Article

Name: “Of peaceful leisure quiet occupations...” The concept of LEISURE in the Russian literature of the 19th century

Authors: E. N. Stroganova

The Kosygin State University of Russia, Moscow, Russian Federation

In the section Study of literature

Abstract: In recent years, the question of peculiarities of the concept of LEISURE has become actual in Russian philological studies. However, little has been said about its use in nineteenth-century literature. The semantic base of the concept of LEISURE, as well as that of rest, idleness, or entertainment, is free time. However, they are marked by considerable dissimilarities. In Russian literature of the nineteenth century, the true aim of leisure was thought to be the benefit that could be derived from free time. This idea is best testified by prosaic texts. The poetry of the early nineteenth century manifested in various forms the idea of leisure as indis-pensable for private life, compared to state service. The sphere of leisure included private occupations: reading, self-education, spiritual work (meditation, reverie, self-knowing), com-munication with friends, private correspondence. Leisure was also a prerequisite for literary work. However, those occupations were peculiar to the privileged class. In the middle of the nineteenth century, one of the discussion aspects of the social inequality problem was putting forward the peasant (a working man) as a potential beneficiary of leisure. Popular leisure was thought to consist mainly of intellectual occupations, i.e., education and mental development. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, due to growing political struggle, providing work-ers with leisure time was perceived as one of its incentives.

Keywords: leisure, Russian literature of the nineteenth century, evolution, private life, free time, social markedness

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