"Яркие образы и прекрасный язык": The Legacy of Futurism in Maiakovskii’s Children’s Verse

Abstract

Erika Haber’s article, “Яркие образы и прекрасный язык: The Legacy of Futurism in Maiakovskii’s Children’s Verse”, presents the idea that the Revolution was supposed to usher in new themes, styles, and authors to children’s writing. However, the pre-revolutionary past exerted an enduring influence in the field during the twenties. To illustrate how the change came only gradually to Soviet children’s literature, this paper will trace the lingering stylistic influence of Futurism in Maiakovskii’s early children’s verses and contrast it with
the waning impact of the movement in his later work as the poet tried to meet the changing demands in children’s literature towards the end of the decade.

Keywords: V. V. Maiakovskii, children’s verse, Futurism, rhyme, alliteration, neologisms.