PENYO PENEV AND DIMITROVGRAD – A COMBINED MYTHICAL PAST

Abstract

In this paper the author examines the mythological aspects of the city of Dimitrovgrad and the figure of the poet Penyo Penev, the genealogy and development of these myths, as well as their continuous presence in modern literature. This study explores the utilitarian ideal that leads to the merger of the figure of the poet and the city of Dimitrovgrad, exposing the political interference in establishing the esthetic value of Penyo Penev’s work and modifying the image of the poet in order to satisfy the sociocultural demands of the specific time period. In order to establish the extent of censorship and changes made to the original texts, the author uses biographies and literary criticism books regarding the work and life of Penyo Penev, archives from the Museum of History in Dimitrovgrad, Home Museum „Penyo Penev“ and City Library „Penyo Penev“, as well as different editions of Penev’s works from various time periods. The results point towards a clear differentiation between the figure of the poet and the city, uncovering a rich plethora of themes, motifs and images in the works of Penyo Penev, which usually remain marginalized.