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The North as a mythological space in the lyrics by Nikolai Gumilyov

https://doi.org/10.25587/2782-6635-2025-1-39-50

Abstract

The scientific novelty and relevance of the article are determined by understanding the problem of the north as a mythological space in the lyrics by Nikolai Gumilyov as quite ambiguous, not fitting into the framework of solely acmeist aesthetics and poetics, and at the same time fundamentally important for determining the evolution of the poet's work. The dynamics of the poet's work was determined by the evolution of the author's ideas from symbolism to acmeism. The article clarifies the idea of Gumilyov's mythopoetics: for the poet's early lyrics of 1905-1907, it is characteristic to consider the northern theme in the context of archaic heroism: the north as a place of heroic trials. The poetic image of the north in Gumilyov's late poetry of 1917-1918 outgrows the folklore interpretation, it translates the deep mythological semantics of mother earth as a sacred source of Russian self-consciousness. The artistic result of Gumilyov's appeal to the northern theme is the creation of poems that go back to deep mythological semantics. The article mainly uses an immanent analysis of the artistic text. 

About the Authors

A. I. Oschepkova
M. K. Ammosov North-Еastern Federal University
Russian Federation

Anna I. OschepkovaCand. Sci. (Philology), Head of the Department of Russian Literature of the 20th Century and Theory of Literature, Faculty of Philology,

Yakutsk.

AuthorID: 531102.



M. N. Afanasyeva
M.K. Ammosov North-Еastern Federal University
Russian Federation

Maria N. Afanasyeva – 4th year student, Faculty of Philology, 

Yakutsk.



References

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3. Snegirev I. The Northern Text and Northern Myth in Gumilyov's Poetry. Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Litteraria Rossica. 2020, (13):17-27 (in Russian)

4. Gumilyov NS. Complete Works: In 10 Volumes. Vol.1. Poems (1902 - 1910). Moscow: Voskresenye, 1998 (in Russian)

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6. Zobnin YV. Wanderer of the Spirit (about the fate and creativity of Nikolai Gumilyov). In: Pro et contra: Personality and creativity of Nikolai Gumilyov in the assessment of Russian thinkers and researchers: an anthology. St. Petersburg: RCHGI, 2000:8-52 (in Russian)


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For citations:


Oschepkova A.I., Afanasyeva M.N. The North as a mythological space in the lyrics by Nikolai Gumilyov. Issues of National Literature. 2025;(1):39-50. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25587/2782-6635-2025-1-39-50

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ISSN 2782-6635 (Online)