The <i>Poema</i>

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>The long poem (poema) has occupied a prominent position in Russian literature since the modern poetic tradition was established in the eighteenth century. However, the usage of the term poema has not been consistent, neither among poets nor among scholars. It encompasses the epics of antiquity, the Romantic narrative poem, and the verse tale more generally, as well as heroic tales based on folklore. At times it has featured a strong historical component, a quality that endeared it to many Soviet poets. This chapter traces the poema through almost three centuries, drawing attention to some of its major practitioners and to the variety of ways that they employed it. It also makes an effort to distinguish the poema from the poetic cycle.</jats:p>