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The temptation of miracle in the Gospel and the "Legend of the Grand Inquisitor" by F. M. Dostoevsky
https://doi.org/10.30515/0131-6141-2026-87-3-26-37
Abstract
This article examines the Gospel precedent situation of the Wilderness Temptation when Christ is urged to perform a useless miracle. The material for this study is Fyodor Dostoevsky’s "Legend of the Grand Inquisitor" as well as the Gospel text containing this precedent situation. The study aims to identify and investigate the changes the writer made to the description of the aforementioned precedent situation and determine their functions. Method of linguostylistic analysis and comparative method in conjunction with elements of philological literary text analysis were used to examine the linguistic material. This article presents the first comparative analysis of the Gospel texts about the Wilderness Temptation when Jesus is urged to turn stone into bread and the corresponding passage in "The Legend of the Grand Inquisitor" by Fyodor Dostoevsky. By altering the Gospel account of Christ’s temptation, the author of "The Brothers Karamazov" strengthens the position of the Tempter and weakens that of Christ. Narrating this precedent situation and using words from the same word family, the classic refers to a verse from the Psalter. The precedent situation under analysis serves as a key to the subtext in the "Legend…".
About the Authors
M. N. Vasil’eva
Bashkir State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Mariya N. Vasil’eva, Candidate of Sciences (Philology), Assistant Professor
Ufa
O. N. Vasil’eva
Bashkir State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Olga N. Vasil’eva, Candidate of Sciences (Philology), Assistant Professor
Ufa
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Review
For citations:
Vasil’eva M.N., Vasil’eva O.N. The temptation of miracle in the Gospel and the "Legend of the Grand Inquisitor" by F. M. Dostoevsky. Russian language at school. 2026;87(3):26-37. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30515/0131-6141-2026-87-3-26-37
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