Which European literary genres did Russian writers adapt during the 18th century?

During the 18th century, Russian writers engaged in a period of intense imitation and adaptation of European literary models to modernize their own tradition. By assimilating these foreign forms, they established a flexible secular literary language and prepared the foundation for the original cultural achievements of the 19th century.12

Key genres and forms adapted during this period included:

• Poetry: Russian writers adopted and adapted European versification, most notably transitioning from old syllabic verse to the syllabotonic system, which remains the standard in Russian poetry. They also embraced various poetic forms, including panegyric and spiritual odes.21
• Drama: Influenced by French Neoclassicism, writers such as Aleksandr Sumarokov introduced the first Russian stage tragedies. The century also saw the development of comedy, with Denis Fonvizin becoming a prominent figure in the genre.23
• Prose Fiction: Prose fiction began to emerge in the mid-18th century, including picaresque works. By the end of the century, sentimentalism became a significant influence, notably in the works of Nikolay Karamzin, who helped shape the modern Russian literary language.32

Throughout this era, Russian writers experimented with these diverse European genres, effectively grafting them onto the Russian tradition.1