Gamerman Julia Vladimirovna – independent scholar; Kireeva Natalia Vladimirovna – Doctor of Philological Sciences, Vice-Rector for Research, Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University
This article examines the mythological symbolism in L. Zavalnyuk’s poem On the Way and its role in revealing the spiritual evolution of the protagonist. The authors analyse archetypal images such as the path, the horse, and the world tree, as well as natural and temporal symbols, demonstrating their connection to the protagonist’s inner world. Particular attention is paid to the interplay between horizontal and vertical paths, reflecting the protagonist’s physical and spiritual journey. The study argues that mythological symbolism serves as a vehicle for conveying eternal values and situating the work within a broader cultural context. The research provides a deeper insight into the themes of personal growth and life choices in Zavalnyuk’s writing.
mythological symbolism; Leonid Zavalnyuk; the poem On the Way; artistic world; mythopoetics; archetypes; protagonist; twentieth-century literature