Introduction to Latvian Literature

obligatory courses

Classroom

An outline of the history of Latvian literature - leading representatives, the most important phenomena, currents, literary works, peculiarities, presented against a broad historical, social and cultural background. Discussing the periodization of Latvian literature; presenting it against the background of other European literatures; comparing it with Lithuanian and Polish literature, pointing out their common points and significant differences. The class will discuss texts created over the centuries by both Latvians (within and outside the country) and authors of other nationalities (mainly Baltic Germans), which have largely determined its present character. The introduction to Latvian literature will open with a discussion of the 13th-century Livonian chronicles and conclude with a consideration of recent literature, its prospects and directions of development.

Class topics:

1. Periodization of Latvian literature. The beginnings of writing in Latvia: the Livonian chronicles.

2. Old Latvian literature. The first texts in Latvian.

3 Old Latvian literature. Latvian poetry of the 16th-17th centuries.

4. Herrnhutism. Manuscript literature (18th century). Peasant laments.

5. Enlightenment in Latvia (G.F. Stender, G. Merkel). Postcolonialism.

6. The development of fiction in the Latvian language.

7. The activities of the Young Latvians. National romanticism. The epic "Lāčplēsis" (1888).

8. Realism and the first Latvian novel - "Mērnieku laiki" (1879).

9. Currents, trends, literary groups of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. XIX/XX century.

10. The works of Rainis and Aspasia. History of Latvian drama and theatre.

11. Latvian avant-garde (especially Imaginism).

12. Latvian literature from the Second World War to 1950.

13. Latvian emigrant literature.

14. Latvian Soviet literature.

15. Contemporary literature.

Berelis Guntis, Latviešu literatūras vēsture. No pirmajiem rakstiem līdz 1999. gadam, Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC 1999.

Berelis Guntis, Neēd šo ābolu, tas ir mākslas darbs. Postmodernisms un latviešu literatūra, Rīga: Atēna 2001.

Bičolis J., Vecākās latviešu literatūras chrēstomatija vidusskolām, Rīga: Valters un Rapa 1933.

Čakars O., Grigulis A., Losberga M., Latviešu literatūras vēsture no pirmsākumiem līdz XIX gadsimta 80. gadiem, Rīga: Zvaigzne 1990.

Daija Pauls, Apgaismība un kultūrpārnese. Latviešu laicīgās literatūras tapšana, Rīga LU LFMI 2013.

“Elles ķēķis”, red. L. Soma, Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC [2001].

Grudule Māra, Latviešu dzejas sākotne 16. un 17. gadsimtā kultūrvēsturiskos kontekstos, Rīga LU LFMI 2017 + http://lulfmi.lv/files/gramatas/2017-Grudule-Mara-Latviesu-dzejas-sakotne-Antologija.pdf

Jaunākā latviešu literatūra. Žanru pārskati, teorija un kritika, sast. Ausma Cimdiņa, Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds 2007.

Latviešu literatūra 2000-2006, Rīga: Valters un Rapa 2007.

Latviešu literatūra 2007-2015, sast. Kārlis Vērdiņš, Rīga: LU LFMI 2018.

Latviešu literatūras vēsture, t. I-III , Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC 1998-2001.

Mūsdienu literatūras teorijas, sast. Ieva E. Kalniņa, Kārlis Vērdiņš, Rīga: LU LFMI 2013.

Tabūns Broņislavs, Modernisma virzieni latviešu literatūrā, Rīga: Zinātne 2003.

Vecgrāvis Viesturs, “Mani sveicina zvaigznes…" Romantiskā pasaules izjūta latviešu dzejā. Impresijas un ieskati. Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2018.

Upon completion of the course, the student

- knows and understands the themes and writing ideas of selected authors of Latvian literature and the dynamics of the development of the historical-literary process within this literature;

- knows and understands the influence of selected literary works on the shape of Latvian culture;

- knows and understands the methods of interpretation and analysis of a literary text;

- knows and understands the role of literature in shaping culture;

- is able to read, interpret and analyse texts of Latvian literature, taking into account the historical and cultural context;

- discusses the readings, presenting appropriate illustrative material;

- is able to use basic theoretical approaches and concepts specific to literary studies;

- is able to look critically at the historical-literary process and correctly place particular socio-cultural phenomena from the Latvian area within it;

- is able to write a written paper in Polish on a specific topic related to Latvian literature and culture, using basic theoretical approaches and a variety of sources;

- is ready to correctly assess the significance of Latvian cultural heritage for the understanding of social and cultural events.

1. Attendance: the student is entitled to 2 absences per semester, each subsequent absence must be made up as agreed with the instructor.

2. Preparation for the class and active participation in class.

3. Final test.