THE OPPOSITION “HELL – PARADISE” IN THE POETRY OF YURIY KUZNETSOV

Abstract

The article is devoted to a multidimensional analysis of the motifs and images of a biblical nature, key to the work of Yuriy Kuznetsov, related to the realisation of the theme of the afterlife. The research material consists of poems from different years that include the lexemes “hell” and (or) “paradise”. In the course of the work, the place of these images in the artistic world of Yuriy Kuznetsov was determined, their relationship was considered in the light of the poetic and religious searches of the author. It is shown that involvement in the spiritual component of life is defined by the poet as communion with the original being, embodied in the image of the Garden of Eden. In contrast to it, hell stands out – a place of “similitude”. The Biblical canon plays an important role in the analysis of these images. It is established that the opposition “hell – paradise” reflects not only the basic Orthodox concept of the afterlife, but also the idea of two states of the human soul – in the bosom of religion and outside it – key to understanding Yuriy Kuznetsov’s thought about the primary role of faith in human life.