Author’s name:
Valeria Ju. Sukhotina – Lev Tolstoy Tula State Pedagogical University, Tula, Russia
Abstract:
The article examines symbols as instruments for conveying the artistic concept of V. V. Veresaev’s novel The Sisters. Artistic details are analyzed within the framework of C. S. Peirce’s semiotic theory. The study proposes its own interpretation of the symbol, drawing on the works of N. D. Arutyunova, A. F. Losev, and M. L. Kovshova. It identifies the principal characteristics of this linguistic and cultural element, addressing the challenges of understanding its essence and role in shaping the novel’s artistic space. The text of The Sisters reveals both textual and extra-textual signs functioning as symbols. The article interprets passages critical for understanding the cultural context of the work. Analysis demonstrates that the symbols embedded in the textual space possess both imperativeness and figurativeness. They operate on expressive and content levels, conveying the author’s intent and reflecting the culture of a specific historical era. The study also elucidates the mechanisms by which symbolic signs acquire new meanings. Through this process, the cultural ideas and values of the linguistic community are renewed, corresponding to shifts in cultural and historical paradigms. Symbols are integral to the artistic space of the novel and embody specific social norms. They constitute elements of the collective consciousness of the linguistic and cultural community, indicating their universal character. While often rooted in images of the everyday, naive world, symbols can also articulate the essence of the spiritual sphere. Finally, various types of symbolic signs in the novel align with the cultural categories of Old Life and New Life, vividly illustrating the distinctiveness of the early twentieth-century historical and cultural context.
| Section | LANGUAGE AND CULTURE |
| DOI: | 10.47388/2072-3490/lunn2025-72-4-120-134 |
| Downloads | 309 |
| Key words | artistic space; symbols; cultural epoch; interpretation; mental image |