Originality of chronotope palette of Amelie Nothomb works

Abstract

The article is dedicated to studying the chronotypical models and their impact upon poetical features of novels by French-speaking female writer Amelie Nothomb. Such novels by Nothomb as “Hygiene and the Assassin”, “The Stranger Next Door”, “Attempt”, “Fear and Trembling”, “The Character of Rain” and “Cosmetics of the Enemy”. Attention is paid to inter-genre and enter-gender synthesis of Nothomb novels which significantly influences the specifics of building up the chronotypical models of the novels being analyzed. Studying peculiarity of genre form of A.Nothomb novels revealed polygenre synthesis which is inherent for them which is based upon diffusion of epic and dramatic kinds of great and small epic genres. Distinctive feature of novel works by this female writer is determined by complex stratification of chronotype layers, comprising chronotype models of enclosed spaces, idyll chronotype, chronotype of raving, chronotype of art, chronotype of childhood, chronotype of love. Analysis of time-space models testifies about inclination of the writer to realistic, recognizable space with involvement of effective toponyms from historic and social-cultural contexts as different from time and space ambiguity which is inherent for postmodern text. Enclosed spaces are typical for Nothomb novels (building, house, room). Time in the novels has distinctive features of biographic, calendar, day time and historic time. Events take place in logical time sequence, creating linear process, ascending gradation of events is frequent to enhance psychological tension.