Synesthesia in the early lyrics of V.V. Nabokov. Problem statement

INTRODUCTION. The key synesthetic concepts in V. Nabokov’s early poetry are revealed, as well as their role in creating an artistic image. The purpose of the study is to identify key synesthetic concepts in V. Nabokov’s early poetry in order to understand their role in creating the artistic image of the collection and further their place in the work of the author’s entire work. The phenomenon of synesthesia attracts considerable attention from researchers in various humanitarian knowledge fields. In the literature, this technique is used to enhance the imagery of a text by combining various sensory perceptions. V. Nabokov’s poetic legacy provides researchers with a valuable body of texts for studying synesthetic mechanisms determined by the author’s worldview.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. The research material is the poems included in V. Nabokov’s debut collection “Poems” (1916). The analysis is carried out based on semantic and conceptual methods, as well as through the interpretation of the author’s synesthetic metaphors. It is revealed that in V. Nabokov’s poetic discourse there are stable color concepts “pale”, “purple”, “azure” and “bloody”, which have not only visual, but also symbolic significance. The concept of “pale” is associated with the motifs of withering and loss, “purple” – with transitional states and nostalgia, “azure” – with reverie and heavenly harmony, and “bloody” – with a feeling of pain and emotional tension.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. The results of the study indicate that the interaction of these concepts forms a complex system of synesthetic images that significantly enriches the emotional perception of the text.

CONCLUSION. The data obtained open prospects for further study of the mechanisms of synesthesia not only in the poetic, but also in the prose legacy of V. Nabokov.

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