Nation and Memory in Eastern Europe Lecture 10 National Literature and National Poets Week 11

Outline 1. National Literature and National Poets 2. Reading Clubs and Literacy 3. Russia: Alexander Pushkin 4. Poland: Adam Mickiewicz 5. Ukraine: Taras Shevchenko 6. 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 Poets 2. Reading Clubs and Literacy 3. Russia: Alexander Pushkin 4. Poland: Adam Mickiewicz 5. Ukraine: Taras Shevchenko 6. Conclusion

Case study: The Prosvita society 1 st 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 Poets 2. Reading Clubs and Literacy 3. Russia: Alexander Pushkin 4. Poland: Adam Mickiewicz 5. Ukraine: Taras Shevchenko 6. 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 Bronze Horseman, 1782

Nikolai Gogol,

Leo Tolstoy,

Fyodor M. Dostoevsky,

Outline 1. National Literature and National Poets 2. Russia: Alexander Pushkin 3. Poland: Adam Mickiewicz 4. Ukraine: Taras Shevchenko 5. Conclusion

Adam Mickiewicz,

‘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, Juliusz Slowacki,

Henryk Sienkiewicz,

Outline 1. National Literature and National Poets 2. Russia: Alexander Pushkin 3. Poland: Adam Mickiewicz 4. Ukraine: Taras Shevchenko 5. Conclusion

Shevchenko Monument Kiev, Ukraine, June 8, 2000 Do Not Forget Our Native Land Ukraine Published by D. Markov Kiev 1908 Taras Shevchenko

Testament" (Zapovit’) When I die, bury Me in a grave, Among the wide steppes, In my beloved Ukraine, So that the wide-brimmed plains, And the Dnieper, and steep slopes There could be seen, could be heard, How the wailing wail. When from Ukraine is carried Into the blue sea The blood of the enemy... then I And the plains and hills— Will drop everything and bow To God Himself Praying... until then God I do not know. Bury me and arise, Break your chains, And with the enemy's evil blood Baptize freedom. And myself in a big family, In a family free, new, Don't forget to remember With a pleasant quiet word. 24 December 1845, PereyaslavPereyaslav

Lesya Ukrainka,

Ivan Franko,

Outline 1. National Literature and National Poets 2. Russia: Alexander Pushkin 3. Poland: Adam Mickiewicz 4. Ukraine: Taras Shevchenko 5. 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