ANTIQUE MYTH IN THE R. M. RILKE’S POETIC UNIVERSUM

Abstract

The article studies peculiarities of the reception of the ancient myth in the poetry of the Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke. Poetic universe of R.M. Rilke is not just a metaphor. This, as noted by A.V. Karelsky, “in the most precise sense of the word is “the world of habitation”, and he does not just exist, but is built with the help of words consciously and purposefully” [1]. When creating his own artistic universe, the poet actively turns to the previous culture: this is the biblical philosophical and poetic tradition, medieval motives and images, and the philosophical ideas of German and Danish philosophers, French literary and visual tradition, Russian spiritual culture and poetry. A special place in the formation of the poetic world of R.M. Rilke is occupied with ancient myths and images. In the artistic world of R.M. Rilke’s ancient myth became the basis for philosophical and poetic reflections, a starting point in the study of the theme of poet and poetry, a poetic word that reflects the dynamics of the modern world. The article examines features of reception of ancient mythological images in the poet’s work, among which the myth of Orpheus plays a key role. It is the mythologeme of Orpheus that significantly influences the formation of Rilke’s poetic universe. The author of the article reveals features of transformation of the myth of Orpheus in the poet’s work, analyzes in more detail “Sonnets to Orpheus” (1922).