Article

Name: Remarks on the protagonist in Russian classical literature between 1825 and 1925

Authors: Anton Repoň, Igor Cintula

Matej Bel University, Banska Bystrica, Slovak Republic

In the section Study of literature

Abstract:

This paper examines the main types of literary protagonists in Russian classical literature (1825–1925), focusing on key aspects that shaped their evolution over time. Through a comparative-historical and typological analysis, different types of the central literary hero are investigated. The analysis draws on materials from the personal libraries of the authors, excluding electronic sources, as well as books from the Alexander Solzhenitsyn Library collection at the Department of Slavic Languages, Faculty of Philosophy, Matej Bel University. A critical analysis of the models of the “useless person” and the “little man” traces the development of the protagonist up to its transformation in the early 20th century, with examples taken from the works of Ivan Turgenev and Ivan Shmelev. The article offers a scholarly discussion of this specific period in the evolution of the Russian literary hero and proposes several original theses and revisions. By investigating these literary archetypes, the study also aims to refine existing conclusions from the perspective of foreign literary scholars, potentially broadening and deepening the discourse while introducing new viewpoints. Ultimately, the study seeks to stimulate further debate on defining the central protagonist in Russian literature between 1825 and 1925.

Keywords: Russian literature of the 19th century, little man, useless person, the main character, Ivan Turgenev

Bibliography:

Belinskiy V. G. Izbrannye filosofskie proizvedeniya: V 2 t. [Selected philosophical works: In 2 vols.]. Moscow, Mysl’, 1979, vol. 2, 512 p.

Belinskiy V. G. Sochineniya Aleksandra Pushkina [The works of Alexander Pushkin]. Moscow, Sov. Rossiya, 1984, 94 p.

Belyy A. Masterstvo Gogolya [Gogol’s mastery]. Moscow, Leningrad, Gos. izd. khudozh. lit., 1934, 324 p.

Chervenyak A. Vayanskiy i Turgenev [Vayansky and Turgenev]. Bratislava, Izd. SAV, 1968, 193 p.

Garaev Ya. Realizm: iskusstvo i istina [Realism: art and truth]. Baku, Elm, 1980, 259 p.

Gey N. K. Khudozhestvennost’ literatury. Poetika. Stil’ [Artistry of literature. Poetics. Style]. Moscow, Nauka, 1975, 472 p.

Dognal Y. Malen’kiy chelovek i ego kontakt s ideologiey v I. Shmeleve [The little man and his contact with ideology in I. Shmelev]. Slavitsa Litterariya (SPFFBU, X). 2008, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 63–71.

Khantses E. Lishniy chelovek v russkoy literature [The Superfluous Man in Russian Literature]. In: Sputnik po russkoy literature [A companion to Russian literature]. London, New York, Routledge, 2001, pp. 111–122.

Ladygin M. B. Literatura: novyy polnyy spravochnik dlya podgotovki k EGE [Literature: a new complete reference book for preparation for the USE]. Moscow, AST, 2018, 350 p.

Mann Yu. V. Poetika Gogolya. Variatsii k teme [Gogol’s poetics. Variations to the theme]. Moscow, Coda, 1996, 474 p.

Markovich V. M. Chelovek v romanakh I. S. Turgeneva [Man in the novels of I. S. Turgenev]. Leningrad, LSU, 1975, 152 p.

Matveeva Yu. V. Russkaya literatura zarubezh’ya: tri volny emigratsii 20 veka [Russian literature abroad: three waves of emigration of the 20th century]. Ekaterinburg, Ural. uni., 2017, 92 p.

Peshkova M. Ideya “novogo cheloveka” v russkoy literature 1920-kh i 1930-kh godov [The idea of the “new man” in Russian literature of the 1920s and 1930s]. Praga, ZČU, 2012, 212 p.

Shmelev I. S. Povesti i rasskazy [Novels and stories]. Moscow, Goslitizdat, 1960, 462 p.

Sinyakova L. N. “Lishniy chelovek” v epokhu 1860-kh godov: kharakter glavnogo geroya romana A. F. Pisemskogo “Vzbalamuchennoe more” [“Superfluous man” in the era of the 1860s: the character of the protagonist of the novel by A. F. Pisemsky “Stirred Sea”. F. Pisemsky’s The Stirred Sea]. Vestnik NSU. Series: History and Philology. 2007, no. 2, pp. 81–90.

Smirnova M. Yu. Sovremennaya retseptsiya povesti I. S. “Shmeleva Grazhdanin Ukleykin” v Rossii i v Vostochnoy Evrope [Modern reception of the story by I. S. Shmelev “Citizen Ukleikin” in Russia and in Eastern Europe]. The world of science, culture and education. 2018. no. 2, pp. 622–626.

Toporov V. N. “Bednaya Liza” Karamzina. Opyt prochteniya k dvukhsotlshtiyu so dnya vykhoda v svet [“Poor Liza” by Karamzin. Experience of reading to the bicentennial of the publication]. Moscow, RSUH, 1995, 512 p.

Turgenev I. S. Gamlet i Don Kikhot [Hamlet and Don Quixote]. Bratislava, Tatran, 1977, 773 p.

Turgenev I. S. Polnoe sobranie sochineniy i pisem v 30-i tomakh [Complete collection of works and letters in 30 volumes]. Moscow, Nauka, 1960.

Vayl’ P. Smert’ geroya [Death of a hero]. Znamya. 1984. no. 11, pp. 223–233.