Vol. 14 (2020): XIV International Symposium Contemporary Issues of Literary Studies : The Silk Road Countries` Folklore
Giorgi Leonidze

Myth and Reality: (According to two poems by Giorgi Leonidze)

Zoia Tskhadaia
Shota Rustaveli Institute of Georgian Literature

Published 2020-10-20

Keywords

  • Giorgi Leonidze,
  • Ballads,
  • Common Myth

Abstract

For a dozen years, in Georgian scholarly criticism and literary studies Giorgi Leonidze’s poetic texts “Don’t worry, Mother”, and “Homeless, where are you?”) have been regarded as lyrical masterpieces created on the theme of World War II. This assessment still remains unchanged, and the poems will definitely share the same fate as Georgian folk heroic ballads in the nation’s memory. The poem “Don’t worry, Mother” has a special inspiration. As Giorgi Leonidze recalls, in November 1943 he visited the grave of a Georgian soldier named Levan on the Taman Peninsula.

In his imagination two heartbreaking stories intertwined – of his tormented brother and the unknown Levan. This fact determined the authenticity of the text.

So these two tragic realities turned out to be a common myth and a common tragedy.