The term "ancient literature" is understood as a peculiar layer of Russian culture, covering the period from the 11th to the 17th centuries. The works created in these centuries are distinguished by originality and originality. The differences are primarily due to the fact that the culture of Ancient Russia was not like any other in the medieval period.
Specific traits
The main feature that ancient Russian literature possesses, and at the same time its key difference from the works that are present in Western European culture, is that it was intended not for entertainment and idle reading. The purpose set by the authors of those years was primarily spiritual instruction. Their works taught, transmitted the life experience of generations, nurtured a patriotic spirit. Consequently, the characteristic features of this literature are instructiveness, documentary, and journalistic.
One of the main subjects of artistic depiction in the works of that era is a real historical event. There is no fictional storyline in them. Authors, as a rule, depicted the events that they themselves witnessed. They could not take a detached objective position.
The works, which include ancient literature, are imbued with an unusual patriotic spirit. Historicism is present in them, but at the same time, one more characteristic feature should be said - anonymity. Very few authors left their names on the pages of these creations, although they wrote them, of course, by hand. The handwritten character can also be attributed to the distinctive properties that ancient literature possesses. The first printed books in Russia appeared later than in Western Europe. Therefore, the cultural monuments of Ancient Russia are, as a rule, handwritten texts.
The influence of other literary areas
As already mentioned, the authors of ancient Russian works did not consider it necessary to entertain their readers with adventure stories that were easy to read. And so in the books of that period there is no fiction of any kind. An important function of fiction was the development of spiritual consciousness.
Ancient Russian literature is quite distinctive. It is impossible to find anything like this in the works of other peoples. However, it was still influenced by everyday literature. Christianity was already adopted in Russia. And it was from this medieval literary trend, originating in Byzantine church works, that the authors adopted instructiveness and spirituality. But at the same time, on the pages of their works you can find shades of national color. In the works of ancient Russian writers, undoubtedly, the influence of oral folk art can be traced. This is manifested primarily in the images of the main characters.
Positive character
The main criterion, the observance of which ancient literature differs from others, is spirituality and the exemplary spiritual beauty of the protagonist. He could not be a negative character. Only one who is kind can be beautiful. Only a person with a noble soul can be beautiful. Such an attitude dates back to Russian folk art.
The writers of ancient Russia were given a huge responsibility. Taking a clear citizenship, they glorified their native land and were worried about its strengthening. According to modern critics, the work of ancient literature contributed to the strengthening of the unity of the people. The proof of this point of view is the "Word about Igor's regiment."
Alexander Musin-Pushkin
This man was a well-known public figure in his time, a meticulous collector of oral folk art. He was unusually interested in the history of ancient Russian literature. And the "Word about Igor’s Regiment" was first read by this particular person.
In 1792, he worked in the archives of the Spaso-Yaroslavl Monastery and discovered a copy of the ancient manuscript. Unfortunately, during the Patriotic War of 1812, this document burned down. Musin-Pushkin transferred the find to the Moscow archive, where she died in a legendary fire. Thus, neither the original nor the copies have survived to this day. However, there is evidence of the authenticity of the "Word." Researchers, whose subject of study is the history of ancient literature, found excerpts from the text of the manuscript in the largest monument of Russian culture “Zadonshchina”.
Storyline
The "Word about Igor's Regiment" has, like other ancient Russian creations, a historical character. The plot is based on events associated with the campaign against the Polovtsy Novgorod-Seversky Prince Igor Svyatoslavovich. This campaign took place in 1185. The main stages of the plot, as in other works of ancient Russian literature, are the plot, climax, denouement. Such a scheme is also characteristic of a military novel, one of the main genres of this cultural period.
The plot structure of the "Word"
The plot, oddly enough, is not placed at the beginning of the work, but a little further. Such a structure is explained by the fact that the author preferred first to pay attention to the introduction. In it, he determined the time frame of his work and acquainted readers with his peculiar manner of narration. The plot is Igor’s decision to go camping.
The development of the plot is events such as a solar eclipse and the first battle. The climax is about the defeat of the Russian army and the capture of Igor. The denouement of the plot is the escape from captivity, as well as the jubilation of the inhabitants of the Russian land.
In the plot there are many copyright retreats and artistic sketches. All these elements serve to strengthen the idea of the work, which is a call to unite all Russian people in the fight against an external enemy.
The genre of "Words about Igor's Regiment" is defined differently. This is a song, a poem, and a heroic story. Most likely, this work can be attributed to one of the main artistic trends - the word. Other genres of ancient literature should be considered. Some are distinctive, others are borrowed from other sources.
Life
Various forms have works that include ancient literature. Life is one of the genres of that era. It refers to church literature. The subject of the image in such works is the life and deeds of the saints.
Life is a kind of artistic biography of one or another legendary person who is canonized. A work in this genre, as a rule, tells of events covering the period from the moment the protagonist was born and until his death. The composition has a ring structure. A vivid example is “The Life of Sergius of Radonezh”.
It should be said that not one of the creations of the ancient Russian authors stands apart. The works were complemented by each other, expanded, gradually new stories were written in them about the miracles associated with the acts of the saints. Military stories are also of this nature, the plots of which are intertwined with each other.
Other genres
The chronicle was a detailed record of important historical events. Of course, the main feature in the works of this genre was journalism. They almost never used artistic means. The name itself is explained by the fact that the entries were made annually, and each of them began with the words: "In the summer ...".
The authors sought to create and approve a model of behavior for any Old Russian person. To do this, they created a kind of instructive works, which, as a rule, were part of the annals. The norms that were indicated in them concerned everyone - from the prince to the commoner. Such a genre is called preaching in ancient literature.
The military story depicted the battles of Russian soldiers with an external enemy. Similar works could be part of the annals. But often they were also a separate full-fledged creation.
Many ancient Russian works are valuable due to their documentary nature and are important historical sources and heritage of national culture.