Sadovnikova Y.M. —
A New Historical novel: traditions, evolution and specifics of the genre by the example of Barry Unsworth's novel "Morality Play"
// Litera. – 2024. – ¹ 4.
– P. 289 - 295.
DOI: 10.25136/2409-8698.2024.4.70314
URL: https://en.e-notabene.ru/fil/article_70314.html
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Abstract: Despite the large number of literary works written, there are still debates in determining the genre structure of the historical novel and the features of its poetics. This is apparently due to the fact that for most experts the focus should traditionally be on history, and not on genre theory. Authors of historical novels help recreate historical images of the past, allowing readers to see the world through the eyes of people who lived in other eras. The historical novel can be both an entertaining genre and a tool for the study of history, stimulating interest in the past and raising important questions about how people lived and acted in different times. Different points of view allow us to better understand the versatility of the genre and its influence both on literature and on the understanding of history and life.
The author used the technique of “new historicism” literature. Along with the canons of the historical novel of the 19th century, B. Unsworth resorts to the traditional techniques of the historiographical meta-novel of the postmodern era. This novel represents a new approach to the genre of historical fiction, different from the traditional Walterscottian one. The new historical novel and metaphysical mystery can be viewed through the lens of the new historical novel, which focuses on the historical aspects of the story, accurately recreating the setting of a specific era with each fictional character and event, and taking the reader back to the reality of the 14th century. The murder investigation is an important element of the novel's plot, but it only makes sense if the setting of the era in which everything takes place is recreated. Medieval drama plays an important role here, especially the author's transformation from religious to secular drama. Transformation of genre form is a characteristic feature of modern literature. Barry Unsworth's novels are interesting in that they synthesize several genre combinations and at the same time reproduce aspects of the formation of a new genre for its time – morality tales.
Sadovnikova Y.M. —
Features of the narrative structure of the novel of the postmodern era on the example of Barry Unsworth's novel "Moralite"
// Litera. – 2023. – ¹ 5.
– P. 218 - 226.
DOI: 10.25136/2409-8698.2023.5.40518
URL: https://en.e-notabene.ru/fil/article_40518.html
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Abstract: The author examines the features of the narrative structure of the novel of English postmodernism "Morality Play" (Unsworth "Morality Play"). The purpose of this article is to identify the features of the construction of the novel of postmodernism. Postmodern writers tend to transform genres of high literature, making them accessible to mass reading. Moralite is a special kind of dramatic performance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance. A detective novel is a phenomenon of mass literature. The detective genre is based on three main elements that form the plot: crime, investigation and solution. In the article, these three elements are considered on the example of the novel "Moralite". Despite the fact that the plot-forming element is a detective component, the author does not fulfill all the genre strategies of the detective. In the presented work, the detective influence of the construction of a postmodern novel will be considered, in which readers are involved in the active process of reconstructing the incident, and the main character finds a solution to all the mysteries and riddles. The relevance of the work is due to the lack of full–fledged Russian-language research on the designated topic - dissertations, collections of articles, monographs. In the novel moralita, the identity of the murderer is not important, the victims are not important. The author is interested in the effect produced by the "performance" played out on the stage. Barry Unsworth demonstrates his vision of creating a new Medieval genre, he shows how this transition to everyday themes took place. One person can change the usual way of life by taking a risk and leading. Wandering comedians, who are the main characters, appear to readers as naive amateur detectives. They are passionate about the process and improve their "Thomas Wells Game", but not for the sake of punishing and exposing the killer. In the process of research, it can be concluded that two main genre layers can be distinguished in the novel – detective and historical. In addition to these genres of features, it can be argued that this is a novel about the genre.
Sadovnikova Y.M. —
Ambivalence as a Carnival Category in Barry Unsworth's Novel "Morality Play"
// Litera. – 2022. – ¹ 5.
– P. 192 - 197.
DOI: 10.25136/2409-8698.2022.5.37847
URL: https://en.e-notabene.ru/fil/article_37847.html
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Abstract: The article examines the main category of carnival - ambivalence based on the material of the novel of Barry Unsworth "Morality Play", which reveals the features of the carnival worldview, a characteristic feature of which is the idea of the dialogical nature of truth. In the novel by the English author Barry Unsworth "Morality Play", the main goal of the carnival is realized, which is to turn inside out the usual ideas about the world as a reasonable hierarchical system, to turn the usual order of things upside down, to ridicule everything familiar and frozen, in order to through denial, ridicule (symbolic death) contribute to the revival and renewal of the world. During the analysis of the character system of the novel by the English author Barry Unsworth "Morality Play", paired images characteristic of carnival thinking were identified: priest Nicholas Barber - confessor of Lord Simon Damian; Margaret Cornwall - a deaf-mute girl; Brendan - Thomas Wells. Scenes and characters paired by contrast and similarity have an impact on the figurative system and poetics of the novel. The findings suggest that the carnival tradition penetrates deeply into the structure of the novel, affecting the plot, forms a comic effect, preserving the uniqueness of ambivalent carnival laughter.