The artistic structure of A.I. Solzhenitsyn’s novel “In the first circle”: principles of organization

Abstract

The work is devoted to the study of artistic structure specificity of A.I. Solzhenitsyn’s novel “In the First Circle”. We focus on the elements analysis of “circular book building” and parallel plot lines, typology of characters-antipodes. We consider in detail, from the formal-content point of view, the “heading complex” of the novel: title, author’s preamble, dedication, double list of contents. We clarify the semantics of the title variants and the final title of novel. We define the main levels of plot-compositional parallelism. We identify the peculiarities of narrative temporal organization, covering three New Year’s Eve days. We analyze artistic details that help create contrasting situations. We can trace several cross-cutting motives in the description of the fate of different characters. We designate the intersection of storylines affecting the work, love, interpersonal relationships of the characters. We draw parallels between the individual structural elements of the novel, which form the compositional “circular book building” given by the title formula. We define pairs of ideologically and behaviorally similar characters, characters-antipodes and the principles of their typology. We show the importance of parallel elements to create a coherent piece of art. We conclude that the artistic means and techniques used by the writer are directly related to the social and artistic practice of research and embodiment of the Russian national character as the main vector of A.I. Solzhenitsyn’s work.