Language means of representation of the chronotope of Chaos in a series of novels “The Chronicles of Amber” by Roger Zelazny

Abstract

This article examines the problem of representation of chronotope using language means. The object of this research is a series of novels “The Chronicles of Amber” by Roger Zelazny in English language. The subject of this research is the lexical units and stylistic techniques used by R. Zelazny for visualization of representation of the chronotope of Chaos. The article substantiates attribution of this series of novels to postmodernist based on the analysis of characteristic features of the text and realization of the ideological concept. The goal of study lies determination of the universal principles of representation of spatial-temporal continuum of the Chaos, as well as establishment of dependence of the choice evaluative connotation of language means on personality of the narrator. The work is conducted at the intersection of linguistics and literary studies. The novelty consists in recognition of the leading role of chronotopic subject in determining tonality of representation of the chronotope. The main conclusion is defined by the fact that the key principle of representation of spatial and temporal components of the chronotope of Chaos in R. Zelazny’s series of novels is the destruction of realistic perception of space and time. It was also established that change of voice of the narrator leads to the shift of evaluative paradigm. An extremely negative attitude of the first narrator to the Courts of Chaos as a representative of the chronotope of Chaos, expressed through the negatively connoted epithets, is justified by its affiliation to Amber as a representative of the Order. Dual position of the second narrator leads to the change in tonality of description of physical personification of the chronotope of Chaos. Counterbalance of negatively and positively connoted lexical units creates the effect of objectivity, essential for realization of ideological content of the novel.