons, and that consequently, they
have the right to a political voice’. Mothers, in this view, have instincts that make them act
against state-sponsored patriotism, at least when it endangers their children” (Sperling, 12).
“Real mother is a woman who went to pull their sons out of military camps and out of prison.
Where conditions demanded the ethos of the maternal instinct, and mothers had to bring order
and security” (Sperling, 12).
Summary of Analysis for this point: Akhmatova illustrates deep love for her son, extreme pain
caused by their separation, and the tries to free her son by begging the government to release
him. In this fragment she shows devotion and loyalty to her beloved son. A critical source
confirms the strong bond between mothers and sons in Russia. It is both, their instinct and
obligation to protect their sons even if it means risking lives, reputation, or becoming humiliated.
Getting the son back is for the mother like getting a little piece of her homeland back.

9. Sub Point # 2: Landscape as a visualization of homeland
Evidence #1: Primary Source:
“Quietly flows the quiet Don”
“The Yenisei swirls”
Evidence #2: Primary Source:
“to wooded hills, green meadows, and the lakes
spread round the River Nieman--that I'd be borne
back to that womb of gilded wheat and rye
turned silver, to the amber mustard row,
buckwheat snow, and clover, burning like a shy
girl's blush--to strips of turf, ribbons that show
boundaries with green. All this I see
so clearly, down to each blossoming pear tree.”
Summary of Analysis for this point: For Akhmatova the main landscape elements such as rivers,
help her remember the beauty of Russia, her homeland. The quiet Don is an allusion to the peaceful
time before Stalin’s regime. The swirling Yenisei is an allusion to Russians going in circles instead
of getting on the straight path to freedom. That means the country did not find its way yet. For
Mickiewicz the longed homeland is the synonym for all the beautiful landscaping of Poland and
Lithuania. Even thou he is on exile, he can still remember the splendor of rivers, meadows, lakes,
hill, and even trees. Every element of nature is in the same time an element of his homeland. He can
see all this clearly and thus he feels like home when he writes about them.
Conclusion: