The phenomenon of Russian culture of the late 19th - early 20th centuries, called the Silver Age, is based on the deep unity of all its creators. The Silver Age is not only a collection of poetic names, it is a special phenomenon represented in all areas of the spiritual life of Russia. But nevertheless, when it comes to the Silver Age, we primarily mean the poetry of Russian modernism, consisting mainly of the three largest poetic movements - symbolism, acmeism and futurism. This publication examines in sufficient detail the features of each of these literary movements . In addition, characteristics of other, less significant poetic associations are given, and poets who are not associated with any particular movement, but who most clearly expressed the “spirit of the times” are presented.