20th-Century Kalmyk Rhymed Oaths (Poems): Poetics Revisited

Introduction. When it comes to 1930s Kalmyk poetic genres, special attention should be paid to rhymed oaths (poems) which, on the one hand, were tied to the Mongolic folklore tradition, and on the other hand, to the then historical realia and related military sentiments. Such works proved episodic — even sporadic — enough to Kalmyk poets between the 1930s and the 1960s. So, the issue has remained understudied. The study provides insight into the genre nature of rhymed oaths (poems), introduces a number of such texts, and identifies their role in Soviet Kalmykia’s literary processes. Goals. The paper aims at investigating poetics of rhymed oaths (poems) to delineate their place and role in Kalmykia’s 20th-century poetry. Methods. The work employs the historical-literary, comparative, and descriptive research methods that reveal somewhat specific features of the cluster, traditions and innovations. Results. Rhymed oaths (poems) are rare to Soviet Kalmyk poetry (e.g., joint letters-oaths addressed by the Kalmyk people to J. Stalin, and that of soldiers of the 110th Separate Kalmyk Cavalry Division) and narratives of Kalmyk poets proper — Garya Davaev, Garya Shalburov, Muutl Erdniev, Eldya Kekteev, Sanzhara Baidyev, Timofey Bembeev. Such texts usually deal with military sentiments, characterizing communicative behavior of authors. The paper draws parallels with Kalmyk oral folklore patterns, most significantly with the Jangar epic and its oath of heroes. Joint rhymed oaths (poems) were translated into Russian immediately — but not all. Conclusions. The insight into Kalmyk rhymed oaths (poems) reveals two such forms, namely: rhymed oaths (poems) by separate authors, and joint letters-oaths. The genre experienced impacts from Kalmyk folklore, historical events, Soviet ideology, communicative discourse, patriotism, and autobiographism.

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