The subject of the study is the influence of Professor S.P. Shevyrev on the work of A.A. Fet, on the awakening of his interest in the East, and the realization of Eastern themes in his poems from the first two collections (1840 and 1850). The article presents the assimilation of Eastern culture by Russian academic science in the first half of the 19th century; it reflects the initial stage of Fet's communication with Professor Shevyrev, who taught lectures on the history of Russian literature; it examines the roots of the influence of Shevyrev's four-volume work "History of Poetry" on the perception of Eastern literature (including ancient Hebrew and Sanskrit) by the young Fet. The role of Shevyrev in introducing the budding poet to the literary process of the first half of the 19th century is demonstrated. The influence of Shevyrev's ideas on Fet's understanding in his journalism of Russia's role as a bridge between the East and the West is mentioned. To recreate the atmosphere and environment of Fet during his studies at Moscow University, a biographical method of research was employed. A cultural-historical method allowed the topic of this research to be presented against the backdrop of the literary process in Russia in the mid-19th century. Intertextual analysis was applied to consider Shevyrev's work and selected early works by Fet. This work to some extent fills a poorly researched area of A.A. Fet's environment that influenced the genesis of Eastern motifs in his early creativity. Based on specific historical and biographical material, the influence of S.P. Shevyrev on the formation of Eastern elements in Fet's early works and his subsequent interest in the East, realized in poetry and journalism, is shown. The article concludes that the initial impulse of Fet's interest in the East was associated with his communication with S.P. Shevyrev, studying his lectures at Moscow University and his scientific works, as well as personal friendly communication with the professor, who played a significant role in the literary destiny of the poet.
Mengjie Dai (Thu,) studied this question.