nation and memory in eastern europe lecture 10 national literature and national poets week 11
TRANSCRIPT
Nation and Memory in Eastern Europe
Lecture 10National Literature and National
Poets
Week 11
Outline
1. National Literature and National Poets2. Reading Clubs and Literacy3. Russia: Alexander Pushkin4. Poland: Adam Mickiewicz5. Ukraine: Taras Shevchenko6. Conclusion
Many nations have adopted a poet who is perceived to represent the identity, beliefs and principles of their culture. This person, whether officially or by popular acclaim, is often referred to as the national poet or national bard. Some nations have more
than one national poet.
Preconditions
National literary language Themes which are relevant for the nation Expresses the national essence Educated elite – reading public and literary
criticism Market for publications in the national
language
Measures
Education programme for the people – literacy and reading clubs
Celebrating the bard – commemorations, monuments, renaming of streets, public buildings
Mass production of his/her works, in almanacs, calendars, peasant journals and so on
Functions
Integration: reading and celebrating the national poet
National pride: high quality literature, literary language
“Foreign propaganda”: presenting own national culture as a high culture
Identity: Identification with the nation
Outline
1. National Literature and National Poets2. Reading Clubs and Literacy3. Russia: Alexander Pushkin4. Poland: Adam Mickiewicz5. Ukraine: Taras Shevchenko6. Conclusion
Case study: The Prosvita society 1st Prosvita society founded in Lviv in 1868, mostly intellectuals Educative and cultured society to ‘know and edify the people’. to ‘collect and publish all the fruits of oral folk literature.’ (1870) to promote education among the Ruthenian (Ukrainian)
people by means of popular publications in the vernacular and the organisation of county committees
in 1876: the admission fee was abolished, annual dues were drastically reduced, and all members received a free popular booklet each month
In 1881–5 there were 320 reading rooms in Galicia under the care of Prosvita, but unconnected
Between 1891 and 1914 the number of reading rooms within Prosvita increased from 5 to 2,944, and the number of branches from 7 to 77
In 1914, 75% of the cities, towns, and villages in Galicia had a reading room, and 20% of the province's Ukrainian population belonged to Prosvita
Ukrainian Society of Prosvita
Meeting of the Ukrainian Society of Prosvita
Members of the Ukrainian Society of Prosvita in Kamenyca in 1934)
The importation into the Russian Empire, without special permission of the Central Censorship over Printing, of all books and pamphlets in the Little Russian dialect, published abroad, is forbidden, The printing and publishing in the Empire of original works and translations in this dialect is forbidden with the exception of (a) historical documents and monuments; (b) works of belles lettres but with the provision that in the documents the orthography of the originals be retained; in works of belles lettres no deviations from the accepted Russian orthography are permitted and permission for their printing may be given only by the Central Censorship over Printing. All theatrical performances and lectures in the Little Russian dialect, as well as the printing of text to musical notes, are forbidden
Ems Ukas (1876), Excerpts
Outline
1. National Literature and National Poets2. Reading Clubs and Literacy3. Russia: Alexander Pushkin4. Poland: Adam Mickiewicz5. Ukraine: Taras Shevchenko6. Conclusion
Alexander Pushkin
Proud charger, whither art thou ridden?
Where leapest thou? And where, on whom
wilt plant thy hoof?
Alexander Pushkin, The Bronze Horseman
1824
Etienne-Maurice Falconet: The BronzeHorseman, 1782
Nikolai Gogol, 1809-1852
Leo Tolstoy, 1828-1910
Fyodor M. Dostoevsky, 1821-1881
Outline
1. National Literature and National Poets2. Russia: Alexander Pushkin3. Poland: Adam Mickiewicz4. Ukraine: Taras Shevchenko5. Conclusion
Adam Mickiewicz, 1798-1858
‘But the Polish nation alone did not bow down … And Poland said, ‘Whosoever will come to me shall be free and equal for I am FREEDOM.’ But the Kings, when they heard it, were frightened in their hearts, and they crucified the Polish nation, and laid it in its grave, crying out ‘We have slain and buried Freedom.’ But they cried out foolishly….For the Polish Nation did not die. Its Body lieth in the grave; but its spirit has descended into the abyss, that is into the private lives of people who suffer slavery in their own country … For on the Third Day, the Soul shall return again to the Body; and the Nation shall arise, and free all the peoples of Europe from Slavery.’
Adam Mickiewicz, Books of the Polish Nation and Pilgrimage, 1832
Zygmunt Krasinski, 1812-1859 Juliusz Slowacki, 1809-1849
Henryk Sienkiewicz, 1846-1916
Outline
1. National Literature and National Poets2. Russia: Alexander Pushkin3. Poland: Adam Mickiewicz4. Ukraine: Taras Shevchenko5. Conclusion
Shevchenko MonumentKiev, Ukraine, June 8, 2000
Do Not Forget Our Native Land Ukraine
Published by D. MarkovKiev 1908
Taras Shevchenko
Testament" (Zapovit’)When I die, buryMe in a grave,Among the wide steppes,In my beloved Ukraine,So that the wide-brimmed plains,And the Dnieper, and steep slopesThere could be seen, could be heard,How the wailing wail.When from Ukraine is carriedInto the blue seaThe blood of the enemy. . . then IAnd the plains and hills—
Will drop everything and bowTo God HimselfPraying. . . until thenGod I do not know.Bury me and arise,Break your chains,And with the enemy's evil bloodBaptize freedom.And myself in a big family,In a family free, new,Don't forget to rememberWith a pleasant quiet word.24 December 1845, Pereyaslav
Lesya Ukrainka, 1871-1913
Ivan Franko, 1856-1916
Outline
1. National Literature and National Poets2. Russia: Alexander Pushkin3. Poland: Adam Mickiewicz4. Ukraine: Taras Shevchenko5. Conclusion
What is the connection between literature and nation building?
Creation of a national high language Poets who represent the national spirit High literature – “cultural capital” in nation
building Use of texts in national language to
nationalise the peasantry Novels, stories, poems with historical topics
show the greatness and the suffering of the nation