Revolutionary story in the collection of translations Mandelstam “Let’s conquer the world!”

Abstract

The article is devoted to the consideration of the artistic principles of Mandelstam as a translator and their reflection in the revolutionary thematic line in the collection of the poems translations of the German proletarian poet Bartel “Let’s conquer the world!” In the 1920s, Mandelstam reflected on the issues of translation in theoretical articles and noted that the translator should act as an interpreter of the text, adapting it to his culture. Independently composig the book “Let’s conquer the world!” from different poems by Bartel, the Russian poet pays special attention to the thematic line of the rise and failure in revolutionary movement. Compositionally, the line is formed as the story of an attempt of the uprising. Conditionally it can be divided into two reflecting parts mirroring each other. They begin with an anticipation of the revolution and need for change, followed by calls for rebellion, and finally there are doubts that change is possible, and the groovy daily life of workers comes to the fore. A special place within the revolutionary line is occupied by biblical imagery, which Mandelstam multiplies and adapts to Russian culture in translation.