Grot L. P.

The Image of a Kingdom under the Sun in Historical Sources and in J. P. Polonsky’s Works Р. 122- 135.

UDC 821.111-3.09«19»

The article compares an epic poem called “A Kingdom under the Sun” and J. P. Polinsky’s poem “A Kingdom under the Sun” from the poetry collection “The Dreams” (1856–1860) highlighting a potential inner connection between them. To prove the existence of the potential connection, the author analyzes the historical implications of the epic poem “A Kingdom under the Sun” and underlines that the traditional interpretation of the poem as a purely fantastic narrative is wrong. The author maintains that the original choice of details used to describe the kingdom under the Sun and to create the plot of the epic poem was intuitively predetermined by their historical relevance and people’s desire to plunge into the legendary history of ancient Russia. The historical relevance of the epic poem “A Kingdom under the Sun” is underlined by its association with a sacred tradition of the ancient Indo-European world to worship a Solar deity. A whole number of J. P. Polonsky’s works are rooted in mythology associated with Sun worship, too. The cosmogonic images of Russian epic poems and fairy tales strongly appeal to the poet. The poet’s infatuation with Russian folklore is not exceptional for the time he lived in. Many people of the period were interested in Russian folklore and Russian mythology.

epic poem; J. P. Polonsky; Kingdom under the Sun; poetic collection; Sun worship

 

References

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