A.N. Tolstoy's works of 1917-1921: The types and role of artistic conventionality

The article examines the multi-genre works by Alexei Nikolaevich Tolstoy from 1917 to 1921 − fairy tales, short stories, novellas and plays − in which various types of artistic conventions are used. The tasks of comparing these works are subordinated to the goal of identifying the role and types of artistic convention; for this purpose, the author uses comparative, problematic, chronological, cultural-historical and biographical methods. Such structuring and comprehensive study of different types of conventionality in this historical period has not been undertaken previously and represents the scientific novelty of the article. The author highlights the conventionality in fairy tales (“Fofka”, “The Soldier and the Devil”), the types of conventionality in realistic stories and the play “Danton's Death” − psychologically motivated fantasy (visions – “In Delirium”), (dreams – “A Dream in a Thunderstorm”, “Aunt Marya Grigoryevna”, “The Tale of the Time of Troubles”, “Danton's Death”), carnival conventionality in the play “Love is a Golden Book” and the story “Count Cagliostro” and comes to the conclusion that A.N. Tolstoy's appeal to the types of artistic conventionality was a consequence of his understanding of a complex historical era and the desire to convey it in all its multidimensionality and diversity.