Two centuries of the Russian classics Two centuries of the Russian classics 2686-7494 IWL RAS https://doi.org/10.22455/2686-7494-2025-7-2-258-277 Research Article Articles The Chronicle Legend about Prince Vladimir and Rogneda in the Tragedies by F. P. Klyucharev Vladimir the Great and M. M. Kheraskov Idylo-Worshippers, or Gorislava Semenova Anastassiya V. red@rusklassika.ru 25 06 2025 7 2 258 277 F. P. Klyucharev M. M. Kheraskov tragedy Vladimir the Great Rogneda Gorislava Copyright © 2026, IWL RAS 2026 The article is the first to consistently compare the tragedies Vladimir the Great by F. P. Klyucharev and Idylo-Worshippers, or Gorislava by M. M. Kheraskov. It is proved that the plots of the tragedies have much in common due to the fact that the authors processed the same chronicle story about the unsuccessful attempt of Rogneda on Vladimir and its consequences, but the interpretation of events differs. Klyucharev’s characters are guided by political motives and personal experiences, while Kheraskov emphasises religious and moral aspects. The works reveal several textual overlaps: Rogneda-Gorislava’s call to honour the prince, Rogneda’s visions, Vladimir’s ethical metamorphosis, Izyaslav’s intervention in the conflict, and so on. The comparison of Klyucharev’s and Kheraskov’s tragedies allows us to conclude that the similarity of the works is due to common historical sources and adherence to classicist canons, as well as the didactic goals of the authors. 1. Zapadov, A. V. “Tvorchestvo Kheraskova” [“Creative Work of Kheraskov”]. Kheras- kov, M. M. Izbrannye proizvedeniia [Selected Works], introd. article, text prep. and notes by A. V. Zapadov. Leningrad, Sovetskii pisatel’ Publ., 1961, pp. 5–56. (In Russ.) 2. Pastushenko, L. M. Dramaturgiia M. M. Kheraskova [Dramaturgy of M. M. Cheraskov: PhD Dissertation]. Leningrad, 1974. 118 p. (In Russ.) 3. Pastushenko, L. M. “Ideino-khudozhestvennoe svoeobrazie tragedii M. M. Kheraskova ʽIdolopoklonniki, ili Gorislava’.” [“The Ideological and Artistic Originality of the Tragedy by M. M. Kheraskov ʽIdylo-Worshippers, or Gorislava’.”] Problemy izucheniia russkoi literatury XVIII veka [The Problems of Studying Russian Literature of 18th Century], issue 2. Leningrad, Nauka Publ., 1976, pp. 54–62. (In Russ.) 4. Semenova, A. V. “Khristianskaia propoved’ v poeme M. M. Kheraskova ʽVladimir’.” [“Christian Sermon in the Poem by M. M. Kheraskova ʽVladimir’.”] Izvestiia RAN. Seriia literatury i iazyka, vol. 77, no. 1, 2018, pp. 42–47. (In Russ.) 5. Stennik, Iu. V. “Dramaturgiia russkogo klassitsizma. Tragediia” [“Dramaturgy of Russian Classicism. Tragedy”]. Istoriia russkoi dramaturgii. XVII – pervaia polovina XIX veka [The History of Russian Dramaturgy. 17th – First Half of the 19th Century]. Leningrad, Nauka Publ., 1982, pp. 58–99. (In Russ.)