The poetics of reflections
in the F. N. Gorenstein’s novel «Traveling Companions»

The paper reveals the features of the poetics of the novel «Traveling Companions», created
by the Russian emigre writer Friedrich Naumovich Gorenstein (1932–2002). The author puts
forward a concept according to which reflection is the main sense-making and structure-forming
principle in a work.
The intertextual field of the novel is outlined; the literary «matrices» used by F. N. Gorenshtein
are listed. It is proved that a large number of allusions and reminiscences in «Traveling
Companions» refer to the creativity of N. V. Gogol (explicit, implicit, transformed citations, plot
lines, motives, favorite stylistic tricks).
The paper deals with the depth and the contradictory nature of the images in «Traveling
Companions». In particular, it is noted that modesty and arrogance, sentimentality and irony,
sincerity and cynicism coexist in the character of the main narrator – Felix Zabrodsky. The central
character of the novel Oles Chubinets is endowed with a number of features that are typical
for the hagiographic tradition, but his behavior does not always correlate with the practice of ascetic
self-abasement. The complexity of the character is revealed through the delineation
of strange appearance, the inclusion of heterogeneous psychological characteristics, enumeration
of inconsistent actions and reproduction of writer-dilettante’s speech that combines polar stylistic
layers of language.
It is stated that Chubinets becomes a witness of the most tragic events of the twentieth century:
collectivization, Holodomor, Nazi occupation, Holocaust, anti-cosmopolitan campaign.
And all this is described through the perception of the hero, who is poorly versed in the intricacies
of politics and absorbed by personal experience. Oles’s external alienation from the events taking
place before his eyes enables the reader to feel the mood of the epoch. The sophisticated stylistic
game arises from the intertwining voices of a professional writer-«demiurge» Zabrodsky, of old
scribbler Chubinets and his young «counterpart» Oles.
The importance of the oppositions «fact/fiction», «reality/text», «life/theater» is emphasized.
The characterological, symbolic functions of alimentary images, the conceptuality of themes
of cannibalism and autophagy are noted. The conclusion is made that F. N. Gorenstein duplicates
the events and rhymes actions and portraits, resulting in life being represented as series of reflections
and transformations.