History, Language, and Theme

Hannah Senesh born in Hungary in 1921 Father was a celebrated playwright She socialized with and met artists of Budapest and lived a privileged life impacted by the deep loss she felt at the age of six when her father died. Hannah's family was not religious, they identified as Jewish. Hannah attended a prestigious Protestant girls' school where she did well but was prevented from holding office because she was Jewish.

cultural experience the influences of the arts on a person's life historical context the conditions of a place at a particular time

O video – anti semitism Nazism grew during her teen years Historical context became inseparable from her poetry and writing became certain that the only hope for Jews was the founding of their own state. embraced Zionism—the movement to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine— left Budapest at 18 to live in a kibbutz in Palestine. Was safe in Palestine, but felt she had to help whatever way she could "Blessed is the Match."

One, Two, Three Senesh's diary was published in Hebrew in 1946 She was executed in Germany in 1944 Her poem "One, Two, Three" was found in her cell after her death.

artistic medium the material or form used by an artist representation in literature or visual art, the way a subject is presented; a particular style or point of view

Using figurative language Senesh wrote of "the flame that burns in the secret fastness of the heart." celebrated the heart that had "strength to stop its beating for honour's sake.“ Her life experience showed her just how dark the human heart could be gave her ample reason to respect and yearn for hearts that held fast and had the strength to stop beating for the sake of honor.

Her first poem in Hebrew was about her search for "true Man." a "true Man" is a noble human being who represents the best of what humanity can be instead of this noble human being, she found a world full of men who persecuted others, killed whomever they pleased, and waged war across the globe. Hannah's life inspired a documentary filmmaker to portray one of her themes, the difference a single person can make in the world—through a different artistic medium, film.

The representation of a theme in more than one artistic medium adds depth to our understanding of a particular subject Hannah Senesh used poetry to express her deepest thoughts, greatest fears, and most treasured hopes also kept a journal from the age of thirteen lived her life based on the beliefs she expressed in her writing led filmmakers to take up one of the themes she cherished most.