Serbian literature (Serbian Cyrillic:Српска књижевност,Srpska književnost), refers toliterature written inSerbian and/or inSerbia and all otherlands where Serbs reside.
The history of Serbian literature begins with the independent works from theNemanjić dynasty era, if not before. With the fall of Serbia and neighboring countries in the 15th century, there is a gap in the literary history in the occupied land. Serbian literature, however, continued uninterrupted in Serbian-inhabited lands under European rule and sawa revival with Baroque works published in the 18th century in what is todayVojvodina. Serbia gained independence following theSerbian Revolution (1804–1815) and Serbian literature has since prospered. Several Serbian writers have achieved international fame.
Old Church Slavonic literature was created based on the Byzantine model since the time ofConstantine the Great, to be exact. At first, church services and biblical texts were translated intoSlavic, and soon afterward other works about Christian life values including works inLatin from which they attained necessary knowledge in various fields. AlthoughChristian literature educated the Slavs, it did not have an overwhelming influence on original works. Instead, a more narrow aspect, the genres, and poetics with which thecult of saints could be celebrated were used, owing to the Slavic celebration ofCyril and Methodius and their Slav disciples as saints and those responsible for Slavic literacy. The ritual genres werehagiographies,homiletics andhymnography, known in Slavic asžitije (vita),pohvala (eulogy),službe (church services), effectively meaning prose, rhetoric, and poetry. The fact that the first Slavic works were in the canonical form of ritual literature, and that the literary language was the ritual Slavic language, defined further development. Medieval Slavic literature, especially Serbian, was modeled on this classical Slavic literature. The new themes in Serbian literature were all created within the classic ritual genres.[1]
Serbian medieval literature is very rich with around 500 separate genres. Medieval works are mostly a mix of history, legal theory, theology, writing, andphilology.[2] While there were several works of poetry written in Serbian literature in the Middle Ages, there are only a few dramas; published novels were mostly adaptations and translations.[3] The earliest writings in Serbian were religious works. Religions were historically the first institutions that persisted despite political and military upheavals. They were the first organizations to see the value in recording in writing their history and policies. Serbia's early religious documents date back to the 10th and 11th centuries. In the 12th century,Saint Sava developed the art form of religious writing. He worked to bring about an artistic aspect to these writings, also based on earlier works.
Notable medieval authors include among others:Saint Sava,Jefimija,Stefan Lazarević andConstantine of Kostenets.[4]
This period has produced several great works by authors which have since become classics of the national literature.[5]
Medieval literature has also influenced several modern poets, such asDesanka Maksimović,Miodrag Pavlović,Vasko Popa, andMatija Bećković.[2]
Folk songs and epics passed from generation to generationorally dominated Post-medieval Serbian literature. Historic events, such as theBattle of Kosovo in the 14th century, play a major role in the development ofSerbian epic poetry.
Works of epic poetry are considered the best Serbian folk literature, and are a key component in Serbiannational consciousness, identity and mentality.[7] The influence of epic poetry continued even after the poems were written and printed. Among others, notedgusle players and authors of epic poetry are ,Old man Raško,Blind Živana,Tešan Podrugović and Blind Jeca. and others.[8]
The oldest known, entirely fictional poems, make up the "Non-historic Cycle". They are followed by poems inspired by events before, during, and after the Battle of Kosovo. The special cycles are dedicated to Serbian legendary hero,Marko Kraljević, then abouthajduks (infantry) anduskoks (soldiers), and the liberation of Serbia in the 19th century. Some of the best known folk ballads areThe Death of the Mother of the Jugović Family andThe Mourning Song of the Noble Wife of the Asan Aga (Hasanaginica) (1646), translated into European languages byGoethe,Walter Scott,Pushkin andMérimée. One of the most notable tales from Serbian folklore is "The Nine Peahens and the Golden Apples".[9]
During the period of theOttoman occupation of Serbia, severalprinting houses were active,[10] includingCrnojević printing house,Vuković printing house,Goražde printing house and theBelgrade printing house mostly active outside modern-day Serbia and in Venice. These printing houses and individual publishers were the only sources of books in Serbian during the period without the national state.
Serbian literature inVojvodina continued building on Medieval tradition,[11] influenced by Old Serbian andRussianbaroque, which culminated in theSlavonic-Serbian language. Baroque has an important place in Serbian literature which had been interrupted by the Ottoman invasion. It was reestablished and became prominent again.[12]
A notable Baroque writer from this period isGavril Stefanović Venclović, who wrote numerous works in several genres and started an early reform of the language.[5] Other important authors of the time include:Dimitrije Ljubavić,Đorđe Branković,Andrija Zmajević,Vasilije III Petrović-Njegoš,Mojsije Putnik,Pavle Julinac,Marko Jelisejić,Joakim Vujić,Luka Milovanov Georgijević,Nikanor Grujić,Jovan Subotić,Jovan Rajić,Zaharije Orfelin,Simeon Piščević,Gerasim Zelić and others.[13][14][15]
Having no institutions of their own during the foreign occupation, Serbs invited Russian authors and educators to help with the education of the nation. The influx of these authors made poems rather than prose more prominent. Drama and theatre began as well. Agymnasium (school) in modern-daySremski Karlovci was a center of culture for several years in the 18th century headed byEmanuel Kozačinski who wrote a notable Baroque workTraedokomedija in 1734.[15]
During theAge of Enlightenment a new cultural model was formed, accompanied by the historical reforms undertaken byMaria Theresa.[16] Authors of the Enlightenment includeDositej Obradović,Atanasije Stojković,Jevstatije Mihajlović andAtanasije Nikolić. The Serbian Enlightenment did not produce a work of note on a European scale for obvious political, cultural and religious reasons, though it spanned every artistic field. The most important work of this period is considered to beŽivot i priključenija (lit. 'Life and Connections') byDositej Obradović.[17]
Classicism was introduced with the poems ofAleksije Vezilić, who also advocated the core values of the Age of Enlightenment.[18] The most notable dramatist of the period wasJovan Sterija Popović, although his works contain elements of Romanticism,[19] while the best-known Serbian classicist poet and the founder of the first Serbian poetry movement[18] wasLukijan Mušicki.[20]
Before the start of a fully established Romanticism concomitant with the Revolutions of 1848, some Romanticist ideas (e.g. the use of national language to rally for national unification of all classes) were developing, especially among monastic clergy inVojvodina.
After winning independence from theOttoman Empire, the Serbian independence movement sparked the first works of modern Serbian literature. Most notablyPetar II Petrović Njegoš and his poemMountain Wreath of 1847, represent a cornerstone of the Serbian epic, based on the rhythms of the Serbian epic poetry and the works byHomer.[21]
Vuk Stefanović Karadžić, an acquaintance ofJ. W. von Goethe andLeopold von Ranke,[22] became the first person to collect and publish folk songs and epics in book form.Vuk Karadžić is regarded as the premier Serbianphilologist, who together withĐuro Daničić,[23] played a major role in reforming the modernSerbian language and alphabet. Following the language reforms made by Karadžić, several authors likeSima Milutinović Sarajlija andMatija Nenadović published their works, which influenced other authors.[22]
Branko Radičević was the initiator ofRomantic poetry. He rejected the classicist norms, and objectivism, and focused on expressing direct experience and feelings in his art.[24] PoemsĐački rastanak (lit. 'Student parting') andTuga i opomena (lit. 'Sadness and admonition') are considered his best works.[24] Other noteworthy Romantic authors includeJovan Grčić Milenko,Kosta Trifković, KingNicholas I of Montenegro andJovan Ilić.[25]
Romanticism is of great importance to Serbian literature. The authors of the epoch had begun using the newly reformed Serbian language and wrote several works which are considered masterpieces of the Serbian literature, such asĐulići uveoci and poetry for children byJovan Jovanović Zmaj,Santa Maria della Salute byLaza Kostić and several poems byĐura Jakšić.[26]Travelogues byLjubomir Nenadović introduced a new literary form which emerged in the 19th century.[27]
The main themes ofrealists were the country's social groups and classes, the differences between the urban and rural population and exploration of various types of characters.[28] Realism began developing alongside romanticism, asJakov Ignjatović andStefan Mitrov Ljubiša published their works.[29]
Svetozar Ćorović depicted his native Herzegovina, where the shift in the Moslem population during theBosnian crisis and after was most acute.Simo Matavulj andIvo Ćipiko[30] penned a landscape of the south Adriatic, not always sunny and blue. Ćipiko's lyrical writings warned the reader of deteriorating social conditions, especiallyThe Spiders. Notable realistic authors includeJanko Veselinović,Laza Lazarević,Milovan Glišić,Stevan Sremac,Radoje Domanović,Svetolik Ranković,[31]Veljko M. Milićević andBorisav Stanković with his major works,Nečista krv (Impure Blood) andKoštana (lit. 'Bone') (drama).Impure Blood is now considered one of the most powerful Serbian novels of the period. Based in the world of the town ofVranje, this place of merchants and landowners was on its way out together with the Turks retreating from the region, after the long struggle forOld Serbia from 1903 to 1911 and theBalkan Wars.Petar Kočić is well known for highly lyrical prose and the quest for the independence ofBosnia and Herzegovina and its unification with Serbia. In Kočić's playThe Badger Before the Court, theAustro-Hungarian authorities are mocked for their proclivity to rule over other nations.
The legacy ofRagusan literature influenced Serbian literature, especially thanks to the members of theSerb-Catholic movement inDubrovnik, such asMatija Ban,Vid Vuletić Vukasović andIvo Vojnović.[32][33]
The only notable poet of the period wasVojislav Ilić. His poems are not purely realistic but mostly post-romantic, although they share several important elements with other realist works.[31] Chief comedy and drama author wasBranislav Nušić, who enjoyed popularity in Serbia and the wider region.[34] New literary genres were explored during this period.Lazar Komarčić became a pioneerSF writer.[35]
The literary trend of the first and second decades of the 20th century is referred to asModerna in Serbian. Its influences came from leading literature movements in Europe, particularly that ofsymbolism and thepsychological novel, but more through mood and aesthetic components rather than literary craftsmanship. This was manifested in the works ofJovan Dučić andMilan Rakić, the two poet-diplomats. The third leading poet at the time wasAleksa Šantić, whose poetry was less subtle but filled with pathos, emotion, and sincerity. They were popular for their patriotic, romantic, and social overtones.[36] According to literary historianPetar Milošević, SerbianModerna has produced several masterful poems, chiefly authored byVladislav Petković Dis, Jovan Dučić,Milos Perovic, Milan Rakić,Sima Pandurović and the first half ofMilutin Bojić'sOde to a Blue Sea Tomb.[37]
Other poets such asVeljko Petrović, Milutin Bojić,Milutin Uskoković, Sima Pandurović, Vladislav Petković Dis,Milorad Mitrović,Vladimir Stanimirović,Danica Marković,Velimir Rajić,Milorad Pavlović-Krpa,Milan Ćurčin andMilorad Petrović Seljančica each took different paths and showed great sophistication and advancement not only in their craft but in their world view as well. Most of them were pessimistic in their outlook, while at the same time patriotic in the wake of turbulent events that were then culminating in the struggle forOld Serbia, the Balkan Wars, and World War I. These writers were backed by Serbian critics educated in the West. For example,Bogdan Popović,Pavle Popović,Ljubomir Nedić,Slobodan Jovanović,Branko Lazarević,Vojislav Jovanović Marambo andJovan Skerlić. Skerlić, with hischef-d'oeuvre, the historical survey of Serbian literature, and Bogdan Popović, with his refined, Western-schooled aestheticism, not only weighed the writers' achievements but also pointed out the directions of modern world literature to them.
Significant poetry anthologies in Serbian literature which became canonical are:Antologija novije srpske lirike (1911) by Bogdan Popović,Antologija srpske poezije (1956) by Zoran Mišić, andAntologija srpskog pesništva (1964) by Miodrag Pavlović.[38]
In the 20th century, Serbian literature flourished and a myriad of young and talented writers appeared.
Jelena Dimitrijević andIsidora Sekulić are two early-twentieth-century woman writers. Sekulić mostly wrote essays, which were the best in Serbian literature of the time.[39]
During theInterwar period a number of new literary movements, styles and ideas emerged.[39] Miloš Crnjanski led the movement calledSumatraism,Rade Drainac headed Hypnotism, andLjubomir Micić began the international movement,Zenitism.[40]
Surrealism lasted for 10 years in Serbian literature with the "Belgrade group" being the leading literary group of the period, headed byMarko Ristić andKoča Popović.[41]Stanislav Vinaver was a noted journalist, polyhistor and author of the avant-garde.[42]Rastko Petrović andMomčilo Nastasijević are considered to be the most notable avant-garde authors.[43]
The most well known authors are:Ivo Andrić (he was awarded theNobel Prize in Literature in 1961),[44]Miloš Crnjanski,[44]Meša Selimović,Vladan Desnica,Oskar Davičo,[43]Borislav Pekić,Branko Miljković,Danilo Kiš,Milorad Pavić,David Albahari,Miodrag Bulatović,[44]Radomir Konstantinović,[44]Mihailo Lalić,[44]Branko Ćopić,[44]Igor Marojević,Miroslav Josić Višnjić andDobrica Ćosić,[44] among others. Ivo Andrić created a great opus with works set mostly in his native Bosnia and Herzegovina. Crnjanski was an accomplished poet and prose writer. His works likeLament Over Belgrade,Migrations,A novel of London are considered to be the crowning achievements of the Serbian XX century literature.[43]
The most beloved face of Serbian literature wasDesanka Maksimović, who for seven decades remained "the leading lady of Yugoslav poetry".[45][46][47][48][49]
Socialist realism was dominant in the period between 1945 and 1948.[44] In comparison with other communist states, Yugoslavia's dogmatic form ofSocialist realism was short-lived. Several authors of Serbian literature dealt with the more complex life and society and its morals during the Communist period. Some of the notable authors include:Antonije Isaković, Mihailo Lalić, Meša Selimović,Milovan Đilas, Branko Ćopić and Dobrica Ćosić.[50]
Starting with the 1970s, there was a wave of experimental works, "trick novels" and "found manuscripts". Milorad Pavić, Borislav Pekić, Danilo Kiš,Slobodan Selenić,Svetislav Basara,Boško Petrović (writer),Dragan Velikić and Dobrica Ćosić wrote these works.[51]
Miodrag Pavlović was one of the most prominent authors of World literature in the 20th century.[52]
After the death ofJosip Broz Tito and the start of a crisis in Yugoslavia, the island ofGoli Otok became a new subject in literature.Vanredna linija byČedo Vuković (1990) andGoli Otok byDragoslav Mihailović were the prominent works dealing with the topic of Goli otok, which was previously deemed undesirable and controversial as a theme.[50]
Milorad Pavić is one of the most widely acclaimed Serbian authors, most notably for hisDictionary of the Khazars (Хазарски речник / Hazarski rečnik), which has been translated into 38 languages.[53]
Dušan Kovačević andBiljana Srbljanović are noted contemporary dramatists.[54]
Ljubomir Simović is one of the chief poets of the second half of the 20th century and early 21st century.[55]
Svetlana Velmar-Janković,Grozdana Olujić andGordana Kuić are the best known female writers in Serbia today.
Some of the most notable authors includeZoran Živković,Vladimir Arsenijević,Vladislav Bajac,Igor Marojević and Svetislav Basara. Živković's works have been translated into 20 languages[56] and he was awardedWorld Fantasy Award.[57]
Authors writing in Serbian who have won theEuropean Union Prize for Literature includeJelena Lengold,Uglješa Šajtinac,Darko Tuševljaković,[58]Tanja Stupar-Trifunović[59] andLana Bastašić.[60]
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