The purpose of this research paper is to study folklore and literary works by N. A. Ashmarin, which use methods and techniques of comparative literature. The material for the analysis became those works of the scientist (“Introduction to the Chuvash folk literature,” “the Golden Echoes of antiquity in folk beliefs of the Chuvash,” “a Few words about the modern literature of the Kazan Tatars,” etc.), which aims to identify genetic, typological, historical community in the folklore texts and literature of peoples of the Volga region. As research method the analysis, classification, description and generalization were used. The analysis revealed that the scientist was one of the first in the Volga region in the study of folk songs used in the functional method. N. A. Ashmarin takes into account the importance of studying the content of the verbal text, in conjunction with national culture. Comparing song lyrics of neighbouring and kindred peoples, the scientist comes to the conclusion that Chuvash and Tatar peoples have a historical and genetic affinity; the folklore of the Turkic peoples had a fruitful influence on the literature of the Finno-Ugric of the Volga region. In his opinion, the Tatar intermediation in the Chuvash language arts penetrate the ideals of Islamic culture, and through the Russian – Christian culture. In the scientific works of N. A. Ashmarin characterizing the development of the Tatar literature, he emphasizes the traditions of the Turkish and other Muslim literatures, the role of art works in the spread of enlightenment ideas among the other Turkic peoples. Some typological Parallels the scientist observes in the works of Tatar (F. Karim, Z. Hadi, G. Ishaki) and French (G. de Maupassant), and the artistic means used by the decadents of the West and in the texts of Chuvash songs. In conclusion the author concludes that the methods and techniques of comparative literature allowed N. A. Ashmarin to prove the Turkic origin of the Chuvash people, to explain the reasons for the impact of the traditional Oriental culture on the Chuvash.