The Genre of Tale in the Prose of V. M. Garshin: Traditional and Innovative Components

The article explores the genre identity of the “Tale About Proud Aggay” (1886) by V. M. Garshin. The most significant quasi-literary factors of the work's creation (the stylistic influence of L. N. Tolstoy, who sought to create his own version of the creative arrangement of the same plot, the ambiguous reaction of the Neophilological community, the historical and factual commentary on one of Garshin's famous statements, which is often mentioned in the context of the study of “Tale About Proud Aggay”) are studied systematically. By analyzing its structure, plot, initial-final complex, vocabulary, motives and symbols used, the gravitation towards the observance of the genre canon formally and the essential renewal of the content at the religious-philosophical level is asserted. The onomastic aspect as well as discursive features of the genre model of the analyzed fiction text are considered separately.