The Mystery of the Story "The White Eagle" by N.S. Leskov

The story “White Eagle” (۱۸۸۰) by Nikolai Semenovich Leskov (۱۸۳۱–۱۸۹۵) is still one of the most enigmatic, encoded works of the writer and requires considerable literary decipherment. In this article the originality of the artistic method of N.S. Leskov is determined, who in this story largely relied on the method of "fantastic realism", opened F.M.Dostoevsky. A textual analysis of the “White Eagle” is conducted as a sacred story. The signs characteristic of the Christmas (Christmas, New Year, and Epiphany) story are established. The genre, the plot, the motives, the system of images, reminiscences are investigated. Relations with the tradition of Russian and foreign holy literature, as well as innovation and originality of N.S. Leskov are revealed in the unconventional unfolding of the holy theme in the context of N.S. Leskov's Christmas creativity in general. Social and political issues, the problem of corruption and the peculiarity of its reflection in the literary text of the classic writer are being raised. Particular attention is paid to the evangelical imagery, the biblical subtext of the N.S. Leskov's Christmas work, which in many ways is the key to unraveling the mystery of the story “The White Eagle”.The story “White Eagle” (۱۸۸۰) by Nikolai Semenovich Leskov (۱۸۳۱–۱۸۹۵) is still one of the most enigmatic, encoded works of the writer and requires considerable literary decipherment. In this article the originality of the artistic method of N.S. Leskov is determined, who in this story largely relied on the method of "fantastic realism", opened F.M.Dostoevsky. A textual analysis of the “White Eagle” is conducted as a sacred story. The signs characteristic of the Christmas (Christmas, New Year, and Epiphany) story are established. The genre, the plot, the motives, the system of images, reminiscences are investigated. Relations with the tradition of Russian and foreign holy literature, as well as innovation and originality of N.S. Leskov are revealed in the unconventional unfolding of the holy theme in the context of N.S. Leskov's Christmas creativity in general. Social and political issues, the problem of corruption and the peculiarity of its reflection in the literary text of the classic writer are being raised. Particular attention is paid to the evangelical imagery, the biblical subtext of the N.S. Leskov's Christmas work, which in many ways is the key to unraveling the mystery of the story “The White Eagle”.

Keywords:

N.S. Leskov , the Biblical Tradition , the Sacred Literature , Genre Signs.