THE GENRE OF ROMANCE IN THE CONTEXT OF MODERN LITERARY PROCESS (R.L. STEVENSON, H.R. HAGGARD)

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the research of genre features of English neo-romantic adventure novel – romance. Comparative analysis of R. L. Stevenson’s novel “Treasure Island” and H. R. Haggard novel “King Solomon’s Mines” demonstrates the peculiarities of romance. Among them: an exotic chronotope – location for challenges for uncommon person, a hero – generous, noble-minded on one hand, and natural, understandable on the other hand, mythological motifs: salvation of beautiful girl, treasure hunts, searches of artifacts. In transitional period (the end XIX– the beginning XX) one of the main aims of this genre was to propagate the idea of the Britain Empire in clear and diverted forms. Fictional romance appeals more to the senses than to the mind. It can be distinguished as moral fantasy. The orientation on mass-reader made romance one of the best-sellers. A fascination with imperial ideas at the end of XIX century in Great Britain was outpoured in «activism» - an imperial flow, which became a lifestyle and united writers who propagate an imperial ideology, including such concepts, as patriotic service Britain, debt, adherence to the idea of national unity. The representatives of «romantic revival» – Stevenson, and especially Haggard, – joined them. Our study initiates a determination question of Haggard’s position from the point of modern literary process and in the context of «midl-literature». The distinguishing features of author’s variant of romance were selected in the process of research. Haggard addresses with actual issues to his contemporaries; reflects Britannic imperial mentality in the simplified form. So, Britain literature of «romantic revival» (the end of XIX–the beginning of XX) appeals to all classes and types of person and creates a paradigm of popular literature of the XX century.

Keywords

• неоромантизм
• масова література
• мідл-література
• пригодницький роман
• імперський міф