Historical and cultural problems

of northern countries and regions

 

Scientific articles

 

 

The Problem of Alienation in the story

“My Fahter is Santa Claus” by G.I. Varlamova / G. Keptuke

 

 

Ivanova E.V.¹

 

 

Abstract. The article addresses the issue of alienation of the Evenks from their traditional culture in the literature work ‘My Father is Santa Claus’ by G. I. Varlamova, who wrote the story under the pen-name of G. Keptuke. The article provides the historical background as a complex of ideological, economic, social factors that had a dramatic influence on the Evenk ethnos in 20th century. Interpreting the above-mentioned problem, G. I. Varlamova / G. Keptuke employs the artistic form of the dream, applies the motive of transfiguration, which is characteristic of dreams, uses the folklore genre of bylichki. All these serve to the purpose of revealing the main character’s losing meaning of living, his inability to find himself in the new world after disconnecting with the traditional Evenk culture. G. I. Varlamova / G. Keptuke believes that the crisis can be overcome if one sticks to traditional values and culture of their people.

Keywords: Evenk literature, solitude of the character, the Evenk ethnos, the problem of alienation in literature, traditional Evenk culture.

 

 

¹Ivanova El'vira Vasil'evna, Candidate of Philology, Associate Professor of the Institute of the Peoples of the North of the Russian State Pedagogical University named after AI Herzen. Stachek ave., 30, 198097, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation.

E-mail: tekenmi@mail.ru

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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"Historical and cultural problems of northern countries and regions"