Enigmatic Text Poetics in the Poem “July” by Boris Pasternak

The article presents an analysis of the poem «July», included in the poetic book of Boris Pasternak “When It Clears Up” (1956–1959). The main purpose of this study is to identify the techniques and principles of the poetics of the enigmatic text, vividly implemented in it. The enigmatic text is a ce...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: Ural State Pedagogical University 2022-12-01
Series:Филологический класс
Subjects:
Online Access:https://filclass.ru/en/archive/2022/27422e/poetika-enigmaticheskogo-teksta-v-stikhotvorenii-b-pasternaka-iyul
_version_ 1797815719567556608
collection DOAJ
description The article presents an analysis of the poem «July», included in the poetic book of Boris Pasternak “When It Clears Up” (1956–1959). The main purpose of this study is to identify the techniques and principles of the poetics of the enigmatic text, vividly implemented in it. The enigmatic text is a certain kind of language game undertaken in a fiction text, which is based on the technique of “estrangement”. Its task is to organize a special perception of an object or phenomenon, to create its “vision”, and not “recognition” (B. Shklovsky) and to present it in a fiction text as something strange, as if seen for the first time. The article establishes that, in terms of plot and composition, Pasternak’s poem has two parts and is organized with the help of morphological elements of such an enigmatic genre as riddle. The lyrical work is constructed as an allegorical text, in which July, the central object of artistic description, is simultaneously an object of initial concealment and subsequent discovery. The publication demonstrates that the plot of the lyrical work is constructed in such a way that in its first part Pasternak, describing July, actually hides the object of the description; the poet implements a creative strategy of evading its direct nomination, and, as a result, creates an artistic image that is far from simple recognition. The second part of the poem under analysis contains a clue, and the object of the lyrical description is directly named. Structural-semiotic, typological and functional approaches are used to analyze the poetic text. In the process of analysis, the main principles of enigmatic poetics are revealed, on which the author relied when creating the poem “July”. The principle of representation is expressed in Pasternak’s work by replacing the phenomenon being defined (July) with other objects (ghost, brownie, specter, etc.). The principle of personification of an abstract concept contributes to giving the images-substitutes sensually perceived traits and properties (“a ghost wanders”, “a brownie sneaks to the bed, tears the tablecloth off the table”, etc.). Substitutive nomination as a technique also takes part in the organization of Pasternak’s poem and, within the framework of the poetics of an enigmatic text, is designed to lead the reader along a false path that cannot lead to the solution. In addition, the article establishes that typologically the architectonics of the poem “July” is a kind of projection of a number of plot and compositional elements of the ancient tragedy, which, in turn, often contained enigma, as O. M. Freudenberg noted in her works. The poetics of the enigmatic text is not accidental in Pasternak’s work and has a systemic character, being an external, aesthetic expression of his deep worldview, in the center of which is the idea of existence in the form of a riddle, or an enigmatic text.
first_indexed 2024-03-13T08:26:57Z
format Article
id doaj.art-963cb5184a3344488cd86a5695e6a833
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2071-2405
2658-5235
language Russian
last_indexed 2024-03-13T08:26:57Z
publishDate 2022-12-01
publisher Ural State Pedagogical University
record_format Article
series Филологический класс
spelling doaj.art-963cb5184a3344488cd86a5695e6a8332023-05-31T04:44:23ZrusUral State Pedagogical UniversityФилологический класс2071-24052658-52352022-12-01412513210.51762/1FK-2022-27-04-11Enigmatic Text Poetics in the Poem “July” by Boris PasternakThe article presents an analysis of the poem «July», included in the poetic book of Boris Pasternak “When It Clears Up” (1956–1959). The main purpose of this study is to identify the techniques and principles of the poetics of the enigmatic text, vividly implemented in it. The enigmatic text is a certain kind of language game undertaken in a fiction text, which is based on the technique of “estrangement”. Its task is to organize a special perception of an object or phenomenon, to create its “vision”, and not “recognition” (B. Shklovsky) and to present it in a fiction text as something strange, as if seen for the first time. The article establishes that, in terms of plot and composition, Pasternak’s poem has two parts and is organized with the help of morphological elements of such an enigmatic genre as riddle. The lyrical work is constructed as an allegorical text, in which July, the central object of artistic description, is simultaneously an object of initial concealment and subsequent discovery. The publication demonstrates that the plot of the lyrical work is constructed in such a way that in its first part Pasternak, describing July, actually hides the object of the description; the poet implements a creative strategy of evading its direct nomination, and, as a result, creates an artistic image that is far from simple recognition. The second part of the poem under analysis contains a clue, and the object of the lyrical description is directly named. Structural-semiotic, typological and functional approaches are used to analyze the poetic text. In the process of analysis, the main principles of enigmatic poetics are revealed, on which the author relied when creating the poem “July”. The principle of representation is expressed in Pasternak’s work by replacing the phenomenon being defined (July) with other objects (ghost, brownie, specter, etc.). The principle of personification of an abstract concept contributes to giving the images-substitutes sensually perceived traits and properties (“a ghost wanders”, “a brownie sneaks to the bed, tears the tablecloth off the table”, etc.). Substitutive nomination as a technique also takes part in the organization of Pasternak’s poem and, within the framework of the poetics of an enigmatic text, is designed to lead the reader along a false path that cannot lead to the solution. In addition, the article establishes that typologically the architectonics of the poem “July” is a kind of projection of a number of plot and compositional elements of the ancient tragedy, which, in turn, often contained enigma, as O. M. Freudenberg noted in her works. The poetics of the enigmatic text is not accidental in Pasternak’s work and has a systemic character, being an external, aesthetic expression of his deep worldview, in the center of which is the idea of existence in the form of a riddle, or an enigmatic text.https://filclass.ru/en/archive/2022/27422e/poetika-enigmaticheskogo-teksta-v-stikhotvorenii-b-pasternaka-iyulrussian poetryrussian poetspoetic creative activitylyrical genrespoemsarchitectonicsenigmatic texts
spellingShingle Enigmatic Text Poetics in the Poem “July” by Boris Pasternak
Филологический класс
russian poetry
russian poets
poetic creative activity
lyrical genres
poems
architectonics
enigmatic texts
title Enigmatic Text Poetics in the Poem “July” by Boris Pasternak
title_full Enigmatic Text Poetics in the Poem “July” by Boris Pasternak
title_fullStr Enigmatic Text Poetics in the Poem “July” by Boris Pasternak
title_full_unstemmed Enigmatic Text Poetics in the Poem “July” by Boris Pasternak
title_short Enigmatic Text Poetics in the Poem “July” by Boris Pasternak
title_sort enigmatic text poetics in the poem july by boris pasternak
topic russian poetry
russian poets
poetic creative activity
lyrical genres
poems
architectonics
enigmatic texts
url https://filclass.ru/en/archive/2022/27422e/poetika-enigmaticheskogo-teksta-v-stikhotvorenii-b-pasternaka-iyul