E. P. Shestakov-Erchimen as a literary critic

Abstract

The article studies the literary and critical works by Egor Shestakov – Erchimen (1927–1996), a major and authoritative critic in the Yakut literature of the 1960s – 90s. His opinion was of great importance in the literary process of that period. The article reveals the problems, the genre originality of his works, the principles that the critic adhered to, as well as the methods and techniques of critical analysis of a work of art (the critic's tools). As a result, based on the analysis, the following was revealed: the main problematic issues of literary and critical articles and research works by Erchimen are the issues of evaluating the literary heritage of the classics of Yakut literature; controversial issues of the history of Yakut literature and criticism; issues of the critic's skill and the quality of critical analysis of a work of art. The Erchimen's literary and critical works represent the whole range of major genres of criticism: a review, article (review, problematic and polemical), literary portrait (anniversary article and a literary portrait per se and essay); his critical analysis methods include retelling, quoting, comparison, analogy, and a direct statement.