““The Bridegroom”The Bridegroom”

Alexander PushkinAlexander Pushkin

About the SelectionAbout the Selection

““The Bridegroom” is a variation on the The Bridegroom” is a variation on the familiar folk story of a worthy young person familiar folk story of a worthy young person standing up to declare independence and standing up to declare independence and becoming heroic by doing so.becoming heroic by doing so.

The poem raises questions about fate, wishes, The poem raises questions about fate, wishes, and particularly about making choices for and particularly about making choices for yourself.yourself.

Literary TermsLiterary Terms

ForeshadowingForeshadowing is when the author gives is when the author gives hints as to what will happen next in a hints as to what will happen next in a story.story.

You can use writer’s hints at future You can use writer’s hints at future events to events to predict outcomespredict outcomes..

Words to KnowWords to Know

ForebodingForeboding – feeling that something bad will – feeling that something bad will happenhappen

TumultTumult – noisy commotion – noisy commotion

Poetry TermsPoetry Terms

Narrative PoemNarrative Poem A poem that tells a story, contains a conflict, A poem that tells a story, contains a conflict,

and has a resolution.and has a resolution.

AlliterationAlliteration Repetition of consonant sounds.Repetition of consonant sounds. (Line 16) “She sat with her sisters.”(Line 16) “She sat with her sisters.”

Poetry TermsPoetry Terms

RepetitionRepetition Repeating words or phrases to add emphasisRepeating words or phrases to add emphasis (Line 29) “It was he! It was he!”(Line 29) “It was he! It was he!”

Making PredictionsMaking Predictions

What does Natasha’s strange behavior What does Natasha’s strange behavior followed by renewed cheerfulness lead the followed by renewed cheerfulness lead the reader to predict about future events?reader to predict about future events?

Her strange behavior together with the fact Her strange behavior together with the fact that she’s been gone for three days, points to a that she’s been gone for three days, points to a troubling future.troubling future.

Word UsageWord Usage

TroikaTroika – a Russian carriage or sleigh drawn – a Russian carriage or sleigh drawn by a team of three horses harnessed side by by a team of three horses harnessed side by sideside

ComprehensionComprehension

What is Natasha’s reaction to the young man What is Natasha’s reaction to the young man in the troika?in the troika?

Natasha is terrified.Natasha is terrified.

CultureCulture

Historically, marriage was regarded as an Historically, marriage was regarded as an alliance between two families, rather than just alliance between two families, rather than just between two individuals. Wealthy families between two individuals. Wealthy families could add to the their money and power could add to the their money and power through a child’s marriage. Marriage was also through a child’s marriage. Marriage was also a means of bringing peace between former a means of bringing peace between former enemies.enemies.

MatchmakerMatchmaker

A matchmaker is an intermediary whose A matchmaker is an intermediary whose responsibility is to arrange a marriage to the responsibility is to arrange a marriage to the satisfaction of both families involved.satisfaction of both families involved.

The matchmaker in “The Bridegroom” looked The matchmaker in “The Bridegroom” looked for a man who was handsome, young, rich, for a man who was handsome, young, rich, and generous for Natasha to marry.and generous for Natasha to marry.

ComprehensionComprehension

Why is Natasha silent when the matchmaker Why is Natasha silent when the matchmaker comes to talk to the family about a possible comes to talk to the family about a possible groom?groom?

Her silence suggests that she is strong, Her silence suggests that she is strong, independent, and perhaps considerate of her independent, and perhaps considerate of her parents’ feelings, or that there is something she parents’ feelings, or that there is something she feels she cannot tell them.feels she cannot tell them.

ForeshadowingForeshadowing

What does Natasha’s sobbing and shuddering What does Natasha’s sobbing and shuddering when her father agrees to the match when her father agrees to the match foreshadow?foreshadow?

It predicts that she will not go happily into the It predicts that she will not go happily into the wedding.wedding.

Since Natasha is terrified of the young man on Since Natasha is terrified of the young man on the troika, this foreshadows that something the troika, this foreshadows that something surprising will happen at the wedding. surprising will happen at the wedding.

Making PredictionsMaking Predictions

Why does Natasha suddenly become calm Why does Natasha suddenly become calm after the matchmaker splashes water in her after the matchmaker splashes water in her face?face?

She realizes she has no choice and will have to She realizes she has no choice and will have to go through with the wedding.go through with the wedding.

She may also have already hatched a plan to She may also have already hatched a plan to get out of the marriage.get out of the marriage.

Making PredictionsMaking Predictions

Natasha says (line 87-88), “…and call the law Natasha says (line 87-88), “…and call the law to the feast.”to the feast.”

Why does she invite the law to her wedding?Why does she invite the law to her wedding? This foreshadows the arrest of the bridegroom.This foreshadows the arrest of the bridegroom.

Natasha’s DreamNatasha’s Dream

In Natasha’s dream, she hides behind the stove In Natasha’s dream, she hides behind the stove in a hut in the woods and watches twelve in a hut in the woods and watches twelve unruly men and a sad, quiet woman.unruly men and a sad, quiet woman.

One of the men kills the woman and cuts off One of the men kills the woman and cuts off her hand.her hand.

NatashaNatasha

Why does Natasha refuse to eat or drink at the Why does Natasha refuse to eat or drink at the wedding feast?wedding feast?

She does not intend to celebrate the upcoming She does not intend to celebrate the upcoming nuptials.nuptials.

She must keep a clear head to allow her plan She must keep a clear head to allow her plan to work.to work.

Question #2Question #2

Summarize the first eight lines of the poem.Summarize the first eight lines of the poem. After disappearing for three days, Natasha After disappearing for three days, Natasha

returns home upset. She refuses to answer her returns home upset. She refuses to answer her parents’ questions.parents’ questions.

Where was she during the three days she was Where was she during the three days she was missing?missing?

She probably witnessed the murder.She probably witnessed the murder.

Question #3Question #3

Describe Natasha’s reaction to the wedding.Describe Natasha’s reaction to the wedding. At first Natasha is upset, but then she appears At first Natasha is upset, but then she appears

to accept the marriage.to accept the marriage. What accounts for this switch in attitude?What accounts for this switch in attitude? She probably felt safe in confronting the She probably felt safe in confronting the

bridegroom as murderer with her family and bridegroom as murderer with her family and friends surrounding her.friends surrounding her.

Question #4Question #4

How does Natasha respond to her How does Natasha respond to her bridegroom’s question about why his bride is bridegroom’s question about why his bride is so sad?so sad?

She tells him a dream has been haunting her.She tells him a dream has been haunting her. Did Natasha have the “evil” dream she Did Natasha have the “evil” dream she

describes?describes? No, she is using the dream to make her case.No, she is using the dream to make her case.

Question #5Question #5

How does Natasha’s attitude at the beginning How does Natasha’s attitude at the beginning contrast with her behavior at the end?contrast with her behavior at the end?

At the beginning, she seems fragile and shy. At the beginning, she seems fragile and shy. At the end, she is courageous and independent.At the end, she is courageous and independent.

How can we account for the change?How can we account for the change? She has been able to bring the bridegroom to She has been able to bring the bridegroom to

justice and avoid the marriage.justice and avoid the marriage.

Question #7Question #7

Why is the setting of the poem important?Why is the setting of the poem important? The poem could only take place in a culture The poem could only take place in a culture

that practiced matchmaking.that practiced matchmaking. Would the setting be realistic today?Would the setting be realistic today? It wouldn’t unless it was set in a culture that It wouldn’t unless it was set in a culture that

still practiced arranged marriages.still practiced arranged marriages.