Studia Litterarum Studia Litterarum 2500-4247 IWL RAS https://doi.org/10.22455/2500-4247-2024-9-1-10-29 Research Article Articles Genre Typology of Drama in European and Sanskrit Literature Lidova Natalia R. red@studlit.ru March 25, 2024 2024 April 08, 2023 The article examines the notion of drama as a genre category in European and ancient Indian theatrical theory. The analysis of ancient texts, foremost the treatise of the Nāṭyaśāstra, which can be considered the most authoritative primary source for the study of classical Indian poetics, forms the basis of the research. This paper identifies Sanskrit analogues of such fundamental concepts of Western literary theory as “drama,” “genre,” “performance,” “scenicism,” “literariness,” etc. The closest analogical to European definitions of drama and genre Sanskrit notions are investigated in depth. They are primarely nāṭya and prayoga — two terms used to define various performative aspects of the play. Another notion studied in the paper is rūpa, which originally stood for “scenario” and, later on, for textual and literary format of the staged play. Due to its universality, the same term functioned as the general definition of ten “exemplary” spectacular forms. Finally, the category of vṛtti is discussed, employed in the Nāṭyaśāstra for the characterization of stylistic features of early mysterial performances and, later on, of classical Sanskrit plays. The scope of the paper does not limit itself to bringing to light and discussing these various notions. The ultimate goal is to highlight the differences between Eastern and Western poetological systems and to point out fundamental issues arising from the non-critical use of European terminology when interpreting and investigating ancient Indian aesthetics. drama dramaturgy drama theory poetics aesthetics genre Sanskrit literature Nāṭyaśāstra nāṭya rūpa vṛtti Copyright © 2026, IWL RAS 2026 1 Averintsev, S.S. “Istoricheskaia podvizhnost’ kategorii zhanra: opyt periodizatsii” [“The Historical Diversity of the Category of Genre: An Attempt of Periodization”]. Istoricheskaia poetika. Itogi i perspektivy izucheniia [Hisotircal Poetics. Results and Perspectives]. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1986, pp. 104–116. (In Russ.) 2 Averintsev, S.S. Ritorika i istoki evropeiskoi literaturnoi traditsii [Rhetorics and the Origins of European Literary Tradition]. Moscow, Iazyki russkoi kul’tury Publ., 1996. 448 p. (In Russ.) 3 Borev, Iu.B. Komicheskoe [The Comical]. Moscow, Iskusstvo Publ., 1970. 272 p. 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