THE CONCEPT OF «UKRAINE» AS A LEADING CONCEPT IN THE NATIONAL CONCEPTOSPHERE OF VOLODYMYR YAVORIVSKY

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the concept of «Ukraine» as a central component of Volodymyr Yavorivsky’s authorial conceptosphere (conceptual framework). The study shows that this concept is complex and multidimensional, as it integrates ethnocultural, historiosophical, axiological, and existential meanings that form a holistic artistic model of the writer’s creative world. It should be noted that the concept of «Ukraine» in Volodymyr Yavorivsky’s work is closely related to the idea of the unceasing struggle of Ukrainians for independence, freedom, dignity, and the right to exist; it also serves as an indicator of the inner strength of the people, their capacity for self-identification, and for preserving their uniqueness in the face of historical challenges. In the writer’s prose, Ukraine appears not only as a geographical or political space, but as a cultural and historical organism that embodies collective memory, spiritual continuity, mental traits of the nation, moral and ethical guidelines. Considerable attention is given to the artistic means of expressing this concept: the symbolism of historical events, allusions to key figures of the Ukrainian cultural canon, as well as images of ordinary people who embody moral steadfastness, dignity, and national consciousness. It has been established that the concept of «Ukraine» in V. Yavorivsky’s works has a distinct existential dimension, as it is associated with the continuous struggle for independence, identity, and dignity, as well as with the spiritual selfaffirmation of the individual in difficult historical circumstances. The author emphasises that statehood and freedom are not a one-off achievement, but an ongoing necessity that requires constant reaffirmation by each generation of Ukrainians. This approach makes it possible to view the concept of «Ukraine» as a dynamic spiritual substance, open to renewal, revival, cultural reflection, and a deep understanding of the past. It is emphasised that V. Yavorivsky’s idiostyle is based on the combination of poetic metaphor, elements of chimerism, and existential issues. Consequently, the concept under study acquires a multi-layered artistic resonance, combining national memory, spiritual meanings, and universal values. Thus, the concept of «Ukraine» in V. Yavorivsky’s work is organically combined with the motif of constantly defending the right to independence, identity, freedom, and dignity, which makes this theme both central and universal in contemporary Ukrainian artistic discourse.