Outline of the history of Latvian Literature 3020-1B1ZLO

Aims of the course:
a) systematic presentation of the body of knowledge required for the obtention of the course credit;
b) providing the student with basic information on movements and trends in Latvian literature; on the historical and cultural background of literary developments; and on their significance for the formation and preservation of Latvian national consciousness;
c) bringing to the fore the exceptional role played by the folk tradition in the formation of Latvian culture;
d) analyzing Polish influences on Latvian culture
e) reading fragments from literary texts in Latvian (prose and poetry) and analyzing them.

The lectures will cover the following thematic blocks:
a) the historical and cultural context of the beginnings of Latvian literature (the two currents underlying Latvian literature: oral folk literature and a literary tradition created by the clergy, consisting of Baltic Germans and Poles);
b) sources and characteristic features of the first Latvian national revival
c) the socio-political movement of the jaunstrāvnieki and the influence of its representatives (Rainis) on social and political attitudes in Latvian at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
d) cempeting literary trends in inter-war Latvia in the context of the first ever Latvian independence;
e) differences in the authorities’ control of literary activity under Nazi and Soviet occupation;
f) after-war literature, attitudes among writers: social realism, liberalization after the Thaw, strengthening of censorship in the 1960s and 1970s; the Aesopic style, the role of the intelligentsia, especially the Writers’ Union, in keeping alive pro-independence attitudes among Latvians;.
g) the rebirth of Latvian literature in the 1990s: regained freedom of literary contacts, Latvian literature’s return to its roots;
h) Polish influence on Latvian literature in different periods of its history.

Type of course

obligatory courses

Mode

Classroom

Prerequisites (description)

The student must have a proficiency in Latvian at least at A2 level and have a basic knowledge about Latvian culture and popular traditions in Latvia (learning outcomes as defined for the course „Knowledge about the Baltic countries” and „Sources of the Baltic tradition”). The student must also be trained in using sources (libraries) and electronic resources (webpages of Baltic interest). The achievement of the learning outcomes defined for this course will be facilitated by a basic proficiency in Lithuanian, Latvian, English and Russian. For comparative purposes the student should also have a knowledge of Polish literature and culture at secondary school final examination level.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course the student:
(KNOWLEDGE)
- is able to list the main historical and cultural processes that have shaped the development of Latvian literature;
- is able to list the writer who had a decisive influence on the formation of Latvian national consciousness, as well as their works;
- characterizes the way in which popular literature influenced Latvian literary writing, and the effects of this process;
(SKILLS)
- is able to situate a literary work in its historical and cultural context;
- is able to analyze a literary work (only shorter literary forms on account of linguistic limitations);
- identifies Polish literary and cultural influences in Latvian literary works;
- identifies allusions to earlier periods in Latvian literary works;
(AWARENESS)
- views modern Latvian literature in the context of the whole Latvian literary tradition.

Assessment criteria

Written final examination (2 parts: multiple choice test and tests requiring descriptive answers; 50 % each), a condition for admission is obtention of the term credits.
Term credits are awarded on the basis of:
a) checking of attendance (5%), b) current preparation for classes and activity (25%), c) class or year paper (15%).

Bibliography

Latviešu literatūras vēsture; t.1,2,3. Rīga, 2001
Pumpurs A.: Lāčplēsis.Varšava, 2003;
Aspazija. Kopoti raksti. Rīga, 1986; (selected texts)
Rainis.: Kopoti raksti. Rīga, 1979; (selected texts)
Čaks A.: Kopoti raksti. (selected texts)
Skujins Z.: Novelu izlase. Stāstītaja svētdiena. Rīga,1994;
Ābele I.: Akas māja. Rīga,1999;
Auseklis. Izlase.Riga,1955
Kudzītes Reinis un Matīss; Mērnieku laiki;
Latviešu literatūras vēsture; t.1-4; Rīga, 1959-1962;
Latviešu rakstnieku portreti.Tradicionālisti un modernisti. Rīga, 1995;
Materiāli 20.30. gadu latviešu literatūras vēsturei. Rīga, 1989;
Materiāli par latviešu literārajiem grupējumiem. Rīga,1993;
Materiāli latviešu literatūras un mākslas vēsturei. Rīga, 1995;
Materiāli par latviešu literatūru un pasaules kultūru. Rīga, 1994;
Birkerts A.: Rainis dzivē un darbā. Rīga, 1995;
Viese S.: Aspazija. Rīga, 1975;
Latviešu rakstnieku portreti, 70-80 gadi. Rīga, 1994;
Latviešu rakstnieku potreti. Trimdas rakstnieki. Rīga, 1995;
Materiāli par latviešu literatūru un mākslu emigrācijā. Rīga, 19691;
Latvian literature. Essays by Jānis Andrups and Vitauts Kalve. Stockholm 1954,
Latviešu rakstniecība biogrāfijās. Rīga, 2003.
Berelis G.: Latviešu literatūras vēsture. No pirmajiem rakstiem līdz 1999. gadam. Rīga;
Bičolis J.: Ievads latviešu literatūra. Rīga, 1991;