Specificity of artistic reflection the conceptual sphere «Smaller Homeland» in the novel «Oksana» by Włodzimierz Odojewski

Abstract

The article explores the place of «concept» and «conceptual sphere» in literary science and it explores the already established interrelation of concept, conceptual sphere and systems of artistic images of a literary work.As noted in the study, the conceptual worldview is reflected in the opinions of scientists which are drawn to two contradictory statements. The first statement is the notion that the conceptual worldview is one and the same for all the humanity while the linguistic worldview is seen as a reflection of a single conceptual sphere; there are only invariants of its linguistic representation in different cultures. The second statement states that there are different conceptual worldviews among different peoples, which are represented accordingly by different linguistic worldviews. In modern scientific research, the term «conceptual sphere» has recently been used alongside with the term «conceptual worldview».Border lands in any country are always characterized by greater social and political tensions than other parts of the territory. It is at the border where ethnic conflicts are more and more active, and events in the country and in the world seem to cause more sensitive feelings. The Ukrainian-Polish border is a place of interaction of international interests, settlement of disputes and the emergence of new, more advanced and progressive views on Ukrainian-Polish relations. All these features of the life of the Ukrainian-Polish border are reflected in the works of writers whose lives are connected with these territories. The conceptual sphere of these writers’ works is distinctive and original.This study analyzes the concept of «smaller homeland» in the novel «Oksana» of the writer of the Ukrainian-Polish border Włodzimierz Odojewski; it determines the psychological components of the author’s interpretation of this conceptual sphere, compares its elements inherent in the Polish and Ukrainian worldviews that embody the two main characters. The work analyzes the subconscious component of the concept of «smaller homeland», the potential of its influence on human actions and feelings, its flexibility and its role in human self-awareness.As a result of the research, the role of the conceptual sphere «smaller homeland» was established in the psychological portraits of the main characters of the novel – Oksana and Kamil. The influence of the artistic realization of this conceptual sphere on the content and problems of the novel is being analyzed.