Allegorical bestial imagery in the works of Bernard Werber

Abstract

The article studies allegorical bestiary imagery in the works of Bernard Werber, tracing its roots in classical and medieval literature and its adaptation to reflect contemporary concerns regarding identity, power, and the relationship between humanity and nature. The study investigates the deconstruction of traditional symbolism and its impact on the author’s narrative style. The research aims to analyze animalistic imagery and lexicon in the novel “Prophecy of the Bees” (2022), defining their role in shaping the work’s artistic world, a study is undertaken for the first time in Russia. Its relevance of this investigation stems from the insufficient coverage of the novel in literary studies. The research objectives include the identification, classification, and analysis of the functions, allegories, and intertextual references of animalistic images.