Polylogies in the system of cyclic structures (epic series and novel cycles)

Abstract

The goal of this research is to examine the "neo-genre paradigm" of Balkarian literature, particularly polylogical forms (epic series and novel cycles). The study discusses the principles of cyclization of serial works of the epic genre, methods of constructing polytextual formations. Accordingly, the preamble of the article provides an overview of the artistic phenomenon called polylogies, explains the functional and constructive features of the novels that make up them. In general, the scientific novelty of the study lies in the cyclological analysis of the works of individual authors for the purpose of revisiting the problem once touched upon. Important accents of contextual analysis are the issues of the relationship between the already “ready-made” artistic integrity (which are individual novels) and the gradually forming, complicated matrix of the novel cycle (an ensemble unity of several independent books). Such forms, of course, represent an “open set” based on a single author’s concept. Works from epic series can function autonomously, at the same time, the combined interpretation of the ideological content of texts introduces additional perspectives in the meaning of their content, clarifies the original intention of the writer, forming a contextual coherence of parts of a multidimensional structure. Thanks to this approach, several related works come together (on an intuitive and mental level), in which semantic involvement with each other is captured. Stable features of polylogical forms are indicated by the presence of a “preface”, and in some cases – refrained storylines, wandering characters, centralizing issues, an open plot that creates the effect of interruption and incompleteness of the narrative, contextual and conceptual complementarity. In the examples given, the unfoldment of generalizing issues, stylistic doublets, a meaningful perspective with the possibility of expansion and addition, a multi-layered structure, and varying ways of forming an intra-textual totality are monitored. The strategy of building work is determined by the specifics of the tasks put forward.