Allusive and ekphrastic novel by L. M. Leonov “Russian Forest”

The given article deals with an important feature of the poetic pattern of Leonov’s literary texts: intertextual intensity, the use of allusive words in the narration. There is an intensive use of the “alien word” in the novel “Russian Forest” (“Russkiy les”). The source of allusions in the novel is quite extensive: the Bible, ancient mythology, history, fairy tales, works of world fiction, etc. While referring to Leonov’s novel “Russian Forest”, it is next to impossible to notice a variety of external and hidden, deep literary reminiscences, allusive and ekphrastic elements bringing the image of Leonov to a certain tradition. The names of famous philosophers and eminent figures of different epochs, associations with the images of Russian writers, references to archipopular and little-known literary works, poetic quotations saturating Leonov’s text reveal spiritual aspirations and strengthen the life philosophy of the characters of the “Russian Forest” and form Leonov’s thoughts into a single and indivisible physical and the spiritual world. The purpose of the article is to analyze the manifestation of allusions in the novel by Leonov “Russian Forest”, to reveal the forms of allusive and ekphrastic elements and to determine their role in the novel. The associative and ekphrastic elements in Leonov’s text fulfill the function of overcoming the one-dimensionality of the novel content. The transformation of the figurative system with the help of ekphrasis fills it up with a philosophical, historical and cultural sense highlighting the writer’s idea of the symbolic. Myth and symbol in the novel “Russian Forest” are the main means of expressing the author’s literary philosophy. Besides, the article in question touches upon a problem of arts fusion in Leonov’s works, in particular synthesis of literature, painting and music as well as a problem of relation between the visual, musical and verbal. It is necessary to note that Leonid Leonov appears as a writer with a clear visualization of the worldview and a poetic word accordingly. As for musical associations, they create a unique musical background that helps the writer reveal characters’ temper and their psychological conditions.