THE ETERNAL STORYLINE IN THE LITERATURE OF THE XX CENTURY (IN THE STORIES “THE DEATH OF ISOLDE” BY HORACIO QUIROGA AND “THE FOUR SIDES OF THE COIN” BY JOHN UPDIKE)

Abstract

The article deals with a problem of the so called eternal storyline. It also offers a kind of its generalization with reference to the mythological roots and archetypal plot. The material under study concerns fatal love of Tristan and Isolde, characters of the medieval chivalric legend. The article puts an accent on its transformation in the context of the 20th century literature in the stories by modern writers of Uruguayan and American origin Horacio Quiroga and John Updike. A comparative analysis of the two stories is given with reference to the original legend. It shows the differences in the images of the characters, their relationships and external attributes. In conclusion, the idea of the repeatability of the archetypal storyline is revealed. Likewise, it is assumed that the chosen story is eternal in terms of its architectonics and the use of recognizable character traits far beyond the scope of their literary world.