The Synthesis of Tragic and Comic in Novels by Jonathan Safran Foer

Abstract The given paper is aimed to elucidate the issue of the synthesis of aesthetic categories of Tragic and Comic in Jonathan Safran Foer’s novels. The methodology used in the thesis based on the systematic approach involving the analysis of the J. S. Foer’s novels: «Everything is illuminated» (2002), «Extremely loud and incredibly close» (2005), «Here I am» (2016). The examples of opposition usage will be traced and the interpretation of them will be given. The relevance of the study is predetermined by the increasing continuous concern for the Postmodernism literature and its authors. Nevertheless, numerous blank spots in the field of modern literature are to be found. Moreover, the last novel of the writer has not been a subject of rigorous research yet. It is expected to make 3 main contributions through our research. Firstly, examine the novels and to find the specific examples of the synthesis. Secondly, using functional and psychoanalytical methods try to understand the influence such a synthesis makes. Thirdly, the attempt to reveal the author’s intentions will be made, taking into consideration cultural and historical issues. Keywords: synthesis, tragic, comic, Jonathan Safran Foer, Postmodernism, aesthetic categories