The myth of Leo Tolstoy in the creative mind of I.A. Bunin

Kuryanova Valeria V.

The article, based on the material of I. A. Bunin's work, examines the elements of the Tolstoyan text as a nominal supertext of literature. It is argued that the basis of this text is the myth of L.N. Tolstoy, which has been actively developing for a century and a half until today, but at the beginning of the 20th century, when Tolstoy’s tragic departure from his own home became popular, it became especially relevant. The structure of the Tolstoyan myth is analyzed, the mythologies associated with it (mythologized constant representations) created and reproduced by Ivan Bunin in accordance with his own artistic worldview, personal attitude to the work and personality of L.N. Tolstoy. In the light of the problem posed, the author's works of fiction, his articles and memoirs are examined. Attention is focused on the originality of the Tolstoy text in the creative heritage of Bunin, based on the proximity of worldviews, the sacralization of the image of the great writer, rejection of criticism and profanation of the image of Tolstoy in contemporary art, journalism and memoirs.

Keywords:supertext, Tolstoyan text, nominal text, biographical myth, myth of L. N. Tolstoy, Russian literature of the 20th century, I. А. Bunin.