PLOT STRATEGIES OF HISTORICAL DETECTIVE: PATTERNS AND GENRE SPECIFICITY

Abstract

The article explores the plot strategies of historical detective as a literary phenomenon that combines detective intrigue with the reconstruction of the past and allows for a rethinking of historical events and social practices. The authors analyze the genre from the standpoint of narratology and literary theory, paying special attention to the compositional elements of the plot – exposition, plot, climax and denouement – and their role in creating dynamic plot tension. The concept of “double history” is considered, according to which a detective narrative includes the history of the crime and the history of its investigation, which allows for the simultaneous reproduction of a mysterious incident from the past and the process of its cognition by the investigator. A detective novel is defined as a “narrative of narratives”, demonstrating the general principles of structuring the narrative and at the same time performing the ideological functions of the genre. Analysis of modern foreign studies shows the integration of socio-political problems of the past and present into the plot, which makes the subgenre significant for cultural and historical studies. Special attention is paid to feminist transformations of the genre. Traditional traits of heroines – humility and passivity – give way to determination and independence of thinking, which affects the structure of the plot and turns the detective story into a more complex and multidimensional narrative. In Ukrainian literary studies, narrative and plot problems are considered through post-structuralist approaches and research into supra-level formations of the text. Theoretical works on the analysis of compositional elements of the plot and the interaction of characters provide methodological tools for an in-depth study of plot-forming mechanisms. The article proves that the historical detective is characterized by the integration of detective intrigue and historical context, where the plot is formed through the interaction of characters, historical events and artistic images. The genre specificity lies in the “double story” – the simultaneous solving of the crime and reflection on the past, which creates a multidimensional narrative, organically combining intrigue and historical authenticity. The prospects for further research lie in the comparative analysis of Ukrainian and foreign historical detectives, the study of the influence of the historical context on the plot creation and composition of works, as well as in the study of the feminization of the genre and its influence on the dynamics of the narrative.