BETWEEN MYTH AND HISTORY: THE EVOLUTION OF THE COSSACK NARRATIVE FROM 19TH-CENTURY LITERATURE TO CONTEMPORARY MEMORY WARS

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive diachronic analysis of the evolution of the Cossack myth as a key narrative of Ukrainian culture. The aim of the study is to explore the Cossack myth as a dynamic textual phenomenon by analyzing the main literary models of its construction, deconstruction, and appropriation in 19th-century Ukrainian literature, as well as verifying the impact of these models on contemporary cultural and political narratives. The article traces the trajectory of the Cossack narrative from its Romantic formation to its use in today’s «memory wars».The research methodology is interdisciplinary, combining tools from philological analysis, history, and memory studies. The theoretical framework is grounded in Eric Hobsbawm’s concept of ‘invented traditions,’ which explains the mechanisms of myth construction in the 19th century; Roland Barthes’ theory of myth as a ‘secondary semiological system,’ which enables the analysis of the transformation of historical figures into timeless symbols; Pierre Nora’s concept of ‘lieux de mémoire,’ which interprets the Cossack legacy as a central node of Ukrainian national memory; as well as the works of Serhii Yekelchyk, which examine the struggle over historical narratives in contemporary Ukraine and their impact on national identity. The analysis is conducted using historical-literary, comparative-typological, and postcolonial approaches.The scholarly novelty of the article lies in offering, for the first time, a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the functions of the Cossack myth, in contrast to traditional studies focused on its content or historical accuracy.The article establishes a direct connection between the literary models of the 19th century (Romantic, imperial, and national-critical) and their modern reception in political discourse. Relevant Western theoretical works are introduced into Ukrainian academic circulation for analyzing the Cossack narrative as both a textual and cultural phenomenon.The study demonstrates that the Cossack myth is an integral yet contested component of Ukrainian identity, which has undergone three key stages: Romantic construction, ideological «battles» of the 19th century, and contemporary political instrumentalization. Two major 19th-century models are examined: the imperial appropriation («Taras Bulba» by Mykola Gogol), which transformed the Cossack image into a tool of the «Russian world», and the critical national deconstruction («The Black Council» by Panteleimon Kulish), aimed at painful self-reflection.The conclusion emphasizes that the modern use of the Cossack myth in wartime highlights a fundamental tension between its pragmatic, mobilizing function (as represented by Volodymyr Viatrovych) and the need for academic, critical reflection (as advocated by Natalia Yakovenko). The ability of society to find a balance between an inspiring myth and a responsible history is a key test of its maturity.