The 19th century is called the "Golden Age" Russian poetry and the century of Russian literature on a global scale. We should not forget that the literary leap that took place in the 19th century was prepared by the entire course of the literary process of the 17th and 18th centuries. The 19th century is the time of the formation of Russian literary language, which took shape largely thanks to A.S. Pushkin .

But the 19th century began with the heyday of sentimentalism and the emergence of romanticism. These literary trends found expression primarily in poetry. The poetic works of poets E.A. come to the fore. Baratynsky, K.N. Batyushkova, V.A. Zhukovsky, A.A. Feta, D.V. Davydova, N.M. Yazykova. The creativity of F.I. Tyutchev's "Golden Age" of Russian poetry was completed. Nevertheless, central figure This time there was Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin.

A.S. Pushkin began his ascent to the literary Olympus with the poem “Ruslan and Lyudmila” in 1920. And his novel in verse “Eugene Onegin” was called an encyclopedia of Russian life. Romantic poems by A.S. Pushkin " Bronze Horseman"(1833), "Bakhchisarai Fountain", "Gypsies" ushered in the era of Russian romanticism. Many poets and writers considered A. S. Pushkin their teacher and continued the traditions of creating literary works. One of these poets was M.Yu. Lermontov. Known for it romantic poem“Mtsyri”, the poetic story “The Demon”, many romantic poems.

Interesting that Russian poetry of the 19th century was closely connected with the socio-political life of the country. Poets tried to comprehend the idea of ​​their special purpose. The poet in Russia was considered a conductor of divine truth, a prophet. The poets called on the authorities to listen to their words. Vivid examples understanding the role of the poet and influence on political life countries are poems by A.S. Pushkin “Prophet”, ode “Liberty”, “Poet and the Crowd”, poem by M.Yu. Lermontov “On the Death of a Poet” and many others.

Along with poetry, prose began to develop. Prose writers of the beginning of the century were influenced by English historical novels V. Scott, whose translations were extremely popular. The development of Russian prose of the 19th century began with prose works A.S. Pushkin and N.V. Gogol. Pushkin, under the influence of English historical novels, creates the story “ Captain's daughter", where the action takes place against the backdrop of grandiose historical events: during times Pugachev revolt. A.S. Pushkin did a colossal amount of work exploring this historical period. This work was largely political in nature and was aimed at those in power.

A.S. Pushkin and N.V. Gogol designated the main artistic types that would be developed by writers throughout the 19th century. This artistic type « extra person", the example of which is Eugene Onegin in the novel by A.S. Pushkin, and the so-called type “ little man", which is shown by N.V. Gogol in his story “The Overcoat”, as well as A.S. Pushkin in the story “ Stationmaster».
Literature inherited its journalistic and satirical character from the 18th century. In the prose poem by N.V. Gogol's "Dead Souls" the writer in a sharp satirical manner shows a swindler who buys dead Souls, various types of landowners, who are the embodiment of various human vices (the influence of classicism is evident).

The comedy “The Inspector General” is based on the same plan. Full satirical images and works by A.S. Pushkin. Literature continues to satirically depict Russian reality. The tendency to depict vices and shortcomings Russian society - characteristic all Russian classical literature. It can be traced in the works of almost all writers of the 19th century. At the same time, many writers implement the satirical tendency in a grotesque form. Examples of grotesque satire are the works of N.V. Gogol “The Nose”, M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin “Gentlemen Golovlevs”, “The History of a City”.

Since the middle of the 19th century, the formation of Russian realistic literature, which is created against the backdrop of the tense socio-political situation that developed in Russia during the reign of Nicholas I. A crisis is brewing in the feudal system; there are strong contradictions between the authorities and common people. There is an urgent need to create realistic literature that is acutely responsive to the socio-political situation in the country. Literary critic V.G. Belinsky denotes a new realistic direction in literature. His position is developed by N.A. Dobrolyubov, N.G. Chernyshevsky. A dispute arises between Westerners and Slavophiles about the ways historical development Russia.

Writers turn to socio-political problems of Russian reality. The genre is developing realistic novel. His works are created by I.S. Turgenev, F.M. Dostoevsky, L.N. Tolstoy, I.A. Goncharov. The socio-political, philosophical issues. Literature is distinguished by a special psychologism.

The development of poetry subsides somewhat. It is worth noting poetic works Nekrasov, who was the first to introduce poetry social issues. His poem “Who Lives Well in Rus'?” is known, as well as many poems that reflect on the difficult and hopeless life of the people.

The end of the 19th century was marked by the emergence of pre-revolutionary sentiments. The realistic tradition began to fade away. It was replaced by the so-called decadent literature, the distinctive features of which were mysticism, religiosity, as well as a premonition of changes in the socio-political life of the country. Subsequently, decadence developed into symbolism. This opens new page in the history of Russian literature.

Russian literature of the 20th century: general characteristics

Description of the literary process of the 20th century, presentation of the main literary movements and trends. Realism. Modernism(symbolism, acmeism, futurism). Literary avant-garde.

Late XIX - early XX centuries. become the time of the bright flourishing of Russian culture, its " silver age"(Pushkin's time was called the "golden age"). In science, literature, art, new talents appeared one after another, bold innovations were born, competitions different directions, groupings and styles. At the same time, the culture of the “Silver Age” was characterized by deep contradictions that were characteristic of all Russian life of that time.

Russia’s rapid breakthrough in development, the clash of different ways of life and cultures changed its self-awareness creative intelligentsia. Many were no longer satisfied with the description and study of visible reality, analysis social problems. I was attracted by deep, eternal questions - about the essence of life and death, good and evil, human nature. Interest in religion revived; The religious theme had a strong influence on the development of Russian culture at the beginning of the 20th century.

However, the turning point not only enriched literature and art: it constantly reminded writers, artists and poets of impending social explosions, of the fact that the entire familiar way of life, the entire old culture, could perish. Some awaited these changes with joy, others with melancholy and horror, which brought pessimism and anguish into their work.

On turn of the 19th century and 20th centuries literature developed in other historical conditions than before. If you look for a word that characterizes the most important features period under review, then the word “crisis” will be used. Great scientific discoveries shook the classical ideas about the structure of the world and led to the paradoxical conclusion: “matter has disappeared.” A new vision of the world, thus, will determine a new face of realism of the 20th century, which will be significantly different from classical realism predecessors. The crisis of faith also had devastating consequences for the human spirit (" God died!" exclaimed Nietzsche). This led to the fact that the person of the 20th century began to increasingly experience the influence of irreligious ideas. The cult of sensual pleasures, the apology for evil and death, the glorification of the self-will of the individual, the recognition of the right to violence, which turned into terror - all these features indicate a deep crisis of consciousness.

In Russian literature of the early 20th century, a crisis of old ideas about art and a feeling of exhaustion of past development will be felt, and a revaluation of values ​​will take shape.

Literature update, its modernization will cause the emergence of new trends and schools. The rethinking of old means of expression and the revival of poetry will mark the advent of the “Silver Age” of Russian literature. This term is associated with the name N. Berdyaeva, who used it in one of his speeches in the salon of D. Merezhkovsky. Later art critic and the editor of Apollo, S. Makovsky, consolidated this phrase by calling his book about Russian culture at the turn of the century “On Parnassus of the Silver Age.” Several decades will pass and A. Akhmatova will write “... silver month bright / Cold over the silver age."

The chronological framework of the period defined by this metaphor can be designated as follows: 1892 - exit from the era of timelessness, the beginning of social upsurge in the country, manifesto and collection "Symbols" by D. Merezhkovsky, the first stories of M. Gorky, etc.) - 1917. According to another point of view, the chronological end of this period can be considered 1921-1922 (the collapse of past illusions, which began after the death of A. Blok and N. Gumilev mass emigration of Russian cultural figures from Russia, expulsion of a group of writers, philosophers and historians from the country).

The beginning of the 19th century was a unique time for Russian literature. IN literary salons, on the pages of magazines there was a struggle between supporters of various literary trends: classicism and sentimentalism, educational trends and emerging romanticism.

In the first years of the 19th century, the dominant position in Russian literature was occupied by sentimentalism, inextricably linked with the names of Karamzin and his followers. And in 1803 a book entitled “Discourses on the Old and New Syllable” was published. Russian language”, the author of which A. S. Shishkov very strongly criticized the “new style” of the sentimentalists. The followers of the Karamzin reform of the literary language give the classicist Shishkov a sharp rebuke. A long-term controversy begins, in which all the literary forces of that time were involved to one degree or another.

Why is there controversy on special literary question acquired such social significance? First of all, because behind the discussions about the syllable there were more global problems: how to portray a person of modern times, who should be positive and who - negative hero, what is freedom and what is patriotism. After all, these are not just words - this is an understanding of life, and therefore its reflection in literature.

Classicists with their very clear principles and rules brought into literary process such the most important qualities hero, as honor, dignity, patriotism, without blurring space and time, thereby bringing the hero closer to reality. They showed it in “truthful language”, conveying sublime civic content. These features will remain in the literature of the 19th century despite the fact that classicism itself will leave the stage literary life. When you read “Woe from Wit” by A. S. Griboedov, see for yourself.

Close to the classicists educators, for which political and philosophical themes were undoubtedly leading, most often turned to the ode genre. But under their pen, the ode from the classic genre turned into a lyrical one. Because the most important task of the poet-educator is to show his civil position, to express the feelings that take possession of him. In the 19th century, the poetry of the Romantic Decembrists would be inextricably linked with educational ideas.

There seemed to be a certain affinity between the Enlightenmentists and the Sentimentalists. However, this was not the case. Enlightenmentists also reproach the sentimentalists for “feigned sensitivity,” “false compassion,” “loving sighs,” “passionate exclamations,” as did the classicists.

Sentimentalists, despite the excessive (with modern point vision) melancholy and sensitivity, show sincere interest in a person’s personality, his character. They begin to be interested in an ordinary, simple person, his inner world. Appears new hero — a real man, interesting to others. And with him to the pages works of art the ordinary one comes, everyday life. It is Karamzin who first makes an attempt to reveal this topic. His novel "A Knight of Our Time" opens a gallery of such heroes.

Romantic lyrics- These are mainly lyrics of moods. Romantics deny vulgar everyday life; they are interested in the mental and emotional nature of the individual, its aspiration towards the mysterious infinity of a vague ideal. The innovation of the romantics in artistic knowledge reality consisted in a polemic with the fundamental ideas of Enlightenment aesthetics, the assertion that art is an imitation of nature. The Romantics defended the thesis of the transformative role of art. The romantic poet thinks of himself as a creator creating his own new world, because the old way of life does not suit him. Reality, full of insoluble contradictions, was subjected to romantics severe criticism. The world of emotional unrest is seen by poets as enigmatic and mysterious, expressing a dream about the ideal of beauty, about moral and ethical harmony.

In Russia, romanticism takes on a pronounced national identity. Remember the romantic poems and poems of A. S. Pushkin and M. Yu. Lermontov, early works N.V. Gogol.

Romanticism in Russia is not only new literary movement. Romantic writers not only create works, they are “creators” own biography which will eventually become theirs" moral story". In the future, the idea of unbreakable connection art and self-education, the artist’s lifestyle and his work. Gogol will reflect on this on the pages of his romantic story “Portrait”.

You see how intricately intertwined styles and views are, artistic media, philosophical ideas and life...

As a result of the interaction of all these areas in Russia, a realism as a new stage in the knowledge of man and his life in literature. A. S. Pushkin is rightfully considered the founder of this trend. We can say that the beginning of the 19th century was the era of the birth and formation of two leading literary methods: romanticism and realism.

The literature of this period had another feature. This is the unconditional predominance of poetry over prose.

Once Pushkin, while still a young poet, admired the poems of one young man and showed them to his friend and teacher K.N. Batyushkov. He read and returned the manuscript to Pushkin, indifferently remarking: “Who doesn’t write smooth poetry now!”

This story speaks volumes. The ability to write poetry was then a necessary part noble culture. And against this background, Pushkin’s appearance was not accidental, it was prepared by the general high level culture, including poetic.

Pushkin had predecessors who prepared his poetry, and contemporary poets - friends and rivals. All of them represented the golden age of Russian poetry—the so-called 10-30s of the 19th century. Pushkin- starting point. Around him we distinguish three generations of Russian poets - the older, the middle (to which Alexander Sergeevich himself belonged) and the younger. This division is conditional, and of course simplifies the real picture.

Let's start with the older generation. Ivan Andreevich Krylov(1769-1844) belonged to the 18th century by birth and upbringing. However, he began to write the fables that made him famous only in the 19th century, and although his talent manifested itself only in this genre, Krylov became a forerunner new poetry, accessible to the reader by language, opening up the world to him folk wisdom. I. A. Krylov stood at the origins of Russian realism.

It should be noted the main problem poetry at all times, and at the beginning of the 19th century too, is a problem of language. The content of poetry is unchanged, but the form... Revolutions and reforms in poetry are always linguistic. Such a “revolution” occurred in the work of Pushkin’s poetic teachers - V. A. Zhukovsky and K. N. Batyushkov.
With works Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky(1783-1852) you have already met. You probably remember his “The Tale of Tsar Berendey...”, the ballad “Svetlana”, but perhaps you don’t know that many of the works of foreign poetry you read were translated by this lyricist. Zhukovsky is a great translator. He got used to the text he was translating so much that the result was original work. This happened with many of the ballads he translated. However, our own poetic creativity the poet was of great importance in Russian literature. He abandoned the ponderous, outdated, pompous language of poetry of the 18th century, immersed the reader in the world of emotional experiences, and created new image a poet with a keen sense of the beauty of nature, melancholic, prone to tender sadness and reflections on the transience of human life.

Zhukovsky is the founder of Russian romanticism, one of the creators of the so-called “light poetry”. “Easy” not in the sense of frivolous, but in contrast to the previous, solemn poetry, created as if for palace halls. Zhukovsky's favorite genres are elegy and song, addressed to a close circle of friends, created in silence and solitude. Their contents are deeply personal dreams and memories. Instead of pompous thunder - melodiousness, musical sound verse that expresses the poet’s feelings more powerfully than written words. No wonder Pushkin in his famous poem"I remember wonderful moment..." used the image created by Zhukovsky - "a genius of pure beauty."

Another poet of the older generation of the golden age of poetry - Konstantin Nikolaevich Batyushkov(1787-1855). His favorite genre is a friendly message that celebrates the simple joys of life.

Pushkin highly valued the lyrics of the legendary Denis Vasilievich Davydov(1784-1839) - hero Patriotic War 1812, organizer of partisan detachments. The poems of this author glorify the romance of military life and hussar life. Not considering himself a true poet, Davydov disdained poetic conventions, and from this his poems only benefited in liveliness and spontaneity.

As for the middle generation, Pushkin valued it above others Evgeny Abramovich Baratynsky(Boratynsky) (1800-1844). He called his work “the poetry of thought.” This is a philosophical lyric. The hero of Baratynsky's poems is disappointed in life, sees in it a chain of meaningless suffering, and even love does not become salvation.

Lyceum friend of Pushkin Delvig gained popularity with songs “in the Russian spirit” (his romance “The Nightingale” to the music of A. Alyabyev is widely known). Languages became famous for the image he created of a student - a merry fellow and a freethinker, a kind of Russian vagante. Vyazemsky possessed a merciless irony that permeated his poems, which were mundane in theme and at the same time deep in thought.

At the same time, another tradition of Russian poetry continued to exist and develop - civil. It was connected with names Kondraty Fedorovich Ryleev (1795—1826), Alexander Alexandrovich Bestuzhev (1797—1837), Wilhelm Karlovich Kuchelbecker(life years - 1797-1846) and many other poets. They saw in poetry a means of struggle for political freedom, and in the poet - not a “pet of the muses”, a “son of laziness”, avoiding public life, but a stern citizen calling for a battle for the bright ideals of justice.

The words of these poets did not diverge from their deeds: they were all participants in the uprising on Senate Square in 1825, convicted (and Ryleev executed) in the “December 14 Case.” “Bitter is the fate of poets of all tribes; Fate will execute Russia the hardest of all...” - this is how V. K. Kuchelbecker began his poem. It was the last one he wrote with his own hand: years in prison had deprived him of his sight.

Meanwhile, a new generation of poets was emerging. The first poems were written by the young Lermontov. A society arose in Moscow wise men- lovers of philosophy who interpreted German philosophy in the Russian manner. These were the future founders of Slavophilism Stepan Petrovich Shevyrev (1806—1861), Alexey Stepanovich Khomyakov(1804-1860) and others. The most gifted poet of this circle was the one who died early Dmitry Vladimirovich Venevitinov(1805—1827).

One more thing interesting phenomenon this period. Many of the poets we named turned in one way or another to folk poetic traditions, to folklore. But since they were nobles, their works “in the Russian spirit” were still perceived as stylization, as something secondary compared to the main line of their poetry. And in the 30s of the 19th century, a poet appeared who, both by origin and by the spirit of his work, was a representative of the people. This Alexey Vasilievich Koltsov(1809-1842). He spoke in the voice of a Russian peasant, and there was no artificiality, no game in this, it was his own voice, suddenly standing out from the nameless choir of Russian folk poetry.
Russian literature of the first half of the 19th century was so multifaceted.

The nineteenth century is the golden age of Russian literature. During this period, a whole galaxy of geniuses of the art of speech, poets and prose writers was born, whose unsurpassed creative skill determined further development not only Russian literature, but also foreign literature.

Fine weave social realism and classicism in literature absolutely corresponded to the national ideas and canons of that time. In the 19th century, such acute social problems as the need to change priorities, rejection of outdated principles and confrontation between society and the individual began to arise for the first time.

The most significant representatives of Russian classics of the 19th century

Word geniuses like A.A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky and A.S. Griboedov, in their works openly demonstrated contempt for upper strata society for their selfishness, vanity, hypocrisy and immorality. V.A. Zhukovsky, on the contrary, with his works introduced dreaminess and sincere romance into Russian literature. He tried in his poems to get away from the gray and boring everyday life in order to show in all its colors the sublime world that surrounds man. Speaking of Russian literary classics, one cannot fail to mention the great genius A.S. Pushkin - poet and father of the Russian literary language. The works of this writer made a real revolution in the world literary art. Pushkin's poetry, story " Queen of Spades" and the novel "Eugene Onegin" became a stylistic presentation that was repeatedly used by many domestic and world writers.

Among other things, the literature of the nineteenth century was also characterized by philosophical concepts. They are most clearly revealed in the works of M.Yu. Lermontov. All my creative activity the author admired the Decembrist movements and defended freedoms and human rights. His poems are imbued with criticism of imperial power and opposition calls. A.P. “lit up” in the field of drama. Chekhov. Using subtle but “prickly” satire, the playwright and writer ridiculed human vices and expressed contempt for the vices of representatives of the noble nobility. His plays from the moment of his birth to this day have not lost their relevance and continue to be staged on the stage of theaters all over the world. It is also impossible not to mention the great L.N. Tolstoy, A.I. Kuprina, N.V. Gogol, etc.

Group portrait of Russian writers - members of the editorial board of the Sovremennik magazine». Ivan Turgenev, Ivan Goncharov, Leo Tolstoy, Dmitry Grigorovich, Alexander Druzhinin, Alexander Ostrovsky.

Features of Russian literature

In the nineteenth century, Russian realistic literature achieved an unprecedented level of artistic perfection. Its main distinctive feature there was originality. The second half of the 19th century in Russian literature passed with the idea of ​​decisive democratization artistic creation and under the sign of tension ideological struggle. Among other things, pathos changed during this time frame artistic creativity, as a result of which the Russian writer was faced with the need for an artistic understanding of the unusually mobile and rapid elements of existence. In such a situation, literary synthesis arose in much narrow temporal and spatial periods of life: the need for a certain localization and specialization was dictated by the special state of the world, characteristic of the era of the second half of the nineteenth century.

VSEVOLOD SAKHAROV

Russian literature of the 19th (XIX) centuries

In the 19th century, Russian literature reached unprecedented heights, which is why this period is often called the “golden age”

One of the very first events was the reissue of the ATS. Following it, 4 volumes of the “Dictionary of Church Slavonic and Russian Language” were published. Over the course of a century, the world has learned about the most talented prose writers and poets. Their works have taken their rightful place in world culture and influenced the work of foreign writers.

Russian literature of the 18th century was characterized by very calm development. Throughout the century, poets have sung the feeling human dignity and tried to instill in the reader high moral ideals. Only in the late 90s did more bold works, the authors of which focused on personality psychology, experiences and emotions.

Why did Russian literature of the 19th century achieve such development? This was due to events that took place in the political and cultural life countries. This is the war with Turkey, and the invasion of Napoleon’s army, and the public execution of oppositionists, and the eradication of serfdom... All this gave impetus to the emergence of completely different stylistic techniques.

A prominent representative of Russian literature of the 19th century is Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. A comprehensively developed and highly educated person was able to reach the peak of enlightenment. By the age of 37 he was known throughout the world. He became famous thanks to the poem “Ruslan and Lyudmila”. And “Eugene Onegin” is still associated with a guide to Russian life. Pushkin became the founder of traditions in writing literary works. His heroes, completely new and original for that time, won the hearts of millions of contemporaries. Take Tatyana Larina for example! Intelligence, beauty and characteristics inherent only in the Russian soul - all this was perfectly combined in her image.

Another author who forever entered the history of Russian literature of the 19th century is M. Lermontov. He continued the best traditions of Pushkin. Like his teacher, he tried to understand his purpose. They really wanted to convey their principles to the authorities. Some compared the poets of that time to prophets. These writers also influenced the development of Russian literature of the 20th century. They gave her journalistic features.

It was in the 19th century that realistic literature began to emerge. Slavophiles and Westerners constantly argued about the peculiarities of the historical formation of Russia. From that time on it began to develop realistic genre. Writers began to endow their works with features of psychology and philosophy. The development of poetry in Russian literature of the 19th century begins to decline.

At the end of the century, writers such as A.P. made themselves known. Chekhov, A.N. Ostrovsky, N. S. Leskov, M. Gorky. Pre-revolutionary sentiments begin to be traced in most of the works. The realistic tradition begins to fade into the background. It was supplanted by decadent literature. Her mysticism and religiosity appealed to both critics and readers.

Style trends of Russian literature of the 19th century:

1. Romanticism. Romanticism has been known in Russian literature since the Middle Ages. But the 19th century gave it completely different shades. It originated not in Russia, but in Germany, but gradually penetrated into the works of our writers. Russian literature of the 19th century is characterized by romantic moods. They are reflected in the poems of Pushkin and can be traced in the very first works of Gogol.
2. Sentimentalism. Sentimentalism began to develop at the very beginning of the 19th century. He emphasizes sensuality. The first features of this trend were already visible in Russian literature of the 18th century. Karamzin managed to reveal it in all its manifestations. He inspired many authors and they followed his principles.
3. Satirical prose . In the 19th century, satirical and journalistic works, especially in the works of Gogol. At the very beginning of his journey, he tried to describe his homeland. The main features of his works are the unacceptability of lack of intelligence and parasitism. It affected all layers of society - landowners, peasants, and officials. He tried to draw the attention of readers to poverty spiritual world wealthy people.
   1. Realistic novel . In the second half of the 19th century, Russian literature recognized romantic ideals absolutely untenable. The authors sought to show the real features of society. The best example is Dostoevsky's prose. The author reacted sharply to people's mood. By depicting prototypes of friends, Dostoevsky tried to touch upon the most pressing problems of society. It is at this time that the image of the “extra person” appears. There is a revaluation of values. The fate of the people no longer means anything. Representatives of society come first.
4. Folk poem. In Russian literature of the 19th century folk poetry takes a secondary place. But, despite this, Nekrasov does not miss the opportunity to create works that combine several genres: revolutionary, peasant and heroic. His voice does not let you forget the meaning of the rhyme. The poem “Who Lives Well in Rus'?” is best example real life that time.

Late 19th century

At the end of the 19th century, Chekhov was at the peak of popularity. At the very beginning of his career, critics repeatedly noted that he was indifferent to acute social topics. But his masterpieces were extremely popular. He followed Pushkin's principles. Each representative of Russian literature of the 19th century created a small art world. Their heroes wanted to achieve more, fought, worried... Some wanted to be needed and happy. Others set out to eradicate social failure. Still others experienced their own tragedy. But each work is remarkable in that it reflects the realities of the century.

© Vsevolod Sakharov. All rights reserved.