Plot arrangement of ‘The Nemean lion’ by A. Christie

The article reviews a plot of A. Christies’ detective story ‘The Nemean Lion’ in accordance with the four-phase model of the literary text plot development. There sequentially come the separation phase, which corresponds to the description of the main character Hercule Poirot in the category of the elect; the partnership phase - intersubjective links being formed between the hero-detective and secondary characters, persons involved in the investigation, in the course of the narration; the lethal challenge phase - a symbolic confrontation of the main character with death and a real threat to his life; the incorporation phase, acquiring sophisticated metaphysical nature, when the main character transforms from a guardian of the law into the all-seeing eye and the sword of divine justice. The analysis of the English writer’s work with the use of the classical plot schemes lets us overcome the traditional view on the detective genre with entertainment being its main characteristic and get better understanding of its ideological and artistic values.