The Role of Numerical Semantics in M . Yu . Lermontov’s Unfinished Novels “I Want to Tell You…” and “Stoss”

Aim. To determine the artistic functions of numerical symbolism in the non-romantic prose of M. Yu. Lermontov “I want to tell you…” and “Stoss”.Methodology. The research procedure involves the selection of cases of numerical discourse from the text of the works, the classification of the identified examples based on the five main categories of the use of this type of symbols (time, distance, age, quantity, uncertainty), the determination of the semantic and symbolic function of the presented numbers depending on the context and significance in the disclosure of the artistic world. The key methods were comparative and hermeneutical methods followed by contextual analysis, as well as finding possible metatextual elements related to the cultural heritage preceding Lermontov’s work.Results. The leading role of numerical semantics in revealing the symbolistic content of M. Yu. Lermontov’s unfinished novels is determined. The relevance and novelty of this kind of research is substantiated in view of the insufficient study of this phenomenon and the complete absence of complex analyses of numerical symbolism in the author’s works and its purpose.Research implications. The results of the analysis may be further applied for a deeper understanding of literary works.