Shustova E. V. The Specificity of the Literary Reception of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Works in Russian Prose (“Beyond the Dawn” by O. Brileva)

(Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University)

Abstract ♦ The paper examines the specific influence of J. R. R. Tolkien’s works on the modern Russian prose, in particular on the novel “Beyond the Dawn” (1999–2002) by O. Brileva (O. A. Chigirinskaia). Our study is based on the conception of D. Diurishin, who distinguishes between integral and differential forms of literary reception.

The study showed that in the novel “Beyond the Dawn” we face a synthesis of integral and differential forms of literary reception. The novel is perceived in relation to J. R. R. Tolkien’s works. It is necessary to have an idea of the original worldbuilding to understand the book analyzed. We describe both J. R. R. Tolkien’s special literary devices and the similarity of their use in the novel. The comparison of literary frame used by J. R. R. Tolkien and O. Brileva showed that its functioning reflects the authors’ pursuit of setting the dominant point of view on the world created in their works, which characterizes the specificity of the narration.

“Beyond the Dawn” also features the author’s personal re-thinking of the original source, which is also implemented through literary frame. It eliminates the authenticity, claims on the accuracy of the imaging and relates the narration to the social and cultural environment different from the one J. R. R. Tolkien belonged to.

The use of certain elements of realistic poetics is another departure from the original. It enables to fill in the gaps of J. R. R. Tolkien’s works and to infuse a kind of substantiality into the original worldbuilding.

Synthesis of active and passive reception indicates a high level of mastery of J. R. R. Tolkien’s heritage at the beginning of the 21st century, a creative attitude towards it and its relevance for modern readers and authors. 

Keywords: J. R. R. Tolkien, O. Brileva, “Beyond the Dawn”, literary reception, literary variation, personal re-thinking, realistic poetics.  

Shustova Ellina Viktorovna, Instructor, Department of English, Institute of Language, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University; Postgraduate student, Department of World Literature, Institute of Philology and Intercultural Communication, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University; Fellow, Science Fiction Researchers Association. Postal address: 2 Tatarstan St., Kazan, Russian Federation, 420021. Tel.: +7 (843) 221-33-07, +7 (843) 293-94-57. E-mail: leite@mail.ru. Research advisers: O. O. Nesmelova, Doctor of Philology, Professor, N. G. Makhinina, Candidate of Philology, Associate Professor.

Citation: Shustova E. V. (2015) The Specificity of the Literary Reception of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Works in Russian Prose (“Beyond the Dawn” by O. Brileva) [ ]. Znanie. Ponimanie. Umenie, no. 1, pp. 330-335. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.17805/zpu.2015.1.33

Submission date: 13.01.2015.

RUSSIAN VERSION

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