The image of the gloomy warrior in M. M. Kheraskov's poem “Vladimir” and in A. S. Pushkin's fairy tale “Ruslan and Lyudmila”

The article uses a comparative text analysis of the poem “Vladimir” and the fairy tale “Ruslan and Lyudmila” to reveal a number of parallels associated with the image of the warrior Rogdai. Previously, researchers have not considered this aspect of the works in detail. The character has a conventionally historical prototype – the epic hero Rogdai is mentioned in the “Core of Russian History” by A. I. Mankiev, and his laconic description in the source sets the type of character in Kheraskov’s and Pushkin’s poems. In both works Rogdai occupies a prominent position at the court of Prince Vladimir of Kiev, and is distinguished by his strength and violent temper. Kheraskov's poem emphasizes the immorality of the character, which is due to the didactic message of “Vladimir” and the need to discredit the warrior who is an opponent of Christianity, while Pushkin omits the ethical points. As the plot develops, the relatively neutral character becomes the antagonist of the main hero – Kheraskov's Vladimir and Pushkin's Ruslan – and at a certain point fights with them, which results in the warrior's dishonorable death. The comparison of “Vladimir” and “Ruslan and Lyudmila” shows that, in addition to the name, Rogdai has similar characteristics in the works of Kheraskov and Pushkin; the image is created according to the model of the epic hero, overshadowed by negative traits. The texts show common motifs - the anger, resentment and vindictiveness of the hero, the corrupting influence of the evil spirit and its helpers, Rogdai's wandering through the desert places, his death at the hands of the enemy. The similarity between Kheraskov's and Pushkin's characters of the same name leads to the conclusion that the image of the gloomy warrior from the poem “Vladimir” was borrowed into Ruslan and Lyudmila.