Keywords
Erlan Zhünis
chronotope
archetype
symbolism
existentialism
chronotope
archetype
symbolism
existentialism
Abstract
This article offers a comprehensive analysis of contemporary Kazakh poet Erlan Zhünis’s work through the interrelated lenses of space–time unity, archetypal imagery, and existential depth. The research integrates Mikhail Bakhtin’s chronotope theory, Yuri Lotman’s concept of the semiosphere, Carl G. Jung’s archetypal psychology, and the existential philosophies of Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus within a single methodological framework. The primary focus is the recurring symbols and motifs of the collections Zholzhazba, Zhürek Mausymdary (Heart Seasons), and Shughylaly Tün (Radiant Night): the road, steppe, star, sand, and “blue city”. The findings reveal that Zhünis presents space and time as an inseparable whole of profound philosophical significance. Images such as the “black road,” “yellow steppe,” and “balbal stone” function as archetypes of national memory, ancestral spirit, and eternal motion. Star and cosmic motifs express humanity’s yearning for infinity and spiritual wholeness, while urban scenes of the “blue city” embody the dialogue between tradition and modern civilization. Past, present, and future converge in a single poetic continuum fusing mythic heritage with contemporary sensibility. From an existential perspective, the lyrical protagonist confronts solitude, radical freedom, and the quest for meaning. The triptych Heart Seasons stages the temporal cycle “Past – Now – Coming Day,” highlighting love and hope as enduring forces, whereas Radiant Night merges cosmic night with sensual imagery, dissolving the boundaries between body and spirit. By uniting national archetypes with global philosophical currents, Erlan Zhünis expands the expressive potential of Kazakh lyric poetry and elevates it to a phenomenon of universal significance.
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