Russian LiteratureRussian Literature

Pushkin, Gogol, and Pushkin, Gogol, and Dead SoulsDead Souls

Russia TodayRussia Today

Russia to 1800Russia to 1800

Having adopted the light of Christianity from Having adopted the light of Christianity from Byzantium, [Russia] took part in neither the Byzantium, [Russia] took part in neither the political revolutions, nor the intellectual political revolutions, nor the intellectual activity of the Roman Catholic world. The great activity of the Roman Catholic world. The great epoch of the Renaissance had no influence epoch of the Renaissance had no influence here. ... Russia had a lofty calling . ... Its here. ... Russia had a lofty calling . ... Its boundless plains swallowed the force of the boundless plains swallowed the force of the Mongols and stopped their onslaught at the Mongols and stopped their onslaught at the edge of Europe. ... During the epoch of storms edge of Europe. ... During the epoch of storms and great changes, tsars and boyars agreed and great changes, tsars and boyars agreed about one thing: the necessity of bringing about one thing: the necessity of bringing Russia closer to Europe.Russia closer to Europe.

--Alexander Pushkin, 1836 --Alexander Pushkin, 1836

Russia to 1800Russia to 1800

1703: Peter the Great founds St. Petersburg, 1703: Peter the Great founds St. Petersburg, officially cementing Russia’s desire to become officially cementing Russia’s desire to become EuropeanEuropean

Throughout the 18th Century, Russia, fought Throughout the 18th Century, Russia, fought and won wars against Sweden, Turkey, and (in and won wars against Sweden, Turkey, and (in the early 19th century) Francethe early 19th century) France

In about 100 years, Russia went from a In about 100 years, Russia went from a backwards nation of farmers to the largest nation backwards nation of farmers to the largest nation on Earthon Earth

Russian Literature Before Russian Literature Before 18001800

Russia’s contribution Russia’s contribution to art before 1800 to art before 1800 consists of two things: consists of two things: several “Lives of several “Lives of Saints” (Russian-Saints” (Russian-style) and icons by style) and icons by Andrei Rublev (Right)Andrei Rublev (Right)

Literature before 1800 Literature before 1800 largely consisted of largely consisted of imitation of French imitation of French poetry and prosepoetry and prose

Alexander PushkinAlexander Pushkin 1799-18371799-1837 Russian literature really began Russian literature really began

with Pushkinwith Pushkin Pushkin did for Russian what Pushkin did for Russian what

Shakespeare did for English by Shakespeare did for English by adding scores of words and adding scores of words and phrases to the lexicon, virtually phrases to the lexicon, virtually reinventing the languagereinventing the language

Pushkin also introduced new Pushkin also introduced new styles and genres to Russian and styles and genres to Russian and introduced European authors to introduced European authors to the Russian peoplethe Russian people

Finally, he mixed foreign elements Finally, he mixed foreign elements with natural speech, focusing on with natural speech, focusing on folk tales and common peoplefolk tales and common people

On PushkinOn PushkinEvery nation has national symbols reflecting its self-awareness. For the people of Every nation has national symbols reflecting its self-awareness. For the people of Russia Pushkin, his prose and poetry, is a cornerstone of national culture, first of all Russia Pushkin, his prose and poetry, is a cornerstone of national culture, first of all because with his works he actually built the contemporary Russian language, and the because with his works he actually built the contemporary Russian language, and the language for a nation is perhaps the main property distinguishing it from other language for a nation is perhaps the main property distinguishing it from other nations. He was a brilliant poet indeed. What is this reflected in? First of all in the nations. He was a brilliant poet indeed. What is this reflected in? First of all in the surprisingly precise poetic expressions abounding in aphorisms. In this sense surprisingly precise poetic expressions abounding in aphorisms. In this sense Pushkin's language is amazing, because it is lapidary and polysemantic. Many of his Pushkin's language is amazing, because it is lapidary and polysemantic. Many of his phrases have become catch-words. They penetrated the consciousness of even phrases have become catch-words. They penetrated the consciousness of even those people who read his works not too attentively. Nevertheless this is our habitual those people who read his works not too attentively. Nevertheless this is our habitual linguistic environment, this is what people take in with their mother's milk from linguistic environment, this is what people take in with their mother's milk from generation to generation.generation to generation.

It's also important that Pushkin wrote culturally significant works for all age groups. It's also important that Pushkin wrote culturally significant works for all age groups. Children read his tales, adolescents his romantic poems and novels, adults his Children read his tales, adolescents his romantic poems and novels, adults his philosophic dramas. Pushkin accompanies us, the Russians, from cradle to grave. philosophic dramas. Pushkin accompanies us, the Russians, from cradle to grave. Pushkin is viewed as the forefather of new Russian literature. He marked the Pushkin is viewed as the forefather of new Russian literature. He marked the beginning of almost all modern genres of Russian prose: from travel notes and beginning of almost all modern genres of Russian prose: from travel notes and essays to historic and philosophical novels. essays to historic and philosophical novels.

Aleksei Anikin, Aleksei Anikin, http://www.vor.ru/culture/pushk200_eng.htmlhttp://www.vor.ru/culture/pushk200_eng.html

“The Bronze Horseman”“The Bronze Horseman”

About statue (right) of About statue (right) of Peter the Great in St. Peter the Great in St. PetersburgPetersburg

Focuses on majesty of Focuses on majesty of capital city vs. struggles capital city vs. struggles by average people to by average people to build that city in the build that city in the middle of a swampmiddle of a swamp

It is, essentially, Russia’s It is, essentially, Russia’s national poem by its national poem by its national poetnational poet

Nikolai GogolNikolai Gogol 1809-18521809-1852 Born in Ukraine to humble familyBorn in Ukraine to humble family Early work consisted of stories about Early work consisted of stories about

Ukraine peasant life (often with Ukraine peasant life (often with supernatural elements thrown in)supernatural elements thrown in)

His first collection of stories, His first collection of stories, Evenings Evenings on a Farm Near Dikankaon a Farm Near Dikanka (1832), was (1832), was an instant success. an instant success.

In these stories, he settled on a key to In these stories, he settled on a key to his style: mixing the humorous and the his style: mixing the humorous and the macabremacabre

Later stories would use humor, the Later stories would use humor, the macabre and the supernatural in more macabre and the supernatural in more modern settings like St. Petersburg modern settings like St. Petersburg (see his famous stories “The Nose” (see his famous stories “The Nose” and “The Overcoat”) and “The Overcoat”)

He also wrote several well-received plays, including “The Inspector General”

PoshlostPoshlost PoshlostPoshlost is an untranslatable Russian word for “banality, with a is an untranslatable Russian word for “banality, with a

characteristic national flavoring of metaphysics and high morality, characteristic national flavoring of metaphysics and high morality, and a peculiar conjunction of the sexual and the spiritual. This one and a peculiar conjunction of the sexual and the spiritual. This one word encompasses triviality, vulgarity, sexual promiscuity, and a word encompasses triviality, vulgarity, sexual promiscuity, and a lack of spirituality. The war against poshlost is a cultural obsession lack of spirituality. The war against poshlost is a cultural obsession of the Russian and Soviet intelligensia from the 1860s to the 1960s” of the Russian and Soviet intelligensia from the 1860s to the 1960s” (Boym, 1994)(Boym, 1994)

Term “poshlost” is also defined as “self-satisfied inferiority,” both Term “poshlost” is also defined as “self-satisfied inferiority,” both moral and spiritual (though that might be too much of a moral and spiritual (though that might be too much of a simplification).simplification).

““He [Pushkin] used to say of me that no other writer before me He [Pushkin] used to say of me that no other writer before me possessed the gift to expose so brightly life’s possessed the gift to expose so brightly life’s poshlustposhlust, to depict so , to depict so powerfully the powerfully the poshlustposhlust of a of a poshlustyposhlusty man in such a way that man in such a way that everybody’s eyes would be opened wide to all the petty trivia that everybody’s eyes would be opened wide to all the petty trivia that often escapes our attention” (Gogol, 1843)often escapes our attention” (Gogol, 1843)

Dead SoulsDead Souls Volume One was published in 1842Volume One was published in 1842 The idea for the novel was suggested by Pushkin (Gogol’s friend The idea for the novel was suggested by Pushkin (Gogol’s friend

and champion)and champion) He wrote much of the novel while living in Italy (he mentions this at He wrote much of the novel while living in Italy (he mentions this at

certain points, like the end of Volume One)certain points, like the end of Volume One) The novel was referred to both as “an epic poem in prose” and “a The novel was referred to both as “an epic poem in prose” and “a

novel in verse” (latter a homage to Pushkin’s novel in verse” (latter a homage to Pushkin’s Eugene OneginEugene Onegin)) Dead Souls originally was supposed to be three parts in length, like Dead Souls originally was supposed to be three parts in length, like

Dante’s Dante’s Divine ComedyDivine Comedy. Gogol never got to the third part, and most . Gogol never got to the third part, and most of part two was destroyed by the author days before his death. of part two was destroyed by the author days before his death.

Structure is clear, though: Chichikov journeys through “hell” in Structure is clear, though: Chichikov journeys through “hell” in volume one, is punished and exonerated in the “purgatory” of volume one, is punished and exonerated in the “purgatory” of volume two, and is redeemed in the “paradise” of volume three.volume two, and is redeemed in the “paradise” of volume three.

What are souls?What are souls?Souls=serfsSouls=serfs

Similar to slavery--in that landowners technically “owned” their serfsSimilar to slavery--in that landowners technically “owned” their serfs Serfs worked for their masters, but they also worked their own land (and they did Serfs worked for their masters, but they also worked their own land (and they did

have their own land)have their own land) Serfs paid taxes to their masters (usually in the form of food and other items), but Serfs paid taxes to their masters (usually in the form of food and other items), but

they were also free to make money on their own and possess items for their own they were also free to make money on their own and possess items for their own benefit (unlike slaves in the US)benefit (unlike slaves in the US)

Serfs were not allowed to travel without their master’s permissionSerfs were not allowed to travel without their master’s permission Serfs in novel often called “muzhiks,” which is where we get the word “hicks”Serfs in novel often called “muzhiks,” which is where we get the word “hicks” The Russian serf system was officially abolished on February 19, 1861--two years The Russian serf system was officially abolished on February 19, 1861--two years

before Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing US slavesbefore Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing US slaves The end of serfdom, however, didn’t really change people’s lives in Russia, as it really The end of serfdom, however, didn’t really change people’s lives in Russia, as it really

meant that instead of paying taxes to masters, the people of Russia suddenly had to meant that instead of paying taxes to masters, the people of Russia suddenly had to pay taxes to the statepay taxes to the state

The reasons for the end of serfdom were economic and political: Russia needed The reasons for the end of serfdom were economic and political: Russia needed workers for modern factories, and they needed soldiers to fight wars. The serf workers for modern factories, and they needed soldiers to fight wars. The serf system had kept Russia backwards for far too long, so its end had to happen in order system had kept Russia backwards for far too long, so its end had to happen in order for progress to be made. Ironically, that “progress” led, in 1917, to the Russian for progress to be made. Ironically, that “progress” led, in 1917, to the Russian Revolution and (later) the USSR.Revolution and (later) the USSR.

Pavel Ivanovich ChichikovPavel Ivanovich Chichikov

Why three names? Explain Russian Why three names? Explain Russian naming conventions.naming conventions.

What was Gogol’s intention in naming his What was Gogol’s intention in naming his main character “Chichikov”?main character “Chichikov”? Why, in other words, is it funny?Why, in other words, is it funny?

What do we learn about him in the first What do we learn about him in the first chapter? chapter?

How does our impression of Chichikov How does our impression of Chichikov change in the final chapter of volume one?change in the final chapter of volume one?

Other CharactersOther Characters

ManilovManilov KorobochkaKorobochka NozdryovNozdryov SobakevichSobakevich PlyushkinPlyushkin SeliphanSeliphan PetrushkaPetrushka