Eternal themes in Russian literature. Eternal questions of Russian literature

Includes the ability to write texts correctly and competently. Are you familiar with the situation when you realize with horror that you cannot write anything? Or are thoughts spinning in your head, but not poured out on paper? Sometimes writing an essay can be a real nightmare. We will show you how to make your life better and successfully pass the literature exam.

In order to successfully complete the most insidious version of the Unified State Exam in literature or write a good essay, you need not only to know a standard set of definitions such as “kinds, genres and types of literature” or “image of the author”, “literary-historical process”, etc., but also be able to navigate the themes of literary works.

The bulk of texts from the school curriculum are works of Russian classics of the 19th century. We mean Pushkin, Lermontov, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and other masters of words. Speaking about their thematic originality, it should be noted that classical literature mainly touches on the so-called “eternal themes”. And if you learn to understand this and think properly, then consider half the exam passed.

Most of the works touch upon traditional problems, stable eternal themes that have interested man since the very moment of his appearance. And new generations of writers endow reasoning with their own meaning.

So, people have been concerned for centuries with the topics of life, death, love, hatred, humility, pride, etc. For example, Dostoevsky in Crime and Punishment shows the restless Rodion Raskolnikov, who cannot find harmony with the world around him and commits a crime. His “Am I a trembling creature or do I have the right” touches on the eternal theme of morality, the problem of a person’s choice of one path or another.

Another question of interest to the classics is the search for a “hero of the times,” an image of a person reflecting spiritual quests in the 19th century. In this context, writers are concerned with the problem of a special person, a lone hero who is not accepted by society. It is touched upon, for example, by Lermontov’s novels “A Hero of Our Time,” Turgenev’s “Fathers and Sons,” and Pushkin’s “Eugene Onegin.”

Literature in the 19th century was generally fixated on searches, the desire to find not only the hero of a generation, but also moral ideals, to understand the meaning of life, to get closer to the fundamentals of the existence of the universe, etc. Thus, the classics tried to answer the fundamental questions of human existence.

Therefore, we recommend that you first dive into these problems, and then learn to reflect. Then speedy memorization of the plots of school classics may disappear altogether, because in any exam in literature, the Unified State Exam or essay, the main thing is, after all, knowledge not of the content, but of the problems of the texts. In other words, their essences.

Composition

Russian classical literature of the 19th century is a literature of “eternal themes.” Russian writers sought to answer complex questions of existence: about the meaning of life, about happiness, about the Motherland, about human nature, about the laws of life and the Universe, about God... But, as people with an active life and social position, Russian classics could not stand aside from the current problems of his time. In this regard, “eternal themes” in Russian literature were expressed, it seems to me, through the search for a “hero of the time.”

Thus, “Woe from Wit” by A. S. Griboyedov reflects the eternal problem of “fathers” and “children”. Alexander Andreevich Chatsky protests against the old orders that have taken root in the Russian nobility. The hero of the comedy fights for “new” laws: freedom, intelligence, culture, patriotism.

Arriving at Famusov’s house, Chatsky dreams of the daughter of this rich master, Sophia. But here only disappointments and blows await the hero. Firstly, it turns out that Famusov’s daughter loves someone else. Secondly, that the people in this master’s house are strangers to the hero. He cannot agree with their views on life.

Chatsky's position in comedy is unenviable. His struggle is difficult and persistent, but the victory of the new, according to Griboyedov, is inevitable. Chatsky’s words will spread, be repeated everywhere and create their own storm. They are already of great importance among the “new”, progressive people. Thus, the writer resolves the issue of “fathers” and “children” in favor of the children.

Another Russian writer who worked in the second half of the 19th century - I. S. Turgenev - also touched on this eternal question. His novel “Fathers and Sons” solves the problem of intergenerational relationships in a slightly different way. From Turgenev’s point of view, only continuity of generations, continuity of culture, traditions and views, a reasonable combination of old and new, can lead to positive development.

Using the example of the main character - Evgeny Vasilyevich Bazarov - the writer shows that denial alone, without the desire to build something new, only leads to destruction and death. This is not a fruitful path. And denying your human nature is absolutely absurd. Bazarov, who imagines himself to be a superman and despises “noble nonsense” about love and feelings, suddenly falls in love. For him, this becomes a real test, which the hero, alas, cannot stand; at the end of the novel he dies. Thus, Turgenev shows the inconsistency of Bazarov’s nihilistic theory, and once again emphasizes the need for continuity of generations, the value of the culture of ancestors, the need for harmony and gradualism in everything.

A. S. Pushkin’s novel “Eugene Onegin” also touches on many “eternal themes”: love, happiness, freedom of choice, the meaning of life, the role of moral values ​​in human life.

Almost from the very beginning of the novel, Pushkin shows the “superficiality” of his hero. Onegin is a fan of fashion, he does and reads only what can show off in high society. The hero learned early to be a hypocrite, to pretend, to deceive in order to achieve his goal. But his soul always remained empty, because Onegin’s nature is much deeper, more interesting, richer than the world required.

The search for the meaning of life begins, which yielded results only after a terrible tragedy - the murder of the young poet Lensky by Onegin in a duel. This event turned everything upside down in the hero’s soul, and his moral rebirth began. The fact that the hero has changed is evidenced by the eighth chapter of the novel. Onegin became independent of the opinion of the world, he turned into an independent strong personality, capable of living the way he wants, and not the high society of St. Petersburg, capable of loving and suffering.

In the person of Tatyana Larina, Pushkin shows us an example of moral purity, nobility, sincerity, spontaneity, independence, and the ability to have strong feelings.

If in the finale of “Eugene Onegin” there is hope for the hero’s happiness, then the main character of M. Yu. Lermontov’s novel “A Hero of Our Time” does not find his place or happiness in this life.

Pechorin is disappointed in his contemporary world and in his generation: “We are no longer capable of making great sacrifices, either for the good of humanity, or even for our own happiness.” Such thoughts lead Grigory Alexandrovich to boredom, indifference and even despair. It is the state of apathy and blues that makes Pechorin lonely. He has nowhere to hide from this feeling; it completely absorbs the hero.

Pechorin lost faith in man, in his significance in this world. Inevitable boredom gives rise to disbelief in love and friendship in the hero. These feelings may have appeared at a certain point in his life, but still did not bring Pechorin happiness. This person feels “superfluous” in his society, in general, “superfluous” in life. As a result, Pechorin dies. Lermontov shows us that in a world of disharmony there is no place for a person who with all his soul, albeit unconsciously, strives for harmony.

The desire for harmony with oneself and the world distinguishes another hero of Russian literature of the 19th century - Rodion Raskolnikov. In search of this harmony, he conducts an experiment on himself - he violates the moral law, killing the old pawnbroker and her sister.

The main character’s mistake is that he sees the cause of evil in human nature itself, and considers the law that gives the powerful the right to do evil to be eternal. Instead of fighting against the immoral system and its laws, Raskolnikov follows them.

For violating the moral law within himself, the hero suffers inevitable punishment. It lies, first of all, in the torments of his own conscience. Gradually, Rodion comes to understand his terrible mistake, to awareness and repentance. But the final transformation of the hero also occurs outside the scope of the novel.

The heroes of Tolstoy’s epic “War and Peace” are also in search of themselves, their path, and harmony. Thus, Pierre Bezukhov, having overcome the process of painful disappointments and mistakes, ultimately finds the meaning of life.

The hero strives with all his might for the light, for the truth. This is what accidentally brings him to the Masonic lodge. In addition, Pierre's activities appeal to the peasants: he plans to open hospitals and schools for them. But the most important stage of the hero's life begins with the invasion of Napoleon's troops. Pierre could not stand aside when his fatherland was in such terrible danger. It is here, in the war, that Pierre becomes close to the common people, realizes their wisdom, the value of their way of life, their philosophy.

Acquaintance with Platon Karataev in French captivity helped him penetrate deeper into the worldview of the patriarchal peasantry. Pierre realized the main thing: a person does not need so much to be happy. The cause of suffering and torment of the human spirit most often lies in acquisitiveness and excessive greed.

Thus, all Russian literature of the 19th century can be called the literature of the search for the Hero. Writers sought to see in him a person capable of serving his homeland, bringing benefit to it with his deeds and thoughts, and also simply capable of being happy and harmonious, developing and moving forward.

In the process of searching for the “hero of the time,” Russian writers sought to solve the “eternal questions” of existence: the meaning of life, human nature, the laws of the Universe, the existence of God, and so on. Each of the classics solves these problems in their own way. But what remains unchanged in general for Russian classical literature is the constant desire to find answers to fundamental questions, without the solution of which it is impossible for a single person to exist.

Essay on the topic: Eternal motives in world literature

But there are problems that concern all people at all times, regardless of their nationality, living conditions, or social status. Each generation again and again poses deep philosophical questions to itself: what is life and death, what is love, how the world and man work, what is the meaning of life, what values ​​are above all, what is God... These questions are reflected, including , and in literature they are called “eternal motives”.

One of the generally recognized geniuses of world literature who revealed the depths of the human soul is the Englishman W. Shakespeare, who lived in the 16th century. His plays are deeply philosophical works that touch on important issues of existence. Thus, Shakespeare’s tragedy “Hamlet” depicts an eternal conflict, the confrontation between man and the world around him.

The hero of the tragedy, the young prince Hamlet, discovers something terrible: he learns that his father was poisoned by his own brother in the struggle for the throne. Hamlet's mother, Queen Gertrude, also took part in this crime.

The young hero is terrified and completely confused. He is disappointed in the whole world and all people - what can you expect from them if those closest to you turned out to be insidious and cynical traitors?

Thus, Hamlet finds himself face to face with an unjust world, or rather, with his illusions about this world. He begins to doubt the value and purpose of life in general - if evil is so strong and insurmountable, is there any point in living?

But gradually Hamlet understands and accepts his mission - to “straighten” the dislocated joints of “Time”. He enters into the fight against Evil, wanting to restore justice, the “course of Time” and the relationship between Light and Darkness. As a result of this confrontation, the hero resolves many issues for himself, the main one of which is the question of the essence of death. As a result, he comes to the realization that death turns a person into nothing, and life is an eternal contradiction between reality and ideals.

The hero of another classic of world literature is I.V. Goethe, the scientist Faust, also sought to understand the essence of life and death, as well as to learn all the secrets of the Universe. What is the meaning of human life? What is the purpose of beauty and what is beauty? What is creativity and inspiration? What is love? Where does good end and evil begin? What is the human soul and is there any value more valuable than it?

All these questions arise before Faust in the process of his research. The hero experiences everything himself: he sinks to the very bottom, communicating with the devil, and rises to the very heights, experiencing love for Margarita. During his life's journey, he makes many mistakes, but in the end he comes to realize the meaning of his life - creative work for the benefit of people.

In another Shakespeare tragedy - “Romeo and Juliet” - the author solves the question of what love is, what its power and meaning in life are. Using the example of his heroes, the great Englishman shows that this feeling is beautiful in all its manifestations.

All people are capable of experiencing love, regardless of age and social status, it has different incarnations and guises (the love of the Nurse for Juliet, parents for their children, the love of a man and a woman, the love of friends, the love of a Duke for his people, the love of a priest for his flock, finally, God’s love for people). Moreover, this feeling is vital for everyone, because the whole world is based on it.

Shakespeare, in the spirit of the Renaissance traditions, says that all manifestations of love, both spiritual and physical, are beautiful. By denying any of these components, people deliberately impoverish themselves.

Using the example of the feelings of Romeo and Juliet, we understand that love is a powerful force that can reconcile irreconcilable enemies (the Montague and Capulet families) and overcome any intrigues, even death itself.

Another classic of world literature - the Frenchman J. B. Moliere (18th century) - in his comedy "Tartuffe" deeply revealed another "eternal" theme - the theme of Hypocrisy and its destructive power.

The writer shows that lies are an integral part of human nature and human society. But if there is an innocent lie or a lie for the good (Elmira’s tricks, Dorina’s speeches), then there is also a destructive lie, crippling destinies, encroaching on the most sacred. The bearer of just such a lie and its other manifestations (hypocrisy, hypocrisy) is the saintly Tartuffe in the comedy.

This man, skillfully deceiving and hypocritical, achieves his own, purely selfish, goals - to get Orgon's wealth, have fun with his wife Elmira, and so on. For Tartuffe, nothing is sacred or inviolable - he is ready to slander, humiliate, destroy everything in his path, mercilessly and methodically. Thus, this hero is the embodiment of absolute Evil. But Moliere’s characters, unlike Shakespeare’s Hamlet, defeat Tartuffe, which means, albeit temporarily, they defeat Evil itself. In this they are helped, of course, by Good, which is interpreted by the playwright in the spirit of the Enlightenment - in the person of the state and the enlightened monarch.

Thus, eternal motifs in world literature help illuminate important aspects of human existence associated with deep philosophical problems. It has always been important for a person to understand who he is, where he is and where he is going. World classics answer these questions, help the reader find his place in life, understand and assimilate enduring values, and set his priorities.

We live, our life never stands still, time passes irrevocably. Throughout life, people have many questions, and sometimes we find answers to these questions in books. A book that was written many centuries ago remains relevant today. Many topics and questions that were raised then still concern us now.

Love remains an eternal question in Russian literature. All writers describe love differently. For some, love is a bright feeling, like A.S. Pushkin. With his poems, Pushkin brings love to the skies, but for some, love is just a moment that was, and now it is no longer there. We can notice such instant love in the stories of I.A.

Bunina. In all his works, in my opinion, it is not love that is shown at all, but falling in love. After all, only falling in love cannot last forever, just a moment; such falling in love can be called a mistake in our lives, which each of us has probably experienced. Such “love” is given to us for experience. And if we talk about love, about real love, then such love will last forever, it is this kind of love that we carry throughout our entire lives. She may be unhappy, undivided, but she is, was and will be. Returning to the work of A.S. Pushkin, his most famous work about love is the novel in verse “Eugene Onegin”. This work beautifully describes the feelings, emotions, experiences and worries of the characters. A.S. Pushkin managed to convey to us the main meaning of the novel. “We don’t keep what we have, but when we lose it we cry.” Onegin was late, he discovered this great feeling of love too late. And for this I punished myself with loneliness. And Tatyana loves and will love Onegin, while remaining faithful to her husband. Here they are, the heroes of the novel, loving each other, but not having a single chance to be together. Tatyana will be unhappy for the rest of her life, because her love is not at all her husband, who will also remain unhappy, because he feels that Tatyana loves a completely different person. Onegin is also unhappy, who at first did not accept love, and then began to demand it, now from a married woman. This is life, this is love.

Of course, it is very difficult to understand love from novels, poems, even well-written ones, but you can learn a useful lesson for yourself. “They’re probably doing the right thing by putting love in books, that’s where it belongs.” Reading the works of writers, for example, Kuprin (“Garnet Bracelet”), Tolstoy (“War and Peace”), Sholokhov (“Quiet Don”), we understand what love is like and at what price it is given. Thanks to the writers of those times, we realize that nothing has changed. Love exists now, love is bright and kind, bitter and unhappy. And it’s a great happiness if you managed to feel this bright feeling, to feel it the way Tatyana felt for Onegin, the way Natasha felt for Bolkonsky.

Questions about love in Russian literature will remain relevant at all times. People will come back again and again and raise this topic constantly. And everyone will find in works about love something personal, painfully familiar and understandable.

The role of Russian literature is very difficult to overestimate. This role is multifaceted, like literature itself. Gorky wrote: “Our literature is our pride.”

Russian literature is called “the pinnacle of world humanism.” Classical Russian literature is a model for many people. The same Maxim Gorky wrote: “The giant Pushkin is our greatest pride and the most complete expression of the spiritual forces of Russia, and the merciless Gogol towards himself and people, the yearning Lermontov, the sad Turgenev, the angry Nekrasov, the great rebel Tolstoy, ... Dostoevsky, the sorcerer of the language Ostrovsky - not similar to each other, as it can be in our Rus',” and we will add that they are our prophets, teachers, the conscience of the nation.

A person turns to their work, to the work of other Russian writers, all his life: looking for answers to questions that trouble the soul, comprehending the science of relationships between people and genders, learning to live.

Great psychological writers include F. Dostoevsky, L. Tolstoy, A. Chekhov. Using the example of their literary heroes, we understand what good and evil are, what helps a person develop and move on. We understand what temptation is, which leads to the moral fall of a person. By reading their works, we learn to make the right choices in life, understand people and ourselves, and objectively evaluate the world around us.

Belinsky wrote about Turgenev that he was a writer in whose soul “all the sorrow and questions of the Russian people” are in his soul. And also, according to the same Belinsky, this writer has an extraordinary ability to depict pictures of Russian nature. The landscapes he describes instill love for the Motherland and a sense of patriotism. Turgenev's socio-psychological novels reveal the subtle soul of a Russian woman.

Speaking about Russian literature, one cannot help but recall Russian poetry, because the work of many Russian poets is famous throughout the world.

Pushkin... Who doesn't love his work? Children love his fairy tales, a girl in love for the first time, wiping away her tears, reads the poet’s love lyrics, and those who like to contemplate Russian landscapes quote one or another of his poems by heart. True, they have precision in their choice of words and therefore we find ourselves in his work. Reading his works, we believe him, we become better, we correct our mistakes, we learn to love.

How can we not remember the works of Fet and Tyutchev? They are poets and artists of Russian nature. Their creativity plays a big role in the aesthetic education of a person. They awaken in him observation, attentiveness, and a sense of love for nature. “I love a thunderstorm at the beginning of May, When the first thunder of spring, As if frolicking and playing, Rumbles in the blue sky,” Tyutchev wrote simply, but you couldn’t say it better. You not only hear, but also see the timid rumbles of thunder and even smell the first spring thunderstorm. Or “There is in the initial autumn. A short but wonderful time - The whole day is as if crystal, And the evenings are radiant...” - well, how can we say more precisely about the warm period of autumn, “Indian summer”.

Let's remember Nekrasov's work. His understanding of the simple Russian soul, the soul of a Russian woman, is incomparable. The lines of his works are imbued with concern for the fate of the Russian people and awaken in us a feeling of compassion.

All Russian literature teaches us to be human. A person - a personality! Russian literature is our priceless asset, it is the textbook of life from which our parents learned and we learn.