Valuable Reference Points in the Works of Maksym Rylsky

Abstract

Abstract. The works of Maksym Rylsky are very significant in the history of Ukrainian literature. His name is mentioned in different encyclopedias and in the antology of the world art. Understanding of the creative heritage of Rylsky as a poet, writer, publicist, translator has found widespread echo in the studies of literary scholars, philologists, writers, critics, translation specialists, etc. The creativity of the writer reflects the ideals, aspirations, spirit of the people and the nation. The first collection On White Islands, which was written in pretty young age, stated the appearance of the strong talent. According to the researches, new books of Rylsky are the basis of his poetic “neoclassicism.” The centuries-old cultural reality for Rylsky was a constant source of poetic inspiration. He expressed his creative credo in lots of poems, the main point of which was the purity and probity of a poetic word, sincerity and honesty. However, in 1931, when Maksym Rylsky survived the arrest and pressure of the Soviet system, he had to force himself to write openly conformist works that were included in the book The Sign of Libra. The pragmatic and cruel mechanism of imperial culture suppressed the individual aesthetic sense of the artist, breaking his original worldview. However, in these difficult times for Ukrainian culture Rylsky managed to write outstanding works in which he presented the national idea, awakened the historical memory of his people, affirmed the idea of his talent, national re generation of Ukraine, the immortality of his native language. t is obvious that the poet and philosopher Maksym Rylsky was, is and will be one of the greatest Ukrainian poets of the twentieth century. He was an activist of the Franko’s format culture, which, in the event of a tragic creative defacement, was still able to move Ukrainian spirituality forward, to develop our language, our understanding of nature and the human soul.