Animalistic discourse in the poetics of G. Troepolsky’s short novel ‘‘White Beam Black Ear’’ and N. Luginov’s short novel ‘‘Kustuk’

Abstract

   The problem of animalistic discourse in the short fiction of Russian writer G. Troepolsky and Yakut writer N. Luginov remains a pressing issue in literary studies of contemporary poetics. A comparative analysis of the stories ‘‘White Bim Black Ear’’ and ‘‘Kustuk’’ reveals not only the aesthetic principles of animalistic literature but also the creative trajectories of writers following the traditions of Russian and Yakut folklore. The article explores the poetic characteristics of G. Troepolsky and N. Luginov's works, exploring their individuality within the context of the spiritual values and cultural code of Russia's multinational literature. Furthermore, it explores the metatext as a ‘‘text within a text’’ and identifies the deeper meanings of the stories' titles and the role of archetype. In the artistic and stylistic explorations of contemporary Russian prose, stories by Russian and Yakut writers are valued by literary critics as aesthetically significant representations of dog’s image. Through the plot, narrative, linguistic, and psychological meanings of the relationship between man and animal, moral, philosophical, and social conflicts of society are highlighted. The multifaceted depiction of Russian and Arctic nature is based on national cultural codes, allowing the authors to establish climactic dominants in the development of the action in a motivated and artistically compelling manner. The writers masterfully utilize the key technique of animalistic literature, imbuing Bim and Kustuk with human-like thinking, empathy, and the ability to study and evaluate the actions of their owners. The high ratings of these works stem from the writers' reflections not only on the tragic fate of their dog characters but also on eternal existential issues: good and evil, faith and betrayal, cowardice and courage. Reading of the stories by G. Troepolsky and N. Luginov reveals the semantic content of the humanistic traditions of Russian literature of the 21st century.