The Russian Chronicler and the Polish Poet in A. S. Pushkin’s Tragedy “Boris Godunov”

Abstract

Aim. To analyze and comprehend the characters of A. S. Pushkin’s tragedy “Boris Godunov”: the Russian chronicler Pimen and the unnamed Polish poet.
Methodology. The article is based on a comparative approach and is made to highlight those components that reveal the essence of the characters mentioned above, to use the method of their comparative characteristics formulated in numerous works of Russian literary scholars and researchers of Pushkin’s playwriting. 
Results. It is concluded that in the tragedy “Boris Godunov” Pushkin managed to realize his own requirement which he presented to a dramatic writer: “... to resurrect the past century in all its truth.” The 
Russian chronicler, the Polish poet, and the Pretender, who is somehow connected with these characters, are not simply historical; they are endowed with artistic authenticity and remarkable psychological truth. Pimen’s lines, in fact, take a lot of space in the scene “Night. Cell in the Chudov Monastery”, and the court poet has only one line in the scene “Krakow. Vishnevetsky’s House”, but readers get a complete picture of each of these characters.
Research implications. The novelty and originality in the depiction of both Pimen particularly and Pushkin’s amazing ability to mentally transport himself to the beginning of the 17th century were reflected, thanks to which Pushkin recreated a generalized image of a Russian monk-chronicler, imbued with a deep religious mood, and on the other hand, depicted a flattering Roman Catholic poet with several but expressive strokes, ready to please anyone, even a dubious and self-proclaimed prince, with his “Latin verses.” The practical significance of the study lies in the fact that the observations and conclusions contained in it can be used in further study of Pushkin’s tragedy “Boris Godunov.”