Czech Literature Essay

1. Characterize the main defining points of Czechoslovakianoslovakianoslovakianoslovakianoslovakianoslovakianoslovakianoslovakian pre 19th ampere-second history. Czech belles-lettres encompasses the provinces of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia. The Czech belles-lettres is divided into m any point in times, the Middle Ages, the Hussite Period, the churrigueresco period and the enlightenment that ushered in the 19th ampere-second Czech literary whole kit and boodle. Czech belles-lettres is unusu bothy tri-lingual, utilizing Czech, Latin then German. Most of the authors ahead wrote in separate dictions (i. e. German) thats why ab fall out of these writers and their works were sort break by dint of with(predicate) as Austrian literary productions. first evidences of Czech poetical work around 12th centuries are the two songs, Hospodine, pomiluj ny (Lord Have Mercy Upon Us) and Svaty Vaclave (Saint Wenceslas). In the 13th century, confused political, social and cultural changes happened. Epics such(prenominal) as Alexandreis, the Chronicles of Dalimil, the musical pieces Island Song and Cunigunds Prayer, signaled the birth of a unequalled Czech books. Enters the Hussite Era wherein the sole purpose of the literary productions was to exsert and spread the arguments and doctrines of Jan Hus.Jan Hus was a theological writer at the ancestor of the 15th century wherein he wrote largely in Latin, and then Czech later on on. Nonetheless, he published a compilation of his sermons in Czech and created rules of orthography and grammar that would later on be the foundation of modern Czech. Jan Hus works catered to the masses and mostly consist of social situations. This period truly authentic Czech religious songs as alternates for Latin hymns and liturgy. However, Hussite Literature was oftentimes invali reckond by works f barricade for Catholicism just like Jan Rokycanas works. Humanism, a new trend in Bohemia replaced the Hussite era.Thi s form of literature mainly dealt about rival writings of Catholics in Latin and Protestants in Czech. However, the Catholics at last emerged victorious after the Protestants were defeated in the Battle of the White Mountain. Therefore, on that point was persuasive re-Catholicization that leads to confiscations and eviction of all Protestants. There was a splitting of literature, the domestic Catholic and the exiled Protestants. This was known as the baroque period. However, the Bohemian nobility was unlike any European nobility during that time, they held special courts for the nobles separate from the public.This voice resulted to the inability of the baroque period of literature to expand and develop. The best known figure in Baroque Czech writing was John Commenius, a teacher, theologian, and philosopher. He grew up in Bohemia but was later on exiled due to Protestantism and with his death, Protestant literature died away with him. after(prenominal) the demise of Protestan tism and the power of Catholicism, a new ontogeny occurred with the declaration of Emperor Josef II to end feudalism and to tolerate freedom of religion and ideas.This ushered enlightened classicism, or the application of rational reasoning to all aspects of life. Having a national language and a literature in ones own language was seen as necessary to build an identity element for the nation. A renew interest in Czech folk literature and prose novels that relates the history and evolution of the nation of Czech, and a veritable Czech poetic style was developed. 2. Describe the kickoff phase of national revitalization. Major Figures The national revival was a spin-off from the enlightenment of Czech literature.These ideas were all about renewal of everything Czech from science to the humanities and firm. However, there would still be a immense way to go from being independent from the German style and develop a unique Czech style. This task was especially hard since German wreak had span for so some years and the Czech language was already losing out. Hence, the solidarity among Czech citizens was greatly established and its connection with Russia, as well as regaining of the historicism and instilling patriotism amongst its race.Step by step, progress of Czechs unique culture and traditions finally escalated to the point of politics. This means that Czechs consideration as a government is equal to Germany, with Czech having its own constitutions and local autonomy. However, in 1848, there was an eruption of revolution all over Europe and Germany had demanded labor union of some other European countries with them. This involved the lesser Germany or a greater Germany wherein Czech would be a post of, supposedly.However, Chancellor Matternich of Austria resigned a month before the first Austrian Constitution was proclaimed. Nevertheless, uprisings were still adamantine and a convention met in Vienna aiming to end the Viennese revolution an d Slavic nations who resists Germanys tolerate of incorporating Austria into Germany as p artistry of its greater Germany concept. Upon so many debacles an Austro-Hungarian Settlement was spended, but this conformity totally disregard Czechs demands, which led to an assembly of people at significant sites in Czech history.So, an agreement between Austria and Czech was develop in 1871 and it include increased authority of Czechs assemblies. However this agreement was damage such that it increased discontent of Germans and Hungarians living in Czech and further negotiations for the treaty was stopped. The relationship among Czechs and Germans exasperate eventually, that this led to the formation of Germans in Bohemia their own enclose German territory wherein German is the official language. 3. Early 19th century poetsAfter the enlightenment period and the national revival struggle, Romanticism entered the Czech literature scene. Frantisek Palacky was the leading Slavic scholar with Vaclav Hanka (17911861) who produced Slavic texts that became part of Czechs literary tradition and culture. Moreover, the spellbind of three literary figures such as Svatopluk Cech, Jan Neruda, and Joseph V. Sladek introduced poem that was leaning towards the rich and the aristocrats. Svatopluk Cech (1846-1908) was a Czech poet and novelist.He became famous for his revere for freedom and democracy and his proclivity to Pan-Slavism. This enthusiasm with politics was observed through out his many writings just like The Adamites (1873), Zizka (1879), and Vaclav of Michalovice (1880). His satiric novel Excursion of Mr. Broucek to the Moon (1886) was in like manner well-regarded as well as his idyllic prose In the complete of the Linden Tree (1879). Jan Neruda (1834-1891) was a Czech es theorizeist and poet. A native of Prague, his famous Stories from Mala Strana (1878) were derived from his childhood in Prague.It also showed ridiculous interpretation of the Czech sum cla ss that illustrates Czech realism. Joseph V. Sladek (1845-1912) was a Czech poet and translator. His works were influenced by Shakespearean plays since he lived in the fall in States for two years and the taught English in Prague and translated much American and English writings into Czech. Sladeks rime were free-verses and short at some point, demonstrating his personal sorrows and nationalistic ideology. His collections were entitled Basne poems (1875) and Sluncem a stinem in sun and shade (1887).4. Development of Czech line of business Early theater in Czech was mainly composed of secular and liturgical dramas that constitute religious field of studys. These dramas were usually performed by professional actors and magicians. The Baroque Jesuit Drama was usually school plays that were reign by the Jesuit Order of Priests in the sixteenth and 17th century. The theme was usually about acres folk as presented to the urbanized public. Professional theater was made available b y foreign performers who traveled from one country to another.They are usually Germans and English, some others Italians, as well as French. sign, did not head for the hills the National Revival Project of the Czechs. Performances are to be executed exploitation primarily the Czech language. Vlastenecke divadlo or the Patriotic Theater, the Bouda or the Shack, and the Nostitz Building of the National Theater, were the beginning of Czech Porfessional Theater. Czech professional theater reached the countrysides through J. A. Prokops company theater where they made their performances using puppets in 1849.Finally, the arising of the Prozatimni Divadlo or Provisional Theater in 1862, Czech Theater created its own identity apart from German Theater. Consequently, the first generation of Czech Porfessional actors emerged like Josef Jiri Kolar and Anna Kolarova-Manetinska. Czech Opera also grew by chance with seven premieres by Bedrich Smetana and five Antonin Dvorak (Czech Republic W ebsite). The opening of the National Theater in Prague in 1883 introduced Czech Theater to the whole of Europe. Performances in Czech language started to increase and styles such as realism and naive realism developed.Then in the beginning of the 20th century the avant-garde of Czech theater materialized and the works of Jiri Mahen, Frana Sramek and Viktor Dyk, ushered the symbolist and impressionist dramas. A new style of performing was also developing through focusing on the mind and pysche of the character, and this was presented by Hana Kvapilova and Eduard Vojan, among many others. The Municipal Theater at Kralovske Vinohradyopened in Prague in 1907, and Karel Hugo Hilar performed the art of expressionism in theater.The development of Czech Theater was come with by the growth of Czech Theater Critics as well as magazines such as Scena were published. In 1918, wherein the development of an Independent Czechoslovakia was starting to brew, litearary works became rampant repres enting nationalistic ideas and usage of Czech language. Styles such as Avant-garde in Fantasy and Comedy also emerged. However, when the Nazi Occupation reached Czechoslovakia, all theaters were closed in 1944. Then in 1948, Czech theater emerged once again with a new purpose, Socialist Realism.This was mainly a propaganda of the communist regime to spread out their doctrines. But, in 1950s, small theaters took forms apart from the official theater, that fascinated a larger group of non-conformist audiences. This is where the famous Czech writer Milan Kundera began writing for theater. 5. Compare city and village prose Czech literature was not clearly divided then as city and village prose. Through out the thorough research, no mention as to the theme about city or village was encountered, however, an breath that the oral literature of Czech could perhaps be defined as village prose.Since Czech literature in its oral form existed before the climax of any influence, from the urban cities or from the west, folk rime was used. Another is the emergence of Catholic themes that could probably date back as far as 863 A. D. when Moravia and Bohemia were reborn into Christianity through the labors of St. Cyril and St. Methodius. All Czech literature began in this era and with the exception of Bulgarian literature, Czech literature is the oldest and the richest. Themes range from secular and religious prose and liturgies of the Catholic Church.As with the city prose, conceivably emerged through the influx of other styles as Czech literature moved on. With the amplification of the romanticism that relates knights tales and crusaders and the feasts that were held in approve of them. Humanism that copied Roman and Greek literature, and Avant-garde styles such as impressionism and expressionism and political themes could also be referred to as city prose. 6. Compare the literary groups Ruch and Lumir In the 1840s, with the plagiarise of Czech literature, publication s and journalism were also growing on its own.These publications contributed a lot for the political liberation of Czech from Austria. Literary periodicals that are closely connected with this political theme are the Lumir and Ruch. Lumir begun c. 1875, focused on the desire to develop a Czech literature that would reach the level of international standards through the writings of Jaroslav Vrchlicky and Julius Zeyer. Ruch, who started in 1868, however, focused on strengthening national traditions and themes through the writings of Josef Vaclav Sladek and Svatopluk Cech.Both periodicals were directed towards patriotism and nationalism through publishing writers that have some say about the political situation of the country. These writers, expressed their love for Czechoslovakia by creating historical novels such of Alois Jirasek or was commonly known as the Czech Walter Scott, (18511930). Works Cited Czech and Slovak literature. Crystal Reference Encyclopedia. Crystal Reference S ystems Limited. 06 Dec. 2007. Reference. com http//www. reference. com/ pasture/crystal/08865