Antonova V. Genre Modifications in the Poetry by W. Scott and the "Lake" Poets.

An integrated analysis of the genre system of early British romanticism poetry in the context of "tradition and innovation" problem is set forth in the paper. The originality of fantastic, historical and mythological components, as well as their interaction within genre variations in early British romanticism were ascertained. Authors' approaches to artistic interpretation of traditions relating to legends, fairy-tales and ballads were identified. Peculiarities of plot-composition structure, system of motifs, structure of characters and poetical means employed in the legacy of W. Scott and the "lake" poets are investigated. It is established in the thesis how the transformation of genre canons in traditional folklore genres (ballad, fairy-tale, legend) in the worldview of early British romanticism were modified as a result of development of author's artistic consciousness, cooperation between philosophy and literature, folk elements' and other art forms' penetration into literary genres, processes of intergeneric and intergenre diffusion, interlacing of heathen and Christian traditions. Specificities of individual styles in early British romanticism, their contribution to the history of development of genres in European romanticism are revealed.