METAPHORICAL IMAGES IN THE POETRY OF JOVAN DUČIĆ AND GEORGE BACOVIA

Abstract

Jovan Dučić and George Bacovia are modern poets who have influenced the Serbian and Romanian literature. Although they belong to different literatures, many similarities can be seen in their works: reflective profoundness, conciseness of expression, creation of new symbols, play of colours, preoccupation with death and loneliness and a boundless desire to grasp and interpret the meaning of life and living. In their poems the descriptions of nature are being deconcretized and interior spaces are being narrowed, reducing the share of descriptive and emotional elements and increasing the share of thoughts and symbols. In a similar way to Dučić’s role in Serbian poetry, Bacovia is said to be the precursor of Romanian Modernism. Romanian criticism places him among the greatest national poets between the two world wars, alongside Tudor Arghezi, Lucian Blaga and Ion Barbu.