COMPOSITION AND PLOT ORGANIZATION OF COSSACK FANTASY: THE GENRE ASPECT

Abstract

Introduction. The article is dedicated to describing the compositional and narrative structure in Cossack fantasy as an essential component of cossackopeia, viewed from a genre perspective. This research also aims to identify the peculiarities of the construction of literary works in this genre and establish algorithms in the narrative used by authors. Due to the insufficient exploration of this topic, the relevance lies in the necessity to uncover the foundations of Cossack fantasy, which will contribute to a deeper understanding of its internal regularities. Methods. The study employed a range of interdisciplinary methods. Specifically, comparative analysis helped identify commonalities and differences between various works of cossackopeia, while a systematic approach assisted in examining them in the context of general laws of literary form development. Typological research methods allowed for the classification and generalization of diverse genre structures of cossackopeia, including Cossack fantasy as part of the broader corpus, based on their key features and characteristics. Results and discussion. By its genre nature and the setting of events, Cossack fantasy is intrusive. The peculiarity of the literary genres of cossackopeia lies in the hybridity and mutual penetration of their structural elements. The main dominants of the genre structure of cossackopeia in the realm of the fantastical include synergy between fantasy and historical facts, the conflict between good and evil in trans-worldly boundaries, alternative history, character archetypes, mystification, elements of science fiction, and horror. The genre structure of each work within cossackopeia acquires an individual matrix depending on the writer and their creative concept, yet at the core of each such structure are the same genre elements. Retrospective composition, characteristic of many works of Cossack fantasy, allows for flexible adjustment of the tempo of the plot without overloading it with current events. Cossack fantasy also often employs descriptive composition in the form of Cossack songs or authorial reflections, adding authenticity to the works. The main elements of the plot-compositional structure of Cossack fantasy include exposition, complication, conflict or situation, climax, and denouement. Each of these elements has its peculiarities that affect the content and course of events in works of this genre. Prologues and epilogues may be used to convey important information and provide additional explanations about the world and characters. In the genres of cossackpeia, in addition to the main plot components, supplementary elements are often utilized for a deeper narrative development. Among them, philosophical digressions hold a special place, expressed through characters' monologues, their reflections, or poetry. Another important element is epigraphs, which are quotations from literary works, poems, or proverbs, emphasizing the main theme of the work and creating a specific atmosphere and mood for the reader.