Many scholars, not only philologists, but also historians, philosophers, psychologists explored the origin of the wandering plot of the wizard at different times and from various perspectives. This article examines the emergence of the story of a pact with the devil into Manns work. The study based on not only the examination and analysis of existing ideas about this motif for various authors Marlowe, Balzac, Brusov, Goethe and others. It offers a fresh perspective on the transformation of a medieval legend in Manns work. The aim of the study is to explore the influence of this legend on the author. The task is to show that no shifts in culture, era, religion, geography, genres or any noticeable changes in the authors views, style, or language could alter the core of this plot that is for achieving a goal the character makes a pact with Satan. Manns novel reimagines Faust story, placing it in the context of the first half of the XX century and the upheavals of German Reich. The narrative focusing on the life and work of the protagonist reveals the deceptiveness and destructiveness of the outlined path that inevitably leads to a quick collapse, especially in the art sphere.

KeywordsJohann Spies Adrian Leverkühn Sava Grudtsyn pact with Devil Thomas Mann.

Gohar Karagyozyans book entitled «From Legend to Novel: Armenian Plots in the European Medieval Literary Tradition» was published by Gitutyun Publishing House of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia in 2026. It will undoubtedly mark an important milestone in the multidimensional understanding of the history of the world literature and the study of the intersections and interconnections between Armenian and foreign literatures. As the author stated in the books prologue, this work « is an attempt to trace the process of novelization, belletrisation and fictionalization of legends and tales circulating in Europe and containing an Armenian component – whether in the form of a plot motif, character image, or topos» [Karageozyan: 7].It is worth noting the authors innovative choice of topic, which is largely due to the fact that Gohar Karagyozyan, a senior researcher at the M. Abeghyan Institute of Literature, is a renowned specialist in literary comparative studies. Her first scholarly works were published in the 1980s. The new study is a definite continuation of the established tradition of the comparative research and poses meaningful questions, forcing us to think about parallels in European and Armenian culture, literature and history.

KeywordsEuropean medieval literature chivalric romance V. Propp Yu. Veselovsky King of Tarsus Melusine Hadji Baba.