The Conceptual Sphere of Red Square in the Poetry of Aleksandar Petrov

Abstract

Aleksandar Petrov, Serbian-Russian poet, novelist scholar and university professor, is a cosmopolitan rooted in two cultural traditions (Serbian and Russian). The conceptual sphere of HOMELAND assumes a special position in his poetry. The aim of this paper is to analyse the conceptual sphere of RED SQUARE, the heart of Moscow, in the poetic cycle bearing the same name, which was the first cycle Petrov wrote in Russian (1972) and in his poem “Poetry in an Empty Dress” (1973) written in Serbian. While the conceptual sphere of RUSSIA is positive, involving emotions and nostalgia, the conceptual sphere of the RED SQUARE is negative i.e. associated with the criticism of Soviet Communist rule. The Red Square refers to the specific, Soviet aspect of Russia rather than to the Russia reaching beyond transitory political ideologies.