A trilogy is an ideal form of literary work (according to book lovers, real "book worms"). During its reading, you can catch time and get used to the heroes, and add your own opinion about them, and be inspired by the plot; and at the same time, the atmosphere will not get bored, the characters' characters will not fade, and the intrigue will not seem "far-fetched".
Many trilogies fell in love with readers and became a national treasure, while others completely grew into epics, and even into a whole legendary. It seems that now this form is gaining its former popularity (or has it not lost its popularity?), Because more than one literary work is issued in this form. Over the past few years, more than one or two book trilogies have been published, and in various genres - from youth dystopias to erotic novels, which have become bestsellers.
Terminology
A trilogy is three works that have one author. They are also united by design, and their plot is distinguished by continuity. What is the etymology of the term trilogy? It is translated from Greek simply: treis - “three” and logos - “say”, “word”, and means a series of three interconnected tragedies.
By the way, an important nuance. Although a trilogy is commonly found in literature, it is not only novels and novels. No wonder the definition says "author". And by it can be meant a writer, a musician, and a film director.
Other values
Three-part speech is also called trilogy. In addition, as already mentioned, in ancient Greece, the term denoted three plays (tragedies) of one author, which were shown sequentially. Sometimes they were accompanied by a satirical part, and then the totality of the works was called tetralogy.
Later, the initial requirements were softened, and the meaning of the word “trilogy” acquired its current meaning, without strict limits and restrictions.
“Oresteia” Aeschylus
From the above, we can draw the following conclusion. A trilogy in literature is a work that can relate to any genre. But the ancient Greek term is still better to consider on the basis of "native" literature, and nothing suits this role more than Aeschylus Oresteia. This tragedy is the only one that has survived to the present day in its entirety. It is distinguished by a complicated structure, but this only proves the genius of the ancient Greek masters of the word. The tragedy of “Oresteia” tells of the descendants of Atreus. The crime committed by their ancestor left them a heavy legacy - a real curse that darkens their fate.
Aeschylus is considered the unchanging “father of tragedy”: it was he who founded the principles of this genre and, like no one else, was able to use them in his greatest work.
Lyric cyclization
The lyrical trilogy is an artistic unity created by A. Blok. During his life, the poet has released several works in this form. In all, Blok has four lyric cycles. These are collections of poems that were conceived by the author as a single whole, although the elements of the trilogy, in essence, can act as independent works. The complex cyclic system used by the classic is a special type of text construction. Researchers have designated it with the term "lyrical cyclization."
"Three Musketeers" by A. Dumas
The famous trilogy of a no less famous author about three musketeers has its own characteristic signs and features. First of all, it is worth saying that the Three Musketeers themselves, and the sequels Twenty Years Later and Viscount de Brazhelon, or Ten Lay Down later, are adventure novels. The works depart from the ancient definition of the term under consideration, forming the new meaning of the word "trilogy".
All three novels are united by a common syllable of the narrative: they show the ability of the French writer to intrigue, to hook the reader with an exciting plot. Books about the three musketeers have rich content, they contain many actors, rapidly developing events - interesting, lively, unpredictable and realistic.
Researchers believe that the musketeers actually existed. Maybe this is the secret to the success of the trilogy?
The dramatic side of the works
Dumas paid much attention to the tension of the narrative, the dramatic side. The author did not find inspiration in the events taking place in his present day, and therefore paid tribute to adventure novels in which the main characters are brave, active, maybe even a little adventurers.
At the same time, the noble features of true knights are inherent in them, and their slogan reflects loyalty to friendship and dedication.
Unlike trilogies, which are perceived as a whole, with the works of three musketeers, this is not quite the case. The first, of the same name, turned out to be the most popular, and the other two, although revered by real fans of A. Dumas, still did not have such fame. The motto “One for all and all for one” did not work in these circumstances.
"Lord of the Rings"
Tolkien's fantasy trilogy is able to break all records for popularity. If there are individuals who are not familiar with her, then there are definitely no people who have not even heard of her. She forms the laws of the genre and instills a love for him.
Considering The Lord of the Rings as a trilogy, one should take into account the following facts: the author intended to write one book, although it was quite voluminous. Publishers considered it appropriate to divide it into three publications. However, this does not prevent to this day the release of The Lord as a trilogy in one book.
But such circumstances endow the work with features inherent exclusively to them. So, for example, parts of the trilogy, if they have independence, are to a very small extent. Even reading only the first book (The Fellowship of the Ring) separately from the rest is strange and wrong. Unity as a feature of the trilogy is most expressed in The Lord of the Rings. That is, the book is indicative not only of compliance with the canons of the fantasy genre, but also a model for designing cycles.
Movie Interpretations
The famous trilogy "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit", representing the union of works in the cinema, are not in the book version.
The adaptation of The Lord of the Rings was so successful that The Hobbit, with the light hand of director Peter Jackson, became a trilogy. But the publication of the low-profile adventures is a small book, which is why the film was overgrown with plot details that were not in the story, and characters appearing only in The Lord himself, or even not appearing at all.
Youth dystopias
The modern trilogy is a newly revived form of presentation of the text. Recently, several books have been published that fit this term, and three of them (which is symbolic) have gained wide popularity.
This, of course, is about The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Maze Runner. Unfortunately, they are not those representatives of the literary world who have brought something innovative to it. These are teenage franchises that come down to the principle of "a hero against the whole world."
They inherit the features of the trilogy very accurately: the unity of the plot and continuity are visible, throughout the whole story the development of characters is observed, and the intrigue begun in the first book is gradually revealed in the second and, ultimately, finds its finale in the third.
Of course, the film adaptations were not long in coming, and they absolutely repeat both the plot and the composition of their book counterparts.