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Modern Greek Literature A Survey |
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Modern Greek Literature:
A Survey.
Summary: The Greek spirit that created
literature as an effective way of communicating the most intimate secrets of
the human soul has never lost its breath. For 3 millennia it has succeeded in
maintaining its freshness by means of constant innovation, cultural openness,
vigorous pursuit of intellectual challenges, and interactive communication with
other cultures and civilisations. The literary and intellectual achievements of
Modern Greece have been internationally recognised with two Nobel Prizes for
Literature in recent years and the world-wide appeal of authors like Cavafy or
Kazantzakis. The poetry, prose, and theatre of Modern Greece offer a very
profound insight into the soul, culture and anthropological profile of Modern
Greece. In this course students will be invited to explore the complexity of
Greek identity through concepts such as patriotism, rebellion, love, eroticism,
emotion, passion, instincts and the dark side of the soul, murder, pessimism,
suicide, existentialism, mysticism, and spiritualism. The course is intended to
foster further interest in this important section of Modern European
literature, and is expected to be a
stimulating, entertaining and enterprising journey through Modern Greek
life and culture.
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
i. Introductory Lectures
W1.
Course administration and briefing
The
Greek language as an instrument for literature.
The linguistic question
W2: Modern
Greek literature in the wider context of European literature
From Homer to Elytis: the continuum
of Greek literature
The evolution of Greek
literature in its historical context.
ii. Early Modern Greek Literature
W3.
Acritic Poetry
Summary of Cretan Literature
W4. Demotic
poetry
Humans
among animated rivers, fountains and mountains
Love and death in Greek
folk songs
Dionyssios Solomos: Patriotism, personal rediscovery,
and a sense of purpose
Gentle and violent love.
Andreas Kalvos: Classicism, high ideals and Romantic intensity
Powerpoint: Brief Introduction to the Ionian School
W6: M Papadiamandis, The murderess: The psychological profile
of a female serial killer
iv. Poetry in the 20th century
W7: M
Konstantinos Kavafis: Poetry searching through history for a message
Classical themes in Kavafis
Byzantium in Kavafis
W8: Kostas Kariotakis: the pessimist,
the anti-hero, and his suicide
Palamas:
the death of a child, and the grieving father
Seferis: Images of Greek Life
Elytis: Axion Esti: The triumph of life and light
W9. Midterm Test
MIDTERM BREAK
W11:
Greek women poets in the 20th century
iv. The Modern Greek Novel
W12: M
Stratis Mirivilis, Life in the Grave: A pacifist or a subversive
revolutionary?
W13:
Kostas Tachtsis, The third wedding: Characters and plot.
Is The third wedding a true portrait
of Greek society and life?
W14: W
Kazantzakis, The last temptation of Christ: The dilemma between
love and destiny
v. Short Story and Theater
W15: Papadiamantis: Dream in the
Waves
A short play by Loula Anagnostaki.
W16: Final TEST