Lesia Ukrainka's Literary Works Problem of Indentification

Abstract

The article raised the issue of identification of Lesya Ukrainka’s literary heritage (1871-1913). Ukrainian literary science being under the influence of Narodnik (populist) tradition historically treated her as a representative of neo-romanticism. Contrary to this point of view this study puts forward the thesis that the writer belongs to the classicism, namely to the neoclassicism as a form of European modernism. This statement is based on the expressed by the playwright point of view as to the self-identification, as well as historical and literary materials, and literary criticism works of Ukrainian neoclassics of the so called first wave, which have developed their activity in the 20-th years of the 20-th century. Results of the study indicate a emphatic denial by the poet of her characteristics as had been formulated by the leading representative of the Narodnik S. Yefremov. The writer considered it biased and inadequate. It was found out that the kiev neoclassic in the years 1914-1930 M. Dray-Khmara, M. Zerov, P. Fylypovych, M. Rylsky and Yurii Klen backed up the statement that Lesya Ukrainka belonged to Europian literary tradition which is supported by her implementation of artistic and philosophical neoclassicism devices such as appeal to antiquity, the use and reinterpretation of „eternal images” and „traveling stories”, mediterranean tradition, individual choice and creative mimesis, cultural and stylistic syncretism, synthesis of universal with national, anthropocentrism, distancing from the trivial, moralizing, social activity. The article is an attempt to emphasize the need to review existing opinions and of identification creativity according to the aesthetic criterion.