«КАК ГОРДО УМИРАЕШЬ ТЫ, ОГОНЬ!» - ИПОСТАСИ ОГНЯ В ТВОРЧЕСТВЕ ЛЕОНИДА ЛЕОНОВА
THE FORMS OF FIRE IN LEONID LEONOV’S WORKS

Summary/Abstract: Leonov’s works are analyzed from the point of view of symbols and semantics of fire. “Fire” occurs in the writer’s texts very frequently and he uses the words which are to a certain degree related to this noun. Leonov uses the word “fire” and its synonyms literally and figuratively. Very often these images are interrelated and create parallels (putting out the fire is to be understood as death of a person). The theme of “dying fire” in Leonov’s works is not only associated with such individual characters as Ablaev and Vadim Loskutov from Pyramid but it has a deeper relation to the fate of the humankind (the last novel focuses on the “great final”, which might acquire the form of nuclear Apocalypses, “Prometheus’ fire” in which everybody burns). Metaphorical image of fire is tied to dramatic changes undergoing in Russia after the October Revolution (20-30-ies): by many characters, Russia is comprehended as a fierce fire. The metaphor “fire of mind”, which is closely connected with Prometheus, has been widely acknowledged. This metaphor hides the genius of creation, the talent of “fire bearer” Skutarevski (in Skutarevski) as well as ambivalence of scientific gains (Shamin from the novel Pyramid speaks about them) which threaten with the catastrophe leading to self destruction. Another metaphor occurring in Leonov’s works is “inner fire”. This metaphor implies intense sufferings experienced by Vekshin (The Thief) and Gelasij (Soviet River), dedication to others – Skutarevski, Vichrov (Russian Forest), the fire of wishes – Julia Bambalski (Pyramid) and the fire of passion – Semion and Nastia (Badgers).

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