The concept of literature in the correspondence of Ivan Turgenev and Fedor Dostoevsky

The article examines the concept of literature as a unit of the linguistic image of the world of two great writers, which is associated with each of the authors’ comprehension and figurative interpretation of the literary process and journalistic activity in the 19th century. Using the letters of Turgenev and Dostoevsky during their conspicuous interaction (1860–1867) the author researches the linguistic methods of concept representation, its semantic volume, identifies a set of semantic features, explores the use of various evaluative vocabulary as a means of explication of this concept, establishes stimulus words in the correspondence. Turgenev perceives the sphere of literature as something true, superior and even miraculous, Dostoevsky proposes both a positive and a negative assessment of the events occurring in the literary process. The analysis of the two writers’ correspondence made it possible to disclose the attitude of correspondents to various literary spheres, to reveal the specific features of the concept of literature in the conceptual sphere of Turgenev and Dostoevsky. Accordingly, it was determined that the language units of the concept of literature as perceived by the Russian intelligentsia contain emotive components, and that the epistolary texts contain elements of intimization and frequent use of authors’ specific language techniques, comparisons and metaphorical images. The notions of literature and the literary process are conceptualized in writers’ letters as an animate acting force, an environment that is capable of action. The figurative language means used by writers in the correspondence endow the concepts with a specific image and sensual meaning. The concept of literature reveals the features of their work, the literary process and journalistic activities, which were an essential part of themselves and their lives for both Turgenev and Dostoevsky.