The Functioning of fictional anthroponyms in R.B. Sheridan's plays «The school for scandal» and «The rivals»

Abstract

This article highlights the impactful role of anthroponyms in a literary work. All anthroponyms are used by writers deliberately, but it is not always possible for readers to understand the purpose of their use immediately. To do this, it is so important to study anthroponyms not in isolation, but as part of one whole anthroponymic space of a literary work. In order to percept the anthroponymic intention of an author, it is necessary to study the anthroponymic tools used by this author, as well as the specific genre features of this author’s literary work. The objective of this article is to analyze the peculiarities of fictional anthroponyms in the plays of the English playwright R. B. Sheridan «The School for Scandal» and «The  Rivals».  The author's anthroponymic arsenal is represented by different types of fictional anthroponyms, among which the leading place is occupied by the so-called «speaking to varying degrees» anthroponyms (descriptive, parodic and associative names). The most common structural model for the anthroponymic nomination of all the types is the one-component model represented by a surname. The extensive use of surnames is predetermined not only by the preferences of the author, but also by the laws of  drama as a literary form, which is characterized by the absence of characters’ descriptions and the focus on depicting their actions and states. It is concluded that the use of a large number of «speaking» surnames in a limited space of the drama work allows the author to make up for the lack of characters’ descriptions and to create  unforgettable images by using creative anthroponymic nomination.