THE PROBLEM OF THE PLOT AND THE GENRE IN N. A. RADISHCHEV’S “CHURILA PLENKOVICH, BOGATYR SONGWRITING”

• Main Author: Olga V. Zakharova
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Petrozavodsk State University 2017-03-01
• Series: Problemy Istoričeskoj Poètiki
• Subjects: N. A. Radischev; Churila Plenkovich; epic; povest’; faire tale; transformation of genres; plot; bogatyr; space; literary hero; character
• Online Access: http://poetica.pro/files/redaktor_pdf/1488807718.pdf

In the 18th–19th centuries, attempts to appropriate folklore heroes and genres in literature were made. One of such literary works was N. A. Radishchev’s poem (1801) where the epic hero Churila Plenkovich became a character. Imitating the folkloric and literary tradition (Homer, Virgil, Ariosto, Voltaire, Wieland, V. A. Levshin, I. P. Bogdanovich), the author combined the images and motives of such genres as bylina (Russian epic song), fairy and literary tale, heroic and comic poem in his work. Using the storyline and retaining the main motives of Levshin’s tale, the poet added mythological and fairy images (Zmey Gorynych (dragon), Yaga, Lel’ (Lel’o), Lada) to his writing, supplemented the narrative with new motives, and gave justifications for the heroes’ actions. Radishchev created literary heroes using fairytale types; he showed their sufferings, emotions and feelings. Radishchev’s Churila lost all features of the bogatyr. He is a literary hero — a handsome, good-looking, ardent and sensitive young man. Prelepa and Yaga have fallen in love with him. His feats represent a plot of romance and adventure novel; his heroic deeds are inspired by Lel’o, a god of love who gives the bogatyr strength. As a result of these transformations, an original fabulous plot and genre of the literary work appeared. The writer is precise in his defining: his Churila is a character of the epic story in verse based on folkloric and literary tale.