Poet, Russia, People: Myth, Propaganda Clich? or Cultural Archetype?

The article provides a description of the study by A. S. Sobennikov on the myths of Russian literature. Myth is interpreted here as a property of consciousness to understand and interpret reality in mythological images. The historical myth, the myth of the poet, the myth of Russia, the myth of the people and the problem of demythologization are distinguished. Attention is drawn to the events of the Battle of Kulikovo, the Patriotic War of 1812 and the Battle of Borodino, which are considered by the author as military-patriotic discourse and historical myths. The author calls for distinguishing myths as phenomena of mass consciousness from propaganda clichés. Further, the author considers myths about the poet in Russian literature, highlighting Pushkin's, Fetov's and Nekrasov's versions of the myth. Of the Soviet poets, the author's myths of B. Okudzhava, B. Chichibabin and B. Ryzhiy are considered. Myths about Russia and the people are considered using the example of famous literary texts. The emergence of myths in the aesthetic reality of the text, development, content and completion are traced. The ways of mythologization are defined, one of which is called an emotional assessment of a historical event. A distinction is made between myth, image and theme.