Role of the animalistic images in the novel 'Red Ear' by E. Chevillard

The article aims to study the problems related to the function of animalistic images in the novels by E. Chevillard. This modern French author is well known for his ironic and humorous approach to revels some stereotypes defending the rights of all people expressed in his series of novels about modern European person. Having analysed this novel according to the close reading method, the conclusion has been made about the fact that É. Chevillard used animals symbolically by turning them into metaphors of Africa to create a comic effect. The main character was ridiculed for creating stereotypes of a European point of view on living in Africa. Animalism is one of the author's devices for satirising society, its preconceived ideas, and stereotypes. In E. Chevillard’s text, the naturalness and purity of living in Africa (to some extent) are dominant in European stereotypes about that continent. The primary function of animalistic images is to be an ironical animalistic mirror of pre-conceived ideas.