At the Crossroads of Traditions (Kuzebay Gerd and Russian Poetry)

Abstract

The article discusses the impact of Russian poetry on the creative work of Kuzebay Gerd. The authors reveal the poets whose works this Udmurt writer relied on (from Pushkin and Izmaylov to Bryusov, Mayakovski and Yesenin), demonstrating their role in the establishment and formation of his creative individuality, and considering reasons for Kuzebay Gerd’s turning to Russian texts, as well as his translation activity. The influence of Russian literary sources on Kuzebay Gerd’s work was limited and was a natural means for him to learn about the developing forms of cultural creative activity. Additionally, the authors of the article describe Kuzebay Gerd’s creativity as a translator and emphasize his artistic freedom that led to a transformation of original texts. His exploration of the Russian literary heritage was adjusted to the Udmurt writer’s creative biography. In his younger years, his romanticism was akin to that characteristic of the works of Gorky and Mirra Lokhvitskaya, and the early 1920s revolutionary songs and marches. Owing to his work on revolutionary texts, Gerd studied the basic professional skills, and developed his poetic language. His work on the social and political issues led to his exploration of the creative work of the most prominent Soviet poets. He studied at the Higher Institute of Literature and Art and lived in Moscow, which helped him get acquainted with the aesthetics of the time, and acquire a style that complied with the needs of the epoch. Kuzebay Gerd was able to attain impressive results in his creative activity thanks to his susceptibility to various influences along with his reliance on important models and stimulating cultural traditions.

Keywords

• традиции
• влияние
• русская поэзия
• удмуртская литература
• перевод.