THE REPRESENTATION OF NATURE AS A SEMIOTIC AND PHILOSOPHICAL SYSTEM IN RUSSIAN LITERATURE

Abstract

This article examines the representation of nature in Russian literature as a complex semiotic, philosophical, and cultural system. Drawing on a wide range of literary periods from Old Russian texts to contemporary works, the study analyzes how natural imagery functions not merely as a descriptive element but as a structural and meaning-generating component of the художественный текст. Particular attention is paid to the evolution of the landscape motif, its psychological, symbolic, and ontological dimensions, and its role in expressing the relationship between human beings and the surrounding world. The research integrates approaches from structuralism, semiotics, cognitive poetics, and cultural studies to demonstrate that nature in Russian literature encodes national identity, collective memory, and universal existential concepts. The article also highlights the growing relevance of ecological discourse in modern literary contexts, emphasizing the role of literature in shaping environmental consciousness and ethical attitudes toward nature.