SPECIFICS OF POSTMODERN FAIRY TALE OF THE BRITISH TRADITION (A CASE STUDY OF R. DAHL’S AND D. O’LEARY’S NARRATIVES)
Abstract
The research focuses on the narrative characteristics of fairy tales of the British tradition (a case study of narratives by R. Dahl and D. O’Leary). Postmodernism is a transcultural phenomenon that emerged in the second half of the 1950s and has penetrated various scientific and cultural paradigms. The specificity of postmodernism includes immanence, uncertainty, irony, intertextuality, fragmentation, parody, and double coding. In this study, we focus on intertextuality and connection with mass culture as the main features of postmodern fairy tales. Additionally, such features of postmodern fairy tales as the depiction of taboo topics, the influence of the authors’ biographical data on their characters, and the intertextual connection between these authors’ fiction texts were identified. The category of intertextuality in R. Dahl’s and D. O’Leary’s fairy tales is realised through the reinterpretation of the famous fairy tales’ plots, the use of the same characters and elements in several texts, and allusions to famous characters from popular culture. The connection between the authors’ works and mass culture is evidenced by screen adaptations of their narratives and book series publications. R. Dahl depicted taboo subjects: violence, cruelty, the desire for revenge, evil intentions, dysfunctional families, etc. The issue of human cruelty toward animals is raised in postmodern animalistic fairy tales. The intertextual connections between the fairy tales of both authors are related to the fact that R. Dahl’s narrative “Fantastic Mr Fox”, according to D. O’Leary, has been his favourite childhood fiction text. He has also aspired to become a writer like R. Dahl. Postmodern fairy tales are directly related to the author’s personality, which is reflected in the characters. Roald Dahl’s experience as a military pilot can be traced in the fictional race of gremlins, his experience as an inventor – in his most famous adult character Willy Wonka. The prototypes of D. O’Leary’s characters are his cats, and real animals from the London Zoo, near where he lives.
References
2. Бехта І.А. Дискурс постмодернізму: особливості наративних стратегій. Нова філологія. 2002. № 1 (12). С. 213–223.
3. Єфименко В.А. Жанрові трансформації та мультимодальність сучасних казкових наративів (на матеріалі англійської мови) : дис. … д-ра філол. наук : 10.02.04. Київ, 2018. 531 с.
4. Карп М.А. Текстотвірні ознаки когезії та когерентності в англійських мультимодальних літературних казках (на матеріалі творчості Філіпа Арда) : автореф. дис. ... канд. філол. наук : 10.02.04. Одеса, 2016. 20 c.
5. Ставенко О.В. Австралійські художні етнонаративи для дітей: лінгвокультурний аспект : дис. … д-ра філософії зі спеціальності 035 «Філологія (03 Гуманітарні науки)». Херсон, Івано-Франківськ, 2023. 299 с.
6. Ткаченко І.А. Наративні маски в англомовному постмодерністському дискурсі: лінгвокогнітивний та комунікативно-прагматичний аспекти : дис. … канд. філол. наук : 10.02.04. Херсон, 2018. 217 с.
7. Цапів А.О. Поетика наративу англійськомовних художніх текстів для дітей : дис. … д-ра філол. наук : 10.02.04. Харків, 2020. 419 с.
8. Цапів А.О., Андрєєва М.А. Наратативні особливості постмодерністських казок британської традиції (на основі художніх текстів для дітей Р. Дала). Науковий вісник ХДУ. Серія «Германістика та міжкультурна комунікація». 2023. № 1. С. 84–89. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32999/ksu2663-3426/2023-1-12.
9. Adams R. Watership Down. New York : Macmillan Publishing Co., 1972. 430 p.
10. Bacchilega C. Postmodernism. The Routledge Companion to Media and Fairy-Tale Cultures / ed. by P. Greenhill et al. New York & Milton Park, 2018. P. 74–82.
11. Big Interview / Dermot O’Leary. FirstNews. URL: https://www.firstnews.co.uk/talkingpoints/big-interview/big-interview-dermotoleary/(дата звернення: 28.01.2024).
12. Horton N. Dahl Roald. Continuum Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature / ed. by B.E. Cullinan, D.G. Person. New York & London : Continuum, 2005. P. 216–217.
13. Hunt P. Roald Dahl. The Cambridge Guide to Children’s Books in English / ed. by V. Watson. New York : Cambridge University Press, 2001. P. 192–193.
14. Jellyfish Originals Lands Dermot O’Leary’s Bestselling Children’s Book Series, Toto the Ninja Cat. Jellyfish Pictures Press Release. URL: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:9c081c5c-12b1-482d-a6fa-ae9358edbb4a (дата звернення: 28.01.2024).
15. London Zoo. After six years and five beautiful cubs with Melati, Jae Jae will be leaving us soon. Facebook. URL: https://www.facebook.com/zsllondonzoo/posts/after-six-years-andfive-beautiful-cubs-with-melati-jae-jae-will-beleaving-us-s/1382720605097727/ (дата звернення: 20.02.2024).
16. Reynolds K. Children’s Literature: A Very Short introduction. Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2011. 144 p.
17. Russell D.L. Blake, Quentin (Saxby). Continuum Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature / ed. by B.E. Cullinan, D.G. Person. New York & London: Continuum, 2005. P. 86–87.
18. Russell J. Dahl Roald. Twentieth-Century Children’s Writers / ed. by D.L. Kirkpatrick. London & Basingstoke : The Macmillan Press, 1978. P. 331–333.
19. Thacker D.C. Playful Subversion. Introducing Children’s Literature: From Romanticism to Postmodernism. London & New York : Routledge, 2002. P. 139–150.
20. The Oxford Companion to Children’s Literature / ed. by D. Hahn. 2nd ed. Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2015. 663 p.
21. The Oxford Companion to English Literature / ed. by M. Drabble. 6th ed. New York : Oxford University Press, 2000. 1172 p.
22. Trim M. Growing and Knowing: A Selection Guide for Children’s Literature. München : K. G. Saur, 2004. 253 p.
23. Webb J. A Postmodern Reflection of the Genre of Fairy Tale: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. Introducing Children’s Literature: From Romanticism to Postmodernism. London & New York: Routledge, 2002. P. 157–163.
24. Wilkie-Stibbs С. Intertextuality and the Child Reader. International Companion Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature / ed. by P. Hunt. 2nd ed. Milton Park & New York : Routledge, 2004. Vol. 1. P. 179–190.
ISSN 
.png)
