Russian classics top 100. The meaning of Russian classical literature

I'll quit smoking on Monday. Next week I'll start running and join the gym. This weekend I'll clean up my room and find a job. We should do something else, right?

2019 has fallen on our shoulders. It's time to get off the couch, open your eyes, drink mineral water and finally start. I have compiled for you 2 lists of books of world and Russian literature, which you should read at least in 2016, if you have not done so earlier. Let's start, perhaps, with the “boring” Russian classics. Listen!

Fyodor Dostoevsky "The Dream of a Funny Man"

Have you also thought about suicide at least once in your life? If not, then this is not a reason to ignore Dostoevsky’s story. Everyone knows this author purely from the book “Crime and Punishment,” however, in my opinion, in order to fully understand the essence of Dostoevsky, one should start with the story “Dream” funny man" How can one understand the essence of human existence before the last shot in the head? How can you exchange paradise for world wars and hatred of your neighbor? And the main thing is how not to pull the trigger. The end of the story can be entitled with the expression “Cherchez la femme”; if you understand why, then everything was not in vain.

Anton Chekhov "Ward number 6"

What do you think, Russian classics with a shot of vodka goes better? I have a subjective opinion on this matter, but what about the views of Comrade Gromov? How to combine reading books, a glass of vodka, a psychiatric hospital and two brilliant people with completely different and at the same time identical views on existence in this world? This kind of oxymoron permeates the entire story about the sad truth of the cheerful Chekhov. Have you already figured out what to drink with your literature?

Evgeniy Zamyatin “We”

Evgeny Zamyatin can safely be considered the founder of the great genre of dystopia. I am sure that if you chose him, you simply must know such great dystopians as Orrwell and Huxley. If these names mean anything to you, then without even thinking, buy yourself Zamyatin and start devouring it by the tablespoonful. The construction system, coupon relations and all capital letters. Instead of people. Instead of names. Instead of life.

Leo Tolstoy "The Death of Ivan Ilyich"

On the cover of this book I would write in huge red letters: “Caution! Causes frustration, pain and awareness. Sentimental, stupid people are strictly prohibited.” Forget about the hackneyed book "War and Peace", here is a completely different side of Leo Tolstoy, which is worth all the volumes of the huge novel. Trying to find deep semantic subtext in the story “The Death of Ivan Ilyich”, you will miss the most important thing that lies on the surface. A banal, simple truth that is accessible to everyone, eludes us every time. If you found it in the story, and also learned to live by it, my bow and white envy to you.

Ivan Goncharov "Oblomov"

Here's something, and in the novel "Oblomov" it's easier than ever to find yourself. Alas. How wonderful it is to contemplate this life from the outside, when the stupid vanity of this world passes you by. The first love, which for some reason makes you get up from the sofa, obsessive friends who are always trying to drag your lazy ass into the world - how absurd this whole “bubbling life” is. Avoid it, contemplate, think and dream, dream, dream! If you are a like-minded person with this statement, congratulations, your soul mate has been found in the main character of the novel “Oblomov”.

Maxim Gorky "Passion-face"

It was no coincidence that Gorky’s work received such symbolic name“Passion-face”, because the story is impossible to read without trembling in the knees. If you love children too much, don't read. If you are impressionable and emotional, don’t read. If girls with syphilis absolutely disgust you, don’t read. In general, don’t listen to me now, open the book and begin to be afraid of the cruel realities of this life. The social bottom, dirt, vulgarity and yet truly happy, “pure” people in children's and adults' swords about impossible happiness.

Nikolai Gogol "The Overcoat"

A small man against a huge scary society, or how to lose everything that is dear to you, even if it’s a simple overcoat. A stingy official, an unnecessary environment, little happiness in exchange for great disappointment and death as the only logical conclusion. It is through the example of Akakiy Bashmachkin that we will consider a large, weighty and significant problem of society - the theft of an overcoat.

Anton Chekhov "Man in a Case"

How do you maintain relationships with your work colleagues, classmates or friends? I'll recommend one great way increase your sociability - come visit them and remain silent. I give you a 100% guarantee that society will be delighted with you. An umbrella in a case, a watch in a case, a face in a case. A certain shell behind which a person tries to hide, to protect himself from outside world. A man who even managed to stuff his sincere love into a cover and protect it not only from the object of love, but also from himself. So what about maintaining relationships? Shall we keep quiet?

Alexander Pushkin “The Bronze Horseman”

Once again we face a big problem little man, only this time in Pushkin’s work “The Bronze Horseman”. Evgeny, Parasha, Peter and a love story, it would seem, what could be more ideal for the plot romantic drama? But no, this is not “Eugene Onegin”. We break love, we break the city, we break a person, we add a drop to it symbolic image bronze horseman and get the perfect recipe for one of the best poems Pushkin.

Fyodor Dostoevsky "Notes from Underground"

And closing the list of Russian classics will be the one with whom we, in fact, started - the great beloved Dostoevsky. It is no coincidence that I put “Notes from the Underground” in the final place. After all, this work is not just exciting, it is wild in places, so to speak. Increased awareness of being - fatal disease. Activity is the lot of the limited and stupid. If you like these interpretations, then Dostoevsky will suit your taste, and if you have also humiliated prostitutes at least once in your life, then the “underground” will become your favorite place to stay.

About the 10 best foreign classic books read the second part of the list of books for 2016. Love Russian classics.

Works classical literature, undoubtedly, are the foundations: they contain the culture, history, philosophy of the people about whom the authors narrated in their works. Russian literature occupies a fairly significant place in the niche of world classical literature: a huge number of works by Russian authors are read with pleasure abroad. We will try to consider 15 of the most iconic works of Russian classical literature, which everyone should be familiar with.

A.S. Pushkin "Eugene Onegin"

The most famous novel in verse tells us unusual story love between the main character, Evgeny Onegin and Tatyana. Their feelings are born in different time and influence the characters in different ways: having fallen in love first, Tatyana, after an explanation with her beloved, withdraws into herself, but, in essence, remains herself. Onegin’s feeling, which flared up much later, changes him beyond recognition. He appears before the reader full of passion and tenderness, having lost his former coldness and pride and is capable of real, sincere, human feeling. Against the background of the main storyline

The remaining actions of the novel unfold, during which the Russian poet poses a huge number of important problems, such as, for example, the social, everyday and cultural way of the entire Russian society of the early 19th century.

A.N. Ostrovsky "Dowry" An immortal play telling about the sad fate of Russian women, the heartlessness of rich people and the petty-bourgeois character small people

. It was superbly filmed by E. Ryazanov.

Stories by A.P. Chekhov Chekhov wrote many stories, both funny and tragic. Main character Chekhov is an ordinary person with his own daily affairs and worries. The stories “Rothschild’s Violin”, “Ward No. 6”, “The Cure for Hard-drinking”, “The Man in a Case”, “Tears Invisible to the World”, etc. tell us that no one else understood the soul of the Russian person like Chekhov. Despite the genre, Chekhov's stories are precious stone

Russian literature.

A.S. Griboedov "Woe from Wit" The main idea of ​​Griboedov's comedy is expressed in the title of the work. The main character, Chatsky, who returned from abroad, comes to the house of the nobleman Famusov to see his daughter Sophia, his ex-lover . This is where it happens, his rather unpleasant encounter with everything " Famusovsky society

": by Famusov, Sofia, Molchalin, Skalozub themselves, who live fenced off from the world with their stereotypes and long-outdated views on the world. They instantly take Chatsky, a progressive, educated man who looks at the world differently, as crazy and dangerous to society.

The problem of a person who stands out from the stereotypical crowd and because of this is not accepted by society, so acutely posed by Griboyedov, is still relevant to this day. L.N. Tolstoy "Anna Karenina" The main plot line of this novel is tragic story changes Anna's life, she is ready to sacrifice everything for her, but does not see a reciprocal gesture in her direction from her lover. The heroine, forced to struggle with her own feelings and public contempt, decides to throw herself under a train. The problematics of the work are questions about marriage, love and family that concern modern society

no less than at the time of writing this novel.

L.N. Tolstoy "War and Peace" Tolstoy's epic novel describes the life of Russian society during the period Patriotic War with Napoleon, hence the title of the novel. Scenes of war are replaced by scenes of peaceful life, where hundreds acting heroes reveal to readers their character, their spiritual qualities and life values. Among the huge number of heroes, Pierre Bezukhov and Andrei Bolkonsky stand out from the rest, whose names are known even to those who are not familiar with this novel. The first is soft, afraid of committing wrong acts, and non-conflict later becomes a Decembrist. Bolkonsky, presented at the beginning of the novel as cold, tired of the entire society surrounding him, is revealed as a sensitive nature, capable of feats for the sake of his Motherland and for strong feeling towards the woman he loves. This novel

, of course, deserves the attention of any connoisseur of literature for its variety of problems raised and all the brightness and contrast of the described social life.

F.M. Dostoevsky "Crime and Punishment" The plot of the socio-psychological novel is based on the murder of an old money-lender by Rodion Raskolnikov and his subsequent state of mind

, searching for an answer to the question “is he a trembling creature or does he have the right.”

The reader is immediately struck by the problem of poverty raised by the author, which, in part, pushes Raskolnikov to commit a terrible act. But here the author’s idea about faith in goodness and love, about the ability to forgive and about those bright feelings that should suppress cruelty in the struggle for power borders. M.A. Sholokhov "Quiet Don" Sholokhov's novel touches on pictures of the life of the Cossacks, their traditions, customs and life values. Their cruel, strict morals of life make the Cossacks special, and what unfolds against this background

Forbidden love

Gogol’s well-known comedy “The Inspector General” sets as its primary goal ridicule the city authorities, who, having learned about the arrival of the inspector, became seriously worried, and then, in his presence, began to openly grovel before him, missing only one important detail- Khlestakov, whom they mistook for an auditor, turned out to be the most ordinary cunning and deceiver from the street.

The problems of bribery, neglect of one's duties, pettiness and cowardice are highlighted in Gogol's comedy.

N.V. Gogol "Dead Souls"

The book tells about the adventures of Chichikov Pavel Ivanovich, the main character of the poem, a former collegiate adviser posing as a landowner. Chichikov arrives in an unnamed town, a certain provincial “city N”, and immediately tries to gain the trust of all any important inhabitants of the city, which he successfully succeeds in doing. The hero becomes an extremely welcome guest at balls and dinners. The townspeople of the unnamed city have no idea about Chichikov’s true goals. And its goal is to buy up or acquire free of charge dead peasants who, according to the census, were still listed as living among local landowners, and then register them in their own name as living.

M.Yu. Lermontov "Hero of Our Time"

We will talk about the spiritual world of man. This topic is well covered thanks to the contradictory image of Pechorin. This person is not the most pleasant character, not always noble deeds, but also a very difficult fate. Someone may condemn him for his treatment of Bela, Maksim Maksimych and the princess, someone empathizes with him, especially after his monologue about the difficulty of his fate in “Princess Mary”. Pechorin is a person who is in deep conflict with society, but at the same time, a person who cannot but arouse admiration from this same society for the strength of his personality.

I.S. Turgenev "Fathers and Sons"

The novel became iconic for its time, and the image of the main character Evgeniy Bazarov was perceived by young people as an example to follow. Ideals such as uncompromisingness, lack of admiration for authorities and old truths, the priority of the useful over the beautiful were accepted by the people of that time and were reflected in Bazarov’s worldview.

I.S. Turgenev "Notes of a Hunter" The classic hunted a lot in the Oryol province. They met him there different people , he followed the life of the Russian people, which he describes in his book. This collection of stories published in 1847-1851 in the Sovremennik magazine and published in 1852. Three stories were written and added by the author to the collection much later.

M.A. Bulgakov "The Master and Margarita"

The main theme of the novel “The Master and Margarita” is the search for truth, the search for oneself, one’s personality, one’s direction, life path. The Master’s novel is presented here as truth, but whoever comprehends and finds the truth inevitably becomes mentally ill. One of the main ideas in the novel is also the struggle between good and evil, which affects all the heroes of the novel, intertwining the genres of fiction, satire and philosophy. Although the novel was published in Soviet time

, it has become an undisputed classic.

M.A. Bulgakov "Heart of a Dog" At the heart of the story " dog's heart

" - a story about how Professor Preobrazhensky decides to transplant a human pituitary gland and ovaries into a homeless dog. His fantastic experiment ends with the transformation of a cute stray dog ​​into a disgusting representative of the proletariat, Sharikov. The problem of the proletariat, by the way, is one of the main issues of the story. The post-revolutionary structure of society, which causes Preobrazhensky's undisguised irritation, makes the reader think deeply. All the romantic pathos that shrouded the Middle Ages is presented in Ivanhoe. Valiant knights,

beautiful ladies , sieges of castles and the political subtleties of vassal relations - all this found a place in Walter Scott’s novel. In many ways, it was his creation that contributed to the romanticization of the Middle Ages. The author described

historical events , which cover the period in English history after the Third Crusade. Of course, there were serious artistic improvisations and fiction, but this only made the story more fascinating and beautiful. It was impossible not to include in this selection the most famous creation Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol. For many schoolchildren, studying “Dead Souls” is the most

a bright event

The adventure novel “The Headless Horseman” is multi-layered: detective and love motives are intertwined in it. Plot intricacies create intrigue and keep you in suspense until the very last pages of the book. Who is this headless horseman? A ghost, a figment of the heroes’ imagination or someone’s insidious trick? You are unlikely to sleep until you get the answer to this question.

Charles Dickens was extremely popular during his lifetime. People were waiting for his next novels in much the same way as we are now waiting for the release of some Transformers. The educated English public loved his books for their inimitable style and plot dynamism.

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club is Dickens's funniest work. The adventures of English snobs, who proclaimed themselves explorers of human souls, are full of absurd and comical situations. Social issues, of course, is present here, but it is presented in such a simple form that it is simply impossible not to fall in love with the English classic after reading it.

"Madame Bovary" is rightfully considered one of greatest novels world classics. This title in no way detracts from the fascination of Flaubert’s work - a challenging story love adventures Emma Bovary is bold and daring. After the publication of the novel, the writer was even brought to justice for insulting morality.

The psychological naturalism that permeates the novel allowed Flaubert to clearly reveal a problem that is relevant in any era - the convertibility of love and money.

Oscar Wilde's most famous work touches a nerve with its deeply nuanced portrayal of its protagonist. Dorian Gray, an esthete and a snob, has extreme beauty, which contrasts with the internal ugliness that develops throughout the plot. You can spend hours reveling in watching Gray's moral decline, allegorically reflected in the visual change in his portrait.

"American Tragedy" - the wrong side American dream. The desire for wealth, respect, position in society, and money is common to all people, but for most, the path to the top is closed by default for various reasons.

Clyde Griffiths is a man from the lower classes who is trying with all his might to break into high society. He is ready to do anything for his dream. But society, with its ideals of success as an absolute life goal, is itself a catalyst for moral violations. Clyde ends up breaking the law to achieve his goals.

To Kill a Mockingbird is an autobiographical novel. Harper Lee described her childhood memories. The result is a story with an anti-racist message, written in simple and accessible language. Reading the book is useful and interesting; it can be called a moral textbook.

Not long ago, a continuation of the novel entitled “Go Set a Watchman” was published. In it, the images of the characters in the classic work of the writer are turned inside out so much that cognitive dissonance cannot be avoided when reading.

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Being an active reader, I will try to take on the role of an assistant and sketch out a few ideas, compiling a list of the most recognized and most successful, from my point of view, works, both domestic and foreign literature. Most of these novels have already gained, and continue to gain, popularity, which means that these are exactly the books that you need to read in order to discover and understand this magical, mysterious and so tempting world of literature.

1. What to read from the classics? Relevance of the issue.

Typically, a similar question arises from those who suddenly realized the need for self-education or decided to fill in their gaps from the school course on Russian literature.

This is where the main difficulty arises. Everyone definitely wants to read something from the collection of world masterpieces. But is there even such a thing as a literary masterpiece? Critics argue that there is no clear answer to this question impossible: some people like Russian literature, some people like foreign ones, some people read until they read, and some people can’t imagine an evening without an exciting love story.

Having visited one of the large used bookstores in the capital, I asked the sellers what questions visitors most often ask. As it turns out, one of the most common requests is precisely the request for advice on what to read from the classics.

It turns out that in fact there are many people interested, literature of this kind is in demand, but low awareness sometimes scares off potential clients.

First of all, let's focus on the short stories. By the way, they should be understood as more short form presentation of current events than, for example, a story or story. This type of storytelling is characterized by the presence of only one storyline, and the number characters very limited.

I would highlight the following works:

1. Augustine "Treatises"
2. D. Swift "Gulliver's Travels"
3. F. Kafka "The Process"
4. M. de Montaigne "The Complete Essay"
5. N. Hawthorne "Letter to Scarlet"
6. G. Melville "Moby Dick"
7. R. Descartes "Principles of Philosophy"
8. Charles Dickens "Oliver Twist"
9. G. Flaubert "Madame Bovary"
10. D. Austin "Pride and Prejudice"

1. Aeschylus "Agamemnon"
2. Sophocles "The Myth of Oedipus"
3. Euripides "Medea"
4. Aristophanes "Birds"
5. Aristotle "Poetics"
6. W. Shakespeare "Richard III", "Hamlet", "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
7. Moliere "Tartuffe"
8. W. Congreve "This is what people do in the world"
9. Henrik Johan Ibsen "A Doll's House"

Dreamers and romantics very often try to find answers to their questions in poetry. What to read from the classics in the poetic genre? Many things. But I would especially highlight:

1. Homer "Iliad" and "Odyssey"
2. Horace "Odes"
3. Dante Alighieri's Inferno
4. W. Shakespeare "Sonnets"
5. D. Milton " Lost heaven"
6. W. Wordsworth "Selected"
7. S.T. Coleridge "Poems"

As for the works of our country, is there really nothing worthy? - Well, of course not! - If I were asked to answer the question of what to read from Russian classics, I would, of course, recommend “The Master and Margarita” by M. Bulgakov, “Mtsyri” by M. Lermontov, poetry and poems by A. Pushkin.

3. Reading masterpieces of world literature. What does this give us?

Is it worth returning to this direction or is it better and more correct to pay more attention modern works? It is very, very difficult to answer this question unambiguously.

Sometimes opinions are simply divided radically.

For example, opponents argue that it is already completely outdated, has lost its relevance, and has gradually turned into some kind of utopia. In turn, philologists and students of linguistic universities defend the masterpieces of the world epic, insisting that without studying history, culture and the intricacies of language, it is impossible to understand and comprehend our today's world.

Well, well... Each side is right in its own way... Probably everyone will agree that, say, Homer’s “Odyssey” is not the so-called pulp reading for a vacation or an empty pastime. It is difficult to read a work of this kind and you need to do it thoughtfully, slowly and without distraction, comprehending and remembering the details. Not everyone can do this.

It is precisely such books that can introduce the reader to the world of both native and foreign literature and help to better understand the traditions, culture and mentality of peoples. They will also reveal all the charm and richness of colors of the narrative language, thereby expanding the reader’s vocabulary.

Undoubtedly, reading all the books mentioned in this article may take several years, but in any case, it will certainly not be time wasted.

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By Russian classical literature we mean the works of classics: writers who are not only exemplary, but also who have become symbols of Russian culture. Only the person who knows classical works, appreciates their merits, feels their inner beauty, and can be considered truly educated. Today you will find out by opinion women's magazine Charla.

10 best books of Russian literature: “The Brothers Karamazov”

Perhaps this novel can be considered the most complex and controversial work of the great Russian writer. Critics have dubbed him an "intellectual detective", many call him best work about the mysterious Russian soul. This is the last and one of the most famous novels Dostoevsky, it was filmed both here and in the West, where, by the way, this work is held in special esteem. What is this novel about? Each reader answers this question differently. The author himself defined his great creation as “a novel about blasphemy and its refutation.” One thing is certain, this is one of the most profound philosophical works of world literature about sin, mercy, and the eternal struggle occurring in the human soul.

10 best books of Russian literature: “The Idiot” by Fyodor Dostoevsky

10 best books of Russian literature: “War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy

The tragic novel about the love of married Anna Karenina for the handsome officer Vronsky is one of the greatest masterpieces of Russian literature, still relevant today. “All happy families are alike, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way” - these lines are familiar to every person.

"Anna Karenina"- a complex, deep, psychologically sophisticated work that captures the reader from the first lines and does not let go until the end. The novel by the brilliant psychologist Tolstoy captivates with its absolute artistic authenticity and dramatic narrative, forcing the reader to watch intensely how the relationship will develop between Anna Karenina and Vronsky, Levin and Kitty. It is not surprising that this book captivated not only Russian readers, but also Europe and America.

10 best books of Russian literature: “The Master and Margarita” by Mikhail Bulgakov

10 best books of Russian literature: “Dead Souls” by Nikolai Gogol

The novel was originally conceived in three volumes. The first volume was published in 1842. However further events have a mystical connotation: having finished the second volume, Gogol completely burned it - only a few chapters remained in drafts. And ten days after that the writer died...

10 best books of Russian literature: “Doctor Zhivago” by Boris Pasternak

10 best books of Russian literature: collection of stories “Dark Alleys” by Ivan Bunin

10 best books of Russian literature: “Quiet Don” by Mikhail Sholokhov

10 best books of Russian literature: “The Gulag Archipelago” by Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Of course, this is far from full list outstanding books of Russian literature. Nevertheless, these are books that every person who appreciates and honors Russian culture should know.

Alisa Terentyeva