On March 4, Saratov State University officially opened Literary Festival at five acts on the occasion of Year of Literature in Russia. The event was attended by faculty deans and institute directors, SSU faculty members, Saratov and Saratov region school teachers and students. Deputy Minister for Education Obrezha, N.N. was the honorary guest.

The first act was a “Literature Labyrinth” game for high school students based on Griboyedov’s “Woe from wit”. The game was organized by the Institute of philology and Journalism together with TV program “Markiza”.

Before the game the guests watched videos of Pushkin’s poem readings by People’s Artist of the USSR Vasiliy S. Lanovoy and “Top-Top” pre-school academy student Egor Martynenko.

Vice-rector for research work Stalmakhov, A.V. welcomed the guests wishing them success on the behalf of SSU Rector Chumachenko, A.N. and SSU President Kossovich, L.Yu. The big number of “Literature Labyrinth” participants proves how important literature is in our lives. “Year of Literature is not a formal event made by some order. It is a necessary step in keeping and developing the national culture”, said Stalmakhov, A.V.

In his video address Literary Festival author, Institute of Philology and Journalism scientific advisor Prozorov, V.V. spoke of main characteristics of literature. “Literature is a dialogue with yourself that turns on, opens our eyes on life, wakes up our feelings. It could be grasping, melancholy, wise, educational, comical, it could be anything but boring”. He gave his interpretation of Griboyedov’s comedy: “There is a boring but self-confident common sense which most people live by. And there is impatient sharp wit without which the life stops”.

The literary competition was judged by a jury consisting of TV program “Markiza” author and host Dines, A.A., Chair of the Saratov Region Duma Committee on culture, public relation, sport, youth and information policy Losina, A.V., Chair of the Institute of Philology and Journalism Young Researchers Council Raeva, A.V., Chair of the Department of History of Russian Literature and Folklore Borisov, Yu.N.. Prozorov, V.V. was the president of the jury.

“Literature Labyrinth” had three rounds in question-and-answer format and a super final. Every round, the jury chose five winners who then competed to be among three finalists. The participants had to remember Griboyedov’s “Woe from wit” and other major works of Russian literature.

The organizers also used some new formats of questions: pictures, video extracts, “black box”. School students had to give an answer that included the characters’ names, situation and episode from the play. They especially liked “Students say...” round that tested their knowledge of catch phrases from the book. Philology students explained the meaning of catch phrases and the participants had to guess the original saying.

Three winners Lily Kazakova, Polina Ragozina, and Marina Tsareva got to the final. They had to answer the most difficult questions: remember the age of secondary characters, give an exact quote from the play, and guess the character by some phrases.

Marina Tsareva became the winner of the “Literature Labyrinth”. She said it was much more difficult to answer questions on stage. Her favorite book is “Harry Potter”, she also likes Pushkin’s works. After school, Marina wants to apply to SSU Institute of Philology and Journalism.

All winners got “literary” prizes: “SGUshenka” magazine and “Markiza” book by Dines, A.A. They also received bonus points that would help them to get to the Literature Festival final.

“Literature Labyrinth” guests were invited to the XVIII Khlestakov Festival.

With support of Saratov Region Administration and Duma, SSU holds Literature Festival for all university and school students during the year. The next events are the Khlestakov Festival (April 1, 2015) and the “Spring of the Great Victory” (May 20, 2015).

Literary Festival author, Institute of Philology and Journalism scientific advisor Prozorov, V.V. closed the first act, concluding: “It was a great beginning. Everything went almost as we’d planned.

The true interest of school students and their teachers is very important.

I would like to thank our volunteers, artists, hosts, faculty members and university staff – everyone who helped to organize this event”.