Ivan Turgenev about Virgil (by the example of a letter)

The issue of ancient traditions significance in the works by I. Turgenev is researched insufficiently in contemporary literary criticism. Due to his excellent education Turgenev was familiar with the ancient classical tradition and had great command of ancient languages. This affected his work and philosophy. Extensive correspondence of Turgenev gives great opportunities to explore the creative method of the writer, as he often mentioned important issues of philosophy and art in his letters. The Russian writer often quoted ancient authors and these quotes often contained important philosophical and aesthetic postulates. The article reviews one example of Turgenev’s ambiguous attitude to Virgil’s poetry. While he treated Virgil’s poetry critically in his early writings, a mature and accomplished writer Turgenev turned to Virgil’s poetry among other things as the example of high poetic art that always retained its relevance from the point of view of art form perfection and depth of psychologism. The quotes from the letter to A. Fet of September 13, 1873 are of the most interest for the study. Turgenev cited several phrases of “the Aeneid”, demonstrating that Virgil “is not only a poet but also a daring innovator and romantic” and showing his poetic sensitivity and deep psychologism in creation of images there. Despite the fact that the relationship between writers after this letter went wrong soon, Fet, apparently, did not forget Turgenev’s opinion about the poetic language of Virgil and used it in his own translation of the “Aeneid”, which he made after the death of his friend-enemy. Analysis of the two quotes from Virgil shows not only Turgenev’s good knowledge of the Latin text, but reveals the depth of his understanding of ancient classical tradition importance for modern literature.