“Symphony No. 2 (‘Dramatic’)” by Andrei Bely: Genesis and Poetics
https://doi.org/10.24224/2227-1295-2026-15-2-315-339
Abstract
The relevance of this study stems from the growing interest in both the work and personality of one of the most original and enigmatically complex writers of the twentieth century, Andrei Bely (1880–1934). This article aims to analyze the writer's early literary experiments such as “Pre-Symphony,” “Story No. 2 (Notes of a Civil Servant),” and their close relationship with his “Symphony No. 2 (‘Dramatic’),” published in 1902. These works are all examples of intricate artistic phenomena that blur genre boundaries between poetry and music. Their hybrid nature is characterized by an interplay of poetic sensibility and musical structure. A novel aspect of this paper lies in its reliance on biographical material, indispensable for understanding each stage of Bely’s creative development. It investigates the genesis of Symphony No. 2 through a detailed examination of the autobiographical context surrounding its creation. The analysis tracks the reception history of this symphonic text since its publication in 1902 up until today. Structural features of the text have been identified, along with key thematic motifs prevalent throughout Bely’s early period, including those related to Eternity, Ennui, and Dawn. Conclusions regarding the formation of Bely’s unique idiolect, marked by what he himself termed his ‘poetic dysfluency,’ were also drawn.
About the Author
N. G. Sharapenkova
Petrozavodsk State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Natalia G. Sharapenkova, Doctor of Philology, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Germanic Philology and Scandinavian Studies; Professor, Department of Preparation and Certification of the NPR PetrSU, leading research scientist
Petrozavodsk
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Review
For citations:
Sharapenkova N.G. “Symphony No. 2 (‘Dramatic’)” by Andrei Bely: Genesis and Poetics. Nauchnyi dialog. 2026;15(2):315-339. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24224/2227-1295-2026-15-2-315-339
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