Izvestiya of Saratov University.
Philology. Journalism
ISSN 1817-7115 (Print)
ISSN 2541-898X (Online)

Literary criticism

Dante’s Motives in A. P. Chekhov’s Story Student

The article focuses on studying the motives of the first canto of Inferno in A. P. Chekhov’s story Student. Possible allusions to the first canto are evident in Chekhov’s choice of the time and place of where the character experiences his spiritual drama, in the semantics and function of the locuses, and key motives highlighting the character’s path. The author assumes that Dante’s ideals might have given rise to Chekhov’s idea of the unity of life in the world.

The Image of the Garden in the Novel La Faute de l’Abbé Mouret by Emile Zola

The article focuses on the garden as a literary image based on the archetype and some mythological allusions. The structure of the garden is analyzed in detail as the novel space at variance and in connection with the naturalistic aesthetic approach.

Two Philarets: On the Special Features of the Saints’ Images in the Works by N. S. Leskov

The article attempts to study the methods of depicting saints in the texts by N. S. Leskov on the example of the images of saint bishops Philaret Drozdov and Philaret Amphiteatrov. The polarity of expressive means in the descriptions of the characters is emphasized as largely driven by the narrator’s pathos. The analysis is based not only on the material of the Trifles from the Life of Archbishops, but also of some other works.

Social and Cultural Significance of Reading as the Subject of Empirical Study: Reality and Possibilities

The article updates the issue of theoretical and practical understanding of how the reading activity is transforming these days. The author proves the necessity of developing an in-depth content of the questionnaire technique in order to study reading due to its social and cultural value and the current agenda of modern literary education.

The Issue of Peasantry in M. Gorky’s World View and Oeuvre

The article deals with the topic of peasantry – one of the most important topics in M. Gorky’s socio-cultural paradigm, which still presents a challenge in M. Gorky’s studies. The comprehensive coverage of the problems of ‘town and country’, the ‘peasants and revolution’ based on the biographical facts, prose, essays and the author’s correspondence of the 1920s – early 1930s, conclusively disproves the persistent claim of Gorky’s ‘dislike’ and his ‘distrustful’ attitude towards the peasant.

Spiritual Conflict Generators in the ‘Romantic’ Cycle Autumn by B. Pasternak

The article studies the poetic cycle Autumn by B. Pasternak, which concludes his book of poems Themes and Variations (1916–1922). The imagery system of the cycle and its plot, reflecting the relationships between the lyrical hero and his beloved, are analyzed. The role of spiritual conflict generators as important cycle-formative elements is noted. The intertextual connections with the Bible and W. Shakespeare’s play Hamlet are highlighted.

Dialogue in Surrealism and Construction of Group Identity (A Trial of Barres (“L’Affaire Barrès”), 1921)

The article is devoted to the study of dialogue in the surrealist work “The Process of Barres” and its role in the construction of the collective identity. The surrealists turn the dialogue into a meta-technique: on the one hand, it is often used as a creative tool, with its help collective works are created and surreal practices are transformed; on the other hand, the focus on dialogue within the group characterizes the special forms of social interaction among the surrealists.

“Dada’s God is dancing”: Dance and Poetry in the Dadaist Aesthetics

The article analyzes a variety of different forms of interaction between Dance and Poetry in Dadaist art and explores the common sources of poetics and dance-theory-transformation in the historical avantgarde. The mutual influence of Dance and Poetry is based on the avant-garde artists’ interest in ‘primitive’ mentalities and a search of syncretic language that combines verbal and corporeal expression. The representation crisis and the reinterpretation of the concept of rhythm caused the invention of intermedial poetic-dancing forms.

The Specifics of the Reception of S. Ya. Nadson’s Poetry in the Journalism of the Old Believer Bishop Mikhail (Semenov)

The article analyzes how an old believer Bishop Mikhail (Semenov), one of the prominent opinion journalists of the 20th century, drew upon S. Ya. Nadson’s poetry. Bishop Mikhail used poem excerpts as quotes, which allowed him to express his own attitude to other literary works, to argue, to highlight his own opinion. The use of Nadson’s allegory of Love has a specific nature of its own. An original means of an individual reception of other authors has been brought to light.

The Rhythm and the Free Indirect Speech in Remizov’s Novel Pond

The article discusses the interaction of rhythm and narrative strategy. Free indirect speech is a complex phenomenon, sometimes devoid of bright markers of the transition to the character’s inner mental space. Metric changes, change of breath expressed in the rhythm, are considered as one of the ways of ‘switching’ from the author’s speech to the character’s internal speech.

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