THE DISTINCTIVE POETIC SCOPE OF YEVGENY YEVTUSHENKO IN MODERN RUSSIAN LYRIC POETRY

Abstract

This article explores the thematic breadth and lyrical distinctiveness of Yevgeny Yevtushenko’s poetry, a prominent figure in the second half of the twentieth-century Russian literary scene. His poems often merge lyrical sensibility with civic consciousness, addressing issues of historical memory, moral responsibility, and emotional struggle. Notable works such as Babi Yar, People Laughed Behind the Wall, That’s What’s Happening to Me…, When the Door Knocked, and My Dog serve as focal points for analyzing Yevtushenko’s integration of the lyrical “I” with a powerful sense of poetic justice, empathy, and philosophical reflection. The study highlights the emotional and moral dimensions of Yevtushenko’s poetic world and his ability to express personal experience as a reflection of collective consciousness.