У статті розглядається фігура подібності як літературний засіб та екзегетична структура в рамках наративної та символічної структур середньовічних літературних текстів, простежується онтологічне коріння та філософські джерела цієї риторичної стратегії.
The article considers the figure of similarity as a literary device and exegetical framework within narrative and symbolic structures of medieval literary texts
and traces ontological roots and philosophical sources of this rhetorical strategy. The
theoretical model suggested in the paper offers a new approach for analyzing 1) the allegorical complexity of mirror characters in medieval literature; 2) the phenomenon of
interchangeability of "formalized heroes" (L. Ginzburg); 3) the role of so-called "biblical
thematic clues" (R. Piccio) and catalogues in the New Testament apocryphal plots. It is
also proposed to distinguish internal [in-text) figures of similarity and external ones, anchored in genre memory that contains all the ethical and aesthetical programs of pre-existing texts.
From a literary history perspective, the author makes an attempt to classify figures
of similarity and their functions in apocryphal and belletristic narratives from Ukrainian
manuscripts of the 13th - 18th centuries, namely in different versions of The Acts of Pilate,
The Passion of Christ, The Tale of Judas the Betrayer of our Lord Jesus Christ, Pilate and
St. Stephan. It is shown that there are two independent strategies of depicting Pontius
Pilate established in Christian apocryphal literature: the first group of texts is based on
the mythologeme of the great sinner, whereas the second group is rooted in the theme
of a repentant sinner. Although antinomical exegetical lines appealed to distinct subjects
of depiction, they were grounded in different generic canons and derived from different
biblical thematic clues.
Special attention is given to the compositional potentiality of the motif of spiritual
similarity in apocrypha about Pontius Pilate and inter-genre dialogism of legendary apologies of Pilate with hagiographical works.
