Article

Name: Elements of rites of passage in the novellas of A. G. Aleksin of the 1960s and 1970s (“And Meanwhile, Somewhere”, “Alik Detkin’s Story: A Very Scary Story”, “Crazy Evdokia”)

Authors: Yuiliya О. Tchernyavskaya

Tomsk State Pedagogical University, Tomsk, Russian Federation

In the section Study of literature

Abstract:

This article analyzes the elements of the initiation rite in A. G. Aleksin’s novellas of the 1960s and 1970s. Specifically, it examines the separation of the initiate from their relatives, the transcendence of the familiar spatial locus and the crossing of the boundary between the “own” and the “alien,” as well as the dialogue or dispute with an antagonist–a bearer of an ethical framework contrary to the protagonist’s views. The characters undergo physical trials (overcoming spatial barriers, escaping from a basement) and spiritual challenges, primarily the burden of making difficult decisions. The reevaluation of their value system is accompanied by a spiritual transformation, fundamentally altering their attitudes toward life and those around them. The initiator role is fulfilled by a woman whose profession centers on imparting humanistic values, such as a teacher or a physician. These rite-of-passage elements are used to construct an adventure plot, dramatize both external and internal conflicts, and activate archetypal images of world culture in the reader’s mind. Within adolescent literature, Aleksin’s work holds a distinct position due to its intense focus on the psychological processes within the protagonist’s consciousness. The hero selects a life strategy driven by spiritual needs that demand sacrifice (such as severing ties with a father, abandoning unrealistic worldviews, or enduring a wife’s illness). Finally, the image of the house (a dacha or an apartment) plays a pivotal role as the locus where the protagonist makes the fateful decision that determines their future and completes the initiation process.

Keywords: Anatoly Aleksin, young adult literature, novella, initiation, archetypal images, adventure plot, spatial loci

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