Figure of Mycola Storozhenko in the Recipe of Olena Pchilka

Abstract

The article deals with the reception by Olena Pchilka the person and
activity of Mykola Ilyich Storozhenko (1836–1906), a well-known literary critic,
professor, head of the department of world literature at Moscow University, originally
from Poltava region. Olena Pchilka is the author of an essay about him (1902) and a
well-known obituary (1906), which was published in the magazine «Kievskaya
Staryna». The peculiarity of the reception in these memoirs is caused by the installation
on the reader: mentions of specific events in the essay-memoir (acquaintance in
Moscow and celebration in 30th anniversary of Mykola Storozhenko's scientific and
pedagogical activity) and, after the death, a summary of all the activities of the person,
which takes the form of a literary portrait. First of all, it draws attention to the
biographical dimension of Olena Pchilka's memoirs about Mykola Storozhenko, in
which the tributes to a fellow countryman who has succeeded beyond the homeland are
clearly traced. Mykola Storozhenko's letter to Olena Pchilka is first introduced into
scientific circulation. The senior and authoritative M. Storozhenko was a recognized
scientist, and this is always emphasized by the author of his memoirs, comprehending
his life path. The heroes of her memoirs are not only M. Storozhenko, but also his
scientific works, the environment in which he was, common acquaintances, days of
which he was a part. In the memoirs there is a description of the appearance,
psychological observations of the character of the protagonist and vivid episodic
characters. It is a creative portrait of a scientist and public figure. Substantial
information about Mykola Storozhenko's relations with fellow countrymen is provided.
Not only the literary criticism but also the socio-cultural context of its activity is
emphasized. Unconditional respect for the scientific work of Mykola Storozhenko in
memoirs is combined with an indication of his merits for his native land.