Fonvizin's works: list of works

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

What works of Fonvizin are known to modern readers? Definitely "Undergrowth". After all, comedy is part of the school curriculum. It is known that the Russian writer wrote critical articles-translations of foreign authors. However, Fonvizin's works are not limited to literary works and a satirical essay about the ignorant Prostakov family.

What else did the creator of the household comedy write? And why, in his declining years, was it difficult for the author of The Undergrowth to publish his creations?

Russian author of foreign origin

The writer lived and worked in the era of Catherine. Fonvizin's works would not have been created if one of the comedian's ancestors had not once fallen into Russian captivity. The creator of such characters as Prostakov, Starodum and Mitrofanushka had a foreign origin, but was the mostRussian of all Russian writers of the eighteenth century. At least that's what Pushkin said about him.

Translation activities

The writer studied at the gymnasium, then became a student of the Faculty of Philosophy. The works of Fonvizin represent the pinnacle of theatrical art of the eighteenth century. However, before gaining recognition, the writer spent many years poring over translations of eminent foreign and even ancient playwrights. And only after gaining experience, he began to write original compositions.

The hero of this article started doing literary translation by accident. Once one of the St. Petersburg booksellers heard about his excellent knowledge of foreign languages. The entrepreneur offered the young man to translate the works of Ludwig Holberg into Russian. Denis Fonvizin coped with the task. After that, a lot of offers from publishers rained down.

Literary creativity

When did the original works of Fonvizin begin to appear? The list of his works is small. The following is a list of dramatic writings and publications on a political topic. But first it is worth saying a few words about the worldview of this author.

In the second half of the eighteenth century, throughout Europe, enlightenment thought was in fashion, one of the founders of which was Voltaire. The Russian writer was happy to translate the works of the French satirist. The humor that distinguishes the works of Fonvizin in the style of classicism, probably became a feature that was formed under the influence ofcreativity of Voltaire. In the years when the writer was especially active in freethinkers' circles, the first comedy was created.

Foreman

Literary studies helped Fonvizin climb the corporate ladder in his youth, but had a detrimental effect on the writer's work in his advanced years. The empress herself drew attention to the translation of the tragedy of Aviary. The comedy Brigadier enjoyed particular success.

Publicism

In 1769, the writer went to the service of Count Panin, who prompted him to write a political treatise. The title of this work is fully consistent with the time in which the author lived: “Discourses on the completely exterminated form of state government and on the unsteady state of the empire and sovereigns.”

In the Catherine era, educated people spoke very ornately, even the empress herself, who, by the way, did not like the composition. The fact is that in this work the author criticized both Catherine and her favorites, demanded a constitutional transformation. At the same time, he even dared to threaten a coup d'état.

In Paris

Fonvizin spent more than two years in France. From there, he corresponded regularly with Panin and other like-minded people. Socio-social problems became the main theme of both letters and essays. The publicistic works of Fonvizin, the list of which is little known to contemporaries, despite the absence of strict censorship in those years, were saturated with a thirst for change, a reformist spirit.

Political views

After visiting France, Denis Fonvizin wrote a new "Reasoning". This time they were devoted to state laws. In this essay, the author raised the issue of serfdom. Being convinced of the need to destroy it, he was still under the impression of "Pugachevism", and therefore proposed to get rid of serfdom moderately, slowly.

Fonvizin was engaged in literary work until the end of his days. But due to the disapproval of the empress, he could not publish his collected works. Finally, it is worth mentioning the works of Fonvizin.

List of books

1. "Foreman".
2. Undergrowth.
3. "Discourses on the indispensable state laws".
4. "Governor's Choice".
5. "A conversation with Princess Khaldina".
6. "Honest Confession"
7. Korion.

"Frank confession" the writer created, being in his advanced years. This work is autobiographical. In recent years, the writer Fonvizin has mainly written articles for magazines. Fonvizin entered the history of Russian literature as the author of comedies in the genre of classicism. What is this direction? What are its characteristics?

Fonvizin's works

Classicism is a direction based on the principles of rationalism. There is harmony and faith in the works, poetic norms are strictly observed. The heroes of the comedy "Undergrowth" are divided into positive and negative. There are no conflicting images here. And this is alsocharacteristic feature of classicism.

This trend originated in France. In Russia, classicism was distinguished by a satirical orientation. In the works of French playwrights, antique themes were in the first place. Russian classicism is characterized by national-historical motives.

The main feature of the dramatic works of the eighteenth century is the unity of time and place. The events of "Undergrowth" take place in the house of the Prostakov family. Everything that is described in the comedy is accomplished within twenty-four hours. Fonvizin endowed his characters with speaking names. Skotinin dreams of villages where many pigs graze. Vralman pretends to enlighten Mitrofanushka, while introducing the undergrowth into even more terrible ignorance.

The comedy deals with the subject of education. Enlightenment thought had a significant impact on all of Fonvizin's work. The writer dreamed of changing the state system. But he believed that without enlightenment, any changes would lead to rebellion, "Pugachevism" or other negative socio-political consequences.