SEMANTIC AND STYLISTIC FEATURES OF THE CONCEPT OF “TRAUMA” IN ELIZABETH STROUT’S NOVEL “OLIVE KITTERIDGE”

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to explore the semantic and stylistic means of actualizing the concept of “trauma” in Elizabeth Strout’s novel “Olive Kitteridge”. Special attention is paid to the analysis of lexical and stylistic devices used to express the psychological and physical trauma experienced by the characters. Methods. The study employs methods of cognitive analysis, contextual analysis, as well as elements of stylistic and semantic analysis. These approaches allow for identifying specific linguistic patterns through which traumatic experience is verbalized in literary discourse. Results. The study identified the following categories of trauma: clinical psychological trauma (depression, nervous breakdowns, suicidal thoughts and attempts, post-traumatic conditions, addictions such as alcoholism and drug abuse); existential trauma (death of loved ones – violent or natural, suicide, widowhood, loss of a child or partner, relocation or estrangement from family); social trauma (neglect of children or parents, alienation from society, isolation in old age, unspoken family conflicts); childhood developmental trauma (physical or emotional abuse in childhood, parental devaluation, complex family dynamics, participation in traumatic events); psychosomatic trauma (somatic responses such as tremors, headaches, bodily pain, palpitations, and psychosomatic illnesses affecting the stomach, heart, or skin); trauma resulting from aggression and violence (physical abuse, psychological aggression, verbal humiliation, gaslighting, and dominantsubmissive relationships). Conclusions. The research clearly demonstrates that Elizabeth Strout uses both literal language (to name and describe trauma) and figurative language (to express how it feels) to bring the concept of trauma to life in her novel Olive Kitteridge. Through the use of direct nominations to describe the characters’ psycho-emotional and physical conditions, the author successfully conveys the complexity of their inner worlds. The semantic richness of the text contributes not only to the in-depth psychological portrayal of the characters but also to the creation of an original artistic reality in which the concept of “trauma” emerges as a central component of individual experience, memory, and identity.