The antique text as the basis for the artistic typology in the novels “Oblomov” by I. A. Goncharov and “Walden” by H. D. Thoreau

This article analyzes the “ancient text” as a foundational element in the artistic typology of Ivan Goncharov’s “Oblomov” and Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden.” In this context, the ancient text is understood not only as a corpus of classical literature but also as the various art forms of the “Golden Age” that were fundamentally important to both authors. Homer serves as a focal point in both novels, recognized as the definitive epic author and the creator of “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey.” An analysis of these classical elements reveals the authors’ shared relationship with the humanist ideal and the “Golden Age.” This includes the relationship between man and the world, the inherent equality of the everyday and the existential, and the “epicization” of the narrative, centered on the hero-narrator in Thoreau’s work and the hero in Goncharov’s. By contrasting historical antiquity with present-day reality and uncovering the ancient ideal in life, Goncharov resolves the moral quandaries surrounding the protagonists’ life choices, effectively reconciling various interpretations of everyday living as an integral component of existence. Conversely, Thoreau employs antiquity as a reference point for cultural and artistic cultivation. In “Walden,” the protagonist draws upon ancient authors for both practical, economic insights and their distinct, contemplative worldviews.

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