Topos of cemetery in E.G. Vodolazkin’s novels

The subject of research is the cemetery topos as one of the most important constructs of the artistic space of novels “Laurus”, “Aviator”, “Brisbane”, “Justification of the Island” by the modern Russian writer E.G. Vodolazkin. The relevance of work is explained by the interest of Russian literary studies in the study of literary process of the 20th–21st centuries and the work of one of the brightest, original and authoritative modern prose writers – Eugene Vodolazkin. The purpose of research is to study poetic and functional features of the cemetery topics in the above-mentioned novels. The research methodology is based on a combined approach, including historical and cultural, mythopoetic, structural, comparative and receptive methods. As a result of our research, we establish that Vodolazkin creates a complex, symbolic space that changes and “lives” the novel's story along with the heroes. The cemetery appears in three aspects: as a mythological, commemorative and dialogue space. The image of cemetery is created with the help of smells, light and color, as well as textures (tactile effect), which are also “markers” of positive space or, conversely, space with negative connotations. Thus, the cemetery is one of the main toposes in Vodolazkin’s novels, it is a space for unification, overcoming the “gap” – temporal, spiritual, cultural, linguistic, national, etc. The results obtained in the course of study can be applied in the preparation of university courses on the Russian literature history at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as special courses and special seminars.