The archetype of the “City of Kitezh” in the novel-chronicle S.N. Durylin “Bells”

https://doi.org/10.20339/PhS.4-18.059

Korshunova Evgeniya A.,

Cand. of Philol. sci., Doctoral student of

Department of History of Modern Russian literature and Modern literary process of the Philological Faculty

Lomonosov Moscow State University

e-mail: zhenyakorshunova@gmail.com

The article is devoted to the functioning of the archetype of “Kitezh city (или grad)” in S.N. Durylin’s (1886–1954) novel-chronicle “Bells” (1928–1953) on the background of the main Kitezh models of the “Silver Century” literature. It is said that S.N. Durylin was able to reveal the national value of the legend, its mysterious sense as in his theoretical articles “Story about the invisible city (grad) Kitezh”, “Riсhard Wagner and Russia” as in the text chronicle. Archetype of Kitezh becomes structure-forming for Durylin. Almost all the plot-making parts about Kitezh are presented in the text: city building, its history, depiction of the threat of city existing, the wonder of Kitezh saving, possibility of going to Kitezh forever, confirmation of Kitezh existing by wonderful “news” from it. It helps not only to comprehend sad historical changes in Russia (the victory of the Bolsheviks), but also to offer the warm hope for the reviving of Russia in the future. The Easter plot of the chronicle is called to express it. The Easter ending of the third part is the mortgage of the future Motherland`s spiritual reviving for the author. It is the Easter archetype of the novel that helps to express the text’s super idea most full: the thirst of finding the spiritual Kitezh. The connection of Easter and Kitezh archetypes in the text promotes opening of the deep sense of the legend. If Solovyev’s slope is noticed in the articles, but further in the chronicle the author departs from these views. Speaking about Kitezh he doesn’t reject the historical way of life in Russia, its history, as the other symbolists. His Kitezh is participated to the character of Saint Russia. In the mature work S.N. Durylin has overcome the symbolism becoming closer to post symbolists and writers of emigration.

Keywords: archetype, Kitezh, paschality, symbolism, post symbolism, emigration, poetics, a tradition, iconicity.

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