Big narrative. Types of genres of literary works

  • 07.10.2021

The book is intended to acquaint Russian readers with the outstanding theoretical positions of modern narratology (the theory of storytelling) and offer solutions to some controversial issues. Historical overviews of key concepts serve primarily to describe relevant phenomena in the structure of narratives.

Based on the characteristics of artistic narrative works (narrativeness, fictionality, aesthetics), the author focuses on the main issues of “perspectivology” (communicative structure of the narrative, narrative instances, point of view, the relationship between the narrator’s text and the character’s text) and plotology (narrative transformations, the role of timeless connections in the narrative text).

In the second edition, aspects of narrative, event and eventfulness are developed in more detail. This book provides a systematic introduction to the main problems of narratology.

Dubrovsky

Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin Russian classics List of school literature grades 5-6

“Dubrovsky” is an example of narrative prose by Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, one of the first examples of the Russian literary language. This is the story of a man wronged by his rich neighbor and the law, and it is based on a true court case. At the same time, the plot of the work is in many ways reminiscent of the Shakespearean tragedy Romeo and Juliet.

What is the genre of “Dubrovsky”? What is this - an unfinished novel or an almost written story? Why did Pushkin leave the almost finished text and start working on “The History of Pugachev” and “The Captain’s Daughter”? Literary scholars are still arguing about this, and readers are happy to follow the adventures of the young daring nobleman...

Chekhov's poetics. Chekhov's World: Emergence and Establishment

Alexander Chudakov Biographies and Memoirs Cultural code

Alexander Pavlovich Chudakov (1938–2005) – Doctor of Philology, researcher of Russian literature of the 19th–20th centuries, writer, critic. He is known to a wide circle of readers as the author of the novel “A Darkness Falls on the Old Steps...” (Russian Booker Prize 2011).

for the best novel of the decade), and in the philological community - as the leading expert on Chekhov’s work. In the diaries of A.P. Chudakov there is an entry: “And they also say - there are no signs, no predestination. I arrived in Moscow on July 15, 1954. It was all covered with newspapers with portraits of Chekhov - it was his 50th anniversary.

And I walked, looked, read. And I thought: “I’ll study it.” And so it happened.” The monograph “Chekhov's Poetics,” published in 1971, when its author was in his early thirties, received international recognition and provoked fierce resistance from scientific conservatives.

The discoveries made in it and in the next book, “Chekhov’s World: Emergence and Confirmation” (1986), largely determined the further development of Czech studies. A.P. Chudakov was one of the first to propose precise methods for describing the writer’s narrative system, introduced the concept of the “material world” of a work, and his main thesis – about the “random” organization of Chekhov’s poetics – invariably causes interested debate among researchers.

The publishing layout is saved in pdf A4 format, including a name index and an index of works.

Essays on Historical Writing in Classical Greece

I. E. Surikov Story Studio historica

The monograph is the result of research in the field of ancient Greek historiography conducted by the author over a number of years. The book consists of two parts. The chapters of the first part analyze the general features of historical memory and historical consciousness in ancient Greece.

The following topics are covered: the relationship between research and chronicle in historiography, aspects of the origin of historical thought, the place of myth in the construction of the past, cyclist and linear ideas about the historical process, the mutual influence of historical writing and drama, local traditions of historical writing in the ancient Greek world, elements of the irrational in the works of classical Greek historians and etc.

The second part is devoted to various problems of the work of the “father of history” Herodotus. Its chapters examine the following issues: the place of Herodotus in the evolution of historical thought, the influence of the epic and oral historical traditions on his work, images of time in Herodotus’s “History”, problems of the reliability of this author’s data and his narrative skill, gender and ethno-civilizational issues in Herodotus, the question about the degree of completion of the “History” by the author, the geographical ideas of Herodotus, etc.

In conclusion, the question is raised about whether Herodotus belonged to the archaic or classical tradition of historical writing, and an attempt is made to provide a reasoned answer. The book is intended for specialists - historians and philologists, for teachers and students of humanities faculties of universities, for everyone interested in the history of historical science.

Hell, or the Joy of Passion

Vladimir Nabokov Russian classics Eternal books (ABC)

Created over ten years and published in the USA in 1969, Vladimir Nabokov’s novel “Ada, or the Joy of Passion” upon its publication gained the scandalous fame of an “erotic bestseller” and received polar reviews from the literary critics of that time; the reputation of one of Nabokov's most controversial books accompanies it to this day.

Playing with the narrative canons of several genres at once (from a family chronicle of the Tolstoyan type to a science fiction novel), Nabokov created perhaps the most complex of his works, which became the quintessence of his previous themes and creative techniques and was designed for a very sophisticated, even elite, reader .

The story of a dazzling, all-consuming, forbidden passion that broke out between the main characters, Ada and Van, in adolescence and carried through decades of secret meetings, forced separations, betrayals and reunions, turns under the pen of Nabokov into a multifaceted study of the possibilities of consciousness, the properties of memory and the nature of Time.

Poetics of Russian autobiographical prose. Tutorial

N. A. Nikolina Educational literature Absent

The manual proposes methods for analyzing prose autobiographical texts that can be used when considering works of other genres. Particular attention is paid to the narrative structure of the genre, its spatial-temporal and lexical-semantic organization.

Russian autobiographical prose is examined against a broad historical background (from the late 17th century to the 20th century), examining both literary and non-fictional texts. For students and teachers of philology, teachers of Russian language and literature.

The manual will be useful when studying the courses “Philological analysis of text”, “Text linguistics”, “History of Russian literature”, “Stylists”.

Russia in the Mediterranean. Archipelago Expedition of Catherine the Great

I. M. Smilyanskaya Story Absent

The monograph is devoted to the initial period of the formation of the Russian presence in the Mediterranean - the Archipelago Expedition of the Russian Fleet of 1769-1774. The authors of the monograph turn to documentary and narrative sources (including from Russian and Western European archives), Russian and foreign press, sermons and literary works in order to identify hidden mechanisms for establishing the influence of Catherine’s Russia in the Eastern Mediterranean, the role of the Archipelago Expedition in establishing cultural and political contacts Russia with the population of Greece, with the ruling elite of the Italian states, with the rulers of the Middle East and North Africa.

The Mediterranean policy of Catherine II has not previously been studied from such a perspective. The monograph specifically examines the propaganda strategies of Catherine the Great, as well as Western European and Russian perceptions of Russia’s Mediterranean action. Newly discovered manuscripts and archival documents are published in the appendix.

Ontological problems of modern Russian prose

O. V. Sizykh Linguistics Absent

The monograph examines the problematic and thematic field that determines the development of small epic forms in Russian literature of the late 20th – early 21st centuries; the plot-narrative discourses that make up the artistic systems of modern prose writers are considered (T.

N. Tolstoy, A. V. Ilichevsky, V. A. Pietsukh, L. E. Ulitskaya, L. S. Petrushevskaya, V. G. Sorokin). The main attention is paid to semantic transformations of canonical textual units as a reflection of the ontological conflict. Continuity and connection between classical and modern Russian prose are established at the problem-thematic level, and the cultural and philosophical context of modern works is revealed.

The book is addressed to philologists.

Stories by the way

Nikolay Semyonovich Leskov Russian classics Absent

The audiobook includes works combined into the author’s series “Stories by the Way.” These are works that are completely different in plot, built on an anecdote, a “curious incident”, depicting situations that are funny, but no less significant in their national character. 1964, 1969

For the first time in Russian, the famous duology of Archibald Cronin! “A Song of Six Pence and a Pocket of Wheat” are the first two lines of a famous English song, as well as the names of two no less famous works by Archibald Cronin, created in the best traditions of the “novels of education” by Dickens, Balzac and Flaubert.

The story about the fate of a young man from Scotland, dreamy, ambitious and naive, reflected many autobiographical facts from the life of the author. Cronin talks about his adventures, victories and defeats, losses and gains, loves and disappointments with warm humor and with that heartfelt, compassionate and empathetic realism that distinguishes his original creative style.

The reader will find here the same vivid narrative gift that marked the author's other novels, which have become modern classics, such as Castle Brody, The Stars Look Down, The Citadel and many others.

“Fishing in America,” which brought the author worldwide fame, a two-million circulation and truly cult status, was repeatedly called by critics an “anti-novel,” is a purely modernist work in which Brautigan consciously abandons the usual narrative forms and immerses the reader in the realm of a psychedelic kaleidoscope of motifs and images understood more intuitively than logically.

The book contains obscene language.

A Tale of Tales, or Fun for Little Children

Giambattista Basile Foreign classics Missing No data

The collection of fairy tales by the Neapolitan writer and poet Giambattista Basile (1566–1632) is one of the most striking monuments of Italian Baroque literature. Using the plot outline of folk tales, combining with them the narrative techniques of novellas of the 14th–16th centuries.

Basile creates original works that provide a vivid picture of the life and morals of his time, a gallery of psychologically reliable images that do not lose their freshness four centuries later. Some of Basile's tales served as the basis for Mother Goose Tales by Charles Perrault, as well as for the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm.

Peter Epifanov translated from ancient Greek monuments of Byzantine hymnography (Roman the Sweet Singer, John of Damascus, Cozma Mayumsky), from French - the philosophical works of Simone Weil, from Italian - poems by Giuseppe Ungaretti, Dino Campana, Antonia Pozzi, Vittorio Sereni, Pier Paolo Pasolini.

Literature refers to works of human thought that are enshrined in the written word and have social significance. Any literary work, depending on HOW the writer depicts reality in it, is classified as one of three literary families: epic, lyric or drama.

Epic (from the Greek “narration”) is a generalized name for works that depict events external to the author.

Lyrics (from the Greek “performed to the lyre”) - a generalized name for works - usually poetic, in which there is no plot, but reflects the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of the author (lyrical hero).

Drama (from Greek “action”) - a generalized name for works in which life is shown through conflicts and clashes of heroes. Dramatic works are intended not so much for reading as for dramatization. In drama, it is not the external action that is important, but the experience of a conflict situation. In drama, epic (narration) and lyrics are fused together.

Within each type of literature there are genres- historically established types of works, characterized by certain structural and content features (see table of genres).

EPOS LYRICS DRAMA
epic Oh yeah tragedy
novel elegy comedy
story hymn drama
story sonnet tragicomedy
fairy tale message vaudeville
fable epigram melodrama

Tragedy (from Greek “goat song”) is a dramatic work with an insurmountable conflict, which depicts an intense struggle of strong characters and passions, ending with the death of the hero.

Comedy (from Greek “funny song”) - a dramatic work with a cheerful, funny plot, usually ridiculing social or everyday vices.

Drama is a literary work in the form of a dialogue with a serious plot, depicting an individual in his dramatic relationship with society.

Vaudeville - a light comedy with singing couplets and dancing.

Farce - a theatrical play of a light, playful nature with external comic effects, designed for coarse tastes.

Oh yeah (from Greek “song”) - a choral, solemn song, a work glorifying, praising some significant event or heroic personality.

Hymn (from Greek “praise”) is a solemn song based on programmatic verses. Initially, hymns were dedicated to the gods. Currently, the anthem is one of the national symbols of the state.

Epigram (from Greek “inscription”) is a short satirical poem of a mocking nature that arose in the 3rd century BC. e.

Elegy - a genre of lyrics dedicated to sad thoughts or a lyric poem imbued with sadness. Belinsky called elegy “a song of sad content.” The word "elegy" is translated as "reed flute" or "plaintive song." Elegy originated in Ancient Greece in the 7th century BC. e.

Message – a poetic letter, an appeal to a specific person, a request, a wish.

Sonnet (from Provence “song”) is a poem of 14 lines, which has a certain rhyme system and strict stylistic laws. The sonnet originated in Italy in the 13th century (the creator was the poet Jacopo da Lentini), in England it appeared in the first half of the 16th century (G. Sarri), and in Russia in the 18th century. The main types of sonnet are Italian (of 2 quatrains and 2 tercets) and English (of 3 quatrains and a final couplet).

Poem (from the Greek “I do, I create”) is a lyric-epic genre, a large poetic work with a narrative or lyrical plot, usually on a historical or legendary theme.

Ballad - lyric-epic genre, plot song with dramatic content.

Epic - a major work of fiction telling about significant historical events. In ancient times - a narrative poem of heroic content. In the literature of the 19th and 20th centuries, the genre of the epic novel appeared - this is a work in which the formation of the characters of the main characters occurs during their participation in historical events.

Novel - a large narrative work of art with a complex plot, in the center of which is the fate of the individual.

Tale - a work of fiction that occupies a middle position between a novel and a short story in terms of volume and complexity of the plot. In ancient times, any narrative work was called a story.

Story - a work of art of small size, based on an episode, an incident from the life of the hero.

Fairy tale - a work about fictional events and characters, usually involving magical, fantastic forces.

Fable is a narrative work in poetic form, small in size, of a moralizing or satirical nature.

In the classification, literary types are distinguished within the literary genus. Stand out:

epic literary types

A NOVEL is a large narrative work of art with a complex plot, in the center of which is the fate of an individual.

EPIC - a major work of fiction telling about significant historical events. In ancient times - a narrative poem of heroic content. In the literature of the 19th and 20th centuries, the genre of the epic novel appeared - this is a work in which the formation of the characters of the main characters occurs during their participation in historical events.

A STORY is a work of art that occupies a middle position between a novel and a short story in terms of volume and complexity of the plot. gravitating towards a chronicle plot, reproducing the natural course of life. In ancient times, any narrative work was called a story.

A STORY is a small work of fiction, based on an episode, an incident from the life of the hero.

TALE - a work about fictional events and characters, usually involving magical, fantastic forces.

A FABLE (from “bayat” - to tell) is a narrative work in poetic form, small in size, of a moralizing or satirical nature.

lyrical (poem),

ODA (from Greek “song”) is a choral, solemn song.

HYMN (from Greek “praise”) is a solemn song based on programmatic verses.

EPIGRAM (from Greek “inscription”) is a short satirical poem of a mocking nature that arose in the 3rd century BC. e.

ELEGY is a genre of lyrics dedicated to sad thoughts or a lyric poem imbued with sadness. Belinsky called elegy “a song of sad content.” The word "elegy" is translated as "reed flute" or "plaintive song." Elegy originated in Ancient Greece in the 7th century BC. e.

MESSAGE - a poetic letter, an appeal to a specific person, a request, a wish, a confession.

SONNET (from the Provençal sonette - “song”) is a poem of 14 lines, which has a certain rhyme system and strict stylistic laws. The sonnet originated in Italy in the 13th century (the creator was the poet Jacopo da Lentini), in England it appeared in the first half of the 16th century (G. Sarri), and in Russia in the 18th century. The main types of sonnet are Italian (from 2 quatrains and 2 tercets) and English (from 3 quatrains and a final couplet).

lyroepic

POEM (from Greek poieio - “I do, I create”) is a large poetic work with a narrative or lyrical plot, usually on a historical or legendary theme.

BALLAD - a plot song with dramatic content, a story in verse.

dramatic

TRAGEDY (from Greek tragos ode - “goat song”) is a dramatic work depicting an intense struggle of strong characters and passions, which usually ends with the death of the hero.

COMEDY (from Greek komos ode - “funny song”) is a dramatic work with a cheerful, funny plot, usually ridiculing social or everyday vices.

DRAMA (“action”) is a literary work in the form of dialogue with a serious plot, depicting an individual in his dramatic relationship with society. Varieties of drama can be tragicomedy or melodrama.

VAUDEVILLE is a genre type of comedy; it is a light comedy with singing verses and dancing.

Farce is a genre variety of comedy; it is a theatrical play of a light, playful nature with external comic effects, designed for rough tastes.

Literary types differ from each other according to various criteria - volume, number of plot lines and characters, content, function. One type in different periods of literary history can appear in the form of different genres - for example, a psychological novel, a philosophical novel, a social novel, a picaresque novel, a detective novel. The theoretical division of works into literary types was started by Aristotle in his treatise “Poetics”; the work was continued in modern times by Gotthold Lessing and Nicolas Boileau.

Genre is a type of literary work. There are epic, lyrical, dramatic genres. There are also lyre-epic genres. Genres are also divided by volume into large (including Romani and epic novels), medium (literary works of “medium size” - stories and poems), small (short story, novella, essay). They have genres and thematic divisions: adventure novel, psychological novel, sentimental, philosophical, etc. The main division is related to the types of literature. We present to your attention the genres of literature in the table.

The thematic division of genres is rather arbitrary. There is no strict classification of genres by topic. For example, if they talk about the genre and thematic diversity of lyrics, they usually single out love, philosophical, and landscape lyrics. But, as you understand, the variety of lyrics is not exhausted by this set.

If you set out to study the theory of literature, it is worth mastering the groups of genres:

  • epic, that is, prose genres (epic novel, novel, story, short story, short story, parable, fairy tale);
  • lyrical, that is, poetic genres (lyric poem, elegy, message, ode, epigram, epitaph),
  • dramatic – types of plays (comedy, tragedy, drama, tragicomedy),
  • lyric epic (ballad, poem).

Literary genres in tables

Epic genres

  • Epic novel

    Epic novel- a novel depicting folk life in critical historical eras. “War and Peace” by Tolstoy, “Quiet Don” by Sholokhov.

  • Novel

    Novel– a multi-issue work depicting a person in the process of his formation and development. The action in the novel is full of external or internal conflicts. By topic there are: historical, satirical, fantastic, philosophical, etc. By structure: novel in verse, epistolary novel, etc.

  • Tale

    Tale- an epic work of medium or large form, constructed in the form of a narrative about events in their natural sequence. Unlike the novel, in P. the material is presented chronically, there is no sharp plot, there is no cunning analysis of the feelings of the characters. P. does not pose tasks of a global historical nature.

  • Story

    Story– small epic form, a small work with a limited number of characters. In R. most often one problem is posed or one event is described. The novella differs from R. in its unexpected ending.

  • Parable

    Parable- moral teaching in allegorical form. A parable differs from a fable in that it draws its artistic material from human life. Example: Gospel parables, the parable of the righteous land, told by Luke in the play “At the Bottom.”


Lyrical genres

  • Lyric poem

    Lyric poem- a small form of poetry, written either on behalf of the author or on behalf of a fictional lyrical character. Description of the inner world of the lyrical hero, his feelings, emotions.

  • Elegy

    Elegy- a poem imbued with moods of sadness and sadness. As a rule, the content of elegies consists of philosophical reflections, sad thoughts, and grief.

  • Message

    Message- a poetic letter addressed to a person. According to the content of the message, there are friendly, lyrical, satirical, etc. The message may be addressed to one person or group of people.

  • Epigram

    Epigram- a poem that makes fun of a specific person. Characteristic features are wit and brevity.

  • Oh yeah

    Oh yeah- a poem distinguished by solemnity of style and sublimity of content. Praise in verse.

  • Sonnet

    Sonnet– a solid poetic form, usually consisting of 14 verses (lines): 2 quatrains (2 rhymes) and 2 tercet tercets


Dramatic genres

  • Comedy

    Comedy- a type of drama in which characters, situations and actions are presented in funny forms or imbued with the comic. There are satirical comedies ("The Minor", "The Inspector General"), high comedies ("Woe from Wit") and lyrical ones ("The Cherry Orchard").

  • Tragedy

    Tragedy- a work based on an irreconcilable conflict in life, leading to the suffering and death of the heroes. William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet".

  • Drama

    Drama- a play with an acute conflict, which, unlike the tragic one, is not so sublime, more mundane, ordinary and can be resolved one way or another. The drama is based on modern rather than ancient material and establishes a new hero who rebelled against circumstances.


Lyric epic genres

(intermediate between epic and lyric)

  • Poem

    Poem- an average lyric-epic form, a work with a plot-narrative organization, in which not one, but a whole series of experiences are embodied. Features: the presence of a detailed plot and at the same time close attention to the inner world of the lyrical hero - or an abundance of lyrical digressions. Poem “Dead Souls” by N.V. Gogol

  • Ballad

    Ballad- a medium lyric-epic form, a work with an unusual, intense plot. This is a story in verse. A story, told in poetic form, of a historical, mythical or heroic nature. The plot of a ballad is usually borrowed from folklore. Ballads “Svetlana”, “Lyudmila” V.A. Zhukovsky



There are books that once you start reading, it is impossible to stop. A fascinating plot, vivid images of characters and a light style are, as a rule, the main advantages of these books. Our review includes 10 books that have gained popularity among readers precisely because of their interesting and unexpected plot.

1. Amelie Nothomb - "Enemy Cosmetics"


Another clear example of why you shouldn’t talk to strangers. Angouste, sitting at the airport waiting for a delayed flight, is forced to listen to the chatter of a man with the strange name Textor Texel. There is only one way to silence this Dutchman - start talking yourself. Angouste falls into this trap and becomes a toy in the hands of Texel. All the circles of hell await him.

2. Boris Akunin - "Azazel"



"Azazel" is the first novel in a fascinating series about detective Erast Fandorin. He is only 20 years old, he is fearless, lucky, attractive and noble. Young Fandorin serves in the police department, and as part of his duty he has to investigate a very complicated case. The entire series of books about Fandorin is full of information about the history of the Fatherland and at the same time is a fascinating detective read.

3. Roman Korobenkov - "Jumper"



It’s worth mentioning right away that there are no calls for suicide in this book. This is not a sob story and not “emo style”. Opening the book, the reader finds himself in a sophisticated world in which, as if in an exotic cocktail, two worlds - external and internal - are mixed. It is possible that for some this particular book will become a reference book.

4. Daphne Du Maurier - "The Scapegoat"


The novel "The Scapegoat" by the British writer Daphne Du Maurier is considered one of her best works. It combines deep psychologism with lyricism. The main character, a university teacher, goes on a trip to France. In one of the restaurants he meets his double - the owner of an estate and glass factory from France. And they are visited by a crazy idea - to change places, or rather, lives.

5. Joan Harris - "Gentlemen and Players"


Centuries-old traditions, a rich library, an elite school, classical education and freedom. What a child from a poor family is willing to do to get into such a world. What lengths is a teacher who has given 33 years of his life to the School ready to go? St Oswald's School is like eternity itself. But one day a man appears in it, whose main goal is to avenge his past and destroy the School. A mysterious vigilante unleashes a cunning chess game. Joan Harris takes readers to the brink of madness.

6. Ian McEwan - "Atonement"


A hot summer day in 1934...Three young people in anticipation of love. The first feeling of happiness, the first kisses and betrayal, which forever changed the fates of three people and became a new starting point for them. “Atonement” is a kind of “chronicle of lost time” of pre-war England, striking in its sincerity. This chronicle is narrated by a teenage girl, in her childishly cruel way, overestimating and rethinking everything that happens.

7. Iain Banks - "Wasp Factory"



Scottish writer Iain Banks is one of the most popular authors in the UK. "Steps on Glass" was published only 6 years after it was written. The reaction to the novel was the most contradictory - from indignation to delight, but certainly no one remained indifferent.

The main character is 16-year-old Frank. He is not at all what he seems. He is not who he thinks he is. He killed three. Welcome to the island, the path to which is guarded by the Pillars of Sacrifice, and in the attic of the only house on the island, the Wasp Factory awaits its new victims...

8. Evgeny Dubrovin - “Waiting for the Goat”



As the author of “Waiting for the Goat” himself said about his book, this is a warning story that urges you not to waste your time on the so-called “pleasures of life.”

9. Brigitte Aubert - "The Four Sons of Dr. March"


The maid finds a diary of one of Dr. March's sons in the closet and learns that the man who wrote them is a cruel murderer. But the most important thing is that the author of the diary did not indicate his name, and the main character has to guess which of these nice guys is a serial maniac.

10. Stephen King - "Rita Hayworth or The Shawshank Redemption"


Those who at some point doubt the strength of the human spirit should simply read “The Shawshank Redemption” - the story of an innocent man who was sentenced to life imprisonment. The main character survived where it is impossible to survive. This is the greatest salvation story.

Those who like to tickle the nerves of soy should pay attention.