Reception of Greek Antiquity in contemporary English-language novel

Abstract

The paper deals with the studying of reception of ancient Greek mythology and literature in contemporary English-language novels. The purpose of the study is to highlight the main tendencies of fictional transformation of antiquity and its connection with modernity in the works of British, American, Canadian etc. authors. Historical-genetic, mythopoetic, structural, functional and comparative methods are used for the research. The results of the studying show that the modern English-language writers, representatives of different national literatures, turn to the ancient times in order to emphasize actual problems of the present. Discourse of Greek antiquity in modern English-language literature marked by complexity and versatility. It is characterized by ambivalence as the very reception of ancient pretexts, as well as their imposition on the contradictory tendencies of contemporary life. Scientific novelty of the paper lies in the fact that a comparative analysis of the novels The Penelopiad by M. Atwood, Weight by J. Winterson, House of Names by C. Tóibín, The Human Stain by Ph. Roth, Elizabeth Costello by J. M. Coetzee, The Secret History by Donna Tartt, Picture This by J. Heller has not been done before in the context of intertextuality. The conclusions of the paper can be used by scientists to determine the place of antiquity in contemporary literature, the features of structural functioning of ancient intertext, as well as in the writing of relevant qualification works in high school. Key words: Greek antiquity, contemporary English-