Ethiopian literature 3600-AF-LE-OG

• Introduction to Ethiopian literature: a short characteristics of the literature in Giiz beginning from the epigraphic period through the religious works from the Axumite period including hagiography and early historiography to the poetry 'k'ine'.
• Kibre Negest ‘The Glory of the Kings’ in Amharic and Polish translation and its role in the history of Ethiopia.
• First works in Old-Amharic ‘Royal Songs’ and their main features.
• Royal chronicles, for the first time in Amharic, of the emperor Tewodros II (1855-68), and also Menelik II (1889-1913) and Haile Sellase I (1930-1974).
• Amharic oral tradition folk songs and tales
• Hiruy Welde Sillasie - master of poetry 'k'ine' and 'git'im'. The typical to Ethiopian poetry style of 'seminna werk' – wax and gold – will be characterized here.
• New literary styles introduced in Ethiopia: novel (Afewerk' Gebre Yesus 'Tobya'), drama (Tekle Hawaryat Tekle Maryam 'Fabula'), short story (Taddese Liben 'Meskerem').
• Animators of the Ethiopian literary scene:
Birhanu Zerīhun, Mengistu Gedamu, Beka Nemo, Taddese Līben, Haddīs Alemayyehu, Mengistu Lemma, Negash Gebre Maryam, Ts'egayye Gebre Medhin, Bealu Girma, Danyachchew Werk'u, Alemayyehu Moges, P'awlos Nyonyo and their main works.
• The novel Fik'ir iske mek'abir by Haddis Alemayyehu as the most important national epic.
• Contemporary literature: autobiographical novel by Sibhat Gebre Igziabher Tikusat, ethnographical novel by Fikremarkos Desta, Kebuska beste jerba, detective story by Serg Da. Konjowochchu.
• New literary examples from the Diaspora: the Internet literary magazines.

Type of course

general courses

Prerequisites (description)

Interest in literature, some general literary knowledge. Amharic an asset.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course students will acquire the ability to:
• discuss the main currents in Amharic literature and their ties with the history of Ethiopia,
• specify the main literary genres and styles in Ethiopian literature,
• critically analyze major literary works in Amharic
• evaluate the literary scene in Ethiopia and its place in African and world literature.

Assessment criteria

Assesment of the knowledge of Ethiopian literature in the form of oral examination

Practical placement

Does not apply

Bibliography

• Ferenc A., (1985) Ethiopian Literature in Ge’ez , w: Andrzejewski, B.W., Piłaszewicz, S., Tyloch W., (red.) Literatures in African Languages, Warszawa: Wiedza Powszechna.
• Gerard A., (1971) Four African Literatures, Los Angeles: University of California Press.
• Kane, T.L., (1975) Ethiopian Literature in Amharic, Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz.
• Mantel-Niećko, J. (1985) Ethiopian Literature in Amharic, w: Andrzejewski, B.W., Piłaszewicz, S., Tyloch W., (red.) Literatures in African Languages, Warszawa: Wiedza Powszechna.
• Molvaer, R.K., (1080) Tradition and Change in Ethiopia: Social and Cultural Life as Reflected in Amharic Fictional Literature ca. 1930-1974, Leiden: E.J. Brill.
• Molvaer, R.K., Black Lions. The Creative Lives of Modern Ethiopia's Literary Giants and Pioneers, Red Sea Press, Asmara.
• Taddesse Adera, Ali Jimale Ahmed, (1995) Silence is not Golden, Lawrencevile: The Red Sea Press.

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

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Description of 3600-AF-LE-OG in USOSweb