The phenomenon of fear in Ukrainian literature for children and youth about the events of the Holodomor of 1932-1933

Abstract

The article considers the forms of manifestation of fear and the specificity of their representation in Ukrainian works for children and youth about the events of the Holodomor of 1932--1933. Its relevance is emphasized, as the state of threat and the appearance of fear as a basic reaction to it have become the modern realities in Ukraine. The state of research of the issue in Ukrainian literary studies is outlined; the principles of classification of forms, functions, and types of fear are taken into account. It is determined that works about the Holodomor take an important place in the sphere of historical prose, which accumulates a complex of historical knowledge, becomes an important factor in the formation of the national identity of the personality. While analyzing the short stories "Kandor" by Y. Zbanatskyi, "Bevka" by M. Mahera, "Velykyi Zlochyn Malenkoho Mykhasia" (Great Crime of Little Mykhas) by Oleksa Kobets, "Chorna Khustka" (Black Shawl) by M. Ponedilok, "Skrynia" (Chest) by K. Yehorushkina, and the story "Try Skhodynky Holodomoru" (Three Steps of the Holodomor) by E. Zarzhytska, it has been found out that the dominant type of fear in the artistic sphere of the works is fear for physical existence, fear of hunger (to be hungry, to see a hungry person, to see a person who died of hunger). It is determined that in Ukrainian fiction on the Holodomor theme real fears (fear of power, fear of being left at home alone, fear of the dark, fear of death, fear of a particular person, fear of being punished) and metaphysical ones (horror, anxiety) are represented by techniques of psychological analysis, reproduction of states of the nature, metaphors, symbols which lay stress on the writer's attitude and style.