Eugene Oneggin was regarded as the first masterpiece of realism in the history of Russian literature, which started the tradition of realism in Russian literature. The book was published in 1883, describing the life and struggle of the hero of the Russian Revolution, Onekin. It deeply reflected the dark side of society and the painful lives of the people at that time, and was hailed as a classic work of Russian literature.
The 'The Life of Archpriest Avvakum by Himself' can also be seen as an early form of the Russian novel. Avvakum was a prominent figure in the Russian Orthodox Church. His autobiographical work gives insights into the religious, social, and cultural aspects of 17th - century Russia. It has a narrative structure and tells his life story in a vivid way.
Well, there are different opinions on this. Some scholars point to 'Don Quixote' as the first important novel, given its influence and innovation in storytelling.
Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment and Judgment represent the breadth of Russian literature. Both works cover a rich social and historical background and show profound human thinking. Crime and Punishment depicted an ancient Russian society and how the protagonist faced his own crimes and inner struggles. The Trial, on the other hand, demonstrated the basic principles of the Russian legal system and the complexity of human nature through the trial process of a court. Both works were widely representative and influential, and were regarded as classics of Russian literature.
Some might argue that Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory is an early example of a work in English literature that has novel - like qualities. It chronicles the legend of King Arthur and his knights, with a complex web of stories and characters.
Pushkin's long poem "Onekin" was about a heroic figure in the history The Russian Federation Onekin. It described his experiences and mental journey in war, love, suffering, and self-redemption. The poem is considered one of Pushkin's masterpieces, one of the classics of Russian literature, and one of the treasures of world literature. The main reasons why Pushkin wrote Onekin were as follows: Pursuit of heroism: Pushkin has always been a person who advocates heroism. He believes that heroes are the driving force for social progress, the pride and hope of the people. In Oneggin, Oneggin was portrayed as a brave, strong and fearless hero. His image represented Pushkin's pursuit of heroism. 2. Historical review and reflection: Pushkin not only described a hero's story in Onekin, but also a historical review and reflection. He expressed his views on some important events and figures in Russian history through describing Oneggin's experience, such as tsar autocracy, national integration, war and revolution. 3. Exploration of human nature: Pushkin not only described the story of a hero in Onekin, but also explored human nature. Through describing Oneggin's experience and mental journey, he explored the kindness, courage, strength, selfishness, fragility and other aspects of human nature to express his understanding and thinking of human nature. To sum up, the main reasons why Pushkin wrote Onekin were his pursuit of heroism, his review and reflection on history, and his exploration of human nature.
Often, 'Fathers and Sons' by Ivan Turgenev is mentioned as a great Russian novel. It delves into generational conflicts and social changes in 19th-century Russia.
In 'The Tale of Genji', a work considered the world first novel, one of the main features is its exploration of human relationships. It shows how different characters interact with each other, whether it's love, friendship, or enmity. The descriptions of the settings, especially the courtly settings, are very detailed. And the language used is both beautiful and complex, which adds to the overall richness of the work. It also has a certain degree of psychological depth in portraying the characters' inner thoughts and feelings.
One of the works often considered as the first seminal work of science fiction is Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'. It was a revolutionary piece that introduced many concepts still relevant in sci - fi today.
The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole is often regarded as the first Gothic novel.
Some consider 'The Tale of Genji' by Murasaki Shikibu as the first real novel. It was written in the 11th century in Japan. It has complex characters, detailed descriptions of court life, and a long, flowing narrative that is characteristic of what we now think of as a novel.