Description
This module is intended as a broad introduction to Polish literature from the medieval period to the beginning of World War II. We analyse the cultural and historical changes that shaped the character of Polish literature in works written both in Poland and among the Polish emigré community after the country lost its independence. The module investigates the role of religion in the process of creating a national identity and how this found expression in literature; the influence of works by Jan Kochanowski, the greatest Slav poet prior to the 19th century; the creation, meaning and persistence of Romanticism and the complexities of nationalism and patriotism in partitioned Poland; and, finally, the explosion of modern literature with special reference to works by Bruno Schulz, Witold Gombrowicz, Zofia Nałkowska, and Maria Kuncewiczowa.
Students will gain an overview of Polish literature from 16th century to 1939 and an awareness of approaches to literary analysis. They will also analyse central themes and their representation in literature of the period.
Module deliveries for 2024/25 academic year
Last updated
This module description was last updated on 19th August 2024.
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