THE REPRESENTATION OF «POOR PLACE» AS AN ARCHETYPE IN STEPEN KING’S WORKS: LEXICAL AND SEMANTIC PECULIARITIES

Abstract

The article deals with the archetype «poor place». The present research is a study of horror literature owing to the fact that the genre of horror represents mystic locations. These locations are treated as negative because of tragic events and horrifying stories both real and fictional. Some peculiarities of the author’s style have been accentuated. Stephen King’s unique manner to create horror fiction, comprising the combination of horror, gothic tradition and myths, has been highlighted. The archetype «poor place» has been admitted to be a keynote in Stephen King’s works. The study of the archetype «poor place» has been conducted in accordance with existent researches in the sphere of psychology and emotional intelligence. Both archetypes and instincts have been analysed and contrasted. The notions of archetypes and archetypal images have been compared. The interdependence and interconnection between archetypal thoughts and images on the one hand and mythical characters on the other hand have been traced. Specific methods have been applied to investigate the characteristics of the archetype «poor place» as a complex phenomenon. It has been acknowledged that the archetype «poor place» can be presented differently in the context varying from an ancient cemetery of native Indians to an ordinary hotel located distantly. The concrete representations of the archetype «poor place» have been empowered to redeem or appall. The universal factors comprising death, misfortune and grief have been applied by the author in order to create negative emotional comprehension of the archetype in the novels under analysis. The etymology and definitions of the lexeme poor have been explored to understand main archetypal images adequately. The examples of myths and semantic techniques in Stephen King’s works have been specified. The archetype «poor place» has been proved to be both static and dynamic.