On 15th December 2014 in Moscow State Regional University took place the round table discussion «M. Lermontov's personality: myth and reality», devoted to the 200th anniversary of the poet's birth. The personality of M. Lermontov, whose work largely determines the image of Russian culture, attracted mythmakers' attention even during his life. For some people Lermontov's creative activity became a source of learning themselves and the world, on the basis of their understanding of his personality they created their own artistic reality. For others the poet's work was a subject for speculations and shocking the public. It is clear that 2014, dedicated to the anniversary of Lermontov, as well as 2015 , declared a year of literature, are both capable of directing public attention to forming an adequate understanding of Lermontov's personality. The question of the poet's biographical data authenticity and of decent interpretation of his creative activity was discussed by the scientists of Moscow State Regional University, by scientists of Moscow branch of interregional non-governmental organization “Lermontov Society", of State Lermontov Memorial “Tarkhany", of Penza State University, of Omsk State Pedagogical University, of Tver State University, as well as by scientists of Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod - National Research University.