THE CONCEPT OF "ROAD" IN MEDIEVAL ENGLISH LITERATURE

The concept “road” as a multivalent symbol is widely encountered in world literature since ancient times and depending on the context is not always used in its direct meaning. However, in all cases the road is a metaphor of movement, change and progress. In literary works, the road mainly acts as a symbol of spiritual journey, efforts of self-discovery and new beginnings. In medieval English literature, the road as a multivalent concept representing both physical and symbolic journey symbolises the path to truth, enlightenment and salvation. This article examines philosophical, religious, spiritual and other aspects of the concept of “road” in the context of analysing two literary monuments of medieval English literature - the epic “Beowulf” and “The Canterbury Tales” by G.Chaucer. In the context of the characters' fates, the concept of the road is analysed as a multilayered symbol uniting the physical and spiritual dimensions of human existence.