‘Damned’ questions of the Soviet era in V. Bykau’s literary heritage Cover Image

“Праклятыя” пытанні савецкай эпохі ў літаратурна-мастацкай спадчыне В. Быкава
‘Damned’ questions of the Soviet era in V. Bykau’s literary heritage

Author(s): Zoya Tratsiak
Subject(s): Belarussian Literature, Interwar Period (1920 - 1939), WW II and following years (1940 - 1949), Post-War period (1950 - 1989), Theory of Literature, Sociology of Literature
Published by: Katedra Białorutenistyki Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Vasil Bykau; Soviet-era questions; patajomnaje category; ethical reflection; Belarusian prose;

Summary/Abstract: The article is devoted to the peculiar evolution of the ‘patajomnaje’ category in V. Bykau’s prose. It is pointed out that, since the time when M. Haretski formulated the basic questions aimed at a hypothetical disclosure of its contents, this category has acquired new meanings. The essence of the questions ‘što jano?’ and ‘za što?’ updated by V. Bykau is characterised. The fundamental inability of Soviet writers to give an immediate and comprehensive answer to the ‘damned’ questions of their age is emphasized. It is highlighted that the personal ethics of V. Bykau’s characters’ describe their attitude towards the ‘patajomnaje’.

  • Issue Year: 2019
  • Issue No: 19
  • Page Range: 125-133
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: Belarusian
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