Article

Name: Lyrical poetics of the novel “The Life of Arseniev” by Ivan Bunin

Authors: Elena V. Kapinos

Institute of Philology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation

In the section Study of literature

Abstract:

The paper examines such features of the lyrical poetics of the novel “The Life of Arseniev” in terms of its thematic and motivic repetitions, fragmentary and variegated style, and overall sense of ambivalence and uncertainty. An emphasis is placed on how various settings are described, including manor and urban locales and on the punctuated lyrical narrative of the Fifth Book of the novel. Ivan Bunin depicts several manors near Arseniev’s residence characterized by their similarities and significant historical connections to renowned Russian writers. The lyricism of the manor theme is enhanced by various variations, lending it a substantial semantic richness. The transitions between different spaces, the layered descriptions, and the concentration of similar plots within each chapter are all points of interest. The urban space is built under the same laws as the manor. The technique used to depict cities entails the repetition of similar characteristics, with the images of the provincial city of Orel gradually merging with those of an unnamed county town in Book Five. The lyrical plot of Book Five is structured around the multiplication of similar situations, with several climaxes. The spatial and plot structures exhibit duplication, complementarity, and induction elements. The multiplication of similar motifs and plot situations skillfully confuses the reader, introducing a subject ambiguity underlying the lyrical poetics of the novel. The lyrical poetics of the novel shares similarities with the classical Russian elegy, including specific details and a melancholic tone.

Keywords: lyrical prose, I. A. Bunin’s novel “The Life of Arseniev”, motif, plot, theme, elegy, Russian manor, space

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