Figurative and Semantic Dominants of the Story “Scarlet Herbs” by Zeitun Tolgurov

• Main Author: Inna A. Kazharova
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences 2020-12-01
• Series: Studia Litterarum
• Subjects: tolgurov; image; semantics; nature; color; dominant; emotional subtext; sacred center; tree-patron.
• Online Access: http://studlit.ru/images/2020-5-4/Kazharova.pdf

Thematic multidimensionality of “Scarlet Herbs” by Z. Tolgurov actualizes the interaction of figurative dominants; the story’s philosophical and aesthetic structure is developed at their intersection. Two significant aspects of the story’s fictional world are reflected in its title: “scarlet herbs” — a plant and color. This article explores the components of these two interrelated dominants that correlate with a wider framework that makes their interpretation possible — nature and color. I analyze the first of the two in comparison with the interconnected images of the clearing, spring, pine, and birch while juxtaposing the second one with other colors, green, black and white. The limited number of colors used by the author allows him to enhance semantic accents of the story and help the reader not only to see the metaphysical dimension of the story’s realistic conflict but also not to lose sight of the realistic authenticity hidden in the wide associativity of myth and folklore.