The Dreams in M. Y. Lermontov’s Lyrics: Between Reality and Illusion

The article examines the motif of dreams in the works of M. Yu. Lermontov as a key element of his artistic world, reflecting the poet's philosophical reflections on fate, reality, and illusion. Analyzing Lermontov's poetic works, the author identifies the main functions of the dream : the desire to escape from reality, prophetic revelations, the recognition of the illusory nature of the world, and the symbol of inanimate nature. Special attention is given to the dualism of dreams and reality, where the protagonist balances between the ordinary and the fantastic, striving to find the truth but facing even greater uncertainty. The relevance of the research article is to enrich the experience of studying Russian literature, and that in deepening the analysis of the works of M.Y. Lermontov. The methodological foundation of the research includes elements of comparative and structural analysis, allowing the study of the artistic representation of dreams in Lermontov's poetry. Methods such as descriptive method, system-semantic analysis method and comparative method will be used as the main method. The research results show that dreams in Lermontov’s works serve not only a narrative and symbolic function but also express philosophical concepts related to existential questions of human existence. The study demonstrates that the dream in Lermontov's poetry is multifaceted: it symbolizes the boundary between reality and illusion, foresees inevitable fate, and serves as a means to access various levels of consciousness. The scientific novelty of the study consists in the expansion and deepening of the dream motif in the lyrics of M. Y. Lermontov. The conclusions of the article emphasize the importance of this motif for understanding Lermontov's worldview, his views on life, death, and the impossibility of achieving absolute knowledge. The motif of dreams occupies an important place in Lermontov's poetry.