Archaic constructs in French Lessons [Uroki frantsuzskogo], a short story by V. Rasputin

Abstract

Examining the short story French Lessons [Uroki frantsuzskogo] (1973), this article is devoted to the archaic and mythological elements in the works by V. Rasputin. Although confined to the background of his stories, they shape the structure of the narratives and play a pivotal role in the writer’s artistic universe. The study sets out to reveal the archaic constructs and mythology-inspired folk beliefs hidden behind the realistic façade. It explores selected elements of the myth and mythological identity of French Lessons. Those include constructs that enhance metaphysical depth: the belly as the fertility hub; the physical differences between the locals and the teacher, a young woman who has just moved into town, as perceived through the sound of their voices; the game that is strongly linked to a particular locus, and the character’s progress to such a locus which is not unlike a mythical journey. The author suggests that archaic constructs and demotic mythology are at the core of the harmonious consistency of V. Rasputin’s oeuvre.