Mythopoetics in L. Yuzefovich’s novella “The expedition to Bar-Khoto”

The article analyzes L. Yuzefovich's novella “The Expedition to Bar-Khoto” to uncover the mythopoetic elements in the work. Mythopoetic and descriptive research methods are employed. Special attention is given to the chronotope, the protagonist's image, the character system, and the identification of symbolic and mythological reminiscences in the novella. The space of Mongolia, particularly the fortress of Bar-Khoto, which is central to the narrative, is interpreted as a space of death and chaos, while time is associated with cycles, an essential category in the Buddhist worldview. Significant emphasis is placed on the depiction of steppe spirits and deities alongside Buddhist mythological imagery. The article asserts that through neomythologism, Yuzefovich creates a myth about the unique space of 20th-century Mongolia. The article also provides a brief comparative analysis with Yuzefovich's earlier novel, “The Philhellene”, and concludes by highlighting the distinctive characteristics of mythopoetics in the writer's later prose.