The Memory of the Individual and the Memory of the Nation. Traces of Memory in the Novels of Volodymyr Lys

Abstract

The main subject of this paper is a reflection on the issue of traces of memory in the novels by Volodymyr Lys. Four novels of Lys were selected for analysis, and the primary purpose of the research was to focus on the memorial clues used by this contemporary Ukrainian writer. Based on the conducted research, the author of the article concludes that in his works, Lys uses categories of individual and collective memory. Moreover, Lys frequently references family and place memory (regional memory). For this purpose, he uses the local, Polesian folklore and local dialect, which are elements of his self-identification. It can be argued that for Lys, the preservation of the nation’s memory is possible only under condition of intergenerational transmission of individual memory and the continuity of Ukrainian history.