Coloratives in the system of narrative discourse strategies of L.N. Tolstoy (based on the novel 'Resurrection')

E.A. Masolova

Novosibirsk State Technical University, Novosibirsk, 630073 Russia

E-mail: masolova@list.ru

Received December 5, 2016

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Abstract

The paper is devoted to identification of color and light naming (coloratives) and narrative discourse strategies in L.N. Tolstoy's novel “Resurrection”.

In the novel, L.N. Tolstoy makes the emphasis on recreation of the color and light palette of the nature. Thus, one of the dominant discourse strategies of this novel is the discourse strategy of landscape painting, which is connected with all discourse strategies, such as discourse mythopoetical strategy, discourse strategy of portrait painting, discourse strategy of plot and compositional development, discourse psychological strategy, discourse social strategy, discourse publicistic strategy, and philosophical and religious discourse strategy.

While depicting the nature which acts as a religious and moral substance, all coloratives influence D. Nekhlyudov's transfiguration and are included in the discourse strategy of plot and compositional development. Anticipating the bad deeds of the protagonist, the nature sends him warning signs. Enjoying the enlightenment of the protagonist, the nature inscribes him in its own harmonious existence.

Describing the transformation of the protagonist, L.N. Tolstoy destroys the negative semantics of some coloratives and actualizes their sacred significance inherent in the Gospel. The darkness symbolizing D. Nekhlyudov's sin and the nature's sorrow in connection with the violation of human kindness and love stops being horrible. In the second part of the novel, the black color loses its sinister significance; it predetermines the resurrection of the protagonist and is included in the discourse strategy of plot and compositional development and is a part of the philosophical and religious discourse strategy. The red color loses its negative semantics and becomes the blissful light source; it correlates with the color of an icon lamp. The green and yellow colors acquire the existential value associated with the indestructible life. The emergence such сoloratives as purple, light, and white in the novel reflects the turning of L.N. Tolstoy's protagonists to goodness and service of the God. In the novel “Resurrection”, all coloratives do not only perform the distinctive function, but also the des­criptive and prospective functions, being included in the discourse strategy of landscape painting, discourse strategy of plot and compositional development, and philosophical and religious discourse strategy that dominates in the ending of the novel.

The conclusion has been made that there is a color code in the novel “Resurrection”, which reflects the increasing skill of L.N. Tolstoy and the strengthening of his religious beliefs.

Keywords: coloratives, color and light naming, semantics of coloratives, discourse strategies, distinctive function, des­criptive function, prospective function, color code, L.N. Tolstoy, novel “Resurrection”

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For citation: Masolova E.A. Coloratives in the system of narrative discourse strategies of L.N. Tolstoy (based on the novel “Resurrection”). Uchenye Zapiski Kazanskogo Universiteta. Seriya Gumanitarnye Nauki, 2017, vol. 159, no. 1, pp. 92–106. (In Russian)


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