Old Testament prophecies and eschatological imagery in Sergei Yesenin's poetry (1918-1919)

The article discusses the features of the poetics of Yesenin lyrics of 1918-1919. Poems of this period form a single metatekst about the end of the time, and the coming of the Day of Judgment. Research shows that the disclosure of eschatology theme by the poet exhibits characteristic features of the artistic world of S. A. Yesenin. The most important source of Yesenin's poetic imagery is the experience of Orthodox worship gained by him in childhood and adolescence. Liturgical foundations of Yesenin's artistic thinking implemented in different planes content poetics throughout the career of the poet. In the "little poems" and poems of 1918-1919 the structure and symbolism of the liturgical text is presented. Yesenin uses quotes and paraphrases hymns and texts of Scripture; liturgical symbols and actions of church utensils, iconographic images are reflected in his poetry. The content and the relationship of poetic images and symbols, the interplay of these images are in compliance with the poetics of liturgical texts. Complex semiotic structure of worship is reflected in the poetry in the form of correlations of the New Testament and the Old Testament prophecies, combined with various biblical images and motifs. Theme of Old Testament prophecy is reproduced in liturgical discourse. In the development of eschatological themes the characters of prophets also form an additional field of meanings associated with the spirit of the revolutionary events: the prophets becomes representatives of the common people, the spokesmen of the national spiritual experience. The poetic text had borne the additional connotations with biblical stories on the ministry of the prophets.