Symbolism of Avian Imagery in 20th Century Russian Prose

This article addresses the issue of the ideological and artistic content of ornithological symbolism in 20th century Russian prose. The study focuses on the works of I.S. Shmelev, I.A. Bunin, B.K. Zaitsev, M.A. Osorgin, L.F. Zurow, V.P. Astafyev, E. Nosov, B. Vasilyev, and T. Tolstoy, all of which incorporate bird imagery into their narrative frameworks. The aim of this research is to uncover the multifaceted symbolic significance of ornithological images in 20th century Russian prose, exploring the unique artistic visions of individual authors and the unifying national “code of interpretation” within Russian literature. The relevance of this study is underscored by contemporary literary scholarship's focus on axiomatically significant themes in Russian literature and the perception of the domestic literary process in its indivisible wholeness. The scientific novelty of this work lies in the analysis of avian imagery, which reveals the distinct role of this artistic motif as one of the dominant elements in the national worldview. The authors conclude that birds are frequently represented in 20th century Russian literature as idealized figures — “measures” of human morality. It is demonstrated that certain aspects of symbolism become dominant during various historical periods: spiritual enlightenment, identification with the homeland and home, reflections on heroism and valor, ecological issues, and the metaphorization of ornithomorphic characters.

birds, symbolism, Russian literature, artistic imagery, Silver Age prose, émigré literature, Soviet literature