THE INFLUENCE OF SYMBOLISM ON THE WORKS OF VAHAN TERYAN, VAHAN TEKEYAN, AND VALERY BRYUSOV

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the influence of symbolism as an aesthetic movement Valery Bryusov’s, Vahan Teryan’s and Vahan Tekeyan’s works. The main ideas of symbolism, its system of imagery, and its stylistic features are examined from a comparative perspective. The introduction substantiates the relevance of the topic in terms of revealing intercultural literary connections, examining the representation of national identity, and addressing the enduring aesthetic and philosophical questions of loneliness, death, and spiritual searching that symbolism raises.

The analysis demonstrates that symbolism in the works of these three authors is manifested through both shared aesthetic principles and distinct national and individual characteristics. The motifs of melancholy, death, loneliness, nature, and patriotism are analyzed as key components of symbolist thinking. Particular attention is paid to individual poems by each author, including Bryusov's "The Dying Bonfire," Teryan's "Twilight Dreams," and Tekeyan's "The Last Murmur," as well as to the musicality and sound organization that shape the emotional atmosphere of their verse.

The analysis shows that in Bryusov’s works the intellectual and mystical dimension predominates, in Teryan’s works sensory and musical expression is more prominent, while in Tekeyan’s works national and spiritual emphases prevail. Although the three poets belong to different literary schools (Russian, Eastern Armenian, and Western Armenian), their works are shown to rest on a shared symbolist foundation while retaining strongly individual voices.

The analysis further highlights Bryusov's influence on Teryan's poetic development and demonstrates that Tekeyan's poetics reveal a typological affinity with broader European symbolism while preserving a distinctive artistic individuality.

In conclusion, the authors claim that symbolism played a significant role in the works of these three poets, shaping the thematic focus, imagery, and artistic language of their writings. Furthermore, it served as a distinctive cultural bridge connecting the Russian, Eastern Armenian, and Western Armenian literary traditions.