Analysis of Mayakovsky’s poem “What is good and what is bad”
The baby’s son
came to my father
and the little one asked:
– What has happened
Good
and what is
Bad? –
I have
no secrets, –
listen, children, –
this father’s
answer
is the first place
in the book.
– When there is wind
the roofs are torn,
When
the hail roared, –
Everyone knows –
that’s it
for walks
Badly.
The rain fell
and passed.
The sun
around the world.
this –
Very good
and big
and children.
If
the son’s face
is blacker than
the dirt of the night
–
It’s clear,
It’s
very bad
for the baby’s skin.
If
a boy
loves soap
and tooth powder,
This boy
is very cute,
he will do well.
When
a dirty brawler hits
a weak boy
I’m like that Don’t even
want to enter in the book.
It screams:
– Don’t touch
those
who are shorter!
This Boy
so good
just a sight for sore eyes!
If you have
broken the line of
a small book
and ball
Octobers say:
bad boy.
If it’s a boy
who loves work ,
stick your finger
in the book
, write
about it
here:
He’s
a good boy.
The crow
kid
ran away moaning.
That boy is
just a coward.
That
very bad.
this one,
though only an inch taller,
rivals
the formidable bird.
Brave boy
well, it will come in handy
in life
.
It
got into the mud
and happy.
that the shirt is dirty.
About this
They said:
he is bad,
a slob.
It
cleans its felt boots, I
wash
my
wellies. Although
he
is small,
he is quite good.
Remember
This
every son.
Know
every child:
increases
from a son
to a pig,
when a son –
a pig,
The boy
went happily
and the little one decided:
“Will
do well,
and I will not do it –
Badly”.
Analysis of the poem “What is good and what is bad”? Mayakovsky
Mayakovsky’s creative legacy includes not only provocative, complex works in a futuristic style. The poet addressed even the youngest readers in his work. A vivid example, which has not lost its relevance in our time, is the poem “What is good and what is bad” written by Mayakovsky in 1925.
Children’s literature seems only at first glance to be a simple and light thing that does not deserve the attention of serious authors. In fact, speaking to a child in a language they understand requires considerable effort. Especially if the author claims that his work really teaches the younger generation something good and important in life. Mayakovsky considered himself one of those who turned the “wheel of history”. He saw his direct responsibility in raising a new generation destined for a better future.
The poem begins with a simple question from the child to the father. In a child’s mind, the world is clearly divided into two: good and bad. For a child, abstract and intermediate concepts do not yet exist. A clear answer to such a question becomes the basis for emerging concepts of good and evil, truth and lies, justice and arbitrariness.
Dad’s answer begins with a simple example about the weather. Everyone knows that rain and wind are bad, but the sun is good. From here, the author moves on to a direct analogy: dirt is bad, cleanliness is good. Therefore, a decent child who maintains hygiene is a good person.
Next, the father continues to list situations that the child can understand, which characterize positive qualities. Protection of the weak, hard work, courage and correctness are clearly contrasted with cruelty, laziness, cowardice and sloppiness. The boy understands that all his actions can be viewed through the category of good and bad. The final evaluation of the child by others depends on it. The final caveat is the statement that only a “pig” can grow from a “pig”. A playful threat has a great emotional impact. The child takes away from the conversation a firm conviction that one must always act only well.
The poem acquires a special meaning in our time. Excessive enthusiasm for “children’s rights” paralyzes the emerging personality and makes it difficult for him to enter society. Recognizing the value of children’s wishes is of course necessary. But this in turn creates excessive vanity and promise. Spoiled children, who were not taught the basic rules of behavior in childhood, cannot find their place in society. Their life becomes difficult and painful.
Today, before we start reading Mayakovsky’s poem “What is good and what is bad”, let’s remember a little about our childhood. Let’s recall just a little, literally half a minute. Well? A little piece of happy childhood memories never hurt anyone, right? 🙂
Please. I don’t know about you, but when I was little I loved a book with Mayakovsky’s poem “What is Good and What is Bad”. True, I liked the book. In this sense – not the text of the poem, but the pictures that illustrated this very text. 🙂
But the text of the poem “What is good and what is bad” not only inspired, but rather even amused. I imagined this boy (for some reason I guess 3-4 years old). And my thoughts about his mental abilities were not enthusiastic. After all, even the most daring flight of fantasy did not help me to imagine a child who, OF HIS GOOD WILL, came to his father with the question “how to behave correctly?”! 🙂
We adults usually bother with such questions, but certainly not small children. Not they themselves, but we, adults, force children to look at the world with an evaluative, comparative eye. We force you to divide deeds into good and bad. Divide the surrounding into “us” and “strangers”. We force them to stop being children. 🙁
But the pictures in the book were cute. For some reason I especially liked the ones where the boy was dirty. 🙂 I probably felt ideal compared to him. 🙂
And the gray rectangle of the boy, whom “they don’t even want to put in the book”, made the imagination work in full force: what does this crook look like? 🙂
In general, based on childhood memories, today I present to you the text of Mayakovsky’s poem “What is good and what is bad” with pictures. With pictures from the same “my” book.
These illustrations were made by the wonderful artist A. Pakhomov. And I am sure you will like them very much too. Well, are you ready? Let’s begin!
- Mayakovsky
What is good and what is bad
The baby’s son
came to my father
and the little one asked:
– What has happened
Good
and what is
Bad? –
I have
no secrets, –
listen, children, –
this father’s
answer
is the first place
in the book.
– When there is wind
the roofs are torn,
When
the hail roared, –
Everyone knows –
that’s it
for walks
Badly.
The rain fell
and passed.
The sun
around the world.
this –
Very good
and big
and children.
If
the son’s face
is blacker than
the dirt of the night
–
It’s clear,
It’s
very bad
for the baby’s skin.
If
a boy
loves soap
and tooth powder,
This boy
is very cute,
he will do well.
When
a dirty brawler hits
a weak boy
I’m like that Don’t even
want to enter in the book.
It screams:
– Don’t touch
those
who are shorter!
This Boy
so good
just a sight for sore eyes!
If you have
broken the line of
a small book
and ball
Octobers say:
bad boy.
If it’s a boy
who loves work ,
stick your finger
in the book
, write
about it
here:
He’s
a good boy.
The crow
kid
ran away moaning.
That boy is
just a coward.
That
very bad.
this one,
though only an inch taller,
rivals
the formidable bird.
Brave boy
well, it will come in handy
in life
.
It
got into the mud
and happy.
that the shirt is dirty.
About this
They said:
he is bad,
a slob.
It
cleans its felt boots, I
wash
my
wellies. Although
he
is small,
he is quite good.
Remember
This
every son.
Know
every child: a son
becomes a pig, if a son becomes a pig,
The boy
went happily
and the little one decided:
“Will
do well,
and I will not do it –
Badly”.
Well, what do you think of Pakhomov’s illustrations for Mayakovsky’s poem “What is Good and What is Bad”? Amazing, right? Maybe I’ve only seen better ones. But there is already something incredible! 🙂
That’s probably all for today. Good day!
Oh yes. Here’s something else to part with that I highly recommend. Be sure to read it to your child. It’s definitely about what’s good and what’s bad! He didn’t even impress me as a kid. And really shocked. So you won’t regret it. Of course!
That’s all for now. 🙂
232 –
Baby son
came to my father
and the little one asked:
What has happened
and what is
Badly ? –
no secrets –
10 listen, children, –
that of its father
in the book.
If the wind
the roofs are torn,
the hail roared, –
Everyone knows –
20 it is
for walks
233 –
It was raining
and passed.
in the whole world.
Very good
and big
30 and children.
blacker than night
lies in the dirt
on the face –
very bad
for baby’s skin.
40 If
loves soap
and tooth powder,
This Boy
lovely,
going well.
If it hits
dirty brawler
weak boy
50 I am like this
to enter in the book.
It screams:
Do not touch
234 –
who is smaller? –
This Boy
so good
60 is a target for sore eyes!
interrupted the line
october says:
bad boy.
If it’s a boy
loves work
70 per book
about that
Write here:
good boy.
From the crow
ran away moaning.
This boy
80 is just a coward.
very bad.
even though he’s only an inch taller
with a terrifying bird.
Brave boy
235 –
90 will come in handy.
got into the mud
that the shirt is dirty.
About that
he is bad
and the little one asked:
– What is good and what is bad?
I have no secrets, –
listen, children, –
Father’s answer to this
I put it in a book.
– If the wind tears the roofs,
if the hail thunders, –
everyone knows – it is
not suitable for walking.
The rain came and went.
The sun around the world.
It is very good
for both adults and children.
Usli’s son is blacker than night,
the dirt lies on his face, –
It is clear that this is very bad
for the baby’s skin.
If a boy loves soap
and tooth powder,
this boy is very cute
will do well.
If some crappy fighter hits
a weak kid
I don’t
even want it put it in the book.
It screams, “Don’t touch me.”
those who are smaller!
This boy is so good
just a sight for sore eyes!
If you broke the line with
a book and a ball,
all the boys say:
bad boy.
If a boy loves work,
he points to the book,
they write about it here:
he is a good boy.
The little crow
ran away moaning.
This kid is just a coward.
This is very bad.
This one, though only an inch tall,
contends with a formidable bird.
Brave boy, okay
comes in handy in life.
It climbed into the mud and is glad
that the shirt is dirty.
They talk about it,
he is bad – a slob.
It cleans its felt boots,
washes its own wellies.
Although he is small,
but quite good.
Remember this every son.
Every child knows:
my son will be a pig
if my son is a pig.
The boy went happily, and the child decided:
“I will do good
and I will not be offended.”
“What is good and what is bad” Vladimir Mayakovsky
The baby’s son
came to my father
and the little one asked:
– What has happened
Good
and what is
Bad? —
I have
no secrets –
listen, children,
this father’s
answer
is the first place
in the book.
– When there is wind
, the roofs are torn,
When
the hail rumbled,
Everyone knows –
this is it
for walks
Badly.
The rain fell
and passed.
The sun
around the world.
this –
Very good
and big
and children.
If
the son’s face
is blacker than
the dirt of the night
–
It’s clear,
It’s
very bad
for the baby’s skin.
If
a boy
loves soap
and tooth powder,
This boy
is very cute,
he will do well.
When
a dirty brawler hits
a weak boy
I’m like that Don’t even
want to enter in the book.
It screams:
– Do not touch
those
who are smaller? —
This Boy
so good
just a sight for sore eyes!
If you have
broken the line of
a small book
and ball
Octobers say:
bad boy.
If it’s a boy
who loves work ,
stick your finger
in the book
, write
about it
here:
He’s
a good boy.
The crow
kid
ran away moaning.
That boy is
just a coward.
That
very bad.
this one,
though only an inch taller,
rivals
the formidable bird.
Brave boy
well, it will come in handy
in life
.
It
got in the mud
and I’m glad
the shirt is dirty.
About this
They said:
he is bad,
a slob.
It
cleans its felt boots, I
wash
my
wellies. Although
he
is small,
he is quite good.
Remember
This
every son.
Know
every child: a son
grows into a pig, and a son grows into a little pig.
The boy
went happily
and the little one decided:
“Will
do well,
and I will not do it –
Badly”.
Analysis of Mayakovsky’s poem “What is good and what is bad”.
Mayakovsky’s poetic legacy for young readers is full of optimistic intonations. A huge world opens up for young recipients – young, happy, where hardworking and self-confident adults live. The characters of the literary text “We Walk” are a brave Red Army soldier, wise Komsomol members, a worker and a peasant, a people’s representative fighting for children’s happiness and a kind nanny. A gallery of positive images awaits the heroes of the work “” published three years later. The author gives an unequivocal assessment of all the characters, without ignoring the disgusting idlers: stupid old praying women, a bourgeois, a talkative lady. Trying to be completely honest and logical, the poet even divides animals into different aspects: he classifies a clean cat as a positive example and a dirty dog as a negative example.
The textbook created and published in 1925 also contains instructive and trusting intonations. Bright and understandable figurative structure, sincerity, clear stanza, unique style – the strengths of the poetic text have ensured its popularity among modern readers.
The unusually long title of the work demonstrates the main antithesis on which its composition is built. Abstract moral categories are interpreted from a perspective that the child understands: “good” and “bad”. The poet entrusts the right to speak about moral instructions to the father of the “baby boy” – a close and authoritative figure for young listeners.
A code of conduct, like a mosaic, consists of individual episodes that show praiseworthy or reprehensible actions. The sequence of examples begins with a description of weather that is suitable or hinders walking. The father then turns to the images of the boys. A dirty person, a brawler, a slob, a coward is placed on the negative pole. Hardworking and brave boys who keep cleanliness and order and take care of things are declared as role models.
The last episode is structured taking into account the peculiarities of child psychology, which have not lost their relevance in today’s reading. The father ends his speech with a generalization that has become an aphorism: bad habits formed in the early years tend to develop in adulthood. An honest conversation about serious topics evokes gratitude and joyful contentment in the child. “Little” masters a complex subject and gains invaluable experience in making an independent decision – to follow the life path marked “good”.