S.M. Gorodetsky’s essays on Western Armenia as a structural and semantic unity (based on publications in the newspapers “Russian Word” and “Caucasian Word”)

Abstract

The article examines S.M. Gorodetsky’s essays published in the Moscow newspaper “Russian Word” and the Tiflis newspaper “Caucasian Word” during the poet’s stay on the Caucasian Front in 1916–1917. It is noted that this group of texts contains information about Gorodetsky’s travels, colleagues, humanitarian activities in Western Armenia and can be used as a source of information about his biography during this period. It is shown the relative chronology of the events described in the essays and their connection with the poet’s three visits to the city of Van. The hypothesis is put forward that, despite publication in various periodicals (central and regional newspapers), Gorodetsky’s essays have a number of integral features and represent a structural and semantic unity. It is shown that the texts under study have a cross-cutting plot related to the poet’s travels and his work in the Union of Cities, common events and characters. It is revealed that Gorodetsky’s essays, as well as travel notes, are the pretexts of his artistic works, in particular, the book of poems “The Angel of Armenia” and the unfinished novel “The Gardens of Semiramis”. It is concluded that Gorodetsky interpreted this group of newspaper publications as a metatext, similar to an artistic cycle.