MILESTONES OF THE FORMATION OF FRENCH SYMBOLISM AND ITS REFLECTION IN THE FRENCH CRITIQUE AT THE TURN OF THE ХХ CENTURY

In this article, we provide a partial analysis of the theoretical manifests and some interviews of French symbolists based on the “Questionnaire on the evolution of literature” (Enquête sur l’évolution littéraire) by Huret J. These texts have never been translated from French into Russian before. The structure of this questionnaire presents some difficulties, however. As for instance, Mallarmé and Verlaine appear at the head of symbolists and decadents; Huysmans, who wrote “À rebours”, becomes a naturalist; as for Baju, he does not appear at all in the list. The work of Huret, and of symbolists rose numerous controversies. We tried to reflect the main milestones of the history of French symbolism, a literary trend at the end of the 19th century. The authors of this period tried to influence the mind and the moral senses of a person by the means of aesthetic emotions.

the literature of symbolism, French poetry of the end of the XIX century, “Enquête sur l’évolution littéraire” by Huret J, interviews of symbolists