Classics is Or the brightest representatives of Russian classical literature

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Very often you hear the term "classic" or "classic". But what is the meaning of this word?

Classic is…

The word "classic" has several meanings. Most explanatory dictionaries offer one of them - the works of the classics: literature, music, painting or architecture. Also, this word is used in relation to some examples of art, for example, "classics of the genre." However, most often this term is mentioned as an indication of a specific time period in the development of a particular type of art, not forgetting that only a few, the most successful, are considered among the classical authors. In literature, everything that was written in the 18th and 19th centuries is considered a classic. In the 20th century, the classics give way to modernity. Many modernist writers sought to destroy the previous tradition, tried to find a new form, themes, content. Others, on the contrary, used the works of their predecessors for their own purposes. Thus, postmodern works are full of allusions and reminiscences.

Classic is what will always bein vogue. This is a kind of pattern that forms our worldview, which reflects all the characteristic features of a nation of a particular time.

Which writers can be called classics?

As noted above, not every author is included in the ranks of the classics, but only those whose work had a significant impact on the development of Russian culture. Perhaps the first classical writers who left a significant mark on the history of Russian literature are Lomonosov and Derzhavin.

Mikhail Lomonosov

His literary work falls on the first half of the 18th century. He became the founder of such a trend as classicism, so it is impossible not to rank him among the classics of the time. Lomonosov made a huge contribution not only to literature, but also to linguistics (having distinguished three styles in his native language), as well as to chemistry, physics and mathematics. His most significant works: "Morning/Evening Meditation on God's Majesty", "Ode on the Day of the Ascension…", "Conversation with Anacreon", "Letter on the Benefits of Glass". It should be noted that most of Lomonosov's poetic texts were imitative in nature. In his work, Mikhail Vasilyevich was guided by Horace and other ancient authors.

Gavrila Romanovich Derzhavin

Classics of literature of the 18th century is represented by another name - this is Gavrila Romanovich Derzhavin. The most significant works of this author: "Monument", "Felitsa". By the beginning of the 19th century, he was the most striking poetic figure; only Alexander Sergeevich could outshine him. Pushkin.

It is difficult to name all the bright writers of the time. Russian classics are rich in talented names. The classics include Fonvizin, Krylov, Karamzin, Zhukovsky.

The 19th century, called the Golden Age of Russian literature, turned out to be even brighter than the previous one. It all started with the greatest genius of the era - Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin.

Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin

"Humanity cherishing the soul" - critic V. G. Belinsky was able to single out such a feature in Pushkin's poetry. Pushkin was able to transform the Russian language, he gave it lightness and simplicity - something that the writers of the 18th century lacked. His poetry is full of goodness and truth, it is permeated with the greatest love for man, for life, for the whole world. It is simply impossible to list the main works of the author, because the list is very large. Perhaps, it is certainly worth highlighting his novel in verse "Eugene Onegin", aptly called by Belinsky "an encyclopedia of Russian life." All love for the motherland was embodied in this small lyrical-epic work, in addition, Pushkin, like no one else, managed to reflect the essence of the era, as well as create a unique female image, which was continued in all subsequent literature. The first association that arises with the word "classic" is Pushkin.

Mikhail Yurievich Lermontov

This author can rightly be called Pushkin's successor. But in his works there is less lightness and openness, on the contrary, Lermontov's lyrics are sometimes gloomy, sometimes cruel towards people. Lermontov acutely felt his loneliness, his break with people. All this resulted in the lines of his poems. A classic of literature is his novel "A Hero of Our Time". Here the writer worked like a real psychologist, depicting a deep, contradictory character. The novel provides ample scope for reflection, and this is an indispensable criterion for classics.

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol

The classic writers of the second half of the 19th century trace their history back to the work of Gogol, the first realist in Russia. His works teach a lot: love your country, treat people mercifully, look for vices first of all in yourself and try to eradicate them. The most outstanding works of the author are the comedy "The Government Inspector" and the poem "Dead Souls".

Writers of the second half of the 19th century

Among the poets, F. I. Tyutcheva and A. A. Fet should be highlighted. It was they who marked all the poetry of the second half of the 19th century. Among the prose writers are such bright figures as I. S. Turgenev, F. M. Dostoevsky, L. N. Tolstoy, A. P. Chekhov and others. The works of this period are full of psychological research. Each of the realistic novels opens before us an extraordinary world, where all the characters are drawn vividly and vitally. It is impossible to read these books and not think about anything. Classics is a depth of thought, a flight of fancy, a role model. No matter how sophisticated modernists are when they say that art should be kept apart from morality, the works of classical writers teach us the most beautiful things in life.