THE SOUTHERN MAN IN SIBERIA: A LITERARY AND GEOGRAPHICAL STUDY OF ANTON CHEKHOV'S JOURNEY (BASED ON CHEKHOV'S ESSAYS ‘FROM SIBERIA’ AND HIS TRAVEL LETTERS)

Abstract

We have developed and applied a cultural and geographical approach in relation to one of the most famous literary trips on the territory of Russia – Anton Chekhov's trip. An important component of this approach is comprehensive geographical methodology of studying literary trips, which includes 3 methodological blocks: geographical contexts of the literary trip, a step-by-step description of the route with the detection of local and regional geographical images, and the identification and study of the main author's regional themes. The core of this method is a modular spatiotemporal periodization of a literary trip, which is based on objective geographical indicators and subjective author's assessments and perceptions. As a result of the periodization, the stages of the journey are distinguished, each of which is a spatiotemporal chronotope with objective measurable characteristics (the border of the territory, a certain landscape, the border of the season and weather, the vehicles used, etc.) and subjective criteria related to literary assessments of places and their modality. As a result of applying this technique, 6 stages of the Chekhov's literary journey were identified and mapped; a step-by-step description of the route was carried out, including the analysis of geographical images. The main Chekhov’s themes related to Siberia were also identified and commented on, among which are such as ‘Siberia and Russia: the problem of cultural and geographical positioning’, ‘Chekhov's Western and Chekhov's Eastern Siberia: two contrasting geographical images’, ‘On the attractiveness of Siberia’.