Nationality (narodnost’) of Golden Age literature: The achievement of romanticism or the heritage of classicism

The article counters the widely held opinion that interest in nationality (narodnost’) and particular nature of nation is a characteristic feature Romantic literature. criticism aesthetics Golden Age (1810–1830s), transferring Western concepts to Russian soil, sometimes too hastily correlated them with artistic practice. So, early 1820s, when, as Petr Vyazemsky admitted, ideas romanticism were still vague, was declared property romantic school (сf. On Poetry by Orest Somov, who largely influenced Germaine de Staёl). This point view reflected later which characterized such authors Konstantin Batyushkov, Nikola Gnedich, Anton Delvig, Pavel Katenin belonging school. Their nation, however, had absolutely different sources. Besides Herder’s Enlightenment ideas, it renewed classicism, advanced Winkelmann oriented at authentic antiquity nurtured this interest. antique culture, understood differently from French served model for poets developing national themes. influence Greek Anthology upon Delvig’s song, motives Gnedich’s idyll, Homeric simplicity, permeated ballad, — all resulte deliberate integration content high antiquity. National themes bornby culture affecting entire Age, but framework same transitional period quickly “appropriated” adepts movement.