Suchergebnisse

The aim of this study is to analyse the symbolism of E.T.A. Hoffman's novella "The Golden Pot" within the framework of the alchemical discourse. The researchers employed historical-genetic, structural-semantic methods and the method of motivic analysis to explore the elements of medieval alchemical symbolism in the novella, namely: the motif of the hero's initiation and his subsequent spiritual transformation, the symbols of snake, elemental spirits (salamander and dragon), manuscripts, blood, apples, garden, four elements, palm and cypress, as well as the symbolism of colour – red, black, white, gold and bronze. Results of the research suggest that the medieval theory of alchemy corresponded to the image of achieving creative harmony and spiritual transformation in German Romanticism.

The purpose of this study is to analyse E.T.A. Hoffmann's tradition in the 20th century German literature in terms of the novel "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" by P. Süskind. The features of E.T.A. Hoffmann's aesthetics are considered in the form of an ideological and thematic complex of images, motifs and stylistic techniques inherent in the work of E.T.A. Hoffmann ("Hoffmann complex of German literature"), which manifests itself in a similar style (irony and grotesque), problems – the mechanization of human and society (realised through the opposition of "living" – "inanimate", the motif of duality), understanding the nature of genius (antagonism of genius and philistine) and its relationship with femininity, the problem of violent influence on someone else's personality, as well as in the use of such an artistic technique as synesthesia.