СТАНОВЛЕНИЕ ЭПИЧЕСКОГО В «СЕВАСТОПОЛЬСКИХ РАССКАЗАХ» Л.Н. ТОЛСТОГО
THE EVOLUTION OF THE WORLD’S EPIC CONCEPTION IN L.N. TOLSTOY’S “SEVASTOPOL SKETCHES”

Summary/Abstract: The evolution of the world’s epic conception in “Sevastopol Sketches” written by L.N. Tolstoy is considered. Based on the analysis of the ratio of paragraphs in “Sevastopol in December”, it can be affirmed that the epic component in the first sketch is represented in justification of the war aimed at defense of the motherland. The “growing up” of the narrator and his awareness of what is taking place in the world are shown as the epic events. The epic component of “Sevastopol in December” turns all the city’s defenders into high epic heroes. A temporary loss of faith in people unity gives a way to the consolidation of the concept of “we”. At the beginning of the sketch, the concept of “people” involves all people in the city. At the end of the sketch, this concept comprises an inseparable body of city defenders. In the first paragraph of the sketch, the war eliminates harmony, but peaceful life dominates in the last paragraph of the sketch. “Sevastopol in May” deals with the problem of incompatibility of a human with the epic models. Furthermore, a single criterion for appreciation of people is suggested. The “dialectics of soul” in the second sketch is combined with the high mood of the epic heroes from the first sketch. The conclusion is made that people are united by the components of both elevated heroism and negativity of the world. “Sevastopol in August” shows the complexity of transformation of a human toward the world’s epic conception. The first two chapters of the sketch are treated as an exposition of Mikhail and soldiers. It is shown that there are eight micro cycles in the sketch consisting of three chapters connected by the principle of parallelism/contrast or a situation uniting people. In the first microcycle, the characters become cowards. In the second microcycle, they overcome fears. In the third microcycle, these fears dominate. In the fourth microcycle, Volodya overcomes his fear. In the fifth microcycle, every person gets a chance to become a hero. In the sixth microcycle, Volodya rejects the lies among officers. In the seventh microcycle, he feels calm among soldiers. In the eighth microcycle, both brothers die heroically. The nature and defenders of the city protest against the surrender of Sevastopol. The fearless courage in defeat is stronger than the fortitude of soldiers from the first sketch. The conclusion is made about the three-phased idea of L.N. Tolstoy’s artistic thinking.

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