Title of the article:

KUZ'MA MININ IN “THE TALE OF THE VICTORIES OF THE MOSCOW STATE” (on the methods of hero`s portrayal)

Author(s):

Olga A. Tufanova

Information about the author/authors

Olga A. Tufanova — PhD in Philology, A. M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Povarskaya St. 25 а, 121069 Moscow, Russia. E-mail: tufoa@mail.ru

Section

Philological sciences

Year

2019

Volume

Vol. 52

Pages

pp. 132–142

Received

December 15, 2018

Date of publication

June 28, 2019

Index UDK

821.161.1

Index BBK

83.3(2Рос=Рус)6

Abstract

The paper looks at traditional and innovative ways of portraying the ideal hero of the national militia. Basing on the analysis of epithets and monologues of Kuz'ma Minin, as well as realistic motives characterizing his activities, it arrives at a conclusion that the author of “The Tale of the Victories of the Moscow State” blends various techniques and approaches to characterize the hero. Guided by the “method of the perfect transfiguration of life,” he creates the image of an ideal hero drawing upon high positive epithets, tautological combinations, following an elaborated scheme (patriotism – “Christian virtues” – “service and diligence”). At the same time, we see all the abstract positive characteristics confirmed in the text via realistic motifs similar to those found in other writings on the Time of Troubles. Thanks to this, the ideal image acquires authentic historical features. The introduction of a direct speech into characterization of the hero is motivated by specific historical circumstances displaying the reasons for such behavior. Kindness towards everybody as a predominant trait of Kuz'ma Minin`s nature is not his exhaustive specification. Facing the evil Minin is up to change his good temper and take severe punitive measures. As the paper reveals Minin’s figure came to introduce the reflection of common tendencies in portraying an individual in literature of the early 17th century, namely, that “good and bad features can coexist in one person” and, what is more, this combination does not prevent him from being an ideal character of his day.

Keywords

Kuz'ma Minin, “The Tale of the Victories of the Moscow State”, ways of portraying a hero, method of perfect transfiguration of life, realistic motives, an epithet.

References

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