Interpretation of the meanings of sacred elements as a way of expressing Qur'anic motifs in the works of V.K. Kyukhelbeker

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Abstract

This study is devoted to the analysis of the features of interpreting sacred elements as a method of artistic expression of Qur'anic motifs in the works of V. K. Kyukhelbeker (1797–1846). The article aims to determine the functional role of Qur'anic motifs in the poetic structure of his works and their contribution to shaping the image of the Muslim East within the context of Russian-Eastern literary relations of the early nineteenth century. The scholarly novelty lies in considering Qur'anic motifs not as decorative elements of Orientalism but as a substantive foundation for dialogue with Muslim culture. The material of analysis includes the poem "The Death of Byron" (1824), the poem "Zorovavel" (1831), and prose fragments from the cycle "Russian Decameron." The study employs motif analysis in comparison with the Qur'anic text and Islamic dogma, allowing the identification of the nature of the artistic transformation of sacred elements. The analysis demonstrates that Kyukhelbeker acts as a profound interpreter of Muslim culture. In "The Death of Byron," Qur'anic motifs (funeral rites, calls to prayer) provide ethnographic authenticity and convey a sacred atmosphere. In "Zorovavel," they are integrated into the symbolic fabric: the formula "may Allah grant" marks confessional identity, while the scene of awaiting the Last Judgment and the critique of idolatry trace back to Qur'anic eschatology and the doctrine of creation. Particular interest lies in the poet’s deliberate use of religious lexicon (iman, minaret, "may Allah’s glory be with him") and allusions to specific ayahs, accompanied by authorial commentary. Even artistic inaccuracies (interpretation of the seventh sura, Al-A'raf) serve not to distort but to poetically adapt the sacred, creating the image of “a Muslim firmly remembering his Quran.” Thus, Kyukhelbeker’s works stand as significant testimony to a reflective dialogue with the Muslim East, wherein Qur'anic motifs, preserving their authentic semantic core, are organically woven into the Russian Romantic tradition, enriching its philosophical and artistic content.

About the authors

Ibragim Nazim ogly Asadov

Baku State University

Author for correspondence.
Email: ibrahim_esed@mail.ru
Baku, Azerbaijan

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