SYMBOL AS ONE OF THE PECULIARITIES OF FICTION DISCOURSE (BY WAY OF EXAMPLE OF THE WORKS BY THE ENGLISH SPEAKING AND RUSSIAN SPEAKING WRITERS)

The paper analyses symbol as one of the peculiarities of fiction discourse. Conventional symbols appear in fiction just as often as they appear in daily speech. They can be easily understood and interpreted. Writers employ authorial symbols for revealing artistic images and describing events. The researchers of this sphere affirm that symbols can both enrich a work of literature giving it additional meanings and, at the same time, especially for a non-expert, they can burden it and make the work of literature beyond one’s full comprehension. Conventional symbols often allude to other works from our cultural heritage, such as the Bible, ancient history and literature, and works written by the English speaking and Russian speaking authors. Sometimes understanding a story may require knowledge of history, politics and current events in the modern world. Private symbols do not have pre-established associations: the meanings that are attached to them emerge from the context of the work in which they occur. A writer gives his own personal symbolic significance to an object, event or color. The aim of the research consists in revealing and analysing the authorial symbols and examining them in fiction discourse. Practical value of the research consists in the possibility of applying its results in preparing for lecture courses and seminars on modern British and American literature and stylistics