The Northern Text and Northern Myth in Gumilyov’s Poetry

Abstract

The article is devoted to the to the Northern myth, markedly present in the poetry of Nikolai Gumilyov. The poems included in the book Bonfire (1918) are of most interest. The external reason for writing this kind of Scandinavian cycle was the poet’s sojourn in Sweden. This is, however, by no means “geographical poetry” or a versified report from a journey. Scandinavian themes appear to be closely connected with the Slavonic ones and the interconnection even demonstrates some attempts on the part of Gumilyov to construct his own concept of Russia’s historical development.