Is there a continuity in the development of Russian literature and what is the essence of the differences between ancient Russian literature and the new one? One of the largest Russian humanities scientists of the 20th century, historian, philologist, prominent public figure Dmitry Sergeyevich Likhachev (1906-1999) needs no introduction. He is the author of about 500 scientific and 600 journalistic works, a member and corresponding member of academies of sciences and other scientific societies in many countries of the world. The main scientific interest of Dmitry Sergeevich lay in the study of ancient Russian culture and literature. Poetics of Old Russian Literature? (1976) is one of the most notable in his work. The book studies the features of the artistic system of the first seven centuries of Russian literature, which distinguish it from the system of modern literature. Features of genres, style, artistic method, themes of ancient Russian literary works are considered. Particular attention is paid to the literary etiquette characteristic of Ancient Russia?, 'stylistic symmetry?', 'metaphors-symbols'. The last section covers the problems of artistic time and artistic space , who bring together ancient Russian literature and folklore , It is also used in the literature of the modern era,. a characteristic feature of Goncharov's works , Dostoevsky , Saltykova-Shchedrina . Recommended Literature: A History of Russian Literature (1908) A. N. Pipin. The History of Russian Literature in Four Volumes A. N. Pipin. History of Russian Ethnography A. N. Veselovskiy . Historical Poetics C. The Averines . Poetics of Early Byzantine Literature