The purpose of the study is to identify distinct nature of E. Zamyatin’s aesthetic principles. The article reflects influence of various artistic trends (romanticism, realism, symbolism) on formation of the writer’s worldview and creative principles. Scientific novelty of the study lies in formulating Zamyatin’s main aesthetic principles, which make it possible to identify distinct nature of his literary method (“neorealism”), peculiarities in his worldview. As a result, duality of the writer’s standpoint is proved: denying literary value of realist and socialist realist literature, he relies on the aesthetic principles of classical romanticism and realism, recognises symbolism contributions in the search for new forms and content.