“Dyuzhina skazok” and “Rakety”: The specific nature of the tales of the revolutionary populist Felix Volkhovsky

The fairy tale, a significant genre in nineteenth-century Russian literature, reflected a burgeoning literary fascination with fantastic plots. Through allegories and allusions, these plots facilitated the unveiling of ideas that could not be explicitly stated. In the latter half of the nineteenth century, literary fairy tales took on satirical and agitational characteristics in response to a growing discontent with the social and political system. The fairy tale genre held considerable significance in the writings of the revolutionary populist Felix Volkhovsky (1846-1913). These fairy tales were primarily written during periods of Siberian exile and emigration. This research focuses on the content, key motifs, and compositional strategies of the fairy tales featured in the collections “Dyuzhina skazok” (tales for children, 1908) and “Rakety” (“tales for children of mature age,” 1913). The publicist created artistic worlds and images that alluded to the current socio-political system and its associated issues, addressing injustice, including the flaws of capitalism, and advocating for the eradication of social evil. The creation of collections relied on the synthesis of varied works, which, when mentally segmented, highlight distinct arguments and central themes. At the heart of these collections is the theme of fighting for justice. Children’s pieces feature classic educational themes and universal values, while adult works use satire to expose the issues within the socio-political structure.

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