LITERARY CIRCLES AND SALONS OF PRE-REVOLUTIONARY RUSSIA. Literary circles, societies, and salons played a major role in the social and cultural life of Russia for many decades.
The first circles appeared in the mid-18th century. So, in the 30s and 40s of the 18th century. there was a circle created by students of the Land Noble Corps, a military educational institution, where studies in the humanities and interest in literature were strongly encouraged.
The emergence of the first literary salons, primarily the salon of I.I. Shuvalov, dates back to this time. Shuvalov began his career as a favorite of the aging Empress Elizabeth and became famous for his selflessness and honesty, as well as enlightenment. He was the patron of M.V. Lomonosov, the founder of Moscow University and the Academy of Arts. Retiring from government affairs after the death of his patroness in 1761, he devoted most of his time to travel, reading, and art. The flower of Russian literature of that time gathered in Shuvalov’s house. Regulars of his salon were translators, philologists, poets: G.R. Derzhavin, I. Dmitriev, I. Bogdanovich.
In the 18th century the circles did not limit their activities only to literary conversations. In most cases, their members sought to organize one, and sometimes several journals. So, in the 60s of the 18th century. in Moscow, on the initiative of the poet M.M. Kheraskov, a circle of students of Moscow University was created, which, starting in 1760, published the magazine “Useful Amusement”, and then “Free Hours”, and in the 70s - “Evenings”. Among the members of the circle are D.I. Fonvizin, I.F. Bogdanovich and others.
The 1770s–1780s were a time of active social life associated with the reforms carried out by Catherine II, as a result of which nobles and city residents received the right to self-government and various benefits. All this contributed, in particular, to the rise of culture, which manifested itself, in particular, in the emergence of several literary societies: the Free Meeting of Lovers of the Russian Language (1771), the Meeting of Students of the Moscow University Noble Boarding School (1787).
In 1779, at Moscow University, on the initiative of the Masonic organization, to which the outstanding educators N.I. Novikov and I.G. Shvarts belonged, a Friendly Scientific Society was created, which set as its task to help fathers in raising children and was engaged in translations and publications of books for this purpose . In 1784, a printing company was organized under the society, under the authority of N.I. Novikov. Thanks to the Friendly Scientific Society and its printing house, many Russian books were published in the second half of the 18th century. in Russia.
Great influence on the literary life of the late 18th century. provided by the salons of G.R. Derzhavin and N.A. Lvov.
At the beginning of the 19th century. the role of literary circles and salons is becoming increasingly significant. Early 19th century - a time of heated and heated debate about the ways of development of Russian literature and the Russian language. At this time, defenders of the ancient “archaic” language clashed: A.S. Shishkov, A.A. Shakhovskoy, and supporters of language renewal, which was associated primarily with the name of N.M. Karamzin. Various literary trends are developing rapidly. In Russian literature of the early 19th century. classicism, sentimentalism and emerging romanticism coexist. The interest of enlightened youth in political issues is increasing, and awareness of the need for political and socio-economic reforms, especially the abolition of serfdom, is emerging. All these problems, both aesthetic and political, affected the activities of the circles of the early 19th century.
One of the first literary circles of the beginning of the century was the Friendly Literary Society, founded in Moscow by a group of friends, graduates of the Moscow University boarding school, young writers brothers Andrei and Alexander Turgenev, V.A. Zhukovsky and others. Back in 1797, Andrei Turgenev created and headed a literary club at the boarding school a circle that became a literary society in 1801. Its members were repeatedly published in the magazine of the University boarding house “Morning Dawn”. Meetings of participants usually took place in the house of the poet, translator and journalist A.F. Voeikov. Members of the Friendly Literary Society set themselves the task of strengthening the national principle in literature and, although to some extent they supported Karamzin’s innovation in the field of language, they considered it wrong to follow foreign models, which, in their opinion, Karamzin sinned with. Subsequently, the positions of the members of the Friendly Literary Society and the Karamzinists became closer.
Since 1801, the literary association “Friendly Society of Lovers of the Fine” has been operating in St. Petersburg, later renamed the Free Society of Lovers of Literature, Sciences and Arts. Its founder was the writer and teacher I.M. Born. The society included writers (V.V. Popugaev, I.P. Pnin, A.Kh. Vostokov, D.I. Yazykov, A.E. Izmailov), sculptors, artists, priests, archaeologists, historians. The literary preferences of the society members were extremely diverse. At first they were influenced by the ideas of A.N. Radishchev (the society included the writer’s two sons) and gravitated toward classicist literature. Later, the views of the participants in the Free Society changed greatly, which did not prevent it from existing, albeit with long breaks, until 1825.
At the beginning of the 19th century. there were other circles and salons that influenced the development of literature of that time. The most significant associations of the first quarter of the century were the “Conversation of Lovers of the Russian Word” (1811–1816) and “Arzamas” (1815–1818), societies that represented opposing trends in Russian literature and were constantly in a state of intense rivalry. The creator and soul of the “Conversation” was the philologist and writer A.S. Shishkov, the leader of the literary movement that was defined by Yu.N. Tynyanov as “archaists.” Back in 1803, Shishkov, in his “Discourse on the old and new syllable of the Russian language,” criticized Karamzin’s language reform and proposed his own, which involved maintaining a sharper line between book and spoken language, refusing to use foreign words and introducing a large number of archaic and folk into the literary language. vocabulary. Shishkov’s views were also shared by other members of the “Conversation”, writers of the older generation - poets G.R. Derzhavin, I.A. Krylov, playwright A.A. Shakhovskoy, translator Iliad N.I. Gnedich, and later their young followers, to whom A.S. Griboyedov and V.K. Kuchelbecker belonged.
Supporters of Karamzin, who introduced an easy, colloquial language into literature and was not afraid to Russify many foreign words, united in the famous literary society "Arzamas". The society arose as a response to the appearance of a comedy by one of the members of “Conversation” A.A. Shakhovsky Lipetsk waters or a lesson for coquettes. Among the Arzamas residents there were both long-time supporters of Karamzin and his former opponents. Among them were many poets classified by Yu.N. Tynyanov as belonging to the camp of “innovators”: V.A. Zhukovsky, K.N. Batyushkov, P.A. Vyazemsky, A.S. Pushkin, V.L. Pushkin. Each of the Arzamas members received a humorous nickname. Thus, Zhukovsky was called Svetlana, in honor of his famous ballad, Alexander Turgenev received the nickname Aeolian Harp - due to the constant rumbling in his stomach, Pushkin was called Cricket.
Many members of literary circles of the first quarter of the 19th century. brought together not only friendly relations and literary views, but also socio-political views. This was especially evident in the literary associations of the late 10s and early 20s, the most significant of which were associated with the Decembrist movement. Thus, the St. Petersburg circle “Green Lamp” (1819–1820) was founded by a member of the Union of Welfare S.P. Trubetskoy, close to the Decembrist society by Ya.N. Tolstoy and a great connoisseur and lover of theater and literature N.V. Vsevolozhsky. Members of the “Green Lamp” were many writers of that time, including A.S. Pushkin and A.A. Delvig. Discussions of literary works and theatrical premieres at Green Lamp meetings were interspersed with reading journalistic articles and political discussions.
Many Decembrists (F.N. Glinka, K.F. Ryleev, A.A. Bestuzhev, V.K. Kuchelbecker) were members of the Free Society of Lovers of Russian Literature, founded in 1811 at Moscow University.
By the mid-1820s, the social situation in Russia had changed greatly. Alexander I abandoned the ideas of reform that he had nurtured for two decades. The domestic policy of the state has become much stricter. Persecution of liberal professors and journalists began, and the situation at universities became tougher. As a result, the situation of literary societies that pursued any socio-political goals turned out to be difficult. The largest literary association of the mid-20s was the Society of Philosophy, founded in 1823 by graduates of Moscow University to study literature and philosophy. At the origins of the circle were the writer and musicologist V.F. Odoevsky, the poet and philosopher D.V. Venevitinov, the future Slavophile, at that time a young graduate of Moscow University I.V. Kireevsky, young scientists who in the future were destined to become university professors - S.P. Shevyrev and M.P. Pogodin. Meetings of the wise men took place in Venevitinov’s house. Members of the society seriously studied Western philosophy, studied the works of Spinoza, Kant, Fichte, but they were especially influenced by the German philosopher F. Schelling, whose ideas made a huge impression on the generation of the 20s - 30s, in particular on the formative ideology of the Slavophiles. The fact that the circle was called the “Society of Philosophy”, and not philosophy, speaks of the interest of its members in national culture and philosophy. V.F. Odoevsky, together with V.K. Kuchelbecker, published the almanac “Mnemosyne” in 1824–1825, where many wise men were published. Since among the members of the society there were many employees of the archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they received the nickname “archive youths,” which, obviously, should have hinted not only at the type of their service, but also at their concentration on abstract, philosophical problems of existence. However, the philosophical interests of members of society still aroused suspicion among the authorities. After the Decembrist uprising, V.F. Odoevsky proposed dissolving the society, fearing persecution, since many wise men were close to the Decembrists.
The era that came after the suppression of the Decembrist uprising was not very favorable for the emergence of large literary societies. But friendly circles or salons became practically the only possible manifestations of social life in a situation where literature and journalism were under strict control of censorship and the police. In the 30s of the 19th century. there were many interesting literary circles, created mainly by students or graduates of Moscow University, which was located far from the more official, bureaucratic St. Petersburg. Likewise, in the 1830s, intense literary and artistic life was in full swing in numerous Moscow and St. Petersburg salons, at evenings, “Fridays,” “Saturdays,” etc.
Among the literary circles of the 1930s, Stankevich's circle occupied a prominent place. It was a literary and philosophical association that formed in 1831 around the personality of Nikolai Vladimirovich Stankevich, a student and then a graduate of Moscow University. Stankevich wrote philosophical and poetic works, but all members of the circle later agreed that the greatest influence on them was not so much the works of their leader, but his very personality, surprisingly charming and interesting. Stankevich had the ability to awaken the work of thought and at the same time pacify and bring together the most irreconcilable opponents. His circle included people who were later destined to take completely different paths. Future Slavophiles K.S. Aksakov and Yu.F. Samarin, future Westerners V.P. Botkin and T.N. Granovsky, V.G. Belinsky and M.A. Bakunin met here. Here friends studied philosophy, history, and literature. The role of Stankevich’s circle in the dissemination of the ideas of Schelling and Hegel in Russia was enormous. In 1839, the seriously ill Stankevich went abroad for treatment, from where he never returned, and the circle disintegrated.
Another well-known association of the 1830s was the circle of Herzen and Ogarev, which, in addition to them, included their friends at Moscow University. Unlike Stankevich’s circle, Herzen, Ogarev and their entourage were much more interested in political issues. German classical philosophy seemed too abstract and vague to them; they were more inspired by the ideals of the Great French Revolution and the socialist teachings of utopian philosophers, primarily Saint-Simon. It is not surprising that Herzen and Ogarev attracted more attention from the authorities. In 1834, on absurd charges, the circle was dispersed, its leaders were arrested and sent into exile.
The circle that arose in the early 30s at Moscow University was the “Society of Number 11”, which rallied around the young V.G. Belinsky and received its name from the number of the room that the future critic occupied in the university boarding house. The members of the circle did not limit themselves to discussing literary novelties and theatrical premieres; they studied philosophical works and discussed European political events. The works of its members were often read at the society's meetings. Belinsky introduced his drama to his friends here Dmitry Kalinin. This caused great discontent among the authorities, which led to his expulsion from the university.
The inability to freely express one’s thoughts even in a friendly circle hindered the activities of literary circles and societies, so most of such associations in the 1830s and 1840s turned out to be short-lived.
Literary salons turned out to be more stable - due to the naturalness of salon communication for society in the first half of the 19th century. A secular salon is a meeting place for a wide variety of people. Often the salon was a place of empty talk and not very meaningful pastime. But in the public life of the first half of the 19th century. A prominent role was played by salons, where prominent figures of culture and art gathered and serious and deep conversations were held. Such centers of literary and artistic life were the salons of the President of the Academy of Arts A.N. Olenin, Zinaida Volkonskaya, E.A. Karamzina, the widow of the historian. Contemporaries in their numerous memoirs emphasized not only the cordiality of the hosts, but also their aversion to meaningless social activities, in particular, the fundamental rejection of card games, which were then an indispensable component of an aristocratic evening. Here they listened to music, talked about literature and philosophy, poets read their poems (like Pushkin from Zinaida Volkonskaya). It is characteristic that, unlike circles, many literary salons existed for decades. The composition of the guests could partially, and sometimes even almost completely, change, but the overall focus remained unchanged.
In the 1840s–1850s, the most interesting literary salons were those where Slavophiles met. If most Westerners did not accept salon forms of communication, then for the noble intellectuals who formed the backbone of the Slavophile movement, regular meetings in salons were absolutely natural. The Moscow houses of Aksakov, Khomyakov and other Slavophile leaders were famous for their feasts and hospitality. Any meeting here turned out to be not just a fun party, but a literary or philosophical meeting. Slavophiles grouped around several literary magazines, and the editors of these publications turned out to be original circles that united like-minded people. The most significant of the Slavophile magazines is Moskvityanin. “Moskvityanin” was published by M.P. Pogodin from 1841 to 1856, but it became an exponent of Slavophile ideas only in 1850, from the moment the so-called “young editors” arrived here, trying to breathe new life into the publication, which was losing its popularity. At the center of the young editorial staff were A.N. Ostrovsky, then still a young, aspiring playwright, who became famous for his play Our people - let's count and poet and critic Apollo Grigoriev.
In the middle of the century, literary circles began to increasingly acquire a political character. Thus, the society that met on Fridays at Butashevich-Petrashevsky’s mostly consisted of writers and journalists (among its members were F.M. Dostoevsky, M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin). However, the center of interests of the Petrashevites was not so much literary as socio-political problems - they read and discussed the works of socialist thinkers, primarily Charles Fourier. Thoughts were also expressed here about the need to propagate revolutionary ideas. Literary and social life were strongly intertwined. After the defeat of the Petrashevites, one of the accusations brought against members of the society (in particular, F.M. Dostoevsky) was the reading and distribution of Belinsky’s letter to Gogol.
The reforms of the 1860s radically changed the situation in the country, increasing opportunities for free expression of thoughts, and at the same time led to a great upsurge of social movements, both liberal and revolutionary. The very form of literary circles turns out to not really meet the needs of the time, when the meaning of “pure art” was denied by the majority of critics and writers. Numerous student circles most often pursue revolutionary rather than literary goals. To some extent, the role of circles is taken on by the editorial offices of magazines. Thus, the editorial board of Sovremennik was undoubtedly an important factor in public life.
Late 19th and early 20th centuries. – time to search for new paths in art. It is no coincidence that many literary circles and associations arose in this era. In the 80s and 90s, one of the meeting places for St. Petersburg writers was Ya.P. Polonsky's Fridays - weekly meetings of writers and musicians that took place in the house of the poet and his wife, the famous sculptor Josephine Polonskaya. After Polonsky’s death in 1898, Fridays began to take place at the home of another poet, K.K. Sluchevsky. Despite Sluchevsky’s advanced age, not only his peers appeared here, but also poets of the younger generation, who considered the poetic quest of the owner of the house close to their own aesthetic goals. It is known that N.S. Gumilyov, who treated this writer with great respect, attended Sluchevsky’s Fridays.
At the beginning of the 20th century. characterized not only by new trends in art, but also by the revival of the tradition of literary circles and associations. This was facilitated by the turbulent era, which promised political freedoms, and the desire of a new generation of writers to unite for a better understanding of their ideas, and the “decadent” lifestyle of the beginning of the century, in which life itself turned into an exquisite work of art. So, starting from 1901, religious and philosophical meetings were held in the St. Petersburg apartment of Z. Gippius and D. Merezhkovsky, which later took shape as the Religious and Philosophical Society. The purpose of these meetings, as is clear from their name, was to resolve not literary, but spiritual issues - first of all, the search for a new Christianity, the dialogue between secular intelligentsia and church leaders; they had a great influence on the writers who visited them, and were reflected in the works of Gippius and Merezhkovsky themselves , especially in the famous trilogy of D. Merezhkovsky Christ and Antichrist.
The “Wednesdays” of the symbolist poet Vyacheslav Ivanov, who settled in 1905 on Tavricheskaya Street in St. Petersburg in a house, part of which was called the “tower,” had a huge influence on the literary, philosophical and social life of the beginning of the century. Russian intellectuals gathered here for several years - A. Blok, Andrei Bely, Fyodor Sollogub, Mikhail Kuzmin and many others. Ivanov Wednesdays were not just literary evenings - here they read poetry, discussed philosophical and historical works, and organized spiritualistic seances. It was assumed that evenings at the “tower” should create new relationships between people and form a special way of life for writers, artists and musicians.
The editorial offices of the early-century magazines “Libra” and “Apollo” became unique literary associations where meetings of writers, artists, and critics took place. However, other literary movements also needed their associations. So, in 1911 N.S. Gumilyov, who had previously attended both Ivanov’s environment and the meetings of the editors of “Vesi,” created the “Workshop of Poets,” which included authors who were constrained by the framework of symbolist aesthetics. This is how a new literary movement took shape - Acmeism.
In 1914, in Moscow, in the apartment of literary critic E.F. Nikitina, a circle began to gather, which was called the “Nikitin Subbotniks” and lasted until 1933. The circle included writers, philologists, artists belonging to a wide variety of movements, professors and graduates of Moscow University.
The Revolution of 1917, the Civil War, and the emigration of many cultural figures put an end to the existence of most literary circles.
Tamara Eidelman
Literary education develops and creates the need for continuous self-improvement. The study of classical prose and poetry can only be achieved through systematic reading and memorization of poems. But the value of the book has dropped significantly recently. To introduce children to reading, a literary club is organized at school, the program of which goes beyond the compulsory one.
Why don't modern children like to read?
Even in the age of high technology and computerization, it is impossible to overestimate the importance of the book. Recently, a trend has been discovered in which interest in reading declines rapidly after finishing primary school. Often, a child who shows interest in books in the first years of school loses it when moving to fifth grade. The reason, as a rule, lies in the ubiquity of the Internet. It absorbs all the attention of children and teenagers.
How to solve this problem?
The student stops reading, as a result of which his cognitive potential decreases. Teachers note that recently the number of students reading literature outside the scope of the school curriculum has fallen monstrously. Both teachers and parents are unhappy with this situation. But how to solve this problem? First of all, the child does not need to be forced, he needs to be captivated. A literary circle, the program of which includes books by Russian and foreign authors, is organized by teachers in order to introduce children to reading, develop their creative potential and broaden their horizons.
Program
The activities of the literary circle are aimed at solving problems that are essential in the overall educational process. Parents, due to lack of free time, rarely pay attention to what their child is reading, if he picks up any books at all, with the exception of educational materials. Why is a literary circle created at school? The program pursues the following goals:
- development of the ability to perceive a work of art;
- enriching the understanding of the world around us;
- developing an understanding of figurative language and various means of expression that writers and poets use in their work;
- formation of aesthetic taste;
- broadening your horizons.
Themes
Any extracurricular activities should be based on the involvement of children in the educational process. Topics in literature included in the compulsory program are difficult to master if they do not arouse any interest among students. However, with regard to optional education, the most important task here is to gain the attention of schoolchildren. What topics are covered by children attending the literature club? The program may include both the study of works not included in the required course, and topics related to those covered in literature lessons.
Creation
What knowledge should a schoolchild acquire by attending a literary club throughout the year? The program, compiled by experienced teachers, includes, in addition to reading and analysis of fiction, the study of the theoretical part. Students must understand basic literary terms, which, however, is also provided for in the compulsory program.
By organizing a literary circle at school, the program of which involves an in-depth study of the theory of prose and poetry, the teacher seeks to instill in his students the importance of understanding such terms as composition, plot, metaphor, gradation, and so on. But no information can be useful without practical training. Therefore, the work program of a literary circle often includes a creative part.
Schoolchildren study the works of Shakespeare. Sonnets by the English playwright are one of the topics that eighth-graders study in literature classes. But not every adult can answer the question of what this poetic form is. Perhaps the fact is that many schoolchildren are frankly bored during literature lessons? Literature classes would have a more significant effect if the theoretical part was reinforced with a small creative task. Not every student is capable of composing a poetic work in the sonnet genre. But getting involved in literary creativity is a wonderful way to instill in a teenager a love of reading, develop his potential, and increase self-esteem.
Literature and life
The literary circle program may vary. Some teachers focus on literary criticism. For others, introducing students to the creative process is more important. In both the first and second cases, elective education involves reading fiction.
But why do many teenagers experience difficulties in perceiving this or that work? The fact is that the plot, created by a brilliant author more than a hundred years ago, seems somewhat detached and abstract to a modern schoolchild. But literature is an artistic reflection of real life. and Dostoevsky’s works are popular all over the world, so many years after their publication, because they contain truth and authenticity.
A person who can read (not put letters into words, but perceive and analyze what he read) sees in people like Anna Karenina, Rodion Raskolnikov, Katyusha Maslova, Dmitry Karamazov something close, familiar, dear. But only those who already have life experience behind them, at least several dozen books read, or an extremely developed imagination are capable of this.
How can fourteen-year-olds who spend most of their time on social networks read books by great classics? The answer is simple. The teacher must transfer the plot created a century and a half ago into modern reality. It is necessary to explain that even today, somewhere, perhaps, there lives a person who spends all his time on the couch, because it is easier for him to hide in his dreams and dreams rather than solve numerous problems. Oblomov, Khlestakov, Manilov - all these are artistic images created on the basis of the life experience of great Russian writers. That’s why people like them still exist today.
The work program for the literary circle also covers works that are not given time to study in literature lessons. Schoolchildren read with great interest books by authors of the 20th century. These can be both works of domestic literature, and novels and stories. Of particular interest to teenagers is the work of John Tolkien, an author whose books have become a cult favorite for several generations of readers around the world.
Biographies of writers
The program of the Literary Living Room circle involves an in-depth study of the lives of Russian and foreign authors. Such activities develop communication skills and foster interest in literary works.
Of course, a teacher must be an excellent storyteller. Narrating the lives of Pushkin, Yesenin, Tyutchev, he is able to engender a love of poetry in his students. The biography of the great masters of words includes many interesting facts. However, the information about the life and creative path that the teacher provides should not be exhaustive. The main task of the storyteller is to arouse the interest of listeners in a particular topic. on this topic is not just a biography of one of the poets, which a student can easily find in the public domain. Written work involves elements of personal observation.
Rich material for creative assignments on the topic “Biography of Great Writers” is the life of Mikhail Bulgakov. Many articles and books have been written about how close the hero of one of the most famous novels of the last century, “The Master and Margarita,” is to the author’s personality. Students are advised to read some of them and, based on the material, write an essay on any topic proposed by the teacher.
Literature and cinema
The Literary Reading club program aims to introduce schoolchildren to reading high-quality fiction. This task is also difficult because for children (and often adults) it is easier and more exciting to watch a film based on a famous plot than to read the original source. “Literature and Cinema” is an extremely interesting topic. By discussing it, children learn to see the connection between the two forms of art. Many interesting books have also been written on this topic that can be recommended to high school students. One of them is “Cinema between Hell and Heaven.” The work of the famous director is intended for future screenwriters, but the story in it is told in such a fascinating form that it will also be interesting to students in the tenth and eleventh grades.
Theater
The literature program includes dramatic works. Besides the fact that the plot of many of them is not easily perceived by modern schoolchildren, reading the play can hardly bring pleasure. Not everyone can afford to visit a good theater today, but watching a film-play based on the work of Ostrovsky, Chekhov, Griboyedov, Gorky is not at all difficult. And, perhaps, it is a theatrical production with the participation of outstanding actors that can encourage reading the works of Chekhov and other Russian playwrights.
Literary societies and circles make it possible to see the general progressive development of Russian literary social thought. The earliest of such associations is the Friendly Literary Society, which arose in January 1801. It is not by chance that this literary society arose in Moscow, which at the beginning of the 19th century was the center of the best literary forces of that era. The “Friendly Literary Society” grew out of a student circle consisting of students from Moscow University and the university’s Noble boarding school. This society included Andrei and Alexander Turgenev, Kaisarov, V. Zhukovsky, A. Voikov, S. Rodzianka, A.F. Merzlyakov. In their person a new generation of writers declared itself. The participants of the “Friendly Literary Society” were characterized by common aspirations: a passionate interest in the fate of Russia, its culture, hostility to inertia, a desire to contribute as much as possible to the development of education, the idea of civil and patriotic service to the Motherland. “Friendly community” formed the basis of this association; the society’s meetings were characterized by an informal, relaxed tone, an atmosphere of heated debate, anticipating the organizational forms of “Arzamas”, the main core of which was the participants of the “Friendly Literary Society”.
The “Free Society of Lovers of Literature, Science and the Arts,” created in St. Petersburg in 1801, also began its activities as a friendly circle of like-minded young writers. Yazykov, Ermolaev, Pnin, Vostokov became participants in the “Free Society”; they sought to declare themselves publicly, sought to achieve official recognition: Pnin was the author of the treatise “An Experience on Enlightenment in Relation to Russia.” The treatise was presented to Alexander I and received the “highest approval.” Participants in the Free Society dreamed of developing education and social reforms in Russia. Members of the society published the almanac “Scroll of the Muses” (1802-1803). In 1804-1805, K. Batyushkov, A. Merzlyakov, N. Gnedich, V. L. Pushkin became members of the society. In 1812, the “Free Society” ceased its activities, but in 1816 the activities of the society were resumed, headed by a new President, Izmailov. This period of activity of the “Free Society” is called “Izmailovsky”. Members of the Izmailovsky Society were K. Ryleev, A. Bestuzhev, V. Kuchelbecker, A. Raevsky, O. Somov. The future Decembrists sought to actively influence the contemporary social and literary movement. The “Union of Salvation” and the “Union of Welfare” first focus on the “Free Society”.
The “Moscow Society of Lovers of Russian Literature” existed for more than 100 years. Created at Moscow University, it included in its ranks teachers, Moscow writers and simply lovers of literature. The “Moscow Society of Lovers of Russian Literature” was established in 1811; in general, the position of the society gravitated towards classicism, the defenders of the principles of which were the organizers and leaders of the society (especially A.F. Merzlyakov). The time of greatest literary flourishing for the society was 1818, when, according to Dmitriev, prominent St. Petersburg poets took part in its work: Zhukovsky, Batyushkov, F. Glinka.
In 1811, the literary society “Conversation of Lovers of the Russian Word” (1811-1816), an association of St. Petersburg writers, arose. The organizer and head of the “Conversation” was Admiral Shishkov, a defender of classicism, author of the famous “Discourse on the old and new syllable of the Russian language” (1803). Admiral Shishkov, not being a writer himself, led the famous writers of Russia: members of the “Conversation” were Derzhavin and Krylov. The meetings of the society were solemn: tailcoats, ballroom costumes. Writers read new works. Krylov and Derzhavin were a unique decoration of “Conversation”. The Russian language, from the point of view of Besedchiki, should develop according to the national tradition, the basis of the language should be ancient chronicles, and all European tracing papers should be destroyed and replaced with the Russian version. “Besedchiki” opposed the development of the Russian language in the spirit of European languages, since it has its own national course. Shishkov is a theorist and defender of the “old style”; this trend was directed primarily against the European traditions of the Russian Enlightenment. “Besedchiki” were fierce defenders of everything Russian and national from the “destructive influence” of Western European culture.
Nikolai Karamzin headed the Arzamas literary society. The “Karamzinists,” unlike the “Besedchiki,” saw a different path of development and continued the European traditions of the Russian Enlightenment, “built” their own etiquette of communication and meetings; they were all younger than the “Besedchiki.” The youngest of them was Alexander Pushkin. Each of the members of the Arzamas society had a nickname, they wore nicknames from V. Zhukovsky’s ballads: Vasily Pushkin was called “Chub”, Mikhail Orlov was called “Rhine”. It was a kind of “brotherhood” in which there was no hierarchy, and where freedom, equality and brotherhood reigned. The Arzamas people were extremely diverse in their representation; the society also included political figures. The literary society "Arzamas" at first opposed "Conversation", and the people of Arzamas did a lot for the development of the Russian literary language; according to members of the society, the Russian language should develop in the bosom of other European languages and should absorb features of other languages. “Besedchiki” were classicists, “Arzamas people” were sentimentalists and romantics, therefore, the style itself was different. Where the classicists wrote: “The moon has risen”; sentimentalists and pre-romanticists will write: “Hecate has risen.” Thus, pretentiousness and sophistication of style were inherent in them, and this is what caused criticism from the “talkers”; all these battles became literary.
conclusions
The socio-political situation that developed in Russia in the first quarter of the 19th century contributed to a very noticeable revival of various spheres and aspects of literary life. By absorbing new ideas and concepts, Russian literature acquires closer connections with the urgent needs of the time, with the political events that took place at that time, and with the deep internal changes experienced by Russian society and the entire country during these years. A characteristic feature of this new historical era was an increased interest in the field of political and social life.
Literary societies and circles that arose at the beginning of the 19th century make it possible to see deep, internal processes that often do not appear on the surface of literary life, but are nevertheless very significant in the overall progressive development of Russian literary and social thought.
Agreed. I approve.
deputy director of VR school director
Ivshina E.V. ____________ Shubina V.N.
Program
"Golden Feather"
Compiled by: Lekomtseva V.S.,
teacher of Russian language and literature
Explanatory note
Passion for literature helps to broaden the horizons of schoolchildren, better mastery of other subjects, and develops creative thinking; forms literary taste, skills and abilities to read competently, thoughtfully, analyze, and consciously draw conclusions.
primary goal– involving schoolchildren in the atmosphere of literary creativity.
Tasks:
Development of students' cognitive interest in studying literature;
Increasing the intellectual level of students;
Stimulating interest in the spiritual wealth of Russia and the Voronezh region;
development of the emotional sphere of students as the basis for the formation of a “culture of feelings”;
Development of creative abilities;
Education of aesthetic taste;
Formation of research skills;
Formation of communication skills in different situations.
Three identifieddirections work mug:
-research:
writing creative works, essays, preparing messages, reports;
This program is aimed at improving the basic types of speech activity, theoretical and practical training of schoolchildren.
This program is designed for 1 year. Total number of hours - 36
Relevance “Golden Pen” mug: mastering a complex of theoretical and literary concepts to develop the ability to analyze a text in different aspects, understand its structure, principles of construction; see the relationship between literature and culture as a whole; development of speech culture, independent thinking; conscious mastery of intellectual activity techniques.
Planned learning outcome :
formation of speech culture through the development of philological competencies:
Analytical – text analysis
Reflexive – solving specific literary problems, independent control, assessment of one’s knowledge and skills
realization of creative potential
Thematic planning.
| date | Lesson topics | Notes | ||||||
| Objectives of literary criticism. Types of literature | ||||||||
| Genres of literature | ||||||||
| Preparation for the Russian Language Olympiad | ||||||||
| Preparation for the Literature Olympiad | ||||||||
| Preparing for an essay on the topic “Friendship and Enmity” | ||||||||
| Essay analysis | ||||||||
| Rhymes. Sound recording. Stanza. | ||||||||
| Preparing for an essay on the topic “Experience and mistakes” | ||||||||
| Essay analysis | ||||||||
| Lyrical hero of the works | ||||||||
| Literary game “What? Where? When?" (dedicated to N.V. Gogol) | ||||||||
| Analysis of a poetic work | ||||||||
| Theme, idea of the work | ||||||||
| Problems of the work | ||||||||
| The plot of the work | ||||||||
| Plot elements | ||||||||
| Composition of the work | ||||||||
| Lyrical prose | ||||||||
| Lessons from the series “Poetic Mastery”. Work on expressiveness of speech. | ||||||||
| Expressive means of speech | ||||||||
| Analysis of the work | ||||||||
| Literary salon “The soul wanted to be a star...” (dedicated to F.I. Tyutchev) | ||||||||
| Scientists - literary critics | ||||||||
| Development of presentations “Life and work of I.S. Turgenev" | ||||||||
| Competition of creative works (poems, reports, essays, presentations) about writers. | ||||||||
| Final lesson. Summarizing | ||||||||
Expected results
While visiting the circle, students should be able to:
Analyze and control possible errors during execution;
Express your own thoughts;
Work individually and collectively;
Approach creatively to the lesson;
Practically demonstrate and perform the mastered material.
Bibliography
1. Large encyclopedic dictionary.
2. Internet resources.
3. Collected works of N.V. Gogol
5. Sushilin I.P. Russian literature of the 19th-20th centuries: summary presentation of program topics.
4. large school encyclopedia
The literary life of Russia during this period developed rapidly; among writers and politicians the main question was: What kind of Russia should it be? Monarchy? Republic? What should a literary language be like? After all, Pushkin’s language is so different from Derzhavin’s. The Russian literary language was created at the beginning of the 19th century. Literary societies and circles make it possible to see the general progressive development of Russian literary social thought. The earliest of such associations is the Friendly Literary Society, which arose in January 1801. It is not by chance that this literary society arose in Moscow, which at the beginning of the 19th century was the center of the best literary forces of that era.
The Friendly Literary Society grew out of a student circle consisting of
pupils of Moscow University and the university Noble boarding school. This society included Andrei and Alexander Turgenev, Kaisarov, V. Zhukovsky, A. Voikov, S. Rodzianka, A.F. Merzlyakov. In their person a new generation of writers declared itself. The participants of the “Friendly Literary Society” were characterized by common aspirations: a passionate interest in the fate of Russia, its culture, hostility to inertia, a desire to contribute as much as possible to the development of education, the idea of civil and patriotic service to the Motherland. “Friendly community” formed the basis of this association; the society’s meetings were characterized by an informal, relaxed tone, an atmosphere of heated debate, anticipating the organizational forms of “Arzamas”, the main core of which was the participants of the “Friendly Literary Society”.
The “Free Society of Lovers of Literature, Science and the Arts,” created in St. Petersburg in 1801, also began its activities as a friendly circle of like-minded young writers. Yazykov, Ermolaev, Pnin, Vostokov became participants in the “Free Society”; they sought to declare themselves publicly, sought to achieve official recognition: Pnin was the author of the treatise “An Experience on Enlightenment in Relation to Russia.” The treatise was presented to Alexander I and received the “highest approval.” Participants in the Free Society dreamed of developing education and social reforms in Russia. Members of the society published the almanac “Scroll of the Muses” (1802-1803). In 1804-1805, K. Batyushkov, A. Merzlyakov, N. Gnedich, V. L. Pushkin became members of the society. In 1812, the “Free Society” ceased its activities, but in 1816 the activities of the society were resumed, headed by a new President, Izmailov. This period of activity of the “Free Society” is called “Izmailovsky”. Members of the Izmailovsky Society were K. Ryleev, A. Bestuzhev, V. Kuchelbecker, A. Raevsky, O. Somov. The future Decembrists sought to actively influence the contemporary social and literary movement. The “Union of Salvation” and the “Union of Welfare” first focus on the “Free Society”. The “Moscow Society of Lovers of Russian Literature” existed for more than 100 years. Created at Moscow University, it included in its ranks teachers, Moscow writers and simply lovers of literature. The “Moscow Society of Lovers of Russian Literature” was established in 1811; in general, the position of the society gravitated towards classicism, the defenders of the principles of which were the organizers and leaders of the society (especially A.F. Merzlyakov). The time of greatest literary flourishing for the society was 1818, when, according to Dmitriev, prominent St. Petersburg poets took part in its work: Zhukovsky, Batyushkov, F. Glinka.
In 1811, the literary society “Conversation of Lovers of the Russian Word” arose (1811-
1816), an association of St. Petersburg writers. The organizer and head of the “Conversation” was Admiral Shishkov, a defender of classicism, author of the famous “Discourse on the old and new syllable of the Russian language” (1803). Admiral Shishkov, not being a writer himself, led the famous writers of Russia: members of the “Conversation” were Derzhavin and Krylov. The meetings of the society were solemn: tailcoats, ballroom costumes. Writers read new works. Krylov and Derzhavin were a unique decoration of “Conversation”. Russian language, from the point of view of Besedchikov,
should develop according to national tradition, the basis of the language should be ancient chronicles, and all European tracings must be destroyed and replaced with the Russian version. “Besedchiki” opposed the development of the Russian language in the spirit of European languages, since it has its own national course. Shishkov is a theorist and defender of the “old style”; this trend was directed primarily against the European traditions of the Russian Enlightenment. “Besedchiki” were fierce defenders of everything Russian and national from the “destructive influence” of Western European culture.
However, the process of Europeanization of Russian spiritual culture enriched it with a huge number of new social and philosophical ideas, aesthetic and moral ideas, and artistic forms, without the mastery of which its further development and self-determination would have been impossible. The central issue in the literary struggle of the “days of Alexander's beautiful beginning” was the question of literary language, or “syllable”. After the publication of “Reflections on the Old and New Syllables of the Russian Language” by the defender of classicism Shishkov, the controversy about the Russian literary language did not subside until the early 20s of the 19th century. This polemic characterizes the demarcation and struggle between the two main ideological and aesthetic tendencies of Russian literature. Belinsky called this period the “Karamzin period.” One of them was represented by the “Karamzinists”, adherents of the “new style”. Nikolai Karamzin headed the Arzamas literary society. The “Karamzinists,” unlike the “Besedchiki,” saw a different path of development and continued the European traditions of the Russian Enlightenment, “built” their own etiquette of communication and meetings; they were all younger than the “Besedchiki.” The youngest of them was Alexander Pushkin. Each of the members of the Arzamas society had a nickname, they wore nicknames from V. Zhukovsky’s ballads: Vasily Pushkin was called “Chub”, Mikhail Orlov was called “Rhine”. It was a kind of “brotherhood” in which there was no hierarchy, and where freedom, equality and brotherhood reigned. The Arzamas people were extremely diverse in their representation; the society also included political figures. The literary society "Arzamas" at first opposed "Conversation", and the people of Arzamas did a lot for the development of the Russian literary language; according to members of the society, the Russian language should develop in the bosom of other European languages and should absorb features of other languages. “Besedchiki” were classicists, “Arzamas people” were sentimentalists and romantics, therefore, the style itself was different. Where the classicists wrote: “The moon has risen”; sentimentalists and pre-romanticists will write: “Hecate has risen.” Thus, pretentiousness and sophistication of style were inherent in them, and this is what caused criticism from the “talkers”; all these battles became literary. An important circumstance of the culture of that time was that in the sphere of intellectual communication the spoken language not only of the “society”, but of all educated people was French, and this basically had nothing to do with “Gallomania”, cosmopolitanism, or disdain for the people . The reason was the huge gap between the spiritual needs of the educated strata of Russian society and the semantic structure of the Russian language. The problem of the Russian language was extremely relevant, since the Russian language was the language of everyday communication, it was not allowed into the highest cultural sphere: it was impossible to speak in Russian as beautifully, gracefully as in French: there was no equivalent. In the 30s of the 19th century, Pushkin wrote letters to his wife Natalie in French. That is why educated people of Russia, writers and poets, strive to create a language that would absorb “the rigor of English, the philosophical nature of German,” and the grace of French.
Romanticism
Russian romanticism was an organic part of pan-European romanticism, which was a movement that covered all spheres of the spiritual life of society. Romanticism brought emancipation of the individual, the human spirit, and creative thought. Romanticism did not reject the achievements of previous eras; it arose on a humanistic basis, absorbing much of the best that was achieved by the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment. The most important principle of the aesthetics of romanticism was the idea of the self-worth of the individual. Romanticism was the discovery of a hitherto unknown poetic world of beauty and was a kind of stimulus for the flowering of the arts. The Romantic movement began in the 1790s in Germany (Schelling, Tieck, Novalis, Goethe, Schiller); from the 1810s - in England (Byron, Shelley, W. Scott, Blake, Wordsworth), and soon the romantic movement covered all of Europe, including France. Romanticism is a purely historical phenomenon, not reduced to single or even unambiguous principles. This phenomenon was understood and interpreted differently by the romantics themselves. Romanticism is not just a movement in literature - it is, first of all, a worldview, a worldview. Romanticism is characterized by the opposition of dreams and reality, ideal and reality. Romanticism contrasts the real, rejected reality with a certain higher, poetic principle. The antithesis “dream - reality” becomes constructive among the romantics; it organizes the artistic world of a romantic work, and is characteristic and decisive for romantic art. The antithesis “dream - reality” brought romantic art to life; it lies at its very origins. The negation of what exists, what is actually given, is the ideological premise of romanticism.
It was not by chance that Romanticism as a movement arose at the border of the 18th and 19th centuries. In “Confession of a Son of the Century” (confession of a romantic), Musset named two reasons that gave rise to the tragic and at the same time romantic duality of his contemporary: “The illness of our century comes from two reasons: the people who passed through 1793 and 1814 bear two wounds in their hearts... “The shocks of the revolution and the shocks of the Napoleonic wars in France raised many acute and insoluble questions before each individual and society as a whole, and forced them to reconsider previous concepts and values. Musset wrote: “It was some kind of denial of everything heavenly and everything earthly, a denial that can be called disappointment or, if you like, hopelessness.” From the romantic’s point of view, the world was split into “soul” and “body”, sharply opposed to each other and hostile. Contrary to the brightest hopes and expectations, the revolution did not abolish the centuries-old oppression of man by man; the bourgeoisie brought with them the principles of profit and material gain into life. Great expectations gave way to no less great disappointments. The vulgarity of bourgeois reality began to be perceived as the vulgarity of life in general, so the unconditional and absolute denial of reality turned out to be quite natural. The romantics saw the closest path to truth not in the arguments of reason, but in poetic revelation. Novalis wrote: “A poet comprehends nature better than the mind of a scientist.” From the romantic denial of reality a special romantic hero arises. Previous literature did not know such a hero. This is a hero who is in a hostile relationship with society, opposed to the prose of life, opposed to the “crowd”. This is an extraordinary, extraordinary, restless, lonely and tragic person. The romantic hero is the embodiment of a romantic rebellion against reality, he contains protest and challenge, the realization of a poetic and romantic dream that does not want to come to terms with the soulless and inhumane prose of life. From the romantic denial of the world follows the desire of the romantics for everything unusual, everything that goes beyond the boundaries of the rejected reality. According to G. Pospelov, all romantics “looked for their romantic ideal outside the reality surrounding them; all of them, in one way or another, contrasted the “despised here” with the vague and mysterious “there.” Zhukovsky looked for his “there” in the other world, Pushkin and Lermontov - in the free, warlike or patriarchal life of uncivilized peoples, Ryleev and Kuchelbecker - in the heroic, tyrant-fighting exploits of antiquity.
Romantic poets and writers, for the most part, gravitated towards history and turned to historical material in their works. Romantics, turning to history, saw in it the foundations of national culture, its deep sources. The Romantics not only treasured the historical past, but also based their universal social and historical concepts on it. However, what was significant and genuine for them was not so much the historical fact itself as the poetic interpretation of the fact, not historical reality, but historical and poetic tradition. In relation to historical material, the romantics felt quite free, they treated history freely and poetically. Romantics in history were looking not for reality, but for a dream, not for what was, but for what was desired; they did not so much depict a historical fact as construct it in accordance with their social and aesthetic ideals. All this led to the following features of romanticism: the romantic cult of the poet and poetry, the recognition of the exclusive role of poetry and the poetic principle in life, the affirmation of the high, exclusive, life calling of the poet. From the point of view of the romantics, the poet is akin to the priest and
prophet, he is a philosopher and seer. The Romantics put forward the principle of creativity based on inspiration and asserted the priority of genius in art. In romantic art most of all
free poetic individuality was valued.
Romanticism is a complex historical and literary phenomenon: Zhukovsky understood romanticism differently than Ryleev. Denying life in the forms in which it existed, the romantics either withdrew into themselves, creating their own “anti-world”, a world of dreams and poetry (Zhukovsky’s romanticism); or the romantics challenged modern society, rebelled against it, simultaneously asserting the high rights of the human person to freedom and the active, heroic principle in man (the romanticism of the Decembrist poets). Russian romanticism is a completely original phenomenon. The development of Russian romanticism was greatly influenced by national identity. However, romanticism in Russia did not develop in isolation; it was in close interaction with European romanticism, although it did not repeat it. Russian romanticism was part of pan-European romanticism, therefore, it could not help but accept some of its generic properties and signs. The general experience of European romanticism also participated in the process of the formation of Russian romantic consciousness and Russian romantic art. But at the same time, for the emergence of romanticism in Russia, in addition to general reasons, there were also reasons of our own, internal, which determined the individual forms of Russian romanticism and its features. Apollo Grigoriev wrote: “Romanticism, and moreover ours, Russian... romanticism was not a simple literary, but a life phenomenon, an entire era of moral development, an era that had its own special color, carrying out a special view in life... Let the romantic trend come from outside, from Western life and Western literatures, it found in Russian nature soil ready for its perception, and therefore was reflected in completely original phenomena...” Russian romanticism was associated with Western literatures and Western life, but was not completely and entirely determined by them, it also had its own special origins. If European romanticism was socially conditioned by the ideas and practices of the bourgeois revolution, then the sources of romantic sentiment and romantic art in Russia should be sought primarily in the Patriotic War of 1812, in its consequences for Russian life and Russian social consciousness. It was then that the ground appeared for both Decembrist and romantic moods.