Main Hero Research Articles

Negativne predstave vizantijskih princeza u srpskim srednjovjekovnim žitijima

Negativne predstave vizantijskih princeza u srpskim srednjovjekovnim žitijima

«Дома», или учебник для родителей Антона Чехова

In the paper one of Anton Chekhov’s works devoted to childhood, an 1887 short story <em>At Home</em>, falls under the scrutiny. Its action appears to be limited to a conversation between Bykovsky, the father who works as prosecutor for the circuit court, and Seryozha, the son who has been found smoking. Were it not for the main hero – the father – this short story would not have been placed as one of the exceptional pieces in Chekhov’s writings. Bykovsky comprehends the reality properly and his course of action is crowned with success, meaning the son stops smoking. His way of thinking reveals a deep understanding of children’s raising rules. Firstly, he is aware that a child has its own, separate world of thoughts and feelings. In this way, the father using his own words describes the phenomenon, which is now being investigated by the so-called Theory of Mind. Secondly, Bykovsky achieves success when he tells his son a fairy tale about the harmful effects of smoking. It apparently shows that he is conscious of the role of narration in the process of education, which is also an axiom in contemporary science. Therefore, it can be concluded that the short story <em>At Home</em> is a kind of an artistic “guide for parents”.

LANGSTON HUGHES’S STYLE IN HIS STORY «ON THE ROAD»

Langston Hughes (1902‒1967) is considered to be paradoxically one of the most ambiguous as well as under- standable writers of the American «Harlem Renaissance». His short stories as a key genre of his literary paradigm brought him a world fame and he is remembered now thanks to the peculiar author’s manner of writing. In this article the investigators deal with the problem of L. Hughes’s individual style, – a criterion, which, indeed, made this literary man a wide popularity among his famous contemporaries and future generations of writers. This constituent part of his creative work deserves a separate deep and detailed analysis. The authors of this article make an attempt to trace the uniqueness of L. Hughes’s style on the example of his well-known fragment «On the Road». As a result of the scientific work it was proved that the author widely used all stylistic levels – phonetics, lexicology, syntax and semasiology. On the level of phonostylistics the author of the story widely uses alliteration, onomatopoeia, graphon and italicized words which are helpful to demonstrate natural phenomena and to portray the main hero. From the viewpoint of lexicology, L. Hughes’s story is specific because the author prefers words of neutral and colloquial origin as he wants both to illustrate characterological features of Sargeant and to show the key addressee of the story. Here, we deal with the fact that L. Hughes wrote his fiction about ordinary people to be read by them, so, the choice of his word-stock is logical. Syntactically, the story «On the Road» is very representative as is considered to be suitable for realization the author’s goal. L. Hughes uses many stylistic figures in this piece of prose. Elliptical and nominal sentences, detached and parallel constructions, inversion, anaphoric sentences, repetitions, enumerations serve to reveal the main hero’s physical and psychological state. Means and devices depicting the imaginary background of the story are also presented in the text by the author. In this regard, L. Hughes uses epithets, similes, but they are frequently used in the laconic text of the story and create the image of winter and the destiny of the main hero. So, having explored stylistic peculiarities of the story «On the Road», the authors of this article came to conclusion that the author uses language media of all linguistic levels, he obtains the capaсity to combine them in a comparatively short textual space, and this combinability leads to the birth of a particular, extra-ordinary style of the author. One should take into account that this non-traditional manner of Hughes’s expressing thoughts also testifies about the fact that the usage of such style of writing is very powerful and appropriate to realize his global aim – to raise the racial problem, which was spread in America in the 30s, and which, moreover, L. Hughes was personally survived and, therefore, cordially sympathized himself. That’s why, in this story L. Hughes declares himself not only as a brilliant linguist but and as a convinced fighter against racism in the USA also with the help of his unique style of writing.

Jaan Bergmanni pilaeepos „Jaaniida“: tekst, kontekst ja intertekst / Jaan Bergmann’s mock-epic Jaaniida: text, context and intertext

Mock-epics were first created already in the antiquity and the most famous of them, the Batrachomyomachia, was translated into Estonian already in 1875 by Jaan Bergmann; it was also the first full translation of an ancient epic poem into Estonian. However, until now, no Estonian original mock-epics were known and this genre was presumed to have evolved in Estonian literature only in the 20th century, mostly used in parodies of the national epic, the Kalevipoeg.
 In this issue, we introduce a new archival find from Jaan Bergmann’s manuscript poetry book. We discovered that, having probably been inspired by the Batrachomyomachia, but perhaps also by Nikolay Osipov’s Eneida (1791), Jaan Bergmann had created his own mock-heroic poem Jaaniida (1875). It is a multidimensional and poetically rich poem, interweaving different verse cultures and different eras. On the one hand, its analysis reveals clear influences of the Odyssey: there are parallels with the portrayal of the main hero, images and the plot, as well as with the Homeric epic techniques (for example, both epics begin with the prooemium, which contains an invocation). But in terms of poetic devices and versification, Jaaniida draws on Estonian folk songs, using the folk meter, plenty of alliteration and assonance as well as parallelism, and imitating their morphology and vocabulary. The storyline of the poem features events that appear to have happened only recently before the writing of the text (most probably in 1866–1875): the transition from villeinage to money rent and the cases of corruption among local administrators. Against this background, Bergmann satirically pictures the rise of an individual and his later downfall caused by his weaknesses and vices.

The British Empire as a Family in W. Somerset Maugham’s “The Force of Circumstance”

Set in the context of early 20 th century Malaya, W. Somerset Maugham’s (1874–1965) short story “The Force of Circumstance” (1926) concisely represents the conflicting attitudes to sex and family life among the British colonial employees. The narrative, which develops around the main hero Guy’s relationships with his English wife Doris and an unnamed Malay concubine, reflects a contrast between the attitudes to sex dominant in the official imperial ideology of that time and the practice in the colonies. The frameworks of narratology and Cognitive Poetics make it possible to read the complicated situation of the main hero as an extended metaphor of the British Empire, in which formal and informal family relations map onto the relations between Great Britain and the dependent states. Though the British imperial ideology used the concept of family to strengthen the relations between the metropole and the colonies, Maugham’s story represents the Empire as a not-so happy family – a result of circumstances rather than of mutual bond and consent.

Czy okupacyjna przeszłość Józefa Franczaka „Lalusia” miała wpływ na powojenne losy „ostatniego zbrojnego”?

Autor przedstawia nieznane dotychczas epizody konspiracyjnej działalności Józefa Franczaka „Lalusia”, żołnierza AK, z okresu okupacji niemieckiej. Wątki te są prezentowane na tle historii lokalnej, z uwzględnieniem najbliższych towarzyszy broni głównego bohatera. Franczak to jedna z głównych postaci kreowanego w ramach państwowej polityki historycznej panteonu „żołnierzy wyklętych”. W artykule szczegółowej analizie poddano zachowaną dokumentację dwóch wydarzeń odnoszących się do relacji polsko-żydowskich. Wydaje się, że miały one istotny, jeśli nie decydujący wpływ na powojenne losy Franczaka. Porównanie kolei losów „Lalusia” i jego dwóch podkomendnych uświadamia, że przynależność do AK i poważne zaszłości z okresu okupacji nie determinowały powojennych losów żołnierzy podziemia. O ich życiu decydował często nie wybór ideowy, lecz wypadkowa przypadku, pragmatyzmu i użyteczności dla nowych, komunistycznych władz

From Graphics to Calligraphy: textological Study of the Semantics and Poetcis of F. M. Dostoevsky’s The Idiot

Abstract The article contains an analysis of the manuscript materials to the novel The Idiot, comprised in three of Dostoevsky’s notebooks, dated bewteen 1867 and 1868. The article examines the probelms of the creative conception of the novel, the establishment of the text and the sequence of notes, as well as the study of Dostoevsky’s caligraphy. As a result of a critical evaluation of the scholarly publications of The Idiot, a revision of the Soviet tradition of establishing «versions» of the novel in the drafts to the novel is proposed. Comparing the published draft texts with the original, we were able to correct and give textological commentary to many previous readings of the drafts. We paid particular attention to the interpretation of Dostoevsky’s use of capital and small letters in the drafts, including the designation of the main hero by Dostoevsy as «idiot»/«Idiot». We examined the functional and semantic significance of the caligraphic writing found among the drafts to the novel. Our analysis shows that caligraphy had an artistic meaning not only in connection with the drafts to which it related but in the formation of the total conception of the novel and its problem statement, while it also determined Dostoevsky’s creative process. It is not an accident that Dostoevsky’s most intense experimentation with caligraphy coincides with the period of the writing of The Idiot, whose hero is an expert in caligraphy.

The Dystopian Model of the World in the Novel Minus 273 Degrees Celsius by Anatoly Kurchatkin

The article presents an attempt to examine the novel Minus 273 Degrees Celsius by Anatoly Kurchatkin. The novel belongs to the genre of dystopian fiction, thus a number of features characteristic of the dystopian archplot can be found in the novel. The writer quite clearly states his principle: the another world image is significant for him as a metaphor of reality in the first place. The article focuses on the dystopian model of the world depicted in the novel. While presenting the social environment and the relationships between the authorities and the citizens, the writer follows the traditions established by his predecessors which expose the system’s urge for the people’s slavish devotion incited by fear and admiration. In contrast to some dystopias, in which personal environment is considered as the only value and can guarantee a person’s inner freedom, the writer withdraws such salvatory function from the personal inner space so it has to adapt to the environment imposed by the outer world. The main character, as opposed to other characters of some popular well-known dystopias, does take a back seat, he is driven by circumstances, and his joining to a group of rioters at the end of the novel cannot be considered as his deliberate search for struggle. The article mainly analyses the writer’s position at the end of the novel. Opposite to the opinion of some critics, the writer does not give his main character a chance to find salvation and to break the deadlock. In an attempt to break through that sterile system the main hero joins the resistance movement, but apparently he gets out of one moral prison in order to get into another one. The question of finding freedom remains open in the novel, and the answer to it cannot be found in the domain of fighting of the outer forces but in the transformation of a person’s conscience.

Cultural memory in Lithuanian periodical press during World War II

During World War II Lithuania was ruled by three completely different political regimes. In the first year Lithuania was authoritarian state ruled by group of nationalists, in 1940 Lithuania was occupied by Soviet Union and in 1941 State was occupied by Nazi Germany. All these political powers was undemocratic and propagated their ideologies. One of the most important aspect of every ideology is to suggest new concept of time. This change of perception of time could be seen in the change of cultural memory. Article try to analyze this change using the most popular Lithuanian periodical press of the period. This research analyzed main historical periods and the most popular themes represented in the main newspapers. Using theories of Anthony D. Smith and Raoul Girardet research showed what historical periods was seen positively and what negatively, what was main historical heroes and enemies; also how foreign history was represented in the periodical press. The quantitative content analysis showed that while representations of history in the so called independent Lithuania and in Lithuania occupied by Nazis was quite similar, historical representations during first Soviet occupation was unique. Qualitative content analysis showed that there was three very different paradigms of cultural memories, represented in periodical press. Lithuanian nationalist mostly tried to promote Lithuanian medieval times and especially Lithuanian dukes and historical capital Vilnius, also they tried to justify their politics creating myth of great welfare during their rule. They praised Soviet history, criticized Poland and poles, but wrote about most of the countries quite neutral. During Soviet occupation all Lithuanian history was harshly criticized and showed as negative times, this regime promoted only few Lithuanian heroes who died young or was known for their left wing politics. Main historical past represented in the newspapers was history of Soviet Union, other countries was ignored. Main enemies of Soviets was Lithuanian gentry, and Lithuanian rulers of the past. During Nazi occupation there was more Lithuanian national history than German history, but the main appreciable historical periods was Lithuanian prehistory and the 19th Century. Regime promoted history of Lithuanian culture and language, but tried to ignore Lithuanian state. Foreign history was mostly binary – propaganda criticized Soviet Union as well as Tsarist Russia, USA and United Kingdom, but appreciated history of Italy, Japan, Finland, Turkey, Spain etc. Main historical enemies were of course Bolsheviks and Jews.

ЖЕЙМС ЖОЙС ВА ЖОН ГОЛСУОРСИ АСАРЛАРИДА ХАРАКТЕР МАСАЛАСИ

The article reveals the features of works by well-known English writers James Joyce and John Galsworthy , the steps of their creative career and their contribution to the English literature. The article discusses the talent of describing human character of these writers in their works. Ethical position of John Galsworthy in literary system is different from James Joyce’s. His соnception of humanity and life is also variable, as Galsworthy approached in another position for character notion. Thus the similarity can be observed in the main heroes of novels of Joyce and Galsworthy.

POETIC FUNCTIONS OF THE TRANSFORMATION MOTIF IN WRITTEN LITERATURE

By means of comparative-typological tools the article describes the ‘Transformation’ motif as one of the most ancient, traditional motifs in the oral and written literature of the world. It explains the existence of general and specific features comparing poetic appearances and functions; correlation between genesis and mythological thinking, as well as the usage of remnants in modern literature on the basis of poetic innovations. The ‘Transformation’ motif has been used in the written literature since ancient times. In the written literature, this motive occurs in the plot construction of poetic, prose, and dramatic works. It is also widely used in works based on fairy-tale stylization, novels, short stories, narratives, in the spirit of fiction and social life. Samples of ancient literature describe the transformation of the main hero as divinely as in folklore. The only difference from folklore is that it reflects the fact that transformation takes place in the form of punishing someone under the will and influence of the Gods. The fictions which are created in the next stages of evolution depict the transformation of a human being as a direct result of his/her achievements in science and technology. Therefore, transformation motifs are often encountered in literary tales, works of scientific-fantastic mood. In the world literature, from ancient times to the present, transformation has been described as being carried out by Gods, demonological forces (Satan, demon, and witches), ordinary people, or scientists.

A story about the Daughter of Ka‘b from the Masnavi Ilahi-nameh by Farid ad-Din ‘Attar: the romance narrative within the mystical context

The article discusses the problem of author’s interpretation of conventional patterns of the romance “genre” in the Tale about daughter of Ka‘b from the Ilahinameh by Farid ad-Din ‘Attar. In particular, it deals with the so-called “standard situations” (e.g. falling in love without seeing the partner, exchange of love letters or poems, etc.) as well as key components of structure (dialogues, monologues, descriptive portraits of main heroes). The analysis is based on the comparison of canonic elements of romance narrative in the Tale about daughter of Ka‘b with their analogies in the texts of the same “genre” of the earlier periods, including the “standard” romances by Nizami. This research reveals the influence of the ‘Uzri lyrical and narrative tradition with regard to the structure of plot of the “romance” and the ways of building up and composition of the features of the chief personage. On this background were analyzed the literary functions of the “inferior” personages, e.g. the nurse (or wet-nurse). The article is based on the translation and commentary of the Story about daughter of Ka‘b by Layla G. Lahuty.

Innovative Approaches to Literary Texts (Children Literature on Inclusion)

The research deals with applying to innovative approaches to literary text. Inclusive books for children and ways of working with them at pedagogical faculties are considered. In our research, we will demonstrate the work with such books “Cripple Bunny and his brave mother” by Oksana Drachkovskaya, “Trustees for the Giraffe” by Oksana Luschevska and Yevhenia Haydamaka, “Just because” by Rebecca Elliott, “Magda and her Wind” by Iryna Morykvas, “Planet Willi” by Birta Müller, “Yes! I can!: The girl and her Wheelchair” KendryJ. Barrett, Jacqueline BiuToner, Kler A. Friland, Violet Limey and the trilogy on Pearl of Tuuli Pere. The main heroes of these books are children with disabilities and special educational needs. Narrators mostly are their elder or younger brothers or sisters. The reason of the choosing children’s literature on inclusion is that it is modern important literature, which demonstrates the world of children with disability and highlights such serious topics as decease and death. Its aim is to show that variety makes world wonderful and grate. The introduction of holographic design of vita technologies (calligarm, creative games, the pyramid of hero and author) is considered as well, the application of methods of critical thinking (mind-mapping, swot-analysis, six hats, Bloom’s taxonomy) in the analysis of fiction is substantiated. Potential online resources helping work with literature are examined. In addition, the possibilities of online resources (rebus, comics’ generator, the creating of mind maps, crosswords on different platforms) are determined as important part of the work with text. It has proved that such innovate approaches help to develop creative potential of students, allows analyzing literary text in a new way. Such approaches will be helpful in professional activity of teachers in primary school.

Ученик Ивана Поддубного: художественный образ атлета и силача в историческом романе

The article for the first time provides a comprehensive literary analysis of the historical novel by M.-N. Khalilov “Sali Suleiman” identifying its meaningful and formal components. It is shown that the novel, representing evolution of the historical novel genre, became a landmark of the Kumyk and, more broadly, Dagestan post-Soviet prose. The paper argues that the author’s appeal to poetical means, traditions of epical folklore is conditioned by the image of the main hero, athlete and strongman, who remained in the people’s memory as an extra-ordinary personality. The role of the Russian sports culture representative, world-famous wrestler I. Poddubny as Suleiman’s teacher is highlighted.

Sankcjonowanie władzy w Matni Romana Polańskiego

The purpose of this paper is a multidimensional analysis of the problem of power in the film Matnia by Roman Polański. Using the ups and downs of three heroes as a starting point of the deliberations, the author proves that the effectiveness of power is not only in physical strength and the will to dominate but rather in the readiness to be subordinated. This readiness is generated in the heroes by such factors as vast and unprotected space of the castle, making of one of the main heroes – George – a female character, the failure of the institution of marriage (evidence of George’s wife’s unfaithfulness appears in the film), the powerlessness of language, which makes opposing the oppressor difficult, and finally omnipotence of the affect understood as a key to the interpretation of postmodern power structures.

Сибирская заговорная традиция в рассказе Всеволода Иванова «Жизнь Смокотинина»

This paper is dedicate to studying the problem of spell as a plot structure. We analyze the story by Vsevolod Ivanov “Smokotinin’s Life”, the main hero – Timofei Smokotinin – of which is composed the original spell: “on whom this sigh, that one will be sliver dry”. Many Siberian spell used dry silver as a basic element of love magic and witchcraft. We show as Vsevolod Ivanov compiled some Siberian spells and created original author’s spell. On keywords of this spell – “sliver” and “sigh” founded the plot of this story. The interject “oh” illustrated the ache of love Timofei Smokotinin and the induced psychosis, in which the inductor and recipient – the same person: the main hero. He translated the domestic episode firing up the oven by Catherina into the love magic plan. The Siberian tradition had many rituals with the act of firing up the oven with sliver. May be Vsevolod Ivanov known them and used in the own story. The individual style Vsevolod Ivanov show how masterfully he created the plot of “Smokotinin’s Life”. The interject “oh”, including in many words of this story. And the sliver as an “oh” became not only the symbol of tragic Smokotinin’s Life, but a basic elements of composition. The tendency of modernism this story by Vsevolod Ivanov Vyach. Vs. Ivanov saw also in the story “The Damned Thing” (1898) by American writer Ambrose Bierce. The main problem of both stories – death the main hero from the autoinduced psychosis. Finally, we offer the neurosemiotics method to studying creative manner Vsevolod Ivanov.

ОБРАЗЫ ДВИЖЕНИЯ В КОНЦЕПЦИИ СЮЖЕТА РОМАНА СЭМЮЭЛА БЕККЕТА «МЕРФИ» (1938)

The article focuses on the images connected with motion in S. Beckett’s novel Murphy (1938). Du­ring the period of writing the book, the author wanted to free himself from the influence of James Joyce and to develop his own conception. He chose a popular Irish name for his main hero and added to the portrait some details from his own biography. The protagonist of the novel, Murphy, is one of the typical Beckettian characters (Belacqua, Watt, Molloy, Malone), who realize the infinite distance between themselves and the outer world. They prefer staying isolated in the mental space of their own imagination and are indifferent to what is happening outside of it. Murphy is disgusted by endless cyclic processes that physical life consists of. He tries not to be involved in them. The impossibility of the complete indifference, on the one hand, and the protagonist’s obsession with self-contemplation, on the other hand, lead him to death. Biographical comments to the novel, made by famous literary critics, may be supplemented with observations on the specific nature of S. Beckett’s phenomenology and poetology, offered by scholars in recent years. Based on the phenomenological analysis, the article aims to discover how the images of motion are engaged in the process of revealing Murphy’s inner conflict. Among the elements of Beckett’s conception, we can single out the ‘big world’ and the ‘small world’, which are filled with different spatial images and images of objects. The plot of the novel is connected with Murphy’s conscious efforts to interact with specific moving objects for obtaining corporal calmness, giving him freedom of staying in his mental world. Significant characteristics of the motion images in the novel are the following: controlled and uncontrollable cyclicity, desirable immobility, and destroying chaotic nature.

Problem of creative individuality and main hero in bayron and chulpon's lyrics

Problem of creative individuality and main hero in bayron and chulpon's lyrics

The Fate of General Radko Dimitriev and His Memory in Context of Russian-Bulgarian Relations of the Late 19th – Early 20th centuries

This article examines the biography of the Bulgarian-born General Radko Dimitriev (1859–1918), who was convinced that the good of his homeland was inextricably linked with Russia and depended on good relations with it. For this good, he went to the overthrow of the monarch, but a decade later due to changes in the vector of Bulgarian policy was able to return home and become a hero. In 1913–1914, R. Dimitriev served as Bulgaria's envoy to Russia and tried to change the negative image of his country. With the outbreak of World War I, he joined the Russian army, and a year later in Bulgaria he was declared a deserter and a traitor. In 1918 he was executed by the Bolsheviks in Pyatigorsk, and in a few decades he became practically a symbol of friendship between the Bulgarian and Russian peoples, which led to retouching the circumstances of his death. The article traces the actions of the General and his motivation. Despite his Bulgarian origin, in 1914 he became nearly the main hero of the war in the Russian public space. The reasons for its popularity were not only in the im-portance of his victories, but also in the fact that R. Dimitriev was called the incarnation of A. V. Suvorov and M. D. Skobelev. The article shows what values, embodiments of which were these popular warlords, were characteristic this Bulgarian general. This is a personal part in the fighting, the care of soldiers, democracy in communication. Modern Russian military also has moved to a new paradigm of command, which, however, worked against their popularity among the soldiers. And at the same time, values of the commander of Suvorov's or Skobelev's types were insolvent in the conditions of revolutionary commotion, and R. Dimitriev lost control of the parts entrusted to it. Because of their gener-osity and love for Russia, he refused to take part in the Civil war that decided his death.The author declares absence of conflict of interest.

Житийный герой в романном повествовании: «Лавр» Евгения Водолазкина (Часть первая)

As genres, the hagiography and the novel are close in their intention to show the path of a personality and to depict the whole life of a hero. However, the value orientations of a novelistic hero and a hagiographic hero are opposite: from the very beginning, the latter denies what the former is striving for — the success in worldly life. The main hero of E. G. Vodolazkin’s novel Laurus, from his very birth, has the inclinations of the hagiographic hero, but at the beginning of his independent life, he behaves not in the hagiographic, but in the novelistic way, which leads him to tragedy: his beloved woman dies without the repentance and ritual that are important in terms of hagiography. The article examines how the hero, trying to save the soul of his beloved woman, turns his life into a constant feat of serving people. On this path he reconsiders the meaning of life’s goals on a general and individual level, the categories of time and how time is filled with events, and the horizontal (“worldly life”) and vertical (“a life leading to Heaven”) paths. The hero goes through four distinct life periods and, accordingly, changes his name four times, but a certain monad of his personality remains unchanged. Growing in holiness, the hero saves the life of a young woman — he assists her when she delivers her baby — and that compensates for the loss of his beloved one and their unborn son. Since after the hero's death his unburied body does not decay and eventually disappears, it can be assumed that the hero achieves the goal of his life — the salvation of his beloved woman's soul, as well as his own. The ­method of analytical reading allows us to trace how the author in his narration overcomes the ­antinomy of the novelistic and hagiographic principles, and how those principles influence each other and grow into each other.