Karelian epic poem by F. N. Glinka as a historical Christian legend

Abstract

The article discusses the peculiarities of Fyodor Nikolayevich Glinka's poetry, his work, and the distinctive features of his poems. The attention is focused primarily on the poems: «Karelia, or the Imprisonment of Marfa Johannovna Romanova» (1830), «The Maiden of Karelian Forests» (1826). The poem Karelia, or the Imprisonment of Marfa Johannovna Romanova» is about the events during the Time of Troubles. The prince's mother, Marfa Ioannovna Romanovna, is exiled to Karelia as a result of a conspiracy. A traveling monk helps her survive her exile. He introduces her to the mythology and life of Karelia, comforts her and tells her about the divine miracles that occur in the north. Eventually, Marfa Ioannovna finds the strength to survive her exile and returns to her homeland. The poem also attracted the attention of A. Pushkin who wrote a review of the poem in 1830. The characters of the poem The Maiden of Karelian Forests are contemporaries of the author. A young man arrives in Karelia. There he meets a girl and her father who is hiding from the law. The poem ends with the return of the girl and the main hero from Karelia. Fyodor Glinka's artistic images, in particular the image of Karelia, attracted other poets as well, namely Eugeny Barstynsky and Vladimir Benediktov. Eugeny Barstinsky wrote his poem «Eda» in 1826. This poem is about love between a Finnish girl and a visiting hussar. The poet Vladimir Benediktov wrote several poems devoted to Glinka himself and Karelia. They were published in 1856. These poems are: The Cliff, The Lake and To the Playmates. All these poets wrote about Karelia, but only Glinka wrote in his poems about Christianity and history. Whereas Yevgeny Baratynsky and Vladimir Benediktov depict the splendor and beauty of Karelia, Fyodor Glinka's characters are engaged in spiritual quests among the Karelian nature and eventually gain true inner freedom.