The Myth of the East in the Poems of S. Esenin

Abstract

The poetry of Sergei Yesenin reveals a deep engagement with the East, particularly Persia, reflecting a cultural and aesthetic fascination during Russia's Silver Age. While Yesenin’s lyrical reflections have been broadly explored, the structured myth-making of the East within his works remains insufficiently examined, especially in relation to Persian imagery and philosophy. This study utilizes literary and thematic analysis, examining motifs, metaphors, and Eastern subtexts across the “Persian Motifs” cycle. The analysis identifies how Yesenin constructs a multi-layered myth of the East through the romanticization of nature, tradition, and the idealized Eastern woman, symbolized by figures like Shagane and Peri. These representations create an authentic vision of the East—not as exotic fantasy, but as an emotionally and culturally resonant world rooted in lived history and poetic imagination. The findings contribute to understanding how Eastern cultural elements shape Russian poetic identity, demonstrating that Yesenin’s embrace of the East enriches both cross-cultural dialogue and a deeper appreciation of his national heritage.