Samovar as a metaphor of home in the works of selected 19th century Russian writers

Recenzowane materiały z konferencji: W kręgu problemów antropologii literatury. Świat rzeczy w literaturze; 2014-09-21; 2014-09-23; Białystok; Polska

In eighteenth-century Russia samovars were already quite common and with time they became even more popular. In the next century samovar as an object accompanying people in their everyday life became a part of literature and a significant motif of literary realism. In the article certain regularity in Russian 19th century literature is presented – samovar is a metonymy of hearth and home. It takes place in such literary works as The Captain’s Daughter by Alexander Pushkin, Poor Folk, Humiliated and Insulted by Fyodor Dostoyevsky or Oblomov by Ivan Goncharov. Taking into consideration the structure and physical characteristics (the need to use red-hot coals that is life fire) samovar obtains certain features which justify its metaphorical meaning of home. Its warmth makes people gather around and then it becomes a substitute of primordial bonfire as well as an "objectified" house microbonfire. What is more, samovar remaining a non-living thing has a power to "add life". In other words, it helps one to become accustomed to unfriendly surroundings, designate home space or accompany a new life. It is strongly connected with the category of home and it is its central point