Alexander Blok’s Cycle “On the Kulikovo Field” in the Context of Historical Myth Cover Image

Цикл А. Блока «На поле Куликовом» в контексте исторического мифа
Alexander Blok’s Cycle “On the Kulikovo Field” in the Context of Historical Myth

Author(s): Anatoly S. Sobennikov
Subject(s): Russian Literature, Theory of Literature, Sociology of Literature
Published by: Петрозаводский государственный университет
Keywords: A. Blok; On the Kulikovo Field; cycle; myth; historical myth; steppe; Rus; Mother of God;

Summary/Abstract: The article explores the mythological nature of A. Blok’s cycle “On the Kulikovo Field.” It is indicated that the historical myth underlying “Zadonchina,” “The Tale of the Battle of Kulikovo,” and “Tales of the Battle of Mamaev” is ignored by the author. Blok is also far from the imperial, state myth, in the center of which is Dmitry Donskoy and Sergius of Radonezh. In the 19th century, it was he who compiled the content of textbooks and numerous books for the people. The author of the article draws attention to the kenotic signs of the Russian space (steppe), to the symbolism of the Mother of God, and of color and to the motif of “forebodings.” An important semantic moment is the repetition of history. In the aspect of axiology “On the Kulikovo Field” is a myth about “eternal” Russia, kenotic Russia. It is argued that the cycle “On the Kulikovo Field” is a historical introduction to the macrocycles “Poems about Russia” and “Motherland”, in which Blok’s version of the myth of the “holy Rus'” - RUSSIA - will be implemented.

  • Issue Year: 21/2023
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 109-123
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: Russian