Russian literature includes some of the greatest masterpieces ever written. Style, content, symbolism and sharp character analysis contribute to the excellence of Russian writing. There are many different time periods in which literature was written, but perhaps the most important was the classical movement, the age of romanticism, and the age of realism. These three time periods produced many famous novels from the ingenious minds of Russian writers.
The classical movement stressed the importance of reason and analysis in the perception of life. This period emerged in the 1740's and stressed strict rules for composition, style, and subject matter. One famous Russian classicist was Alexander Samarkov, whose works included fables, plays, satires, and songs. Fables were the most popular form of literature during this time period. Ivan Krylov's work reflected Russia's everyday language, ridiculing ignorance and vanity through humorous characterizations.
Romanticism stressed emotions in literature. The movement developed as a revolt against the logic and formality used by classical writers in the period before them. Romantic characteristics began to appear in Russian literature in the late 1700's , but it did not become a significant influence until the early 1800's. Sentimentalism was one of the strongest Romantic trends that emphasized the importance of feelings and imagination. During the period of early Romanticism, poets combined classical forms with romantic sentiments. They also showed a greater concern for individual freedom and an interest in a broader range of subjects. Finally, late romanticism featured a new freedom of form and style, and an admiration for feelings and passions. This movement in the 1830's stressed the deep significance of dreams, visions, and fantasies.
In the 1840's, realism emerged as an important literary trend in Russia. The literature of this time period incorporated both romantic and realistic traits. Early realists combined both romantic sentiments and feelings with realistic representations of social and political problems. During the 1860's and the 1870's, Russian realists began to write about social conditions in their works. Count Leo N. Tolstoy, perhaps Russia's greatest writer of realistic fiction, showed a deep concern for the natural stages of human development, such as birth, marriage, and death. Fyodor Dostoevsky was another great writer whose works are famous for their dramatic portrayals of inner conflicts. His characters experience a spiritual struggle between their belief toward God and their senses of pride and self-centeredness.
Russian writers created many masterpieces while using all literary forms to convey their thoughts and opinions. The Classical movement, the age of Romanticism, and the age of Realism contain many authors who have created classics. Their use of style, content, and characterization have contributed to works readers will enjoy for years to come.