THE GOSPEL TRADITION OF NUMBER SYMBOLISM IN TWENTIETH-CENTURY RUSSIAN POETRY

The article discusses the issues of studying and interpreting number symbolism in a literary work and characteristics of gospel number symbolism in the Christian context. In 20th-century Russian literature, the Christian tradition had a decisive impact on shaping the meaning of number symbolism. An important feature of the Christian symbolism of numbers is the correlation of number symbolism with two spheres, which can be designated as “positive” (sacral) and “negative” (sinful). The author proposes a methodology for interpreting number symbolism, which comprises three stages: 1) a description of the numbers in a literary text, 2) the correlation of these numbers with the tradition of number symbolism, 3) the interpretation of the meaning of number symbolism, which is an integral part of literary work. The article also distinguishes between two concepts — that of the number image and of the image of number, and substantiates the differences in interpretation of such images. Theoretical notions are supported by the interpretation of number symbolism in the poems of Boris Pasternak, Zinaida Gippius and Alexander Blok, where it is presented explicitly. Other images, motifs and concepts presented in the literary works augmented and added complexity to the tradition of gospel number symbolism in the poems of these authors.

WHAT IS THE MYTH OF OEDIPUS: TO THE QUESTION OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE PLOT

Object of the article:the myth of Oedipus. Subject of the article:the structure of the Oedipus story. Purpose of research: the analysis of the specific characteristics of the story of Oedipus which distinguish it from a traditional folklore story. Research methods:methods of the structural and semantic analysis applied. Results: The author argues that the specific nature of the story of Oedipus is characterised by the “prophetic” function of the combination of two interrelated motifs: the number motif and motif of feet. Those motifs, which are conveyed in the riddle of the Sphinx by the words “four-footed”, “two-footed” and “three-footed”, semantically connect with each other the riddle, Oedipus' fate and his name (Οἰδίπους). The riddle about a creature which changes the number of its feet corresponds to 1) Oedipus' biography (he changes the number of his feet when he becomes “three-footed” - a blind man with a staff); 2) Oedipus's name (which foreshadows the answer to the riddle - “man” (alias “two-footed”) as part of the name Οἰδίπους - δίπους means “two-footed”; 3) number symbolism related to Oedipus (“three days” after Oedipus' birth his father pierced his feet and cast him upon a hillside; Oedipus killed his father where “three roads meet”). Field of application: literary studies. Conclusion:The author argues that story of Oedipus is a result of the semantic adaptation (accommodation) of a traditional folklore story to the ancient numerological riddle about a creature with a changing number of feet by adding of the imagery connected to the number motif and motif of feet. The systematic manifestation of the number motif and of motif of feet on various levels of the structure suggests that the “telling name” of Οἰδίπους (“swollen foot” and “two-footed”) has been integrated into a traditional folklore tale in order to semantically adapt it to the ancient riddle about “feet”. The author is indebted to Svetlana Gracheva, Dan Whitman and Oleg B. Zaslavsky for stimulating discussions and helpful advice.

THE RIDDLE OF THE SPHINX AS A MATHEMATICAL ALLEGORY

Object the article: The riddle of the Sphinx in the Oedipus myth. Subject of the article: The riddle of the Sphinx as a mathematical allegory. Purpose of research: The author argues that the interpretation of the riddle of the Sphinx on a meta-linguistic level as an allegory of the mathematical notions (e.g. triangle) reveals the semantic parallels between the number code of the riddle and the number symbolism in the Oedipus myth. Research metods: Philological research methods applied. Results: The riddle of the Sphinx is a mathematical allegory as it is a narrative in which a concrete fictional character - a creature changing the number of feet - is used to convey abstract mathematical notions. The incorporation of the riddle into the myth in the post-Homer versions resulted in an “accommodation” of the literary story of Oedipus to the riddle by adding the images related to the number “three” (third day, crossroads, the forked motif in the double goad, “three-footed” Oedipus with a cane). Field of application: Literary studies. Conclusion: The interpretation of the riddle of the Sphinx as a mathematical allegory underscores the significance of the number motif in the riddle and myth. The semantic harmonization between the mathematical notions conveyed in the riddle and the number images in the literary versions of the legend, reflect a deep structure of the Oedipus myth. The author is indebted to Oleg B. Zaslavsky, Svetlana Gracheva and Dan F. Whitman for assistance and helpful advice