FOLKLORE MOTIFS IN THE SHORT STORY «THE DEAD MEN’S EASTER» BY HRYHORII KVITKA-OSNOVIANENKO

Abstract

The article analyzes folklore motifs in Hryhorii Kvitka-Osnovianenko’s short story «The Dead Men’s Easter» within the context of Ukrainian folk demonology and ritual tradition. Particular attention is paid to the combination of elements of folk legend with the author’s artistic reinterpretation of folkloric notions about the otherworld, the boundary between the living and the dead, and the sacred time of the Easter holidays. It is established that the writer actively employs folk beliefs associated with evil spirits, sin, the violation of prohibitions, and the inevitable punishment for disregarding traditional moral and ethical norms. The study traces images and symbols borrowed from the folklore heritage, including the motif of the nocturnal gathering of the dead, the concept of «unclean» space and time, and the symbolism of the rooster as a harbinger of dawn and a savior of the protagonist from otherworldly danger. It is shown that the sacred symbolism of Easter in the story undergoes a specific inversion, as the Christian festive time becomes the backdrop for demonic events, which intensifies the mystical tension of the narrative. These images are emphasized as performing not only a plot-forming but also a profound symbolic function, encouraging the reader to reflect on the boundaries of what is permissible, the significance of faith, repentance, and folk morality. The article demonstrates that folklore in Kvitka-Osnovianenko’s work is not a mechanical borrowing but an organic component of the artistic structure of the story, shaping its didactic and mystical-realistic character. «The Dead Men’s Easter» represents a characteristic tendency of Ukrainian prose of the first half of the nineteenth century toward the synthesis of folk-poetic tradition and the author’s creative interpretation, contributing to a deeper understanding of the national worldview and spiritual culture.