The Hero in the Lyrical Epic Poem Detvan in the Context of Contemporary Nationalism

The analytical-interpretative study examines the depiction of literary characters in the lyrical-epic work Detvan written by Andrej Sládkovič. It interprets the ingenious system of relations between the Slovak nation represented by the main character Martin and King Matthias Corvinus. The study notes the shifts in meaning and symbolization of relationships in this work and reveals the influence of national ideology in the creation of characters and their relations. It proves that the relationship between the king and the main character is a poetic expression of the national program, and that the story line is determined by the Slovak autostereotype of a peaceful nation. The article was written on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Andrej Sládkovič’s birth