Literary works of Lithuanian topic create options of historical continuity, historical and national identity, relationship of Russians with Lithuania and its history. The image of ancient Lithuania and Lithuanians in Russian literature conformed to certain rules and was designed using limited set of components. It was used in works of art at the beginning of the XX century and included the realities of pagan culture, exotic way of life, simplicity and directness of feelings, closeness to nature, rejection of the Catholic faith, hostility to the Germans and the Poles.
The new socio-historical and political context of forming of the Lithuanian state foregrounded subjects of the medieval Lithuanian history, romanticized images of statesmen and military leaders of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, exoticism of the pagan culture. Poets and writers living in the Baltic countries or related to Lithuania by real or mystified biography and practical interests naturally turned to the Lithuanian topic. Construction of image of ancient Lithuania and Lithuanian characters in the books of poems Lietuva golden name (1927) by Eugeny Shklyar (1893–1941) and Northern Lights. Poems about Lithuania and Russia (1931) by Konstantin Balmont (1867–1942), in novels The Genius of the Peace (1931) by L. Kormchiy (born Piragis; 1876–1944) and Eagle taking off (1932) by Sergei Mintslov (1870–1933), is also symptomatic.
In poetry of Shklyar and Balmont modern Lithuania is portrayed as an inheritor and successor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Its picture combines exotic, historical depth, folk singing poetry and paganism as the signs of Lithuanian cultural traditions, image of forest growing into symbol, state power associated with paganism and power embodying princes, simplicity, hospitality, chastity of Lithuanians.
In the novel The Genius of the Peace by Kormchiy a common set of Lithuanian exotic components is used - unusual names, details of everyday life and social structure, in which the huge role is played by druids with clearly defined functions. The defining feature of Lithuanian life is paganism with many gods, unusual beliefs and rituals. Lithuanians are depicted as naive, trustful, simpleminded people, yet brave patriots who heroically defend their homeland and faith against cruel and selfish Germans.
The novel Eagle taking off by Sergei Mintslov was written for the competition for the best novel, story or poem about Duke Vytautas the Great. Landscapes and descriptions of the characters trips create an image of an area rich in forests, animals, in which an internecine struggle between Jogaila and Vytautas and “the struggle of the gods of different faiths” take place. Mintslov used a repetitive set of components of Lithuanian exoticism (unusual names, paganism, details of everyday life). The opposition of Vytautas and Jogaila, Lithuanians and Poles, the notions of proximity and affinity of Lithuanians and Russians are traditional.
Image of ancient Lithuania in the works of Russian writers have formed a positive attitude towards the country, its past and its people. In Lithuania, the romantic myth of the “glorious antiquity” with idealized images of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was the basis of an ideology that unites a nation which acquired statehood. The image of the ancient Lithuanians in the works of Russian writers followed this myth. This is evidenced by translations into Lithuanian.
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