The image of wolf in artistic animalism of “The Song of Igor’s Campaign” and ancient Chinese literature

Abstract

The article analyzes the image of the wolf in “The Song of Igor's Campaign” and ancient Chinese literature. In the motive complex of artistic animalism of “The Song” the wolf is represented semantically multivalued. He acts as a symbolic function of the forerunner of tragic events, poeticizes as a legendary mythological werewolf, and is also intensively used as a comparison-personification. In ancient Chinese literature the wolf in the vast majority of texts acts as a carrier of negative emotions. Its main metaphorical associations are alien invaders, rebels, sovereigns-tyrants. The image of the wolf is investigated according to the original text of “The Song” and the translations and commentaries of Chinese literary scholars Wei Huangnu and Li Xiyin.

Keywords

• the song of igor's campaign
• wolf
• werewolf
• ancient chinese literature
• wei huangnu
• li xiyin