Polska i Bułgaria w poezji Aleksego Chomiakowa

Abstract

The images of Poland and Bulgaria in Aleksey Khomyakov’s poems are a poetic representation of his Slavophilic views. What is significant in his depiction of both nations is the idea of uniting the Slavic world under the leadership of Russia. In his works, Khomyakov uses specific poetics: images of eagles as a symbol of Slavic nations, metaphorical images of the east and west, and numerous apostrophes. The motif of Bulgaria is manifested through descriptions of Bulgarian landscapes, introducing topographic details in the poems, and the lyrical I directly addressing Bulgarians. This motif is used in works devoted to the national liberation fight of southern Slavs against Turkey, in which the poet took an active part himself (hence the autobiographical element). In his works, the fight for liberation is also perceived as a religious war with a providential character, i.e., it is an expression of divine will. The motif of Poland mostly occurs in Khomyakov’s early poems, especially the ones inspired by the November Uprising. Important in his approach to the Polish motif is the historical background of conflicts between Poland and Russia. In light of the poet’s beliefs, that fi ght is an unacceptable fratricidal war, and he exhorts both sides of the conflict to make peace. He also calls for mercy for the defeated insurgents. While the Bulgarian nation is presented in a positive way, the image of the Polish nation is inconclusive. However, in both cases, he predominantly highlights the tribal closeness of the Slavic peoples.