SOURCE: Bhose, Amita. “A Fundamental Motif in Eminescu's Poetry.” Romanian Review 33, no. 12 (1979): 131-40.

In the following essay, Bhose examines death as a motif in Eminescu's poetry.

The literary début of Mihai Eminescu was occasioned by the death of Aron Pumnul, his professor at Cernăuţi High School. There was a strong affectionate bondage between the two, and the death of the teacher deeply affected the young student. Thanks to T. V. Ştefanelli, a classmate of the future poet, description of that important day in Eminescu's life has remained a memorable page in the history of Romanian literature.

It was for the first time that Ştefanelli saw Eminescu weeping. Later on, in the evening, he was surprised to see his friend composing verses dedicated to the dead man. The poem was published in the brochure Tears of the Students of Cernăuţi High School at the...