Russian Language and Literature

Russian literature refers to the literature of Russia and its émigrés and to the Russian-language literature. The roots of Russian literature can be traced to the Middle Ages, when epics and chronicles in Old East Slavic were composed. By the Age of Enlightenment, literature had grown in importance, and from the early 1830s, Russian literature underwent an astounding golden age in poetry, prose and drama. Romanticism permitted a flowering of poetic talent: Vasily Zhukovsky and later his protégé Alexander Pushkin came to the fore. Prose was flourishing as well. The first great Russian novelist was Nikolai Gogol. Then came Ivan Turgenev, who mastered both short stories and novels. Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky soon became internationally renowned. In the second half of the century Anton Chekhov excelled in short stories and became a leading dramatist. The beginning of the 20th century ranks as the Silver Age of Russian poetry. The poets most often associated with the "Silver Age" are Konstantin Balmont, Valery Bryusov, Alexander Blok, Anna Akhmatova, Nikolay Gumilyov, Osip Mandelstam, Sergei Yesenin, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Marina Tsvetaeva and Boris Pasternak. This era produced some first-rate novelists and short-story writers, such as Aleksandr Kuprin, Nobel Prize winner Ivan Bunin, Leonid Andreyev, Fyodor Sologub, Aleksey Remizov, Yevgeny Zamyatin, Dmitry Merezhkovsky and Andrei Bely.

After the Revolution of 1917, Russian literature split into Soviet and white émigré parts. While the Soviet Union assured universal literacy and a highly developed book printing industry, it also enforced ideological censorship. In the 1930s Socialist realism became the predominant trend in Russia. Its leading figure was Maxim Gorky, who laid the foundations of this style. Nikolay Ostrovsky's novel How the Steel Was Tempered has been among the most successful works of Russian literature. Alexander Fadeyev achieved success in Russia. Various émigré writers, such as poets Vladislav Khodasevich, Georgy Ivanov and Vyacheslav Ivanov; novelists such as Mark Aldanov, Gaito Gazdanov and Vladimir Nabokov; and short story Nobel Prize-winning writer Ivan Bunin, continued to write in exile. Some writers dared to oppose Soviet ideology, like Nobel Prize-winning novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who wrote about life in the gulag camps. The Khrushchev Thaw brought some fresh wind to literature and poetry became a mass cultural phenomenon. This "thaw" did not last long; in the 1970s, some of the most prominent authors were banned from publishing and prosecuted for their anti-Soviet sentiments.

The end of the 20th century was a difficult period for Russian literature, with few distinct voices. Among the most discussed authors of this period were Victor Pelevin, who gained popularity with short stories and novels, novelist and playwright Vladimir Sorokin, and the poet Dmitri Prigov. In the 21st century, a new generation of Russian authors appeared, differing greatly from the postmodernist Russian prose of the late 20th century, which lead critics to speak about "new realism".

Russian authors have significantly contributed to numerous literary genres. Russia has five Nobel Prize in literature laureates. As of 2011, Russia was the fourth largest book producer in the world in terms of published titles. A popular folk saying claims Russians are "the world's most reading nation".

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Matching Russian Language and Literature Colleges

Brigham Young University

Four or more years; Private not for profit; $6,120 average out-state tuition; $6,120 average in-state tuition

University of Arizona

Four or more years; Public; $33,739 average out-state tuition; $10,990 average in-state tuition

Portland State University

Four or more years; Public; $25,746 average out-state tuition; $8,106 average in-state tuition

Florida State University

Four or more years; Public; $19,084 average out-state tuition; $4,640 average in-state tuition

University of Georgia

Four or more years; Public; $28,830 average out-state tuition; $9,790 average in-state tuition

United States Military Academy

Four or more years; Public

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Four or more years; Public; $32,644 average out-state tuition; $17,416 average in-state tuition

Scholarships for Russian Language and Literature Majors

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Beinecke Scholarship - Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

$34,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Beinecke Scholarship is open to juniors at Dartmouth College who plan to enter a master's or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. You must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Marian Islands and demonstrate financial need to qualify for this award. In addition,...

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Beinecke Scholarship - Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

award

$34,000

deadline

Varies
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Description

The Beinecke Scholarship is open to juniors at Dartmouth College who plan to enter a master's or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. You must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Marian Islands and demonstrate financial need to qualify for this award. In addition,...

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TowerCares Scholarship

TowerCares Foundation

$5,000 May 15, 2025 See Details

Description

The TowerCares Scholarship is available to high school seniors and full - time college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. You must be enrolled or plan to enroll in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) or Foreign Language Linguistics major. Additionally, you must be a U.S. citizen and reside in Maryland, the District of Columbia,...

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TowerCares Scholarship

TowerCares Foundation

award

$5,000

deadline

May 15, 2025
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Description

The TowerCares Scholarship is available to high school seniors and full - time college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. You must be enrolled or plan to enroll in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) or Foreign Language Linguistics major. Additionally, you must be a U.S. citizen and reside in Maryland, the District of Columbia,...

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Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association Scholarship

U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association

Up to $3,000 June 30, 2025 See Details

Description

The Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors who are entering their freshman of college as well as current college students. You must be sponsored by a current U.S. NCVA member in good standing and submit a brief written statement in order to be considered for this award. Selection is...

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Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association Scholarship

U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association

award

Up to $3,000

deadline

June 30, 2025
See Details

Description

The Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors who are entering their freshman of college as well as current college students. You must be sponsored by a current U.S. NCVA member in good standing and submit a brief written statement in order to be considered for this award. Selection is...

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Michael Hodge Memorial Scholarship

Galveston College

$1,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Michael Hodge Memorial Scholarship is available to students at Galveston College. You must have completed 6 semester minimum, have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and pursuing a degree in humanities or fine arts to be eligible for this award.

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Michael Hodge Memorial Scholarship

Galveston College

award

$1,000

deadline

Varies
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Description

The Michael Hodge Memorial Scholarship is available to students at Galveston College. You must have completed 6 semester minimum, have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and pursuing a degree in humanities or fine arts to be eligible for this award.

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Humanities & Social Sciences Tiger Athletic Foundation Scholarship

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, College of Arts and Science

$1,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Humanities & Social Sciences Tiger Athletic Foundation Scholarship is available to students at Louisiana State University. You must be enrolled in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences, demonstrate financial need, and have a minimum 3.4 GPA to be eligible for this award.

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Humanities & Social Sciences Tiger Athletic Foundation Scholarship

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, College of Arts and Science

award

$1,000

deadline

Varies
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Description

The Humanities & Social Sciences Tiger Athletic Foundation Scholarship is available to students at Louisiana State University. You must be enrolled in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences, demonstrate financial need, and have a minimum 3.4 GPA to be eligible for this award.

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Catherine F. Vuozzo Scholarship

University of Maryland, College Park - College of Arts and Humanities

$1,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Catherine F. Vuozzo Scholarship is available to full-time undergraduate liberal arts majors at the University of Maryland, College Park. Your selection for this award will be based on academic merit, financial need and an essay (2 pages double spaced) on the topic, "What does it mean to be an 'educated' person? What is the role of the...

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Catherine F. Vuozzo Scholarship

University of Maryland, College Park - College of Arts and Humanities

award

$1,000

deadline

Varies
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Description

The Catherine F. Vuozzo Scholarship is available to full-time undergraduate liberal arts majors at the University of Maryland, College Park. Your selection for this award will be based on academic merit, financial need and an essay (2 pages double spaced) on the topic, "What does it mean to be an 'educated' person? What is the role of the...

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Bilingual Scholarship - Worcester State College

Worcester State University

$1,000 April 15, 2025 See Details

Description

The Bilingual Scholarship is available to full-time students at Worcester State College. You must be outstanding in a language other than your native language, have a minimum 3.3 GPA, and demonstrate financial need to be considered for this award.

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Bilingual Scholarship - Worcester State College

Worcester State University

award

$1,000

deadline

April 15, 2025
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Description

The Bilingual Scholarship is available to full-time students at Worcester State College. You must be outstanding in a language other than your native language, have a minimum 3.3 GPA, and demonstrate financial need to be considered for this award.

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Chesley I. Cochran Scholarship

San Joaquin Delta College

$1,000 April 20, 2025 See Details

Description

The Chesley I. Cochran Scholarship is available to students at San Joaquin Delta College. You must have been a resident of San Joaquin County for the previous five years, be involved in community service, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. You must also be majoring in social sciences, human services, or humanities.

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Chesley I. Cochran Scholarship

San Joaquin Delta College

award

$1,000

deadline

April 20, 2025
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Description

The Chesley I. Cochran Scholarship is available to students at San Joaquin Delta College. You must have been a resident of San Joaquin County for the previous five years, be involved in community service, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. You must also be majoring in social sciences, human services, or humanities.

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Alice McInnes Memorial Scholarship

San Joaquin Delta College

$1,000 April 20, 2025 See Details

Description

The Alice McInnes Memorial Scholarship is available to female liberal arts students at San Joaquin Delta College. You also demonstrate participation in activities and community service, leadership abilities and financial need. Additionally, you must be a graduate of Stockton Unified, Lincoln Unified, or St. Mary's School District and have a...

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Alice McInnes Memorial Scholarship

San Joaquin Delta College

award

$1,000

deadline

April 20, 2025
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Description

The Alice McInnes Memorial Scholarship is available to female liberal arts students at San Joaquin Delta College. You also demonstrate participation in activities and community service, leadership abilities and financial need. Additionally, you must be a graduate of Stockton Unified, Lincoln Unified, or St. Mary's School District and have a...

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John E. Sadler and Mary Jane Wolever Sadler Endowed Scholarship

Oklahoma State University - College of Arts and Sciences

$700 Varies See Details

Description

The John E. Sadler and Mary Jane Wolever Sadler Endowed Scholarship is available to students at Oklahoma State University. You must be majoring in foreign languages and have a good academic record to be eligible for this award.

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John E. Sadler and Mary Jane Wolever Sadler Endowed Scholarship

Oklahoma State University - College of Arts and Sciences

award

$700

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The John E. Sadler and Mary Jane Wolever Sadler Endowed Scholarship is available to students at Oklahoma State University. You must be majoring in foreign languages and have a good academic record to be eligible for this award.

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