A Survey of Russian Literature, with Selections Part 22

1. How was Russia influenced by the romantic movement in western Europe?

2. Describe the character of the romances of the first period of the fifties.

3. What important historical works appeared at this time?

4. What popular novels were written by Danilevsky?

5. What were the chief works of Melnikoff, and why are they not likely to be translated into English?

6. Describe the career and influence of Lyeskoff.

7. Why was the fame of Markovitch's work short-lived?

8. What difficulties did Uspensky encounter in his early attempts at writing?

9. Describe the effect produced by his "Hard Labor" and "An Eccentric Master."

10. What views of society did Zlatovratsky express in his writings?

11. Why did Ryeshetnikoff's "The Inhabitants of Podlipovo"

become widely popular?

12. Give an account of the experiences of Saltykoff.

13. How did he make use of the material gathered during his exile?

14. How did his writings contribute some new words to the Russian language?

15. What qualities does he show in "The Story of How One Peasant Maintained Two Generals"?

16. Give the chief events in the life of Tolstoy.

17. What characteristics of style did he show in his earliest writings?

18. How is he "subjective" in delineating his characters?

19. Why was his genius not at first appreciated?

20. What was his theory of life?

21. What change came into his life in the seventies?

22. How did this affect his writings?

23. How did his experience with famine sufferers affect his views?

24. What were Garshin's views of people in general?

25. How do his books bear out his theories?

26. What facts in Korolenko's life have influenced his literary development?

27. What characteristics does Tchekoff show in his short stories?

28. What is the story of Potapenko's "On Active Service"?

29. Give the leading events of Gorky's career.

30. How is his many-sided genius shown?

31. What ideals are expressed in his work?

32. Why has Nadson's poetry such a firm hold on the popular mind?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Danilevsky: _Mirovitch._ _The Princess Tarakanova._

Potapenko: _A Russian Priest._ _A Father of Six._ _An Occasional Holiday._

Maxim Gorky: _Orloff and His Wife._ _Foma Gordyeeff._ (Translated by I. F. Hapgood.)

L. N. Tolstoy: All of his works are available in English translations. There are several collections of his short stories.

_The Humor of Russia._ (Selections.) E. L. Voynich.

D. S. Merezhkovsky: _The Death of the G.o.ds._ This is the first part of a trilogy, and is an historical novel of the time of Julian the Apostate. The other parts (announced for publication) are: _Resurrection_ (time of Leonardo da Vinci) and _The Anti-Christ_ (time of Peter the Great.)

FOOTNOTES:

[33] The "Old Ritualists" or _raskolniki_, are those who do not accept the corrections to the Church books, and so forth, made in seventeenth century, by the Patriarch Nikon.

[34] Count L. N. Tolstoy presented me with a copy of one of these legends--a most distressing and improbable affair--with the remark, "Lyeskoff has spoiled himself by imitating me." He meant that Lyeskoff was imitating his little moral tales and legends, to which he had been devoting himself for some time past. I agreed with Tolstoy, as to the effect.

[35] Although she was very ill and weak, she was good enough to ask me to visit her, a few months before she died, in 1889.

[36] Count L. N. Tolstoy told me that Uspensky had never been sufficiently appreciated. He also praised Zlatovratsky highly.

[37] Former crown serfs repeatedly told me how free they had been--how much better off than those of private persons.

[38] Naturally, it is this feature of his writings which made Count Tolstoy laud him so highly to me.

[39] Or, "The Golovleffs," the above being the more formal translation.

Saltykoff was too ill to receive strangers when I was in Russia. But I attended a requiem service over his body, at his home; another at the Kazan Cathedral, where all the literary lights a.s.sembled; and went to his funeral in the outlying cemetery, thereby having the good fortune to behold one of the famous "demonstrations" in which the Russian public indulges on such occasions.

[40] This refers to the Table of Ranks, established by Peter the Great.

The fourth cla.s.s of officials from the top of the ladder, have attained a very respectable amount of embroidery, dignity, and social position.