Semantic of Artistic time in V. Stefanyk’s short story «She-earth» and A. Chekhov’s story «Boring story»

Abstract

Aim The article deals with the investigation of the semantics of artistic time in V. Stefanyk’s short story «She-earth» and A. Chekhov’s story «Boring story». The aim of the article is to determine the functioning of the linear (historic) time and cyclic (sacred) time in the works of the writers.

Methods In the investigation there has been used the system approach by means of comparative and typological, culture and historic and structurally-semiotic methods.

Results It has been pointed out that in general V. Stefanyk’s and A. Chekhov’s short prose is directed at picturing the «instantaneity», the present time. That is why in V. Stefanyk’s short story «She-earth» and A. Chekhov’s story «Boring story» there is presented the linear, historic time of the end of 19th – beginning of the 20th century. The cyclic time in the works is presented by the binary oppositions «old / new», «once / now», «day / night», «winter / summer». It has been proved that cyclic time in the short story «She-earth» the cyclic time preserves its sacred meaning. In A. Chekhov’s story «Boring story» the cyclic time is also present but its meaning is reduced.

Scientific novelty In the article, for the first time there has been investigated the typological similarities and differences of the semantics of the artistic time in V. Stefanyk’s short story «She-earth» and A. Chekhov’s story «Boring story».

Practical significance The material of the article can be used for the further study of the Ukrainian and the Russian literature processes of the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th centuries.