Слово.ру: балтийский акцент (Feb 2024)
Semantic potential of the lexeme twilight in Russian poetry
Abstract
The article provides an in-depth analysis of both direct and figurative usages, as well as the figurative transformations of the term 'twilight' in Russian poetry spanning over a century and a half of its evolution. The linguistic and poetic examination focuses on contexts featuring the lemma 'twilight' within the poetic corpus of the Russian National Corpus, specifically those related to the period from 1756 to 1917. The chosen timeframe aligns with the initial recording of the selected lexeme, as per corpus data, with the second date serving as a conditional endpoint corresponding to the conclusion of the Silver Age of Russian lyrics. The aim of the linguistic and poetic analysis is to discern patterns in the figurative and symbolic utilization, as well as the individual reinterpretation of the term 'twilight' by poets across various literary methods, trends, and schools, including baroque, classicism, sentimentalism, romanticism, realism, and modernism. The conducted analysis leads to the following conclusions: 1) The term 'twilight' is employed in poetry in its direct-nominative dictionary sense, contributing to the creation of a lyrical chronotope and landscape sketches. In this context, the meaning actualized in the literary text may deviate from the dictionary lexical definition, such as in cases of personification and periphrastic renamings like 'twilight witch' or 'twilight monk.' 2) Figurative and symbolic meanings in poetry become notably prominent during the Silver Age. This period witnesses an enrichment of the conventional semantics, with various "extensions" and transformations occurring when the term is used figuratively to characterize transitional states in the realms of the world, history, and consciousness. 3) Tropic contexts prevail, showcasing the broadest syntagmatic and functional-semantic possibilities of the lexeme 'twilight' in Russian poetry. These contexts demonstrate the extensive range of figurative applications and symbolic nuances associated with the term.
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