Keyword: «m. stepanova»

Based on the material of the poems «Ksenya Peterburgskaya» by E. Schwartz and «The Fugitive» by M. Stepanova, changes in the type of hero in the ballad of the early 21st century are considered. Based on the analysis of literary, historical, biblical, and mythological parallels, it is proved that the decentralization of the hero, the borderline nature of his consciousness/subconsciousness is due to sociocultural and ideological transformations of man and society. The path to the revival of the hero / the surrounding reality is seen in a return to Christian and universal values.