The theme of Poland in Yusif Chamanzaminli`s novel Students: an imagological analysis

Abstract

This article presents an imagological analysis of Poland and Polish culture in Yusif Vezir Çemenzeminli’s novel Students (1934). Poland is depicted as a “significant Other,” serving as a comparative model for understanding the formation of Azerbaijani national consciousness. The study highlights issues of language, cultural continuity, and historical memory, portraying the Polish hetero-image as an example of successful preservation of national identity. The theme of Poland in the novel fulfills comparative-analytical, axiological, identificatory, and educational functions, contributing to the understanding of Azerbaijani society’s national identity challenges in the early twentieth century.