SEMANTICS OF BIRCH IN “KALINA KRASNAYA” BY V.M. SHUKSHIN

The article examines the symbolism and mythopoetics of one of the main dendro-images of the film and the story “Kalina Krasnaya” by V. M. Shukshin. The meaning of the birch image grows out of the real features of the plant and the cultural tradition (mythological, folklore, literary) that has developed around it. In the context of the writer’s work, the image of the birch is associated with the concepts of femininity (a girl-bride, a wife, a mother), the Motherland (Russia as a whole and a small homeland), the archetype of the prodigal son, the plot of initiation in its family and calendar-ritual variations. The presented material has been prepared for the “Encyclopedia of “Kalina Krasnaya” by V. M. Shukshin”, which is currently being worked on by a team of scientists from Altai State Pedagogical University