Animalistic cultural code in the steppe landscapes of A.P. Chekhov

this article is dedicated to the study of the animalistic cultural code in the steppe landscapes in the works of A.P. Chekhov. The introduction provides a justification for the topical relevance of studying animal symbolism in the context of literary representations of nature, where animals serve not only as realistic images but also as metaphorical carriers of historical and cultural meanings. The aim of the research is to analyze the multifunctional symbolic language of nature – specifically, the steppe space – through the prism of the animalistic code, which allows for a deeper understanding of the relationship between humans and nature in Chekhov’s work. The methodological basis of the study includes a comparative analysis of key textual fragments, a structural-semantic analysis of artistic images, and a contextual comparison with the cultural archetypes of Russian folklore. The study employs methods of discursive analysis, which allow for the identification of recurring motifs and symbols associated with the animal image, as well as tracking their evolution within the literary process. The use of these methods contributes to the identification of elements of the animalistic code as a reflection of the historical and social processes that took place in Russia during Chekhov’s era. The results of the study indicate that in Chekhov’s steppe landscapes, the animal image acquires a dual character: on one hand, it symbolizes the primordial, untamable force of nature, and on the other, it serves as a marker of moral and ethical transformations in human consciousness. The findings suggest that the animalistic cultural code is an integrative element that unifies various levels of semantic information and contributes to the formation of a unique aesthetic perception of the steppe.

animalism, cultural code, steppe, landscape, Chekhov