THE NECESSITATE OF STUDDING THOMAS MOORE’S CREATIVE WORKS IN RUSSIAN LITERARY

Abstract

Objectives: The article is devoted to the study of literary-critical responses to Thomas Moore and his works published in Russian periodicals of the second half of the 1830s – 1850s. The dynamics of the transformation of ideas about the Irish poet and his creative works in Russia are shown in the article. Methods: The study is based on methodologically significant works of such leading Russian literary scholars as M.P. Alekseev, Alexander N. Veselovsky, V.M. Zhirmunsky, Yu.D. Levin, Yu.M. Lotman, B.V. Tomashevsky, V.N. Toporov, E.G. Etkind, as well as works on comparativistics, theory and history of literary translation, intercultural communication. Cultural and historical, comparative research methods are used, as well as methods of integrated analysis. Findings: The end of 1830s – 1850s is characterized by the appearance in the Russian press of a significant number of responses to the works of Thomas Moore, in which the poet’s invaluable contribution to the development of English literature was noted, and his work was correlated with the literary activities of such contemporaries as G. G. Byron, V. Scott, P. B. Shelley. Many critics, along with the erudition and artistic and poetic talent of Thomas Moore, noted his resilient civil position, unwillingness to put up with the surrounding reality, which was clearly reflected in the lyrical cycle of «Irish Melodies». The death of Thomas Moore caused the publication of obituaries, the authors of which, expressing regret for the incident, published fragmentary biographical information about the poet, presented elements of the analysis of some of his works. Novelty: In general, despite the non– systemic nature of the appeals of Russian criticism to the works of Thomas Moore, fans of Russian literature in the second half of the 1830s – early 1850s. Had an idea about Moore as an outstanding figure of English romanticism, the author of talented works, a man of interesting, bright destiny.