Masterpieces of Cretan literature II

obligatory courses

Knowledge of Modern Greek (at least level of Certificate of Attainment in Modern Greek B1)

The course (part II) is devoted to the literature in the Cretan dialect of the mature period of the Venetian domination (16th-17th centuries). The literature produced on the island at the time (especially drama and epic poetry) marks the start of the Modern era in Greek culture, is a monument of Modern Greek language and a model for the literature of subsequent generations.

The course (part II) is devoted to the literature in the Cretan dialect of the mature period of the Venetian domination (16th-17th centuries). The literature produced on the island at the time (especially drama and epic poetry) marks the start of the Modern era in Greek culture, is a monument of Modern Greek language and a model for the literature of subsequent generations.

The primary aim is to acquaint students with:

– the literary production in the Golden Age of Venetian Crete (16th-17th century) and its main characteristics as well as the main features of Cretan dialect

– the basic theory and methodology applied to the analysis and interpretation of literary texts (fragments of dramas and epic of this time).

Topics:

1. Introduction to the history of Renaissance Crete (16th-17th. century). Veneto-Cretan society.

2-4. The renaissance of Greek Drama. Γ. Χορτάτση Ερωφίλη (G. Chortatzis, Erofili).

5-6. Α. Τρωίλου Βασιλεύς ο Ροδολίνος (A. Troilos, King Rodolinos).

7. Ανωνύμου Ζήνων (Zenon, by unknown).

8-9. Cretan comedy: Ανωνύμου Στάθης (Stathis by unknown), Γ. Χορτάτση Κατσούρμπος (G. Chortatzis, Katsourbos).

10. The last Cretan comedy: Μ.Α. Φόσκολου Φορτουνάτος (M.A. Foscolos, Fortounatos).

11–13. Epic poem (romance): Β. Κορνάρου Ερωτόκριτος (V. Kornaros, Erotokritos). Introduction. Structure. Byzantine and Latin influences. Ancient tradition. Medieval elements. Jousting competition – the presentation of participants. Main hero characteristic. Chivalry's code of honour. Greeks and foreigners. Women in Cretan society. Cretan elements in Erotokritos. The poem as a source of inspiration for the Greek poets.

Problems of dating and authorship, Italian models and literary traditions and legacy will be discussed.

(Part of the texts is available in Polish translation by the teacher).

Β. Κορνάρος, Η θυσία του Αβραάμ, επ. Ε. Τσαντσάνογλου, Αθήνα 1979.

Γ. Χορτάτσης, Ερωφίλη, επ. Στ. Αλεξίου, Μ. Αποσκίτη, Αθήνα 1996.

Ι. Α. Τρώιλος, Ροδολίνος, επ. Μ. Αποσκίτη, Αθήνα 1987.

Ζήνων, επ. Στ. Αλεξίου, Μ. Αποσκίτη, Αθήνα 1991.

Μ. Α. Φώσκολος, Φορτουνάτος, επ. Στ. Ξανθουδίδης, Αθήνα-Γιάννηνα 2004.

Β. Κορνάρος, Ερωτόκριτος, Αθήνα 1995.

obligatory

M. Vitti, Historia literatury nowogreckiej.

Tom I serii "Arcydzieła literatury nowogreckiej", Warszawa 2004: W. Kornaros, Ofiara Abrahama (tł. K. Pacan)

facultative

Literature and society in Renaissance Crete, ed. D. Holton, Cambridge UP 1991.

Στ. Αλεξίου, Η κρητική λογοτεχνία και η εποχή της, Αθήνα 1995.

A. Embirikos: La Renaissance Cretoise I, La litterature, Paris 1960.

Α. Σολωμός Το κρητικό θέατρο, 1973.

M. Alexiou: The ritual lament in Greek tradition, Cambridge 1975.

H-G. Beck: Geschichte der byzantinischen Volksliteratur, Munich 1977.

Knowledge: students completing the course will be familiar with and understand

- the diversity of the Greek language, and be able to explain its importance in the history of Greek culture

- the most important literary genres flourishing in Renaissance Crete

- the distinctive features of Greece’s geographical and cultural regions (Crete), and be aware of Greece’s place in the region (the Balkans) and the Mediterranean area

Skills: students completing the course will be able to

- autonomously retrieve, evaluate and use information from different written and electronic sources, with due consideration for intellectual property protection

- present cohesive and logical argumentation with references to the opinions of others, polemize critically with the arguments of others, and formulate their own conclusions

- make use of word processor functions and compile tables of contents, lists of references, indexes etc.

- see the main distinctive features of scholarly Greek (katharevousa)

Social competences: students completing the course will be ready to

- realize the limited extent of their own knowledge and skills

- see the need for lifelong learning and for upgrading their professional competence, especially by improving their language skills; they will flexibly define the directions of their own development

In class: Written examination (short-answer questions, translation of original fragments)

On-line: two short essays on chosen subjects connected with the course content and a short translation from original

Testing students knowledge and ability to:

– understand chosen literary texts

– analyse literary texts (with accuracy and fullness)

– think critically

– use precise and correct language