Forgotten worlds of Mari and Mordovian Soviet poetry: The works of Valentin Dmitriev and Alexander Martynov

Abstract

The article examines the national variations of socialist realism on the example of two poetic systems. The importance of a new appeal to the history and artistic reality of this literary trend, its language and features is emphasized. Texts by V.D. Dmitriev and A.K. Martynov, who are bright but already almost forgotten representatives of the Mari and Mordovian (Erzya) Soviet poetry, are in the focus of scientific research. It is concluded that despite significant ideological restrictions, the authors convey the ethnic worldview of their people, refer to its mythopoetic resources, aesthetic ideals and value-conceptual categories in their poems. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the figurative-symbolic layer of poetry, the main problem-thematic complexes are identified, their possible semantic connection with folklore is established. The question is raised about the lack of attention of translators to the source texts. Translators reduce the ethno-cultural expressiveness of the works and bring Finno-Ugric literary samples closer to the canons of Russian literature. Some ethno-mental characteristics of the Mari and Mordovian authors are determined. Their genre preferences are analyzed, the creative desire for large lyrical epic forms is explicated.