Anna Akhmatova was a leading Russian poet of the early 20th century known for her minimalist yet emotionally powerful style. She was a founder of the Acmeist movement which focused on clarity and directness of expression. Her works ranged from short lyric poems to longer cycles like Requiem, a tragic depiction of suffering under Stalinist terror. Requiem expressed her deep sorrow over personal and national losses during the purges as she waited for news of her imprisoned son. It reflected the universal despair of unjust human suffering and persevered with a message of hope. Later in life, her works explored deeper philosophical themes surrounding the mysteries of human existence.

1. Anna Akhmatova
 ( Anna Andreyevna Gorenko,(1889 - 1966)
 Great Russian poet of the Silver Age (the last decade of 19th century
and first two or three decades of the 20th century).
 A leader of the Acmeism movement, which focused on rigorous
form and directness of words (The Acmeists’ insistence on clarity and
precision of expression—much in the spirit of the Imagists, although
the two movements developed independently of each other—
represented a reaction against the intricate symbols and otherworldly
preoccupations of the Symbolists).

2. Theme and style
 A master of conveying raw emotion in her portrayals of
everyday situations.
 Her works range from short lyric love poetry to longer,
more complex cycles, such as Requiem; a tragic depiction
of the Stalinist terror.
 During the time of heavy censorship and persecution, her
poetry gave voice to the Russian people.
 Published the collection "White Flock" in 1917.

3. Theme and style
 She seeks refuge, release, and salvation in religion,
nature, and poetry.
 Themes of, religion and a presentiment of doom
commonly occur in her poems.

4. Requiem
 In this masterpiece she expresses her deep sorrow
about not only her personal loss but also the suffering to
which the Russian people were being subjected.
 The poem is her closest approach to public castigation
of the regime in Russia.
 It reflects the horrible years of the purges through
which she spent seventeen months waiting in line in
front of a prison to discover the fate of her son.

5. Requiem
 Much of Requiem reflects the universal sorrow and
despair of a mother on the verge of losing her son. She
uses her personal sorrow to speak for all human beings
who suffer unjustly.

6. Requiem
 The persona does not lose hope and courage. She
perseveres, knowing that the victims are unjustly
persecuted and that she is not alone in suffering. That the
thawing snow from the face of her monument will glide
like tears. Requiem is one of the twentieth century’s
most eloquent poetic testimonies to human tragedy.

7. Maturity
 The autobiographical “A Poem Without a
Hero”, is a panoramic view of the greater
maturity and wisdom of old age. Her approach
to poetic themes here, is more epic and
historical, with a deeper perspective involving
more philosophical and psychological themes.

8. Maturity
 In one of her last poems, she speaks of the “Supreme
Mystery.” In her early poetry, it was the mystery of the
man-woman relationship. Later, it became the mystery
of the man-to-man relationship, with the emphasis on
the cruelty of man to man. In her last years, it became
the mystery of the relationship of man to eternity,
indeed, the mystery of the meaning of existence.