Armenian literature

Writing

There is an opinion according to which as early as the III — I centuries. BC er the ancient Armenians had special "priestly writings" that created temple books and chronicles ^[4] . The information of ancient historians, as well as archaeological data show the existence of Armenian script based on Persian and Greek scripts already in the II century BC. er ^[5] . Assumptions about pre-Christian Armenian writing were made in the Middle Ages. So Vardan the Great wrote in the 13th century that “The existence of Armenian letters (left) from antiquity was proved during the time of King Levon, when a coin was found in Cilicia, on which the name of the pagan king Haikid was depicted in Armenian letters ” ^[6] . In the I-II centuries there lived a historian, priest Olump , about whom Khorenatsi reports. Olump is the author of “Temple Stories” ^[7] , however, in what language the work was written is not known. In the 3rd century, the Syrian scholar Vardesan translated them into Syriac and Greek. Unfortunately, from this writing to our days no monuments have been preserved. At the same time, there are data on the creation of literature of Armenia in other languages. So, according to Plutarch in the I century BC. er King of Great Armenia Artavazd II wrote dramas in Greek. There is information attributing the “History of Armenia” to the Syrian author of the 2nd-3rd centuries Vardasan ^[8] , which has not been preserved to this day. During the 4th century, after the adoption of Christianity as the state religion, apparently, attempts were made to write in Armenian in Greek or Aramaic letters ^[9] .

Folklore

Before the formation of the Armenian written language, rich oral literature developed ^[10] , which was closely associated with Armenian mythology . Ancient Armenian legends and epic songs were first recorded by Armenian authors of the 5th century. The most ancient of them are mythic tales about the legendary ancestor of the Armenians Heike , Ara the Beautiful and Vahagn . Preserved epic passages about Artashes and Satenik, Tigran and Azhdahak and so on. Legends, epic songs and legends about the tsars of ancient Armenia Trdan III and Arshak II (IV century), generals Mushegh and Vardan Mamikonyan (IV and V centuries) created in different epochs are of great artistic and historical-cognitive value ^[11] .

The epic song about Haik is based on the idea of ​​the struggle against tyranny, the image of which is formed by the Assyrian-Babylonian god Bel .

There was a rich oral literature. Some samples were recorded and preserved thanks to the authors of the V century. Khorenatsi transmits several of the most valuable examples of ancient Armenian oral literature, one of them, “ On King Artashes, ” was glorified in the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. er :

Until the 5th century, Greek , Syrian and Ancient Persian alphabets were used as official writing in Great Armenia .

On the existence of literature and writing in Armenian before the V century AD. er historians and linguists have proposed different theories based on separate information from historical sources ^[14] . However, in the period prior to the beginning of the 5th century, written texts written in Armenian were not preserved.

For about a century after the adoption of Christianity, Armenians used the Greek and Syrian text of the Bible and other religious books ^[10] . Initially, in order to translate the Bible and liturgical books on the initiative of Mesrop Mashtots in 404 ^[15], so-called “ Daniel letters ” were brought to Armenia from northern Mesopotamia. After some time, it turned out that this alphabet is not capable of serving the fixation of the Armenian language and in this sense is inferior ^[16] . In 406 ^[17] , after a one-year ^[18] expedition to northern Mesopotamia, Mesrop Mashtots created the modern Armenian alphabet , thus becoming the founder of Armenian national literature and writing ^[19] . The Armenian literary language of the 5th — 11th centuries is called Grabar , that is, written, the language of the 12th – 16th centuries, the Middle Armenian literary language, from the 17th century, the new Armenian literary language, ahsharabar, was formed. The Mashtots alphabet has been used by Armenians for more than 1600 years ^[13] .

The “golden age” of ancient Armenian literature

Armenian literature has about two millennia ^[20] . Ancient Armenian literature has been developing since 406 AD. e., when the scientist and preacher of Christianity Mesrop Mashtots created the modern Armenian alphabet . Having arisen in the 5th century, Armenian literature quickly began to develop as original and multi-genre ^[21] , significant literary monuments were created ^[22] . For the early medieval era of its development are characterized by works of both secular and religious-religious content ( treatises , speeches). V century is considered the golden age in the history of its development ^{[23] [24] [1]} .

Historiography or the genre of historical prose dominates in the literature of the 5th century ^[25] . The main features of the genre were manifested already in the initial period of its occurrence and survived with various manifestations until the late Middle Ages.

Historiographical works are characterized by scale and wide coverage of historical realities, consideration of the history of Armenia in parallel with the history of other peoples and states, than these works acquire special value and go beyond the framework of national importance.

Chronologically, the first ^{[25] [22]} monument of historiography is considered the Life of Mashtots by Koryun , written in 440 years ^[25] and considered to be the first original monument of Armenian literature ^{[26] [25]} . The history of Agatangelos narrates about the events of the beginning of the 4th century and is dedicated to the history of Armenia adopting Christianity as the state religion; had a tremendous influence on the historical and fiction literature of the next centuries ^[25] . The work “On Vardan and the Armenian War” of Egishe , devoted to the anti-Persian uprising of Armenians in 449–451, dates back to the second half of the 5th century. In addition to a reliable historical source, the work played an exceptional role in the development of the genre of historical prose and the development of Armenian artistic thinking ^[25] . In 470 years, the History of Armenia by Favstos Buzand was created . In the work of Favstos, for the first time in Armenian literature, a satirical depiction of negative characters is noted, it also has significant epic value ^[25] . The peak of the Armenian literature of the era is the work “History of Armenia” by Movses Khorenatsi . He was the first among Armenian authors who created a full-scale history of Armenia from ancient times to the era of the author's life. The work was written in 480 years, saturated with a deep sense of national identity ^[25] . The classic period of Armenian historiography of the 5th century is completed by Lazar Parpetsi’s “History of Armenia”. The “Message to Vahan Mamikonyan” of the latter is considered one of the brightest examples of Armenian rhetorical art of the early era ^[25] . These works are considered important historical sources for the history of Armenia, as well as for neighboring states and peoples - Rome, Byzantium, Persia, Georgians, etc. ^[25] .

•  

  Movses Khorenatsi and Saak Bagratuni, a miniature of the XIV century

•  

  Eghishe , "About Vardan and the Armenian War", a miniature of the XVI century

•  

  Yeznik Koghbatsi surrounded by students, the cover of the first edition of “ Denial of false teachings ”, 1762

•  

  The cover of the first edition of the "History" of Agatangelos , 1709

Ancient Armenian literature is closely connected with the church and the art of theology . The most important monument of this trend of literature of the 5th century is the work of Eznik Koghbatsi “Refutation of false doctrines” - one of the masterpieces of ancient Armenian literature ^[10] ; it was written between 441-449 years. At the same time, a patristic essay “Multiple Messages” is being created, the alleged author of which is Mashtots ^[24] . At the end of the century, John Mandakuni wrote "Speech" containing valuable information about the socio-cultural ideas of the time. Mambre Verzanoh is considered the author of 3 homilies ^[24] . Theological writings are attributed to Ananias Syunzi .

In the 5th century, monuments of life literature were also created, in particular “The Life of St. Gregory the Illuminator”, “The Martyrdom of the Hripsimian Virgins” and “The Martyrdom of St. Shushanik” ^[27] . The first two were included as components of the History of Armenia by Agatangelos.

From the first epoch of the development of Armenian literature, the art of poetry flourished, having at that time mainly a church-religious appearance (spiritual hymns), which is characteristic of the original time of all Christian cultures. The most prominent representatives of the art of sharakans - Armenian hymnography are Mesrop Mashtots, Ioann Mandakuni, Stepanos Syuntsi and some others, whose works lie at the heart of Armenian poetry of the next centuries. At the same time, David Kertog creates a poetic treatment of the epic legend “Tigran and Azhdahak”.

Ancient Armenian translated literature originates in the 5th century. Thanks to these translations, world science gets acquainted with the numerous monuments of ancient literature, the originals of which are now lost.

After the V century

In the 6th century, there has been some decline in the development of historical prose. In the 6th century, the most remarkable historical work is the “Chronography” of Atanas Taronatsi . Petros Syunetsi develops the traditions of church poetry. In this epoch, lived the largest early medieval Armenian Neo-Platonic philosopher David Anaht , whose works are also examples of high rhetorical art ^[29] . Since the 6th century, a theological collection has been preserved, known as the "Book of Epistles" It contains works of ancient Armenian authors Hovhannes Gabeleantsi, Movses Elvardetsi, Grigor Kertog, and others ^[24] . For the history of the Armenian literature of the century, the works of Abraham Mamikoneic are also remarkable.

Fiction is also developing. At the end of the 7th century, Davtak Kertog wrote his famous elegy “Crying for the death of Grand Duke Jivanshir” - the oldest surviving work of Armenian secular poetry ^[30] . This is an acrostic of 36 stanzas by the number of letters in the Armenian alphabet ^[31] . It should be noted, however, that another poetic passage dating back to an earlier time has been preserved from secular poetry monuments ^[32] .

The 7th century becomes the epoch of a new rise in Armenian historiography ^[31] . The capital historical work of Cebeos “The History of the Emperor Irakl” is being created. Noteworthy is the fact that Sebeos first appears on the plot of Khosrov and Shirin ^[31] . In addition to great historical significance, the epic legends contained in the work ^[31] are also of artistic value. At the same time, John Mamikoyan wrote The History of Taron.

•  

  David Anacht

•  

  Page from the manuscript of the History of the Caliphs by Ghevond

In VII – IX centuries, polemical prose and church poetry especially developed ^[11] . In dogmatic literature, an important place is occupied by the collection “ The Root of Faith ”, created in 620 by John Mayravanetsi ^[33] . It includes anti-Chalcedonist works and religious songs ^[34] . His opponent was Theodoros Krtenavor . At the turn of the VI – VII centuries, Vrtanes Kertog wrote a treatise “On Iconoclasm” ^[24] . Anania Shirakatsi , the author of many works in various fields of science and philosophy, lived in the 7th century ^[24] . In the 6th – 9th centuries, the genre of life was formed, speaking in its classical forms. In the martyrs of Yezdibuzid, David Dvinec, Hamazasp and Sahak there is a tendency towards an abstract and rhetorical narrative style ^[27] .

The most significant historical work of the VIII century "History of the Caliphs" of Ghevond , completed around 790. The historiographic works of this era are important historical sources for studying the history of both Armenia proper and neighboring countries and regions ^{[21] [35]} . Everyday literature is developing, one of the best monuments ^{[27] of} which is “The Life of Vaan Gokhtnetsi”, written in 737. Entire collections of everyday literature appear ^[27] . Works of a theological nature are created, in particular the treatises and the speeches of John Odznetsi , Grigoris Arsharuni and others. In the 7th — 8th centuries, Armenian spiritual poetry entered a new stage in its development. It is characterized by the enrichment of the content and methods of poetic expression. One of the best works of this period, “Andzink Nvirealk” (“Persons of the Devotees”) by Komitas Akhstetsi ^[36] :

Spiritual poetry is developed to a new degree by Sahak Dzoraporetsi , John Odznetsi and others. Among the poets of the 8th century there are also women - Saakducht , Hosrovidukht . The last author of the poem dedicated to Prince Vahan Gokhtnetsi. Stepanos Syunetsi , in addition to spiritual hymns, wrote anti-Chalcedonian polemical and other works ^[24] .

At the end of the 9th — beginning of the 10th centuries, Tovma Artsruni created his famous “History of the Artsruni House”, outlining the history of all of Armenia ^[10] . An anonymous narrator writes the history of the Bagratid era. The History of the Holy Patriarch Sahak and the Mardotz Vardapet belongs to the 9th century ^[37] . The most significant anthem poets of this era are Amam Areveltsi and Vardan Anetsi . Theological writings created by Sahak Mrut .

X — XII centuries

Since the 10th century, Armenian literature has been experiencing a new upsurge in connection with political, economic and social changes in Armenia, and first of all, with the restoration of the Armenian kingdom . The Armenian kings of Bagratida also patronized the development of a written culture ^{[38] [39]} . During this period, Armenian literature, like other areas of culture, has flourished more freely than ever since the 5th century ^[10] . Next to historical prose, which was the main genre of literature throughout the early Middle Ages, a new poetic word takes its strongest place. Ancient literary genres are significantly updated in terms of forms and content, new directions appear. Humanistic ideas and motifs appear in the literature ^[11] . The period from the X to the XIV centuries, historians and cultural scholars are often called the Armenian Revival ^[40] .

The rise of poetry is primarily associated with the work of Grigor Narekatsi , considered the first major medieval Armenian poet ^[10] . His work begins the theme of love and nature in Armenian lyrics. The latter finally separates poetry from church services. In 1002, Narekatsi completes his famous poem, The Book of Sorrowful Chants . The work is considered one of the masterpieces of medieval Armenian literature. Under his influence the poetry of Vardan Aneci is being developed. At the same time, Grigor Magistros introduces an epistolary genre into Armenian literature ^[41] . An improvement in the metric is associated with his name ^[42] .

Since the 10th century, historiography has been revived again, significant historical works are being created, in particular, Hovhannes Draskhanakertzi completes the History of Armenia in about 924, and about 987 ^[43] Ukhtanes completes the History. Monuments of the regional historiography of Armenia are written ^{[39] [44]} , among which Movses Kagankavtatsi, the History of the Country of Aluank . At the turn of the X-XI centuries, in the era of strengthening the Armenian kingdom of the Bagratids, in Armenian historiography, there are tendencies for creating a new, after Khorenatsi, general history of Armenia and neighboring regions. In 1004 ^{[43] he} completed the “Universal History” of Stepanos Taronatsi , who is considered to be reliable and well-written work ^[10] . Another significant historical work of the 11th century is the “Narration” of Aristakes Lastiverzi , written between 1072–1079 years ^[43] . Lastivertsi's work presents the tragic events in Armenia in the 11th century - the Byzantine conquests, the barbaric raids of the Turkic-Seljuk nomads.

XI-XII centuries marked the heyday of Armenian everyday literature ^[27] . The “History of Saint Nerses Partev, the Armenian Patriarch” written by Mesrop Vayots Dzoretsi in 967 is remarkable. Treatments of religious and religious nature are also being created, among which are the works of Anania Narekatsi , Khosrova Andzevatsi , Samuel Kamrjadzoretsi , Anania Mokatsi , etc. ^[24] .

Since the 12th century, the middle Armenian literary language has come to replace Grabar, the ancient Armenian literary language ^[11] .

At the turn of the XI-XII centuries, there lived a prominent poet Hovhannes Imastasser , author of the philosophical poem “The Word of Wisdom ..., addressed to the starling ...” (188 lines ^[42] ), the theme of which is the origin and content of art ^[45] . Imastasser was one of those authors who identified the development paths of the Armenian literature of the era ^[43] . His contemporary Vardan Aykazn laid the foundations of the biographical poem genre. An important historical work of the XII century "Chronography" of Mateos Urhaeti , which also contains details about the first crusade ^[46] . She talks about both Armenia itself and the life of the Armenian diaspora in the East ^[43] . At the end of the XII century, Samuel Aneci wrote the historical work “Chronicle”. Its history contains especially valuable information about the history of Armenia, the Cilician kingdom and neighboring states of the 12th century. Also known are the chronicles of Hakob Sanahneti , Grigor Yerets and others ^[43] .

In terms of both general content and poetic form, the work of Nerses Shnorhali , the greatest poet of his time, becomes a new word ^[11] . In 1145, Shnorhali wrote the poem “The Elegy to the Taking of Edessa”, one of the first works of political poetry in Armenian literature. Schnorali, the pioneer of the genre of the Armenian epic poem, is also the author of numerous poems ^[11] . In 1149, Grigor Marashetsi , influenced by the work of Narekatsi ^[42], wrote the poem “Lament”, dedicated to the capture of Marash by the Seljuks . Their contemporary is Grigor Pakhlavuni , the author of several spiritual hymns. For Armenian literature of this era, an important place is occupied by the work of Mkhitar Gosh . Gosh is one of the founders of prose fiction in Armenian literature ^[47] , was one of the first Armenian fabulist writers and secular writers ^[11] . About 190 fables ^[42] survived. He owns the fundamental canonical assembly - "Law" ^[24] . In the poem of Grigor Tha “Crying about Jerusalem”, created in 1189 and consisting of about 3,000 lines ^[42] , the political development of the era in the Cilician kingdom is reflected. Nerses Lambronatsi creates church poems and speeches, in particular his “Rhetoric” is considered a model of eloquence in medieval world literature ^[48] .

XIII — XVI centuries

The thirteenth century is notable for the flourishing of secular literature and poetry itself. Poets appear that describe the feelings and interests of the common people; during this period love lyrics reach their peak ^[49] . The artistic reflection of the Mongol yoke and the problem of social inequality occupy a key place in Frick's literature ^[11] . About 50 poems are preserved from it. For the poetry of this era, Kostandin Erznkatsi , one of the founders of love lyrics in Armenian poetry, also occupies a special place ^{[50] [11]} . In the works of Erznkatsi, life, the awakening of spring and love, nature and man are famous. In the work of the poet Khachatur Kecharetsi , the psychological appearance of a medieval man occupies an important place. Hovhannes Yerznkatsi Pluz also becomes a big time poet. Artistic prose develops in the works of Vardan Aygektsi , whose fables are collected in the collection “The Fox Book ”.

One of the peaks of medieval Armenian poetry is airen . Airen are quatrains (sometimes quintuple), usually with a through rhyme. The number of Airen reaches 500 works, mostly owned by anonymous authors. The traditional dating of Airen is XIII- XVI century . Most often, the theme of Airen is love, sometimes love and separation. There is also a relatively large cycle of wandering irens dedicated to the native land or the share of the wanderer. A number of Airens could be called lyric-philosophical (sometimes they are called Airens of thought).

The history of Armenia (written between 1241–1266) by Kirakos Gandzaketsi occupies a special place in the historiography of the 13th century . The work covers a thousand-year period of Armenian history. In 1270 Smbat Sparapet finishes the “Chronicle”, outlining the historical events in Armenia and Cilicia since the middle of the X century. Vardan Areveltsi , Grigor Aknertsi and others write significant historical works. At the end of the same century, Stepanos Orbelyan completes his major historical work “The History of Sisakan”, containing valuable information about one of the key historical regions of Armenia, Syunik province. The “Chronographic History” of Mkhitar Airivanetsi dates back to the same time. An important figure in the 13th century Armenian writing is Hovhannes Tavushetsi , the author of an erotemic encyclopedic collection telling the history of Armenian culture until the 13th century ^[51] .

For Armenian poetry of the XIV century, an important place is occupied by the work of Hovhannes Tlkuranzi . Tlkuranzi praises and praises love, female beauty and nature ^[52] . Terter Yerevantsi is the author of a poem about a polemic discussion between wine, sage and grapes. Notable works of Kirakos Yerznkatsi . Despite Christian dogma, lyrics flourish, in which preference is given to man's worldly aspirations. At the turn of the XIV-XV centuries, Grigor Khlatetsi , the author of the poem “Memories of disasters [of Armenia]” ^[24], lived. The traditions of medieval Armenian secular poetry reach new heights.

At the beginning of the 14th century Getum wrote the Chronicle. Historical works are created by Nerses Palianenz and others.

Of the authors of the 15th century, Arakel Syunetsi writes the poem Adam's Book (1403), Arakel Bagishetsi wrote the poem Elegy for the Taking of Istanbul (1453). Among the famous poets of the time Mkrtich Nagash . The traditions of hymnography are developed by Hakob Netrarents , Grigor Artsketsi and others, and the genre of life and martyrdom is flourishing. The largest work of the 15th century Armenian historiography is the “History of Timur and his successors” (completed in 1440) by Tovma Metsopetsi . Labor is considered one of the main historical sources of the Timurid epoch in the Transcaucasus. Among the historiographic literature is also noteworthy the “History of the Country of Franks” by Martiros Erznkatsi , from which the genre of travel writing in Armenian prose begins.

Among the historical works of the 16th century, the chronicle of Hovhannisik Tsaretsi is noteworthy. Unlike historiography, poetry flourishes in this era. The most significant poets of this epoch are Grigoris Akhtamartsi , Ovasap Sebastatsi , Hakob Tohatzi , Minas Tohatzi , Tadeos Sebastatsi , love lyrics reaching their peaks in the verses of Kapach Kuchak , the poems of Kuchak are traditionally called Ayrene ⁽⁵³⁾ . The first satirical poems appear.

The largest cultural achievement of the time is Armenian typography .

In the 17th century, signs of overcoming the period of cultural decline of the last centuries are outlined ^[10] . In the XVII - XVIII centuries, the leading literature remains lyrics, which develops in three main directions: secular work of tags , religious and patriotic poetry, folk songs of gusans . These areas, by their characteristic features, are not fundamentally separated from each other, they are often presented as mutual literary influences against the background of artistic thinking of the same epoch. In the work of one poet, one can often feel the different trends of the poetry of the time. This characterizes, for example, the literary heritage of Martiros Krymetsi , where both secular work and ashug poetry and spiritual songs are combined. At the same time, the three main directions of the poetry of the epoch differ in different periods of time with their style, poetic characteristics, themes and orientation. So, for example, religious-patriotic poetry repeats and uniquely continues the traditions of medieval religious and historical-political poetry. She maintains her cultural connection with sacred music. The main genres of classical poetry — gands and tags — are being revived . These genres are developed in the works of the 17th century authors: Nerses Mokatsi , Stepanos , Hakoba and Khachatur Tohatetsi, Vardan and Hovhannes Kafaetsi, Vrtanes Skevratsi , Yeremii Chelebi Keomurchyan, etc., as well as from the authors of the 18th century: Simeon Yerevantsi, Baghdasar D. Kapanzi, Grigor Oshakanzi and others, who led the national-cultural life both in Armenia and in the diaspora , contributed to the development of the ideology of the national liberation struggle. The most significant author of religious and patriotic poetry is Yeremia Keomurchyan, who left a significant literary legacy. The most significant authors of this eighteenth-century trend are Bagdasar Dpir and Petros Kapanzi, whose works were transitional to a new trend of classicism .

Another direction of the lyrics of the XVII – XVIII centuries dates back to the medieval secular poetry of the tags , while at the same time having a deep influence of the folk art of the gusans . The secular poetry of time is a new style, which naturally was the fruit of the artistic thinking of a new historical time. The language is mainly Middle Armenian literary language, rarely Grabar. The main theme is love, female beauty. A separate theme is the poetry of panduhts - the poetry of the longing of people living outside their homeland. Satire , poetry of social motive, etc., receive great development. The most significant poets of the time are: Kazar Sebastii, Stepanos Varagetsi, Stepanos Dashtetsi, David Saladzortsi, Nagash Ovnatan and others. Among them, the largest lyricist is Nagash Ovnatan. Baghdasar Dpir and further representatives of his literary school made a significant contribution to the development of literature of the century.

The third direction of the lyrics of the XVII – XVIII centuries is represented by three branches: folk, folk-guusan and ashug poetry. The folk-gusan art of the 17th — 18th centuries is represented both by the folk itself and by the East-Ashig styles, mainly by the Irens . The most prominent ashugs of the time were Mkrtich, Artin, Krchik-Nova and others. The peak of 18th century Armenian ashug poetry is the work of Sayat-Nova .

In the XVII century, Armenian historiography was revived again. Significant historical works are being created, such as The History by Arakel Davrizhetsi (completed in 1662 ), The Chronicle by Zakaria Kanakertsi , The Chronography by Grigor Daranagetsi (written between 1634-1640 ), and so on. The historical poem by Martiros Krymetsi “The Order and Dates of the Armenian Kings” is noteworthy.

In the XVII century, a separate type of historical chronography was formed - travel notes. Prominent authors of this historiographic type are Zakariy Aguletsi , Yeremia Keomurchyan , Minas Amdetsi , and others.

In the manuscripts of the XVII – XVIII centuries, some dramatic works are preserved, the oldest of which is the first Armenian drama “The Death of Saint Hripsime”, which was staged in the Armenian Catholic school in Lvov in 1668 .

The 18th century is the time of the Armenian cultural and intellectual revival ^[10] . Classicism becomes the mainstream of Armenian literature of the late 18th — early 19th centuries. His main representatives H. Erzrumtsi , O. Vanandetsi, S. Vanandetsi , A. Bagratuni , E. Tomachyan, P. Minasyan, and others. Awakened national identity, placed considerable emphasis on the idea of ​​liberating the Armenian nation from the foreign yoke.

Grabar, an ancient Armenian language, was no longer accessible to a wide circle of readers, and ashug poetry represented mainly literature in the modern language. She received particular popularity in the first half of the XIX century. Since 1820 in Armenian literature, a struggle begins between supporters of the use of the Ancient Armenian and New Armenian ^[10] as the language of literature - the so-called grapaikar . Among the main ideologists of the New Armenian literary language, A. Alamdaryan and M. Tagiadyan should be noted. Armenian writers of that time, looking for a literary model and ideals, looked towards Europe ^[10] . G. Alishan also occupied an important place in the literary life of the middle of the century. In the nineteenth century, Khachatur Abovyan laid the foundation for the Armenian literature, writing the novel “The Wounds of Armenia” (1841–1843, ed., 1858). The novel tells about how wars between Persia and Russia were fought on the territory of Eastern Armenia . The novel is written in Western Armenian dialect. This genre of literature becomes a means of expressing the social and political aspirations of Armenians ^[10] . The affirmation of progressive romanticism in Armenian literature is associated with his name. Literary traditions of Abovyan experienced a new development in the middle of the XIX century. The progressive Armenian intelligentsia was grouped around the magazine “Yusisapayl” (“Northern Lights”), which was published in Moscow.

In the middle of the century, A. Svachyan, G. Chilinkiryan, M. Mamuryan, and others actively engaged in literary and journalistic activities in Western Armenia . The beginning of romanticism in Western Armenian literature is associated with the work of M. Peshiktashlyan and P. Duryan . An important place in their work was occupied by the idea of ​​a national liberation struggle against the Turkish yoke.

Writer R. Patkanyan in the 1870s — 1880s in his work, in particular in the cycle “Military Songs” (1878), he expressed the desire of the Armenian people to achieve liberation from Ottoman domination with the help of Russia. His literature is closely connected with the traditions of Abovyan. The problem of the social stratification of the Armenian village lies at the heart of P. Proshian’s social and everyday novels “Soya and Vartiter” (1860), “Because of the bread” (1879), “Miroedy” (1889), etc. The idea of ​​enlightenment holds a key place in the literature G. Agayana. The struggle against social evil is dedicated to his story "Two Sisters" (1872).

Gabriel Sundukyan is considered the founder of the Armenian realistic dramatic art (Pepo, post. 1871, ed. 1876). His work had a significant impact on the further development of national drama and theater .

The pioneer of realistic drama in the literature of Western Armenians is the outstanding ^[10] satirist Hakob Paronyan . Paronyan ridiculed the bourgeois society of the time, exposing the arbitrariness prevailing in Ottoman Turkey (“Esteemed Beggars”, 1891 ; “Pillars of the Nation”, books 1-3, 1879-1880; “Uncle Bagdasar”, 1886; etc.).

The novelists Raffi , Zerents, the publicist G. Artsruni, the editor of the newspaper Mshak (Worker), become the main spokesmen for the ideas of the national liberation struggle of 1870-1880. Among them, the most famous ^[10] becomes Raffi, the author of the novels “Hunt” (1880), “Kaiser” (1878, publ. Vols. 1-3, 1883-1890). In them, Raffi called for national liberation from the Ottoman yoke by an armed uprising with the help of the Russian Empire. His novels David Beck, (1881-1882), Samvel , (1886) played a major role in the development of national prose, in particular the historical novel.

The leading direction of Armenian literature in 1880-1890. becomes critical realism. The largest prose writers of time are Nar-Dos , Muratsan , A. Arpiarnyan, G. Zohrab, and others. Alexander Shirvanzade worked in this era, who in his work deals with the processes of establishing bourgeois relations in the South Caucasus. His largest works: the novel "Chaos" (1898); drama “For Honor” (1905) and others. The works of Hovhannes Hovhannisyan are noteworthy. Social motive is reflected in the poetry of Alexander Tsaturyan.

The work of Hovhannes Tumanyan becomes a synthesis of the traditions of 19th century Armenian literature. Tumanyan is the author of a number of realistic poems (Anush, published 1892, etc.), where the author skillfully reflects the pictures of his native nature, shows the life of the people, social contradictions, also concerns issues of the national liberation struggle. Peru Tumanyan owns one of the best workings of the Armenian epic " David of Sasun " (1902), as well as numerous fairy tales .

Avetik Isahakyan is considered the greatest poet of the late 19th and 1st half of the 20th centuries, in whose work the tragic fates of the Armenian people of the 1890s and subsequent years were stamped.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Tumanyan, Isaakyan and a number of other significant authors continue their creative activities. For the history of Armenian poetry of the early XX century, Vahan Teryan occupies a special place; his first collection of poems "Dreams of Twilight" (1908) immediately gained great popularity. The largest poets of Western Armenia of this period are the early deceased Misak Metsarenz , as well as Daniel Varuzhan, Siamanto and Ruben Sevak, who died during the genocide. Remaining loyal to the traditions of Armenian classical literature, to one degree or another they experienced the influence of Western European and especially French symbolism.

At the end of 1920, Soviet power was established in Armenia, which led to a new stage in the history of Armenian literature, when its development took place in an atmosphere of acute ideological and political struggle. In 1920-1930 lived the largest poet of Armenian literature of the era of Yeghishe Charents , whose career began in the 1910s. His best poems (“Furious crowds”, 1919, etc.) and collections (“The Book of the Way”, 1933, etc.) created traditions that found their continuation in the works of subsequent generations of Armenian poets.

Over 30 thousand ^[55] manuscripts of Armenian writing, created during the 5th - 18th centuries , as well as more than 4 thousand ^[56] fragmentary manuscripts, have been preserved.

The first monuments of written culture dated to the V century BC. e., however, over the centuries, foreign invaders destroyed a huge number of manuscripts (only in the XI century, Stefanos Orbelian indicates 10 thousand). Since the advent of Armenian printing ( 1512 ) until 1800, more than 1,154 ^[57] titles of Armenian books were published (the second largest after the Russian-language edition among the languages ​​of the CIS and the Baltic states ). Thanks to the activities of Hakob Megaparta, the Armenian language became the first language of printing among the languages ​​of the same region, as well as many Asian languages.

• List of Armenian authors of the 5th — 18th centuries
• List of Armenian authors of the 19th — 20th centuries
• Culture of Armenia
• Armenian language
• Ancient Armenian historiography
• Ancient Armenian translation literature
• Grabar

in armenian

• A. Terteryan. Armenian secular literature XIII — XVIII centuries. . - Yer. : Gosunt. Arm. SSR, 1938.
• M.H. Abegyan . History of ancient Armenian literature . - Edition of the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR. - Yer. , 1944. - T. I.
• M.H. Abegyan . History of ancient Armenian literature . - Edition of the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR. - Yer. , 1946. - T. II.

in English

• Edited by JJ Weitenberg. - Rodopi, 1995.
• Agop Jack Hacikyan, Gabriel Basmajian, Edward S. Franchuk. From the sixth to the eighteenth century . - Wayne State University Press, 2002. - T. II .
• Agop Jack Hacikyan, Gabriel Basmajian, Edward S. Franchuk. Eighteenth Century to Modern Times . - Wayne State University Press, 2005. - T. III .
• Kevork B. Bardakjian. A reference guide to modern Armenian literature, 1500-1920: with an introductory history . - Wayne State University Press, 2000.

in Russian

• M. Abegyan . History of ancient Armenian literature . - Yer. : Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences Arm. SSR, 1975.

• Armenian medieval lyrics . - 1972.

• Armenian literature // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : 86 t. (82 t. And 4 add.). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
• ArmenianHouse.org Electronic Library