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Аспектное изучение русской классической литературы как способ реализации культурологического подхода при обучении русскому языку как иностранному

Федорова Валентина Геннадьевна
кандидат филологических наук, доцент кафедры русского языка и литературы, Бийский филиал им. В. М. Шукшина федерального государственного бюджетного образовательного учреждения высшего образования «Алтайский государственный педагогический университет», РФ, Бийск, fvalentinagennadevna@yandex.ru
Бабичева Юлия Геннадьевна
кандидат филологических наук, доцент кафедры русского языка и литературы, Бийский филиал им. В. М. Шукшина федерального государственного бюджетного образовательного учреждения высшего образования «Алтайский государственный педагогический университет», РФ, Бийск, liraff1@yandex.ru

Аннотация: В статье рассмотрена проблема реализации культурологического подхода при изучении русского языка как иностранного посредством обращения к русской классической литературе, в которой находят наиболее яркое воплощение национальная картина мира, духовные основы, система ценностей и ментальные особенности русской языковой личности. В качестве способа реализации культурологического подхода предложено аспектное изучение мирового значения русской классической литературы, в котором акцентированы такие доминанты, как актуальность русской литературы и ее востребованность в современном мире, новые формы воплощения русской классики в цифровую эпоху, а также идейные и художественные открытия таких популярных русских писателей, как Ф.М. Достоевский, Л.Н. Толстой и А.П. Чехов.
Ключевые слова: мировое значение русской литературы, культурологический подход, аспектное изучение русской литературы, русский язык как иностранный, русская культура.

Fedorova Valentina Gennadyevna
Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of Department of Russian Language and Literature Biysk branch named after V. M. Shukshin of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education "Altai State Pedagogical University", Russian Federation, Biysk
Babicheva Yulia Gennadyevna
Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of Department of Russian Language and Literature, Biysk branch named after V. M. Shukshin of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education "Altai State Pedagogical University", Russian Federation, Biysk

Abstract: The article considers the problem of implementing the cultural approach in studying Russian as a foreign language by referring to Russian classical literature, which most vividly embodies the national picture of the world, spiritual foundations, value system and mental features of the Russian linguistic personality. As a way to implement the cultural approach, an aspectual study of the world significance of Russian classical literature is proposed, which emphasizes such dominants as the relevance of Russian literature and its demand in the modern world, new forms of embodiment of Russian classics in the digital age, as well as ideological and artistic discoveries of such popular Russian writers as F.M. Dostoevsky, L.N. Tolstoy and A.P. Chekhov.
Keywords: global significance of Russian literature, cultural approach, aspectual study of Russian literature, Russian as a foreign language, Russian culture.

In the practice of teaching Russian as a foreign language, the cultural component is very important - the study of the features of Russian national culture, national thinking, value orientations. Therefore, it is natural that it is impossible to introduce foreign students to Russian culture without talking about Russian classical literature, which primarily expresses the national picture of the world and the mental features of the Russian linguistic personality [1].

It is necessary to form in foreign students an idea of the specifics of Russian literature, its global significance, ideological and artistic discoveries of Russian writers. As a way to implement the cultural approach in this case, it seems appropriate to use the option of an aspectual study of the global significance of Russian classical literature, highlighting a number of value dominants, the development of which will contribute to the formation of linguacultural and sociocultural competencies of foreigners.

In this regard, in our opinion, the most indicative is an appeal to the literature of the second half of the 19th century, when Russian literature gained worldwide fame and recognition. This is the heyday of Russian classics, which many foreign researchers call the "golden age". Let us dwell in more detail on those conceptual aspects that, from our point of view, require illumination.

First of all, it is necessary to consider the issue of the originality of Russian realism and show that it is expressed in the organic combination of the spiritual, ethical and aesthetic, in a huge range of phenomena under consideration: from the mysteries of the universe to the prose of everyday life. Deep spirituality, heightened lyricism and emotionality were combined in Russian literature with piercing truthfulness and aspiration to solve the fundamental questions of existence.

The role of Russian classical literature in the modern world was also predetermined by the depth of artistic and philosophical understanding of the problems of personality. The heroes of Russian literature, solving personal issues of their lives, invariably encounter moral, philosophical and religious problems. Russian literature proved the vital necessity of spiritual and moral self-improvement, in which Russian classics saw the goal and meaning of earthly existence and a way to reorganize society on the basis of love and justice. Russian classics have once again reminded us that man is not only a physical and intellectual being, he also has a soul, which is often not in order, which can be sick, suffer, suffer and which needs love, pity, compassion.

The construction of such a conceptual base will become the foundation for building in the consciousness of a foreigner an idea of the Russian mentality.

Next, it is appropriate to consider the ideological and artistic discoveries of the three most famous and popular Russian writers in the modern world: F. M. Dostoevsky, L. N. Tolstoy and A. P. Chekhov.

The most popular Russian writer in the world is F. M. Dostoevsky. His works have been translated into 170 languages. According to the international audiobook service Storytel, Dostoevsky's works are also considered the most listened to classical audiobooks in more than 20 countries where the service is present. Dostoevsky's works are most actively listened to in Turkish. The top most popular works also included "The Idiot", "The Gambler" and the story "Notes from Underground". In 2024, Dostoevsky's story "White Nights" became a favorite among TikTok users and took fourth place in sales among translated literary works in the UK. Among the Russian audience, the most popular work of F.M. Dostoevsky was "The Brothers Karamazov". With all his work, F.M. Dostoevsky answered the question "What is man?" He was interested in the eternal essence of human nature, its hidden depth. The famous Russian philosopher N.A. Berdyaev wrote: "Dostoevsky is, first of all, a great anthropologist, a researcher of human nature, its depths and its secrets. He made great discoveries about man, and from him a new era in the inner history of man begins. This new anthropology teaches about man as a contradictory and tragic creature, extremely unhappy, not only suffering, but also loving suffering" [2, p. 7].

F. M. Dostoevsky is a great thinker in his artistic work, he is first and foremost an artist of thought. The writer posed the “damned questions” about God, immortality, freedom, suffering and universal salvation. These are questions that cannot be answered positively and rationally. Does the end justify the means? Is it possible to commit evil in the name of good and justice? Can a person take upon himself the right to judge others? How can we change the world “lying in evil”? Can beauty save the world? Why is there evil and suffering in the world and can they be avoided? If there is no God, then who can stop the self-will of man? If there is no God, then everything is permitted? Is freedom within man’s power? And others [3].

As A.B. Yesin rightly noted, “Dostoevsky’s work corresponds to the real and growing complexity of modern reality – mainly the complexity of those broadly ideological problems that a person has to solve” [4, p. 166]. Analyzing with extraordinary depth and power the psychological state of the heroes of his novels, their actions in the most tragic moments of life, Dostoevsky identified the main moral problems of society, on the solution of which the future fate of all mankind depends.

The next position in popularity is occupied by Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, and his most popular novel among modern readers is Anna Karenina, not War and Peace.

In the works of Leo Tolstoy, several significant artistic discoveries can be distinguished: a new approach to describing the psychology of characters, widespread use of realistic detail, analysis of the inner world of the heroes and their emotional states, a deep understanding of human nature and moral dilemmas.

One of the main discoveries of L.N. Tolstoy is a deep study of the human soul and its complex internal contradictions. The great artistic achievement of Tolstoy the realist was his profound understanding of the "fluidity" and mobility of human nature. The images of the heroes in the works of L. N. Tolstoy are given in motion, their characters are revealed gradually, manifested in how the hero acts, what he says and thinks, what impression he makes on others.

A wide coverage of reality, the deepest penetration into human psychology, the reflection of the history of the people through the private life of an individual, the tireless search for a spiritual ideal - all this makes the phenomenon of L. N. Tolstoy a unique phenomenon of Russian and world literature.

Through his heroes, Tolstoy asks "eternal questions" about the meaning of life, morality and moral responsibility for oneself and for everything that happens in the world. He reflects on the meaning of faith, love, conscience and the search for one's place in the world. An important point is that Tolstoy raises these questions not only on a philosophical level, but also comprehends them through the everyday life of his heroes. The pathos of L. N. Tolstoy's artistic work is "the affirmation of communication and unity of people and the denial of disunity and separation" [5, p. 23]. He entered the history of Russian and world culture not only as a realist writer, but also as the creator of a religious and philosophical teaching that would later be called Tolstoyanism and would gather followers throughout Russia and abroad [6]. The fundamental part of Tolstoy's philosophy is the idea of non-resistance to evil by violence. The concept of non-violence extends beyond the rejection of physical force and forced submission, including the fight against selfish aspirations in all areas of human activity. Already during the writer's lifetime, admirers of his ideas who strove to live in accordance with these precepts began to be called Tolstoyans. This movement spread most widely in Russia, although later its followers appeared abroad as well. At the peak of its popularity, the ranks of the Tolstoyans numbered tens of thousands of people. By the middle of the 20th century, the movement began to decline. However, in the 60s, the hippie movement emerged in the USA, which was closest to Tolstoy's ideas. The fundamental basis of Tolstoyism was pacifism and the rejection of violence. In the hippie movement, these views also played a predominant role.

The ideas of Tolstoyism continue to be relevant today: simplification of everyday life, humanitarian mutual assistance, careful attitude to the environment. Tolstoy's denunciations of various types of slavery have not become outdated and remain vitally important for most of the world. The main accusation that Tolstoy makes against the modern world is its redundancy. The development of the state, society, culture, science is on the path of producing many things that are unnecessary to man and thus takes him further and further from the natural state - also a very relevant idea.

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov is the third most popular Russian writer in the world. He is the most popular Russian playwright. A.P. Chekhov's plays are more popular in theaters around the world than Shakespeare's, the writer is rightfully considered a playwright of the first magnitude along with Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde.

Chekhov had a huge influence on modern theater. Before Chekhov, an event was at the center of any literary work. It invaded people's lives, obscuring the usual course of life. But in Chekhov's works there is a different paradigm. The entire space of the writer's literary world is filled with everyday life. He does not look for events, does not invent them. He is focused on describing the most ordinary life.

All Chekhov's characters experience their own unsettledness, lack of fulfillment, and feel betrayed by life. Their bitterness and boredom are the product of everyday life. The heroes cannot realize their dreams and desires because of their own procrastination (putting things off “for later”) and frustration (mismatch between expectations and reality).

The main events in Chekhov’s works are communication failures that have multiple causes and consequences [7]. The heroes are spiritually disconnected, do not understand, do not hear, and do not try to understand and hear each other. Chekhov’s hero experiences constant emotional interest only in one interlocutor – himself.

Goodness, according to Chekhov, is not only external actions, but also an internal attitude towards people, a willingness to share their joys and sorrows. A.B. Esin noted that Chekhov’s problematic lies “in the extent to which the specific life of specific people meets simple, original, immutable moral values” [4, p. 165].

Chekhov is a very relevant author. Many of the topics raised by Chekhov in his works, such as inequality, poverty, corruption, identity, moral dilemmas, ecology are still relevant today.

The works of A.P. Chekhov, in which the characters like to think, talk and "philosophize" too much, instead of doing, and talk about life often replaces life itself, sound very modern in an era when the problems of communication and procrastination have come to the fore.

Chekhov created works that spoke about human experience in all its manifestations - from joy to grief, from love to loneliness. This makes his works universal and understandable for audiences of different cultures and eras.

When highlighting the above aspects of Russian literature, it is necessary to focus the attention of foreigners on their current sound, on the demand for Russian classics among modern readers and artists. The process of understanding the originality of Russian literature does not stop to this day. Moreover, many ideas of Russian classics turned out to be prophetic. The dystopian motifs in Dostoevsky's works ("Notes from Underground", "The Legend of the Grand Inquisitor") anticipated many of the problems of modern consumer society. And Tolstoy's reflections on the role of the individual in history take on a new meaning in the era of social networks and mass movements.

In the era of digital technologies, Russian classics find new forms of embodiment. Graphic novels based on "Crime and Punishment", VR projects that allow you to "immerse yourself" in the world of noble estates, podcasts that update Dostoevsky's philosophical ideas in relation to modern times are appearing.

Films and plays are actively made based on Russian classics. Film adaptations and theatrical interpretations of Russian classics influence public consciousness, becoming a response to modern social and cultural problems.

The main secret of the enduring relevance of Russian classics is its deep humanism and attention to the eternal questions of human existence. Love and hate, war and peace, crime and punishment, the search for the meaning of life – these themes do not lose their relevance over time.

Thus, foreign students should form an idea that Russian classics are popular all over the world, they are studied, quoted, rethought. The desired and expected result of such an aspectual study of Russian literature is the emergence of interest in the work of the named Russian writers, which can manifest itself both in reading and listening to their works (in the original or in translation), and in watching performances (TV performances) and film adaptations. In this case, the immersion of foreign students in the world of Russian culture will be deeper, and the idea of the Russian picture of the world and Russian spiritual values will be more complete.

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