Nikolai Gogol

1 6.6

A Russian writer from the 1800s who wrote stories like The Overcoat and the novel Dead Souls

proper noun
/ˈnɪkəlaɪ ˈɡoʊɡəl/

: Nikolai Gogol

Nikolai Gogol's short story 'The Overcoat' had a profound influence on Russian literature.

Examples

Many critics regard Nikolai Gogol as the father of Russian realism.
Nikolai Gogol's novel 'Dead Souls' is a cornerstone of Russian literature.
Students often study the works of Nikolai Gogol in university Russian literature courses.
Nikolai Gogol was brilliant.
Many consider Nikolai Gogol the father of Russian realism.
Many students are required to read Nikolai Gogol's works for their literature classes.
Critics believe that Nikolai Gogol played a crucial role in shaping the direction of Russian realism.

Synonyms

Gogol

vsNikolai Gogol

Literature

5 6.5

A Russian writer from the 1800s who wrote funny, sharp stories like The Overcoat and Dead Souls

is the fuller personal name form used in formal or complete references

Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol

vsNikolai Gogol

Literature

7.9

A Russian writer who wrote stories that make fun of society, like Dead Souls and The Overcoat

is the shorter form used in general or less formal references

Surface Forms

Nikolai Gogol main

Morphology

Nikolai + Gogol

This is a referential proper name composed of a given name + family name; there is no idiomatic or metaphorical meaning change. If a learner knows the constituents (here especially the surname 'Gogol' as the Russian author) they can identify the referent 'Nikolai Gogol', so the meaning is immediately recoverable from the parts.

Etymology

Nikolai Gogol wrote strange, small scenes that showed big truths, for example the poor clerk in 'The Overcoat' whose lost coat changes his life. Because he mixed odd, comic pictures with real people, people remember him as the start of 'realism' in Russian literature.