The genesis of the battlefield image in the poetic batalistics of the Patriotic War of 1812

Abstract

The aim of the research is to identify the literary genesis, semantic components, and artistic potential of the image of the battlefield in the poetic batalistics of 1812. The article explores the architectonics of the battlefield space and the symbolic content of the battle image, based on works from the “Collection of Poems Relating to the Unforgettable Year of 1812”, in comparison with folklore traditions and ancient Russian military tales. The research’s scientific novelty lies in clarifying the genesis of spatial topoi in the verbal batalistics of the Patriotic War of 1812, determining the mechanisms of transforming vivid images of military events into powerful artistic images, and expanding our understanding of visual poetics in the Russian literature of the early 19th century. The study reveals that within the context of battles, the field topos is realized in several meanings. It is not only a designation of the battlefield but also a generalized image of the entire Russian land, embodying the national character. It is found that alongside the vivid imagery inherited from ancient Russian military storytelling, the poets of 1812 infused the battle texts with romantic and realistic tendencies in the depiction of space. This is reflected in their praises of the military accomplishments of ordinary individuals on the battlefield, the gallantry of hussars, friendly sentiments, and portrayals of soldier life. This allows readers to visually perceive historical events and be engaged with the literary patriotic tradition.