Ritual Space and Time in the Novella "Viy" by N.V. Gogol

This article explores the mythopoetics of the early work of N. V. Gogol, specifically the mythopoetic rituals and unique chronotopes in his tale "Viy." This tale vividly reflects the mythological nature inherent in the writer's early creativity. The tale not only inherits the traditions of Little Russian folklore but also contains unique creative ideas from the author, creating his own Gogolian mythological world. The author examines the rituals of transition in time and space in detail, as well as the structure of the tale from the perspective of the morphology of a fairy tale. Special attention is given to the interaction of space and time in Gogol's work, which creates extraordinary experiences for readers. According to the author, these unique interactions form special Gogolian chronotopes that make his works truly unforgettable. In this article, the author analyzes the rituals described in the tale from the standpoint of the morphology of the magic fairy tale by V. Y. Propp, M. M. Bakhtin's chronotope, and Arnold van Gennep's transition rituals. The main findings of the study suggest that the chronotopes presented in the tale, whether "road" or "castle," possess creative features characteristic of Gogol. From a temporal perspective, in the world of "Viy," day personifies the real world, while night represents the magical one. Therefore, all supernatural phenomena in the tale occur after sunset. The speed of the flow of time during the day is relatively high, while at night time moves slowly. This is reflected in the novel through lengthy descriptions. The research also revealed that Gogol prefers to describe "vertical" space rather than traditional "horizontal" space. This feature is manifested in the "night flight" and "night prayer." The young lady always wields magical power. The themes of "initiation" and "wedding" are also reflected in the tale, which is mirrored in other early works of Gogol.

N. V. Gogol, Viy, Arnold van Gennep, rites of passage, V.Y. Propp, morphology of fairy tales, M.M. Bakhtin, chronotope, folklore, psychoanalysis