Abstract
The article explores a comparative analysis of M. Lermontov’s The Demon and Abay’s Shaitan from the perspective of axiological literary studies. Abay’s work has not previously been compared with Lermontov’s poem, and the question of whether Shaitan is a translation or an independent creation remains unresolved. The study aims to identify the specific interpretations of the demonic image in both poems. Component and discourse analyses are applied to define the structure of the concept and its axiological transformations. The findings suggest that Shaitan should be viewed as an autonomous work rather than a translation. While Abay draws on Lermontov’s motifs, he gives the image a new meaning: Lermontov’s Demon is a fallen angel and ruler of the earth, whereas Abay’s Shaitan is merely a tempter who has ostensibly assumed an angelic form, devoid of absolute power. Abay’s approach emphasizes not literal translation but cultural and value transformation within the Kazakh worldview and Islamic tradition, creating a cultural-axiological interpretation. Thus, Shaitan becomes a distinct artistic work, demonstrating the key principles of axiological literary studies: value transformation, cultural adaptation, and orientation toward the Kazakh reader’s axiosphere.