Lyricism of Old Milija’s Epic Poems

Abstract

The epic poems of Old Milija are marked by a lyrical organization of the text, which is in the function of depicting the inner life of his heroes. Every now and then, Old Milija breaks the rules of epic poems to dwell upon the inner reflection of the external world. He expresses lyricism in two ways: from his own point of view and from the point of view of his epic hero. Bearing in mind the whole drama his heroes are going through, particularly with respect to their relationship with women, Old Milija manages to find a lyrical formula which, in the epic structure of the text, enhances the dramatic character and the aesthetic value of the poem. The paper deals with the poem’s lyrical layers, which are in the function of the psychoanalysis of the characters and represent a characteristic feature of this exceptionally talented Vuk’s poem.