Consider some genres of Old Russian literature. To begin with, they appeared along with the adoption of Christianity in Russia. The intensity of its distribution is indisputable evidence that the appearance of writing was caused by the needs of the state.
Appearance story
Writing was used in various spheres of public and state life, in the legal sphere, international and domestic relations.
After the emergence of writing, the activities of census takers and translators were stimulated, and various genres of Old Russian literature began to develop.
She served the needs and needs of the church, consisted of solemn words, life, teachings. Secular literature appeared in Ancient Russia, and chronicles began to be kept.
In the minds of people of this period, literature was considered along with Christianization.
Old Russian writers: chroniclers, hagiographers, authors of solemn phrases, all of them mentioned the benefits of enlightenment. At the end of the X - beginning of the XI century. huge work was done in Russia, aimed at translating literary sources from the ancient Greek language. Thanks to such activities, the Old Russian scribes managed to get acquainted with many monuments of the Byzantine time over two centuries, and on their basis create various genres of Old Russian literature. D. S. Likhachev, analyzing the history of the introduction of Russia to the books of Bulgaria and Byzantium, highlighted two characteristic features of such a process.
He confirmed the existence of literary monuments that became common for Serbia, Bulgaria, Byzantium, and Russia.
Such intermediary literature included liturgical books, scriptures, chronicles, writings of church writers, and natural science materials. In addition, this list also included some historical narrative monuments, for example, "A Roman about Alexander the Great."
Most of the ancient Bulgarian literature, the Slavic intermediary, consisted of translations from the Greek language, as well as works of early Christian literature written in the 3rd – 7th centuries.
It is impossible to mechanically subdivide ancient Slavonic literature into translated and original, they are organically connected parts of a single organism.
Reading foreign books in Ancient Russia is evidence of the secondary nature of national culture in the field of literary words. At first, among the monuments of writing there were a sufficient number of non-literary texts: works on theology, history, ethics.
The main type of verbal art was folklore. To understand the originality and originality of Russian literature, it is enough to familiarize yourself with the works that are “outside the genre systems”: “The Instruction” by Vladimir Monomakh, “The Word about Igor's Campaign,” “Prayer” by Daniil Zatochnik.
Primary genres
The genres of Old Russian literature include such works that have become building material for other areas. They include:
- teachings;
- a story;
- word;
- life.
In such genres of works of ancient Russian literature include a chronicle story, weather record, church legend, a chronicle legend.
Life
It was borrowed from Byzantium. Life as a genre of Old Russian literature has become one of the most beloved and widespread. Life was considered a mandatory attribute when a person was reckoned among the saints, that is, they were canonized. It was created by people who directly communicate with a person who can reliably tell about the bright moments of his life. The text was compiled after the death of the one whom it was talking about. He performed an essential educational function, since the life of the saint was perceived as a standard (model) of a righteous existence, imitated him.
Life helped people overcome the fear of death; the idea of the immortality of the human soul was preached.
Canons of Life
Analyzing the features of the genres of ancient Russian literature, we note that the canons by which life was created remained unchanged until the XVI century. At first it was said about the origin of the hero, then space was allocated for a detailed story about his righteous life, about the absence of fear of death. The description ended with worship.
Arguing over which ancient Russian literature the genres considered the most interesting, we note that it was life that made it possible to describe the existence of the holy princes Gleb and Boris.
Old Russian eloquence
Answering the question about what genres existed in ancient Russian literature, we note that eloquence was in three versions:
- political;
- didactic;
- solemn.
Teaching
The system of genres of Old Russian literature distinguished it as a variety of Old Russian eloquence. In the teachings, the chroniclers tried to single out a standard of behavior for all Old Russian people: a commoner, a prince. The most striking example of this genre is considered to be "The Teachings of Vladimir Monomakh" from "The Tale of Bygone Years", dated 1096. At that time, disputes for the throne between the princes reached the maximum intensity. In the lecture, Vladimir Monomakh gives recommendations on the organization of his life. He offers the salvation of the soul to seek in retreat, calls for helping people in need, to serve God.
Monomakh confirms the need for prayer before a military campaign by an example from his own life. He suggests building social relations in harmony with nature.
Preaching
Analyzing the main genres of ancient Russian literature, we emphasize that this oratory of the church, which has a peculiar theory, was involved in historical and literary study only in the form that was indicative of the era at some stages.
The sermon called the “Fathers of the Church” Basil the Great, St. Augustine, John Chrysostom, Gregory Dvoeslov. Luther’s sermons were recognized as an integral part of the study of the formation of New German prose, and the statements of Burdalu, Bossuet, and other speakers of the 17th century were the most important examples of the prosaic style of French classicism. The role of sermons in medieval Russian literature is high, they confirm the originality of the genres of Old Russian literature.
Historians consider the “Words” of Metropolitan Illarion and Cyril of Turvo to be examples of Russian ancient pre-Mongol sermons, which give a complete picture of creating compositions and elements of an artistic style. They skillfully used Byzantine sources, based on them they created quite good works of their own. They use antitheses in sufficient quantities, comparisons, personifications of abstract concepts, allegory, rhetorical fragments, dramatic exposition, dialogues, partial landscapes.
The following examples of a sermon framed in an unusual stylistic design are considered by the Professionals as “The Words” of Serapion Vladimirsky, “Words” by Maxim Grek. The heyday of the practice and theory of preaching art fell on the XVIII century. They talked about the struggle of Ukraine with Poland.
Word
Analyzing the main genres of ancient Russian literature, we pay special attention to the word. It is a variation of the genre of Old Russian eloquence. As an example of his political variability, we will call “The Word of Igor's Campaign”. This work causes many disputes among many historians.
The reason is that it was not possible to save the original version of this work, only a copy remained.
The historical genre of Old Russian literature, which includes the “Word about Igor's Regiment”, is striking in its unusual methods and artistic means.
In this work, the chronological traditional version of the narrative is violated. The author is first transferred to the past, then mentions the present, uses lyrical digressions that make it possible to write down various episodes: the cry of Yaroslavna, the dream of Svyatoslav.
"Word" contains various elements of oral traditional folk art, symbols. It contains epics, fairy tales, and there is a political background: the Russian princes united in the fight against a common enemy.
“The Word of Igor’s Regiment” is one of the books that reflect the early feudal epic. It is on a par with other works:
- "Song of the Nibelungs";
- “The Knight in the Tiger Skin”;
- "David of Sasun."
These works are considered one-stage, belong to the same stage of folklore and literary formation.
In the “Word” two folklore genres are combined: crying and fame. Throughout the entire work, the mourning of dramatic events and the glorification of the princes take place.
Similar techniques are characteristic of other works of Ancient Russia. For example, the "Word about the destruction of the Russian land" is a combination of the lament of the dying Russian land with the glory of a powerful past.
The solemn variation of Old Russian eloquence is The Word of Law and Grace, authored by Metropolitan Hilarion. This work appeared at the beginning of the XI century. The reason for writing was the completion of construction of military fortifications in Kiev. The idea is based on the complete independence of Russia from the Byzantine Empire.
Under the "Law", Hilarion marks the Old Testament, given to the Jews, not suitable for the Russian people. God gives the New Testament, called "Grace." Hilarion writes that, as the emperor Constantine is revered in Byzantium, the Russian people also respect Prince Vladimir the Red Sun, who baptized Russia.
Story
Having examined the main genres of ancient Russian literature, we will pay attention to the stories. These are texts of an epic kind, telling about military exploits, princes, their deeds. Examples of such works are:
- "The Tale of the Life of Alexander Nevsky";
- "The Tale of the Ruin of Ryazan by Khan Batu";
- "The Tale of the Battle of the Kalka River."
The most common in ancient Russian literature was the genre of military novels. Various lists of works related to him have been published. Many historians paid attention to the analysis of stories: D. S. Likhachev, A. S. Orlova, N. A. Meshchersky. Despite the fact that traditionally the military story genre was considered secular literature of Ancient Russia, it inherently belongs to the circle of church literature.
The versatility of the subject matter of such works is explained by the combination of the legacy of the pagan past with the new Christian worldview. These elements give rise to a new perception of a military feat combining heroic and worldly traditions. Among the sources that influenced the formation of this genre at the beginning of the 11th century, experts single out translated works: “Alexandria”, “Devgeniyoe act”.
N. A. Meshchersky, engaged in a deep study of this literary monument, believed that, to the maximum extent, “History” had an impact on the formation of the military novel of Ancient Russia. He confirms his opinion with a significant number of citations used in various ancient Russian literary works: “The Lives of Alexander Nevsky”, the Kiev and Galicia-Volyn annals.
Historians admit that in the formation of this genre Icelandic sagas and military epics were used.
The warrior was endowed with courageous valor and holiness. The idea of him is similar to the description of an epic hero. The essence of the military feat has changed, the desire for death for great faith comes first.
A special role was given to princely ministry. The desire for self-realization passes into humble self-sacrifice. The implementation of this category is carried out in connection with the verbal and ritual forms of culture.
Annals
It is a kind of narration of historical events. The chronicle is considered one of the first genres of Old Russian literature. In ancient Russia, it played a special role, because it not only reported a historical event, but also was a legal and political document, it was a confirmation of how to behave in certain situations. The Tale of Bygone Years, which has come down to us in the Ipatiev Chronicle of the 16th century, is considered to be the oldest chronicle. She talks about the origin of the Kiev princes, about the appearance of the Old Russian state.
Chronicles are considered “unifying genres”, which subordinate the following components: military, historical tale, the life of a saint, laudable words, teachings.
Chronograph
These are texts that contain a detailed description of the time of the XV-XVI centuries. One of the first such works of historians consider the "Chronograph by the great exposition." This work has not reached the full extent of our time, therefore, information about it is quite contradictory.
In addition to the genres of Old Russian literature that are listed in the article, there were many other directions, each of which had its own distinctive characteristics. The variety of genres is a direct confirmation of the versatility and originality of literary works created in Ancient Russia.