Article

Name: The History of West-European Plots in the Works of Schiller, V. A. Zhukovsky and L. N. Tolstoy

Authors: Polosina Alla N.

State Memorial and Natural Preserve «Museum-estate of Leo Tolstoy “Yasnaya Polyana”», Tula, Russia

In the section The Plot and the Methods of Its Description

Abstract: The theme of frailty of earthly existence, inconstancy of happiness and futility of human hopes was among the interests of Schiller, V. A. Zhukovsky and L. N. Tolstoy. Therefore they were interested in the legend of Polycrates’ ring by the historian Herodotus, and St. Barlaam’s «Parable of the man and the unicorn», which reflect this timeless theme. The article describes the primary sources of these vagrant themes and their interpretation in the works of the abovementioned writers.

Keywords: fate, fatalism, vagrant theme, delusiveness of happiness, futility of hopes, capital punishment

Bibliography: