The poem “Shakespeare” by B. Pasternak: a genre and semantic aspect

The article analyzes the poem by B. Pasternak “Shakespeare” (the cycle “Five Stories”) in the aspect of its lyrical-epic genre peculiarity, its interpretation potentials at the inter-textual and hermeneutic levels and poetics of lyric intentions as well. According to the authors, the inter-textual level is orientated towards a dialogue situation with the previous tradition mainly presented by some reminiscences and allusions. The hermeneutic level is reflected in appeal to Shakespeare’s and other authors’ literary texts for understanding the universal significance of the literary hero status, a complicated process of his identification (“self-identity”). The hero that recognizes himself as a part of a global literary context combines the elements of epic, lyrical and even dramatic types, pretending to perform a certain primordial generic syncretism. The authors analyze the poem, taking into consideration Pasternak’s views on Shakespeare’s personality presented in his critical notes (“Comments on Translating Shakespeare”), Shakespeare’s figurative embodiment in the poet’s reflexive practice. The article presents the first translation of the analyzed poem into English by M. Korablina and T. Kline.