Silence in Elena Shvarts’s Creative Work

Abstract

This article delves into the intricate evolution of the notion of “silence” within the literary legacy of Elena Shvarts (1948–2010), spanning both her poetic compositions and prose, alongside insights from her diaries and memoirs that encapsulate the essence of the Second Leningrad Culture. Through a meticulous examination, a comprehensive typology and hierarchical structure of meanings affiliated with lexical elements derived from “МОЛК-” and “МОЛЧ-” are revealed. Shvarts’s artistic realm emerges as a tapestry interwoven with the themes of dialogicity and monologicity, wherein the concept of silence assumes a profoundly significant role. This scholarly inquiry delineates the multifaceted dimensions of silence, discerning its positive, neutral, and negative connotations embedded within the poetic cosmos of the author under scrutiny. The article elucidates how silence, nuanced and layered, acts as a pivotal element within Shvarts’s creative sphere. The gradient of interpretations and manifestations of silence within her works reflects the intricate interplay between linguistic constructs and the profound emotional depths that Shvarts intricately weaves into her literary tapestry. This analysis brings forth a nuanced understanding of the role and significance of silence evolving within the intricate fabric of Shvarts’s literary universe, from its nascent stages to the crescendo of her artistic expression.