Estonian Literature from the Post-National Awakening Period to the Literary Group Arbujad
Course code
EKE6322.HT
old course code
Course title in Estonian
Eesti kirjandus järelärkamisajast arbujateni
Course title in English
Estonian Literature from the Post-National Awakening Period to the Literary Group Arbujad
ECTS credits
6.0
Assessment form
Examination
lecturer of 2024/2025 Spring semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
lecturer of 2025/2026 Autumn semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
Course aims
The aim of the course is to provide systematic and contemporary knowledge of Estonian literature from the post-national awakening period (the last quarter of the 19th century), up to the end of the pre-World War II independent Republic of Estonia, which culminated with the publication of the poetry anthology Arbujad in 1938. The course is designed to develop students’ ability to independently work with literary and literary historical texts from different periods. It also aims to provide practical experience in the independent analysis of literary and literary historical texts.
Brief description of the course
The main trends in Estonian literature during the post-awakening period, in the last quarter of the 19th century (national romantic historical prose, village realism and ideational prose; the beginning of the modernization of poetry, as seen in the works of A. Haava, J. Liiv, and others). The continuation of the modernization of Estonian literature – Eduard Vilde's multifaceted work, marking him as the first writer with a European orientation. Estonian literature in the context of European literary modernism (various modernist movements and trends, new techniques of representation). Literary groups Noor-Eesti, Siuru, Tarapita, Literary Orbit, with their manifestos, literary publications, and a vibrant and intertwined art and literary life in the pre-war Estonian Republic. Renewal of poetic language (G. Suits, M. Under, H. Visnapuu, J. Barbarus, E. Enno, and others), developments in drama (A. Kitzberg, H. Raudsepp, A. H. Tammsaare), prose writing during the 1920s and 1930s, thematic, genre, and stylistic diversification in short stories (Fr. Tuglas, J. Semper, A. Gailit, P. Vallak, A. Mälk, K. A. Hindrey, A. H. Tammsaare, O. Luts, A. Jakobson, M. Metsanurk, M. Sillaots, R. Morn, A. Kivikas, K. Ristikivi, and others). Developments in essays, literary criticism, memoir writing, and children's and youth literature. The intellectual opposition of the Arbujad literary group during the so-called silent era, focusing on the poetry of B. Alver and H. Talvik. During the study course, visits will be made to writers' museums in Tallinn (Under and Tuglas, Tammsaare, Vilde).
Learning outcomes in the course
Upon completing the course the student:
- knows the main trends in Estonian literature from the end of the 19th century up to the 1940s;
- understands the specifics of the modernization of Estonian literature, its developmental phases, European influences, and leading concepts;
- can name and describe the literary epochs, movements, groups, genres, and stylistic techniques of the period under study;
- has read the texts characteristic of the period discussed in seminars and is capable of analyzing and interpreting them;
- is able to critically evaluate literary historical treatments and contextualize them in light of contemporary understandings;
- values the role of literature as a reflector and influencer of society.
- knows the main trends in Estonian literature from the end of the 19th century up to the 1940s;
- understands the specifics of the modernization of Estonian literature, its developmental phases, European influences, and leading concepts;
- can name and describe the literary epochs, movements, groups, genres, and stylistic techniques of the period under study;
- has read the texts characteristic of the period discussed in seminars and is capable of analyzing and interpreting them;
- is able to critically evaluate literary historical treatments and contextualize them in light of contemporary understandings;
- values the role of literature as a reflector and influencer of society.
Teacher
Ave Mattheus
Study programmes containing that course