Autobiographical motifs of Andrey Rumyantsev’s lyrics (based on the compilation of poems “The Empress Life”)

Abstract

This article is dedicated to the autobiographical discourse in the compilation of poems “The Empress Life” by the national poet of Buryatia Andrey Rumyantsev.  The subject of research is the key images and motifs of Rumyantsev’s autobiographicallyrics, while the object is the poet’s lyrical biography. The author analyzes Andrey Rumyantsev’s poetry for the purpose of determination of the means of expression of autobiographical images and motifs in the texts created in form of poetic reminiscences. Most careful attention is given to the compositions dedicated to parents, grandparents, and sister of the poet. Methodology leans on the basic principle of biographical method, according to which personality of the writer defines the specificity of his works. The scientific novelty consists in conducting a motif-imagery analysis of Rumyantsev’s poetry from the perspectives of biographical method. The conclusion is formulated that the main motifs of Andrey Rumyantsev’s autobiographical lyrics is “great guilt”, “repentance”, and “responsibility” that encompass all poetic reminiscences of his loved ones – the key images of autobiographical lyrics. The specific approaches in creation of autobiographical images and motifs are revealed. Thus, the common for all images is the stance on labor and possession of physical fortitude. All female images are united by the motif of the hardship of being a woman, as well as righteousness semanticized through the concepts of “patience” and “love”. The mail images resemble bogatyrs (heroes of the Russian epic poems); the author also emphasizes their unity with the native nature.