MEANS OF CREATING GENRE PECULIARITIES OF THE NOVEL “451 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT” BY RAY BRADBURY

Abstract

The article examines the well-known novel created by famous American writer Ray Bradbury “451 degrees Fahrenheit” in terms of applied language means that reveal its genre peculiarities. It presents interpretation of the novel from the perspective of its genre correlation with dystopian and science fiction literary works.

When we read a work of fiction we apprehend it as a whole. Yet actually, it is a creative integration of words, idiomatic phrases, stylistic devices and expressive means, the choice of which is determined by genre peculiarities of a literary work according to thought and feeling of the writer. Consequently analysis of the language of a text gives an opportunity to go behind it, to explore its internal level, to understand foreshadowing and implications, which are not expressed directly.

In his novel “451 degrees Fahrenheit” Ray Bradbury efficiently used different language means in order to create a fearsome picture of a totalitarian society, in which rapid development of science and technology led to suppression and humiliation of personality, to mutual indifference of people, to decline of literature, to loss of real spiritual values.

According to conventions of science fiction the author describes different achievements of scientific and technological progress, such as jet cars, silent air-propelled trains, fireproof houses, medical machines, talking television walls, ominous mechanical hound. Metaphors, similes, epithets used in these descriptions help to create a fearsome depressing atmosphere of suppressed life of victims of mass media with their constant conditioning and brainwashing. People become puppets on strings, they lose their ability to think critically, to use their creative potential. Spiritual revival of the main character leads to his opposition to the totalitarian society, in which he lives. Finally he understands that only accumulated in books spiritual experience of many generations can help people to find their real selves. The novel is characterized by high level of intertextuality. The author uses mythological, biblical, literary, historical allusions, citations, proper names. Intertextuality opens new perspectives and possibilities to understand characters and conflicts. And the writer expects us to possess enough knowledge to spot all allusions and grasp their importance in the text.

The results of the research activity have practical applications in such courses as foreign literature, philological textual interpretation of a work of fiction, stylistics, text and discourse studies.