MYSTICISM IN I. LAYLIEVA’S SHORT STORY “THE ENCOUNTER” AND N.V. GOGOL’S NOVELLA “MAY NIGHT, OR THE DROWNED MAIDEN”
Z. Arstanbekova, M. S. Matmusaeva
Bulletin of Kyrgyz State University named after I. Arabaev September 24, 2026 DOI: 10.33514/1694-7851-2026-3/1-736-747 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Comparative literary analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Key points | Argues that Gogol's "May Night" draws on Ukrainian folklore and Romantic dual-world aesthetics, while Laylieva's "The Encounter" transforms mythological motifs into psychological mysticism and horror. The comparison identifies both typological similarities and significant differences in how the supernatural functions artistically. The authors propose a definition of mysticism as a literary genre and contend it applies to both stories. |
Abstract
The article examines the representation of the mystical in I. D. Laylieva’s short story “The Encounter” and N. V. Gogol’s novella “May Night, or the Drowned Maiden”. The study focuses on the interaction between realistic and supernatural planes, the motif of the encounter with the otherworldly, female images, transformation, dream imagery, death and the role of the final episode. Gogol’s mystical world is analyzed in relation to Ukrainian folklore and Romantic dualworld aesthetics, while Laylieva’s narrative demonstrates a modern transformation of mythological motifs into psychological mysticism and horror aesthetics. Particular attention is paid to the image of the she-wolf in “The Encounter” and to the image of the drowned maiden and the mermaids in Gogol’s novella. The comparison demonstrates both typological similarities and significant differences in the artistic functions of the supernatural. Тhe article reveals the essence of mysticism as a literary genre, its role, significance in revealing the ideological and artistic content of the work and the author's intent. The authors of the article for the first time derived its definition and substantiated the use of this term in the story by I. Laylieva "Meeting" and in the story by N. V. Gogol "May Night, or the Drowned Maiden".