UDC

821.161.1

Authors

Elena A. Safron
Petrozavodsk State University; ul. Anokhina 20, Petrozavodsk, 185910, Russian Federation; e-mail: 00inane@gmail.com

Abstract

This article analyses the poetics of urban fantasy and takes as an example M.Yu. Lermontov’s unfinished novella “Stoss” (1845), whose action takes place in St. Petersburg. Its protagonist, Lugin, is a typical character of urban fantasy: a lonely person of creative profession experiencing a nervous breakdown and suffering from his inability to find true love. At the same time, Lugin has the traditional features of the character from the Petersburg text (the term was introduced by V.N. Toporov): an impulsive person with a tragic fate. The basic principles of urban fantasy poetics in “Stoss” are expressed through oneiric motifs (dream, hallucination), motifs of ghost, haunted house, and oppressed woman, images of the city and lonely artist. The fantasy nature of the story also highlights the theme of the game: Lugin plays cards, where the fate of the ghost’s beautiful daughter is at stake. St. Petersburg is portrayed by Lermontov through Lugin’s sick mind; it seems to him to be a strange, somewhat other city. Lugin is starting to lose touch with the outside world and obeys the orders of his inner voice that whispers to him an unknown address of someone named Stoss. Lugin’s way to that house corresponds to the path of the folk tale’s hero: first, he must find the place where his fair lady is held captive and then he has to fight her oppressor. However, the end of this story alludes to a tragic denouement, not typical of fantasy. This incomplete narration is also the reason why we cannot specify the genre of “Stoss” and believe it to be a forerunner of urban fantasy.

Keywords

M.Yu. Lermontov, “Stoss”, St. Petersburg, Petersburg text, urban fantasy, oneiric motif

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