The Interrelation Between National Self-Consciousness and Historical Myths

The paper encompasses the overview of the major approaches to definition and structure of national self-consciousness and the historical myth. It analyses the essence and the aspects of the reciprocal influence of both phenomena studied. The author indicates the correlation between them on the basis of mythological perception and the development of one’s indivi­dual identity. The role of the integrative function of historical myth is studied as well as the effect its contrastive aspect has on a person’s national self-consciousness. The paper includes the characterization of archetypes and symbols together with images of heroes in the axiological sphere. The author studies the impact the history and geography of a nation has on the national self-consciousness. Also, the position which national character and national idea have in the structure of national self-consciousness in the context of the influence of historical myth is analyzed.