Abstract: This article is devoted to study of M.Yu. Lermontov’s existential prose. Considering the issues of the formation of the existential paradigm in the first decades of the 19th century Russian literature, the author refers to Pushkin’s poem “A Vain Gift, an Accidental Gift” as an exemplary work expressing the problematic of modern literature, which is characterized by ideological and stylistic diversity as a result of the interaction of different intellectual systems in Russian artistic thinking (the ideology of late romanticism, the philosophy of objective idealism for Hegel and the existentialist concepts of Kierkegaard, and other thinkers). The development of the existential theme is found in Lermontov's lyrics and prose (“Princess Ligovskaya” and “A Hero of Our Time”). The main research methods used in this article are comparative, hermeneutic, axiological, and literary-historical. The novelty of the article is explained by the fact that the author formulates the main provisions of existential literature and clarifies their manifestations in the literature of the 1820s–1949s in Russian literature, compares aesthetic practices with modern, primarily Lermontov’s literature. Focusing on the demonic theme, the author argues that in the early period of Lermontov’s work (1829–1836), two trends in the evolution of this theme are observed: the first is called the demonization of the hero, ending in the mature period of Lermontov's work; the second is characterized by overcoming the demon in oneself. It begins with the first editions of the poem “Demon” (the work turned out to be decisive in the transition to the main theme of existential prose in Lermontov’s work), and reaches its culmination in “A Hero of Our Time” (1837–1841).

Abstract: This article is aimed to research the concept of Mstislav Cherny as a source of the plot for the novel “Vadim” by M. Yu. Lermontov. The idea of “Vadim” as an epic work formed in the merging of two literature genre-generics: poem and drama (the lyrics formed the internal, “soulful” basis of the novel). The outline of the plan for the work about Mstislav Cherny, placed under No. Sixteen in “Plans, Sketches, Plots” in Eleventh notebook (1831), should be considered as the “pre-story” version of the plan. Both the plan and the following “Plot” under No. Seventeen, which was dated 1832 after being found in Forth notebook, contain plot, plot-motivational features, as well as features of the image of the supposed heroes that will become widespread in “Vadim”. The main research methods are comparative, hermeneutic, axiological, literary-historical and textual. The novelty of the article lies in the fact that the concept of the work about Mstislav Cherny as the source of the plot for the novel “Vadim” is researched in detail for the first time. The author claims that both notes contain a forecast of the novel, but, oiented towards the implementation in different genre-generic forms: the first draft was an epic work; the second was supposed to be embodied in a historical drama, – both sketches were written during the period, when the young author was hesitating to select genre for combining the story of Pugachev's rebellion to the work: drama, or novel. The sketches also reflected young Lermontov’s intention to create the imagination of a modern protagonist, combining historical and romantic types of personality. Therefore, the author concludes that there is no doubt about the idea of Mstislav Cherny in its basic, combative ideas will be transformed in “Vadim”.

Abstract: This article is dedicated to the question that has not been previously raised within the framework of Lermontov studies, namely analysis of the essay of Lermontov’s late period “The Caucasian” from the perspective of reflection of existential problematic of literature of the early XIX century therein. The research is conducted on the ideological and artistic arrangement of the text, which represents the socio-psychological aspects of human adaptation to life. The author underlines that Lermontov chose the Caucasian discourse for expressing the personal biographical experiences and creative ideas of his novel “A Hero of Our Time”, which coincide with the period the writer’s military service in the Caucasus and vacation in St. Petersburg in 1841. This essay generalizes the threads of personal life and fate, featuring all possible characters representing the theme: natural. Georgian, state Caucasians, among them are the unnamed heroes of the entire textual space of Lermontov’s mature prose (Maxim Maksimych, Grushnitsky, wandering literary artist, Grigory Alexandrovich Pechorin, as well as female images Bela, Undine, Cossack woman, Nastya). The essay finale is an emotional outcome of futile existence of a human. The author follows the life path of the composite character – the Russian Caucasian from the initial novella “Bela” to finale of the essay “The Caucasian”, which appears to be emotional outcome of vain existence of a human having no real substance.