News of Saratov University. Ser. Philology
ISSN (print): 1817-7115, ISSN (online): 2541-898X
Founder: Saratov State University
Editor-in-Chief: Prozorov Valery Vladimirovich, Doctor of Philology. sciences, professor
Frequency / Access: 4 issues per year / Open
Included in: Higher Attestation Commission List, RISC
The journal is registered in the Federal Service for the Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor).
Registration PI № FS77-76639 of 26 August, 2019.
Subject-matter of the Journal: language theory, comparative and historic linguistics, speech communication, discursive practices, the Russian language and speech culture, Russian as a foreign language, Romance and Germanic languages and translation studies, dialectology, cognitive linguistics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, theory of literature, folklore, history of the Russian and foreign (British-American and French) literature, modern literary process, text studies, poetics, comparative literary studies, literary criticism, literary studies of local lore, history and theory of journalism, mass communications in information society, language of mass media.
Correspondence of the Journal sections to the List of scientific disciplines in which Candidate and Doctorate academic degrees are conferred:
5.9.1. Russian literature and literatures of the peoples of the Russian Federation (philological sciences),
5.9.2. World Literature (philological sciences),
5.9.5. The Russian language. Languages of the peoples of Russia (philological sciences),
5.9.6. Foreign Languages (Germanic and Romance languages) (philological sciences),
5.9.8. Theoretical, applied, comparative and contrastive linguistics (philological sciences),
5.9.9. Media communications and journalism (philological sciences).
The archive list of qualifications available until 16 October 2022:
10.01.01 – Russian literature
10.01.03 – Literature of the people of foreign countries (English, American, French, German)
10.01.10 – Journalism
10.02.01 – Russian language
10.02.04 – Germanic languages
10.02.05 – Romance languages
10.02.19 – Language theory.
Aims and Scope
The Journal’s main aim is to promptly inform the humanitarian community of the results of current research in the spheres of linguistics, literary studies and journalism, which promote the development of science and education.
Journal’s objectives are:
- to publish authentic scientific papers in theoretic and applied linguistics, Russian, Germanic and Romance languages, history and theory of literature, media studies and media didactics;
- to discuss current issues of the philological science;
- to unify the research efforts aimed at a complex exploration of relevant issues of general humanities;
- to address up-to-date controversial issues of higher philological and journalist education;
- to promptly inform about significant scientific events and philologically-targeted publications.
The Journal targets specialists in linguistics, literary studies, journalism and other humanities’ scientists (researchers, university teachers, graduate students, students).
Procedure for manuscript selection and publication. Manuscripts containing original material are accepted for publication unless they have been previously published elsewhere or have been accepted for consideration by other journals, in the spheres of Linguistics, Literary Studies, Journalism, as well as materials for the sections Criticism and bibliography, Chronicles of scientific life.
Current Issue
Vol 25, No 4 (2025)
Linguistics
Ethnolinguistic peculiarities of Australian slang (based on Internet resources)
Abstract
The article studies one of the main variants of the English language, Australian English. The main variants of English differ from each other on phonetic and lexical linguistic levels. The grammatical structure is the same in all variants, that is why the focus of the study was the lexical level of Australian English. The word-stock of Australian English includes slang as a certain layer of the vocabulary. It started to be formed under a strong influence of the first settlers from Great Britain. These settlers were mostly involved in farming which was spread in rural areas of the Australian continent. The greatest challenge was the unusual environment which caused linguistic peculiarities of Australian variant. It was also influenced by lexical peculiarities of aboriginal dialects, later these were dialects and languages of settlers from other countries which arrived there during the period of Gold rush. Local farmers tended to use some newly coined words and expressions in their everyday speech. Thus, Australian slang came in use and as the analysis demonstrates it was closely connected with London Cockney dialect, which was used by the first settlers from Great Britain. Cockney dialect is remarkable for its rhyming slang, which has been registered in the present research as an essential part of the Australian slang. In the course of analysis both common and proper nouns were singled out that served as the basis for rhyme in Australian slang. Studying the Australian slang vocabulary allowed to identify some most productive types of word formation, such as affixation and abbreviation. The research demonstrates a strong bond between extralinguistic and linguistic peculiarities of how the Australian English slang was formed.
News of Saratov University. Ser. Philology. 2025;25(4):372-377
372-377
The role of key words in the title of a literary text (on the basis of A. Brookner’s novel Strangers)
Abstract
The article examines the role of key words in the titles of literary works on the basis of the novel Strangers by a contemporary British writer Anita Brookner. Being one of the strong positions of a text, a title makes a given work of verbal art notable and draws the reader’s attention to it. Placing the key word of a literary work in such strong position increases its aesthetic potential. The linguopoetic analysis of the keyword stranger was supported by the use of Sketch Engine, a computer program that works with text corpora. It demonstrated how the key word contributes to revealing the global purport of the novel and the character of the protagonist. Combined with other words, the key word acquires either positive or negative adherent connotations and becomes enriched with a whole range of associations. The use of expressive means, such as epithets, metaphors, oppositions and lexical repetitions, helps to emphasize the loneliness of the protagonist and a lack of meaningful connections with the people around him. The grammatical category of number also plays an important role in conveying the novel’s literary message through the key word: the use of the plural form of the key word (strangers), which starts from the title, reinforces the sense of alienation. Distributive analysis of the noun stranger in the novel allowed us to identify another way to create an aesthetic impact by means of key words – “meaningful absence”, i.e. the absence of the key word in certain important episodes of the work as opposed to its regular appearance in other parts of the text.
News of Saratov University. Ser. Philology. 2025;25(4):378-384
378-384
The development of semantic neologisms within the lexico-semantic group “The denominations of mutant coronavirus strains”
Abstract
The article describes semantic neologisation within the lexico-semantic group “The denominations of mutant coronavirus strains” as part of the lexico-semantic fi eld “The new coronavirus infection”. The relevance of the article is determined by bringing into clear focus the lexical units that have not yet been analyzed within the designated topic. The paper aims at introducing the parameters according to which the linguistic units within the aforementioned lexico-semantic group can be classified, and at conducting a systemic componential analysis of the collected material, which lays the methodological basis for the paper. The lexical material is analyzed according to the following parameters: the designation of particular coronavirus strains (mutant strains, strains different by origin, spread and contagiousness) and the type of semantic development (semantic derivation or secondary borrowing). Certain hypero-hyponymic paradigms are singled out and carefully analyzed. The following ways of semantic neologisation are described: metaphoric shift – the dominant one; semantic syncretism; paronymic attraction. As far as the metaphoric shift is concerned, the paper analyzes the lexical units based on the names of mythical chthonic creatures evoking such connotations as ‘monster’, ‘threat’, ‘danger’, ‘death’, ‘hybrid’, ‘discord’, ‘strife’. Semantic syncretism is considered as semantic addition to the meaning of the original lexeme. The paper touches upon the derivational potential of paronymic attraction in the names of new coronavirus strains. The article also considers the issue of political correctness which determines the motivational basis for semantic neologisms. According to the encyclopedic notes on the site “New in the Russian vocabulary”, strains detected in particular countries are named with Greek letters so that those countries are not stigmatized.
News of Saratov University. Ser. Philology. 2025;25(4):387-393
387-393
Pragmatonyms-names of dental products: Features of formation
Abstract
The object of the study is pragmatonyms-names of dental products. As the subject of study the word-formation aspect is considered. The aim is to identify the ways of how the pragmatonyms are formed, taking into account their specific nature – the intermediate position between consumer goods and medical goods. In the course of research it was established that there is a correlation between the special position of dental pragmatonyms among other products, on the one hand, and medical products, on the other hand, and the specific nature of the ways of their formation. Thus, lexical-semantic (onimization and transonimization) and lexical-syntactic methods (formation of pragmatonyms – word groups and sentences), typical for the formation of pragmatonyms-names of other groups of goods, as well as other advertising names are widely used. On the other hand, the proximity to the medicinal products determines the recourse to productive models of medical terminological formation, which predetermines the dominance of compounding and clipping, including the use of Greek and Latin components. Among the identified groups of methods, morphological (26.4%), lexical-syntactic (22.5%) and morphological-syntactic (17.1%) methods for the formation of pragmatonyms predominate; 12,5% of the studied units are formed by the complex ways (lexical-semantic or lexical-syntactic combined with one of morphological, morphological-syntactic ways). Pragmatonyms formed by special means – numbering, using graphic or mathematical symbols – are few, their share is 1,0%. Pragmatonyms with opaque internal word-form (5.0%) comprise a separate group because of the inability to determine the way of their formation.
News of Saratov University. Ser. Philology. 2025;25(4):394-403
394-403
Phytometaphors in Sergey Lavrov’s speech
Abstract
The article analyzes phytometaphors recorded in the oral speeches of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov in 2022 – early 2025 describing the current political situation in the world. The relevance of the work is due to the fact that transfers based on floral vocabulary are among the most regular in the linguistic metaphorical system, but their place in diplomatic discourse as an important component of political communication has not been sufficiently studied. The purpose of the article is to establish the role of phytomorphic transferences in the formation of the modern political picture of the world in the speech of S. V. Lavrov; 41 metaphorical units in 110 contexts from 130 transcripts of Sergey Lavrov’s oral speeches from 24.02.2022 to 01.02.2025 (website mid.ru) served as the material of the study. The methodological basis of the research was the idea of metaphor as a way of forming a picture of the world, including the political one. The analysis employs a comprehensive method of systematic semantic, cognitive and discursive analysis of linguistic phenomena. It has been established that the Minister’s use of phytometaphores is regular and conceptually significant. Lavrov operates on two models of metaphorization – nuclear (existential-dynamic) and peripheral (pragmatic-axiological), in which political and socio-economic phenomena are associated either with vital activity or with the functional and pragmatic significance of various types and parts of plants. Following the cognitive matrices of these models in the political picture of the world, represented by the minister, the Kiev regime is positioned as a source of aggression and nationalism, actively supported by the “collective West” in its quest for global hegemony, and the Russian Federation – as a state defending its sovereignty and developing equal cooperation with friendly countries.
News of Saratov University. Ser. Philology. 2025;25(4):404-413
404-413
Lexicographic portrait of the autosemantic word “togo”
Abstract
The article presents a methodology of lexicographic profiling developed by Y. D. Apresyan, applied for a comprehensive description of meaningful linguistic properties of words, exemplified by the pronominal form “togo”, whose lexicographic portrait is not represented in any current dictionary of homonyms. The main goal is to integrate the autosemantic functional homonyms of the word “togo” into the system of the Russian language through a lexicographic description, taking into account such aspects of the word as morphological, syntactic, semantic, stylistic, and others. The article notes that lexicographic sources reflect some properties of the autosemantic word “togo” in a heterogeneous and inconsistent manner. In particular, gaps in the quantitative and qualitative characterization of its functional homonyms are identified. Research of dictionary sources shows that only the particle and predicative are characterized within the “togo” homonym complex, while other homonyms, for example, the uninflected adverbial “togo” and the corresponding pronominal verb remain without dictionary commentary. The research also revealed six lexico-semantic variants of “togo,” described in the article, with comments related to their use in various syntactic constructions. The semantic dominant is defined under the definition “about someone who is not quite sane, strange, foolish, or has psychological deviations”. Besides, the author characterizes the pragmatic and expressive properties of “togo,” focusing on its active role in expressing semantics of omission and the realization of the comic. The article emphasizes the multi-faceted and polysemic nature of the lexicalized pronominal form of “togo,” making this linguistic unit particularly interesting for linguistic analysis. The research contributes to the development of domestic Russian studies, providing methods for a deeper understanding of words in homonym complexes, which is important for refining and supplementing the existing dictionary entries.
News of Saratov University. Ser. Philology. 2025;25(4):414-423
414-423
Literary Criticism
Unity and diversity of forms of artistic psychologism in Crébillon-son’s works
Abstract
The article explores the correlation between analytical and objective psychologism in Crébillon-son’s works by means of analyzing an oriental fairytale Tanzaï et Néadarné and a novel Les Égarements du cœur et de l’esprit as parts of a unified artistic system. A preference for a certain form of artistic psychologism is defined by two factors. Firstly, it depends on the variability of characters mastering the rules of social etiquette while maintaining the interest in movements of their own hearts. Secondly, the preference is shaped by a search for poetological forms that would allow different readers to reconstruct the image of an implied author in their own ways. Analytical psychological characteristics are used to describe Néadarné’s discovery of the sensual side of self in order to provide the reader with more freedom to complete an ambivalent ethical and psychological image of the princess. Shy readers were exempt from frightening details of the private aspects of the soul, whereas those who sought to ignite their erotic imagination were free to fill in the blank pages of the young lady’s acquaintance with sensual pleasures. Les Égarements du cœur et de l’esprit reaches the level of objective psychologism. It allows not only to explore the influence of inconsistency as an integral part of human nature, available to Meilcour on his attempt to excel in high society, but also to finalize the result – ambiguous in both moral and psycho logical sense – of the rocaille person’s self-exploration per se. Thus, the signs of transition from analytical to objective psychologism, which are present in Crébillon-son’s later works, cannot be considered as merely an indicator of the author’s creative evolution, a result of genre dynamics or stylistic shifts in the French psychological novel of the 18th century. These signs also demonstrate the desire to depict the diversity of a rocaille person’s feelings and situations they find themselves in as well as to form such a system of poetological devices that would stimulate readers’ active participation not only in unraveling of the character’s ambivalent moral motivations but also in reconstructing the image of an implied author.
News of Saratov University. Ser. Philology. 2025;25(4):424-431
424-431
The facets of parody in the novel Le Télémaque travesti by Pierre Carlet de Marivaux
Abstract
This article deals with understanding the polemic of the novel Le Télémaque travesti by Pierre Carlet de Marivaux (1714) with Les Aventures de Télémaque (1699) by François Fenelon. It is noted that despite the interest of researchers in the novel, the specific nature of its poetics was not considered within the framework of the polemical focus on its predecessor; therefore, the aim of the article is to consider the peculiarities of the hero’s relationship with reality in the context of the Fenelon polemic based on the principle of parody. The author of the study indicates that in Marivaux’s novel, the parody is based on the depiction of events similar to Fenelon’s novel in the actual French reality of the 17–18 centuries: Brideron and his uncle Phocion treat the latter indirectly, seeing in it similarities with the adventures of Telemachus and imitating them, which determines the peculiarity of the novel, that consists in subordination of intertextuality to the imitation of heroes (J.-P. Sermain). In the process of analysis, it turns out that the hero’s relationship with reality is not limited to intertextuality and is also characterized by autoreflexion: Brideron’s story-within-a-story demonstrates the interweaving of allusions into the hero’s inner dialogue, and then the intensification of the autoreflexive devices in the carnival episode – such as metaphors and verbs of senses – aimed at both the hero’s self-awareness and the novel in general. It is concluded that the hero’s critical assessment of carnival makes him both an object and a subject of polemic: during Brideron’s initiation, Fenelon’s orientation towards the ancient tradition is exposed, which makes it possible to perceive the carnival and the hero’s path in general as a metaphor for the imitation of old models and a tool of literary parody.
News of Saratov University. Ser. Philology. 2025;25(4):432-438
432-438
Anthroponyms in the plays of Catherine II
Abstract
Naming characters is an opportunity for a playwright not only to indicate the attitude towards a character, but also to defi ne their role in the system of characters and the plot. In the plays of Catherine II, anthroponyms are formed on the basis of four key characteristics: the vice or virtue embodied by the character, significant events in his or her biography, social status, and exotic origin. Charactonyms are mainly used in comedies, while common nouns prevail in comic operas. It is noteworthy that the younger representatives of noble families are often deprived of surnames – this symbolizes their non-involvement in the vices of the older generation. The analysis of the recurrence of anthroponyms shows that in most cases the same names belong to different characters, which emphasizes their secondary importance (servants, young nobles), their inability to influence both the course of the play and, according to Catherine’s plan, social processes. This approach reflects the main goal of the empress-playwright – “correction of morals”, which includes the fight against personal shortcomings (greed, drunkenness) and socially dangerous phenomena (mysticism, liberal ideas), as well as the protection of the existing order. In the adaptations of foreign plays to “our morals”, Catherine retains the surnames of the characters that are consonant with the original, whose characteristics remain unchanged, but changes them when the role or image of the hero is significantly reconsidered. This is indicative of an elaborate system of character nomination, that reveals both the general principles of Catherine’s style of drama and the author’s attitude to individual characters and situations associated with them.
News of Saratov University. Ser. Philology. 2025;25(4):439-444
439-444
The genre of supersaga in V. Khlebnikov’s writing: Specific nature of the subject organization
Abstract
The article examines the genre phenomenon of supersaga in V. Khlebnikov’s oeuvre. According to the theoretical model of the genre proposed by N. L. Leiderman, the subject organization of an artistic text is identified as the most important component of the genre structure. A comparative analysis is conducted on the works Children of the Otter (1911–1913), The Lightning Sisters (1918–1921), and Zangezi (1920–1922). B. O. Korman’s system-subject method allows us to describe the supersaga as an intergeneric form gravitating toward drama. At the same time, V. Khlebnikov’s genre is significantly influenced by the epic and lyrical kinds of literature. The epic element manifests itself through stage directions not intended for performance, remarks of supporting characters not included in the plot development, monologues and dialogues with narrative incorporations. The intensification of the lyrical element is evidenced by the increased presence of the author in the speech of the protagonist (Son of the Otter, Zangezi). In Children of the Otter and The Lightning Sisters, there are deviations from the typical structure, with the subject organization of some “sails” (acts/chapters) not following the laws of drama. This makes a complex play of perspectives possible. The supersaga genre is close to monodrama as understood by N. Evreinov. V. Khlebnikov clearly shows the inner workings of the protagonist’s mind (Children of the Otter); smooths out the individuality of the characters representing the same essence (The Lightning Sisters); reveals the main character’s mental state through the lines of secondary ones (Zangezi). Throughout the three supersagas, the “text within text” technique is employed. It performs functions such as creating a mirroring effect which helps to establish the author’s position (Children of the Otter, The Lightning Sisters), and implementing a play at the intersection of art and life (Zangezi). Generally, the genre in question is characterized by subject polyphony, which, however, does not violate the unity of the author’s intention.
News of Saratov University. Ser. Philology. 2025;25(4):445-451
445-451
Features of “alpine text” in the poem of N. P. Gronsky Belladonne
Abstract
The article studies the theoretical basis of the concept of alpine text and its functioning in the poem of a representative of the first wave of the Russian émigré N. P. Gronsky “Belladonne”. This term, recently introduced into scientific usage, is studied on the basis of theoretical works by T. Scheidegger, L. Lyubimova, N. Mednis. The article introduces major principles that characterize alpine text in connection with the aesthetics of Swiss and German Art Nouveau, the mountainscape and mountain philosophy of the Russian literature. Features of alpine text are researched in the poem “Belladonne”, dedicated to the conquest of the peak of the same name in the Dauphine Alps. N. Gronsky follows both the traditions of European Art Nouveau and Russian classical literature. The conflict of the hero-conqueror and the element, and motives of death correlated with it, wild and pristine nature, danger and eroticism are characteristic for the alpine text of the world literature. At the same time religious motives and images are central, and the motive of a snowy dessert, often appearing in the mountain texts of the Russian classics, has connotations of spiritual loneliness, traditional for the poets of the Russian émigré in connection with the loss of their Motherland and forced residence in a “foreign” world. Religious symbolism connected with the images of the mountain Virgin Mother and granite Christ is studied. In these images the fusion of pagan and Christian principles, typical of Gronsky’s poetry, is manifested. Three parallel storylines are analyzed, correlating with the three heroes-alpinists who conquer a dangerous peak; the plot of the climbing is comprehended by the poet with the Christian themes of sin and retribution, purity of spiritual thoughts and finding happiness, religious integrity and salvation, chaos and harmony.
News of Saratov University. Ser. Philology. 2025;25(4):452-460
452-460
The peculiarities of the actualization of the story of Job in the Russian poetry of the second half of the 20th – the beginning of the 21st centuries
Abstract
The study raises the question of the historical dynamics of the theme of Job in the Russian poetry of the second half of the 20th – early 21st century. As a link between the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Job poses the most important problem of theodicy for mankind – the justification of the divine world order. A special emphasis is placed on Alexander Soprovsky’s philosophical essay “On the Book of Job”, a pro grammatic aesthetic text of the 1970s. The research focuses on the poems of the second half of the 20th – 21st centuries, that reinterpret the main motifs of the Book of Job (suffering, rebellion and reconciliation). Most of the texts mentioned in the article have been the subject of extensive philological analysis for the first time (O. Chukhontsev, “May those whom God has forsaken...”, A. Kushner, “Other children and wives are not the same!...”, B. Kenzheev, “The darling of power preaches...”, E. Schwartz, “Poems about Woe the Woeful and the infinite happiness of being marked by God’s hand”, E. Kaminsky, “Job”, S. Stratanovsky, “Job and the Arab”, S. Minakov, “About Job”, G. Rusakov, “Conversations with God”, S. Magid, “Now let me go, my God...”). The listed poets belong to different poetic schools and different periods (Soviet and post-Soviet), but their texts form a stable semantic unity. According to the author of the study, all the poems can be divided into two groups. The first group includes texts in which the theme of Job is correlated with the theme of the poet. The second group includes works in which Job’s situation is understood as being common to humankind and universal.
News of Saratov University. Ser. Philology. 2025;25(4):461-469
461-469
The issues of studying Internet folklore in Russia
Abstract
The rise of digital culture and the proliferation of new forms of folk creativity on the internet present new research challenges for con temporary folkloristics. Traditional methods of folklore analysis often prove inadequate for studying digital artefacts, necessitating a reassessment of existing methodological frameworks and an adjustment of the existing theoretical models. This article explores the key issues that the Russian scientific community is facing concerning the study of internet folklore, with a particular focus on the theoretical and methodological difficulties that arise in the analysis of this phenomenon. The study identifies three central challenges. Firstly, the problem of classification: should internet folklore be seen as an extension of traditional forms, or does it constitute a distinct new phenomenon triggered by the digital era which has changed the ways of creating, distributing and perceiving folklore texts? Secondly, the issue of contextualization: as folklore migrates into the digital realm, it becomes detached from its original cultural environment, which complicates interpretation and requires new analytical approaches. Thirdly, methodological limitations: conventional folkloristic approaches are often insufficient for analyzing digital artefacts, highlighting the necessity to develop new research tools and integrate methods from cognate disciplines. Furthermore, internet folklore, including memes, videos and other digital expressions of folk culture – exhibits a hybrid nature, blending elements of oral, written and visual communication. This hybridity calls for a reconsideration of established theoretical models and for the development of a comprehensive methodology. The article concludes by underscoring the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach, active interaction of different spheres of knowledge and the continued development of methodological frameworks to better account for the dynamic and rapidly evolving nature of internet folklore.
News of Saratov University. Ser. Philology. 2025;25(4):470-475
470-475
Journalism
The COVID-19 pandemic as one of the factors transforming media editorial management: Experience of the last five years
Abstract
The article examines the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, which the world faced in 2020, on the functioning of the Russian media, as well as on the transformation of the work of the editor-in-chief. The widespread lockdown, the introduction of tough restrictions, and the flow of unverified information significantly affected the work of Russian media in 2020: media managers had to learn to manage their teams in dramatically new conditions, using various tools and techniques, to establish interaction with a remote editorial board, and to form new ways of presenting information. The journalistic team, in turn, began to work in new conditions, while trying to maintain prompt work in the information fi eld and rigorous fact-checking. The article answers the following questions: how the work of the editor-in-chief changed during the pandemic, and which practices introduced back then are still relevant. The article uses excerpts from the author’s interviews with Russian media managers from federal publications of various thematic focuses as empirical material. The interviews were conducted several years after the pandemic to clearly track the patterns that emerged. In addition, the article uses interviews with managers from open sources on the Internet. It turned out that five years after the pandemic, some of the practices introduced into the work of media editorial offices during the lockdown have been preserved, as well as the general pattern of remote work, the use of social networks as the main channel of communication, and the reduction of hierarchical levels in media editorial offices.
News of Saratov University. Ser. Philology. 2025;25(4):476-482
476-482
Presentation of the Book
“A story of the extraordinary”
Abstract
The review is dedicated to the book written by a Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of History of Slavic literatures at the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Department of Slavic studies and Central European studies at the Russian State University for the Humanities, member of the Union of Writers of Russia, a well-known science fiction scholar, and president of the Association of Science Fiction Researchers, E. N. Kovtun. The book is structured like a guide, presenting a gallery of afterlife worlds as envisioned by the human soul. The research draws on works by science fiction writers from the 20th and 21st centuries, representing literary traditions of Russia, Western Europe, and the USA. This review analyzes the key aspects of E. N. Kovtun’s research, highlighting her innovative approach to the study of science fiction and fantasy literature. It outlines the diverse perspectives through which she examines these genres, ranging from the artistic representation of the Afterlife World to the motifs that connect various locations, geographical elements, and landscapes within afterlife narratives. The review emphasizes the validity of Kovtun’s methodology, particularly her exploration of the Afterlife chronotope and the behavioral strategies of characters on the brink of crossing the divide between the living and the dead. Her analytical framework enables a multifaceted examination of selected texts, allowing for an objective assessment of the essential qualities and characteristics of the Afterlife. While commonalities emerge through intertextual connections, distinct national and aesthetic features are also evident. Kovtun seeks to interpret a wide array of works through the lens of their poetics. This monograph serves as a significant resource for researchers interested in theoretical literary issues. It weaves together reflections on chronotopes, plot structures, character types, fictional worlds, and authorial intent. Overall, Kovtun successfully achieves her primary objective: to defi ne and “justify” the role of fantasy in contemporary literature and to explain its ap peal to a large adult audience. This review is intended for a broad readership, including philologists, literary scholars, and anyone interested in science fiction, fantasy, and themes of the afterlife.
News of Saratov University. Ser. Philology. 2025;25(4):483-488
483-488