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

Literary criticism

On the Materials of a Special Course by T. M. Akimova on Slavic Studies in the Archives of the Study Lab “Folklore Classroom Named in Honor of Professor T. M. Akimova”

The article analyzes the materials of a Slavic studies special course given by Professor T. M. Akimova in the middle of the 1970s as a part of the course “Introduction into Slavic studies” (section “Culture of the Slavs. South Slavic epic”). The volume, thematic plan and a part of special course materials are characterized. The article focuses on how the unique identity of the author, who had experienced the school of prominent soviet scientists B. M. Sokolov and V. M.

Pushkin’s Conflict in the Prose of A. I. Solzhenitsyn

One of the defining features of Pushkin’s work was the issue of the ‘law and mercy’. The law and mercy conflict is also represented in the prose of A. I. Solzhenitsyn. In his works, Solzhenitsyn gives a distinctive interpretation of this tradition, which defines the main trend of the Russian literature not only of the 19th, but the 20th and 21st centuries as well.

Emotional Intensity in I. Brodsky’s Early Oeuvre (On the Example of 1957–1962 Poems)

The article studies content and formal aspects of emotional intensity in I. Brodsky’s early oeuvre; the techniques which would afterwards define his reserved artistic manner are identified.

The Poem by Bulat Okudzhava My Son’s Tin Soldier in the Cultural and Historic Context of the 1960s

The poem by Okudzhava is comprehended against the background of a number of texts published during the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Patriotic War. Okudzhava’s unique stand in the situation of the historic celebration is determined, the controversy with Levitansky’s poem The Little Man is traced. It is shown how Andersen’s formula of the ‘persistent tin soldier’ is transformed in Okudzhava’s point of view. The views of Okudzhava and Samoilov on literature about the war are compared.

Functions of the Comic in Soviet Comedies on Historical Themes of the Early 1940s (Prince Napoleon by Vasily Shkvarkin and Long Long Ago by Alexander Gladkov)

The article discusses the role of the comic in the prewar historic drama on the example of Prince Napoleon by V. Shkvarkin and Long Long Ago by A. Gladkov. Shkvarkin wrote a satirical work exposing a potential adversary, and Gladkov wrote a heroic comedy glorifying the people’s valor. Historical comedies on the eve of the war instilled optimism in the audience and aroused a sense of patriotism.

Creator’s Tasks and the Meaning of the Creative Act. Elena Shvartz vs Anna Gorenko

The article considers the features of the cultural dialogue of two generations – the 1970’s and 1990’s. The poems of E. Shvartz and A. Gorenko are analyzed, world-view and aesthetic attitudes that are key for the two generations are indicated. Also the paper reveals the difference in understanding the tasks of the creator and the purpose of the creative act.

The Motive of Madness in V. Nabokov’s Prose

The article analyzes the motive of madness in V. Nabokov’s prose. The role of this motive in the writer’s visual experiments is investigated. The portrayal of mental disorders is considered as an ‘estrangement’device, destroying the automaticity of perception.

The Problem of Distinguishing Versions and Cyclic Structures in O. Mandelstam’s Lyrics

The article is devoted to one of the difficult problems in the study of Mandelstam’s lyrics, namely the problem of distinguishing different versions and cyclic structures based on repetition and variations of poetic fragments. The author offers the criteria of distinction, analyzes several controversial cases, shows the importance of presenting different versions of text as a dynamic unity.

A Doll and Its Counterpart (The Story of a Barber Doll by A. V. Chayanov, 1918)

The paper considers the transformation and functioning of the plot about Pygmalion and Galatea in the story written by A. V. Chayanov. The story is a multidimensional play with myths (of Aphrodite, Medusa, Isis), and with the literary traditions represented by G. Casanova, J. W. Goethe, L. Tieck, E. T. A. Hoffmann, H. Heine, A. Blok, etc. The structural levels of the text are subject to the principle of mirror doubling. The well-known idea of O. Freidenberg that “the idea of a doll is parallel with the idea of a deity-actor-corpse” is manifested in A. V.

“Courage and Audacity…” (N. Ya. Abramovich about M. A. Lokchvitskaya)

The article discusses the critical responses of N. Ya. Abramovich devoted to the work of the brightest representative of the Russian female poetry of the 19–20th centuries, M. A. Lokhvitskaya. Deep and extraordinary assessments of the critic seem to be a significant milestone in the comprehension of her lyrics, and play a significant role in determining the place of the poetess in the literary space of the era.

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