Mnemonic narrative method in the trilogy by Agota Kristof (“The Notebook”, “The Proof”, “The Third Lie”)


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Abstract

The article analyzes three novels by the Hungarian-Swiss writer Agota Kristof through the poetics of memory. The trilogy is dedicated to the representation of the consciousness of the person whose life is destroyed by a series of historical cataclysms. Every novel presents a slightly different version of Lucas and Сlaus brothers’ life, their memories of the past traumatic events. In the hero's memories, the reality is distorted to such an extent that the very existence of the twin brother from the first novel is called into question. At the artistic level, the possibility of reconstructing the true course of events is constantly problematized. In this regard, the trilogy can be considered from the point of view of implementing the mnemonic narrative method in it - a special narrative method, which involves the creation of a novel hero character, whose inner life is turned to the past. This method is based on a conscious creative approach to description of the retracing mind and an approach to reflection about the process and description methods.

About the authors

Kseniya A. Sundukova

Samara National Research University

Author for correspondence.
Email: sundukova.ka@ssau.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3254-5761

Candidate degree in Philology, Associate Professor of the Departament of Russian and Foreign Literature and Public Relations

Russian Federation, 34, Moskovskoe shosse (St.), Samara, 443086, Russian Federation

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