N. M. Karamzin in artistic consciousness of M.U. Lermontov

The article reviews plots, characters, motives, and ideas of N.M. Karamzin transformed in artistic consciousness of M.U. Lermontov. Particular attention is given to «The Song about Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich, young guardsman and merchant Kalashnikov», directly adjacent to the «History of the Russian state». In the structure of the plot, as well as in the details of historical realities, «Songs» have obvious allusions to Karamzin’s description of both the era of Ivan the Terrible, and his personal characteristics. Lermontov contrasted his vision of Russian behavior pattern to that of Karamzin. Contrary to the historian, poet recreated the plot, showed the depth of indestructibility of people’s spiritual and moral principles. In Lermontov’s view Ivan the Terrible failed to destroy the foundations of national foundations and thereby to change moral condition of Russian people. Ivan the Terrible’s era defect which influenced, according to Karamzin, on moral character of Russian people, is shown by Lermontov in the dramatic image of Kiribeevich.