The article is devoted to the mermaid motif in poetic works of A.S. Pushkin and its origins in world literature and culture. The closest source for Pushkin was
V.A. Zhukovsky's ballad “The Fisherman” (1818), a creative translation of Goethe's ballad “Der Fischer” (1778—1779). Pushkin wrote a whole gallery of works on this theme, starting with short poem “Rusalka” (1819), the dramatic scenes “Rusalka” (1826—1832), the ballad “Yanysh Korolevich” from the cycle “Songs of the Western Slavs” (1833—1835). In the poem “Rusalka” appears the image of a monk, with whom earlier in the lyrics of the Lyceum period the poet identified himself, referring to his interests, including amorous ones. We meet the motif of a mermaid at the introduction to the poem “Ruslan and Lyudmila” (1820) together with the image of the legendary Lukomorye and an ancient oak tree (from the island of Khortitsa in the lower reaches of the Dnieper). The motif of the water maiden and the water sphere inspired Pushkin during his exile at the Black Sea coast. The mermaid motif in world culture dates back to the deepest antiquity (Paleolithic, Minoan, Greek, Roman culture and the Middle Ages). Especially important in this regard is the rich ancient mythology, culture and literature, which at the lyceum times was taught to his favorite student by professor N.F. Koshansky. Johann Wolfgang Goethe was also well acquainted with the ancient heritage, starting from the early Strasbourg period and throughout his life. Goethe was inspired by the image of his beloved Friederike Brion, calling her Camena, i.e. nymph, water maiden. In 1820 Pushkin created the poem “Nereida”, following the images of Greco-Roman mythology. In 1826, he wrote the passage “How happy I am when I can leave …”, — a monologue of the hero, addressed to the mermaid (sketches of the future text of the drama “Rusalka”). Not only ancient antiquity, but also Slavic folklore moved Pushkin to create the ballad “Yanysh Korolevich” from the cycle “Songs of the Western Slavs” with the images of the mermaid Elitsa as a water queen and her daughter Vodyanitsa, with whom the hero of the ballad meets and talks.
For citation: Filippovsky G.Y., Zimina L.I. Pushkin's “Rusalka” and its origins, Ivanovo State University Bulletin, Series: Humanities, 2025, iss. 2, pp. 5—19.