Literature in the 19th century in Russia is associated with the rapid flowering of culture. The spiritual upsurge 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 rise to such great names as Baratynsky, Batyushkov, Zhukovsky, Lermontov, Fet, Languages, Tyutchev. And above all, Pushkin. A number of historical events marked 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 passing away of Byron. The English poet, like the French commander, for a long time owned 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 that were heard in all corners of Europe, all these events turned into a powerful catalyst for advanced creative thought.
While revolutionary movements were carried out in Western countries and the spirit of freedom and equality began to emerge, Russia strengthened its monarchical power, executing the Decembrists and suppressing uprisings. This could not go unnoticed by artists, writers and poets. The literature of the early 19th century in Russia is a reflection of the thoughts and experiences of the advanced layers of society.
Classicism
Under this aesthetic direction is understood the artistic style that originated in the culture of Europe in the second half of the 18th century. Its main features are rationalism and observance of strict canons. The appeal to the ancient forms and the principle of three unities was also distinguished by 19th century classicism in Russia. Literature, however, in this artistic style at the beginning of the century began to lose ground. Classicism was gradually supplanted by such trends as sentimentalism and romanticism.
Artistic masters began to create their works in new genres. Works in the style of a historical novel, a romantic novel, a ballad, an ode, a poem, landscape, philosophical and love lyrics gained popularity.
Realism
Literature in the 19th century in Russia is primarily associated with the name of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin. Closer to the thirties in his work, realistic prose took strong positions. It should be said that Pushkin is the founder of this literary trend in Russia.
Journalism and Satire
Some features of European culture of the 18th century were inherited by 19th century literature in Russia. We can briefly outline 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 work of writers who created their works in the forties. In literary criticism, a literary movement was later defined , uniting the authors of satirical and journalistic prose. “Natural school” was the name of this artistic style, which, incidentally, 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 substantiated by the critic Belinsky. The exposure and eradication of vices became the principles of representatives of this literary movement. A characteristic feature in their work was social issues. The main genres are an essay, a socio-psychological novel and a social novel.
Literature in the 19th century in Russia developed under the influence 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 talents of Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Turgenev, Dostoevsky.
Pushkin and Gogol
The literature of the 19-20 century in Russia would be completely 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 became classical norms. Pushkin and Gogol not only developed a direction such as realism, but also created completely 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 was he who created the concept of the “hero of the time”. With his light hand, it entered not only literary criticism, but also into public life. Lermontov also took part in the development of the psychological novel genre.
The entire period of the nineteenth century is famous for the names of talented great personalities who worked in the field of literature (both prose and poetry). Russian authors at the end of the eighteenth century adopted some of the merits of their Western colleagues. But due to a sharp jump in the development of culture and art, Russian classical literature as a result became an order of magnitude higher than Western European existing at that time. The works of Pushkin, Turgenev, Dostoevsky and Gogol turned into the heritage of world culture. The works of Russian writers became a model, which later relied on German, English and American authors.