Literature in the 19th Century in Russia: Representatives, Literature

Literature in the 19th century in Russia is associated with the rapid flowering of culture. Spiritual ascent and important historical processes are reflected in the immortal works of writers and poets. This article is dedicated to the representatives of the Golden Age of Russian literature and the main directions of this period.

Historical events

Literature in the 19th century in Russia gave birth to such great names as Baratynsky, Batiushkov, Zhukovsky, Lermontov, Fet, Yazikov, Tyutchev. And first of all Pushkin. A number of historical events were marked by this period. The development of Russian prose and poetry was influenced by the Patriotic War of 1812, the death of the great Napoleon, and the departure from Byron's life. The English poet, as well as the French commander, for a long time possessed the minds of revolutionary-minded people in Russia. The Decembrist uprising and the Russo-Turkish war, as well as the echoes of the French Revolution, spreading throughout Europe, all these events turned into a powerful catalyst for progressive creative thought.

While revolutionary movements were taking place in Western countries and the spirit of freedom and equality was emerging, Russia consolidated its monarchical power, the execution of the Decembrists and suppressed insurrections. This could not be left without attention of artists, writers and poets. The literature of the early 19th century in Russia is a reflection of the thoughts and experiences of the advanced sections of society.

Classicism

Under this aesthetic direction is understood the artistic style, which originated in the culture of Europe in the second half of the XVIII century. The main features of it are rationalism and observance of strict canons. The classicism of the 19th century in Russia differed from the appeal to the ancient forms and the principle of three oneness. Literature, however, in this artistic style already at the beginning of the century began to surrender its position. Classicism was gradually supplanted by such trends as sentimentalism and romanticism.

Masters of artistic expression began to create their works in new genres. The works in the style of the historical novel, the romantic tale, the ballad, the ode, the poem, the landscape, the philosophical and the love lyrics gained popularity.

Realism

Literature in the 19th century in Russia is associated primarily with the name of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. Toward the thirties, realistic prose took a firm position in his work. It should be said that Pushkin is the founder of this literary trend in Russia.

Publicism and satire

Some features of European culture of the 18th century were inherited by the literature of the 19th century in Russia. Briefly, we can identify the main features of poetry and prose of this period - a satirical character and publicism. The tendency to depict human vices and shortcomings of society is observed in the writings of writers who created their works in the forties. In literary criticism, the literary trend was later defined , which united the authors of satirical and journalistic prose. "Natural School" - the so-called this artistic style, which, however, is also called the "Gogol school". Other representatives of this literary trend are Nekrasov, Dahl, Herzen, Turgenev.

Criticism

The ideology of the "natural school" was grounded by the critic Belinsky. The principles of representatives of this literary trend became a denunciation and eradication of vices. A characteristic feature in their work was the social problems. The main genres are an essay, a socio-psychological novel and a social story.

Literature in the 19th century in Russia developed under the influence of the activities of various associations. It was in the first quarter of this century that there was a significant rise in the journalistic sphere. Belinsky had a tremendous influence on literary processes. This man possessed an extraordinary ability to feel a poetic gift. It was he who first recognized the talent of Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Turgenev, Dostoevsky.

Pushkin and Gogol

The literature of the 19th-20th century in Russia would be quite different and, of course, not so bright without these two authors. They had a huge impact on the development of prose. And many of the elements that they introduced into the literature have become classic norms. Pushkin and Gogol not only developed a direction such as realism, but also created entirely new artistic types. One of them is the image of a "little man", which later developed not only in the works of Russian authors, but also in foreign literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Lermontov

This poet also had a considerable influence on the development of Russian literature. After all, it is up to him to create such a notion as the "hero of time". With his light hand, it entered not only in literary criticism, but also in public life. Lermontov also took part in the development of the genre of the psychological novel.

The entire period of the nineteenth century is famous for the names of talented great personalities who have worked in the field of literature (both prose and poetry). Russian authors at the end of the eighteenth century adopted some of the services of their Western colleagues. But due to a sharp jump in the development of culture and art, Russian classical literature eventually became an order of magnitude higher than the West European that existed at the time. Creativity of Pushkin, Turgenev, Dostoevsky and Gogol turned into the heritage of world culture. The works of Russian writers became a model, which was later based on German, English and American authors.