Comenius European Cultural Diversity is Our Common Wealth. Poland March 19-23, 2012

1. Comenius EuropeanCulturalDiversity is OurCommonWealth. Poland March 19-23, 2012 Kohtla-Järve Vahtra põhikool, Estonia 2012

2. Estonian Poets

3. The development of writing began during the National Awakening in the mid 1800s. With the National Awakening came poetry, plays, short stories, novels, folklore, and journalism, all written in Estonian.

4. Johann Voldemar Jannsen During this time, J. V. Jannsen (1819-1890) founded the first newspaper in Estonian. He became the creator of the era of national awakening.

5. His daughter, a poet Lydia Koidula, and his son Harry Jannsen assisted in the edition of "EestiPostimees." Lidia Koidula 1843-1886 HarryJannsen (1851 – 1913)

6. Johann Voldemar Jannsen • In the late 19th century, in 1860 and in 1862, a journalist and a poet VoldemarJannsen published a collection "Estonian songs» EestiLaulik. • Among the 125 songs there was • «Mu isamaa», glorifying Estonia.

7. Johann Voldemar Jannsen • Later this song became the anthem of Estonia. My homeland, my pride and joy.

8. Johann Voldemar Jannsen In 1865, in Tartu, Jannsen organized a male choral society «Vanemuine» (Society Vanemuine). It became the center of the national movement and it marked the beginning of the Estonian theater and national holiday of songs.

9. In 1869 he organized the first musical parade in Tartu, which was attended by 46 male choirs, 789 singers, five brass bands, 56 musicians. The audience was 12,000. Thus, the first song festival took place, which was the culmination of the first period of national awakening.

10. The song `Mu isamaa, mu õnnjarõõm` (My homeland, my pride and joy) was performed for the first time at the first song festival in 1869. • From 18 to 21 June 1869 Johann Jannsen was the first main conductor of that holiday.

11. The Estonians came to that feast as the rural people and left as a nation. Jannsen was happy. His fate was to return the name to the entire nation. The era of awakening began. The main business of life took place. He gave his people the great cultural tradition - singing festivals.

12. The national epic, Kalevipoeg was written by F. R.Kreutzwald (1803-1882). It tells a mythic story on the founding of the Estonian nation. F. R. Kreutzwald also recorded Estonian folklore.

13. The first book published in Estonian was not the Bible (which was the second in 1739) but the Lutheran catechism in 1525. The best translated authors are: MatiUnt, Karl Ristikivi, and JaanKross (1920-2007). His books Between Three Plagues and The Czar’s Madman are known in many countries.

14. Late 19th early 20th century The poets of the late 19th-century and early century were JuhanLiiv (1864–1913),Ernst Enno (1875–1934) gained popularity much later,HenrikVisnapuu (1890–1951) and Marie Under (1883–1980).

15. Poets of 1918-1940 In those years there was a small but influential group of poets who began collaborating in 1938 at the behest of a poet Ants Oras and included: BettiAlver (1906–1989), UkuMasing (1909–1985), Mart Raud (1903–1980), KerstiMerilaas (1913–1986), Bernard Kangro (1910–1994), HeitiTalvik (1904–1947), August Sang (1914–1969) and Paul Viiding (1904–1962). This group's common desire was freedom and independence for the people.

16. Estonian literature is not well known throughout Europe as few authors have been translated. JaanKross’ works began to change this. Translations of his books became more readily available. Kross breathed new life into Estonian poetry.

17. JaanKaplinsky is translated throughout Europe. He won the May Stranger Job Price in France with his poem “TheWill of the Dust”. His poems are essentially about nature and daily life.

18. Estonians take their literature very seriously. The flow of Estonian literature has increased in recent years, which provides people access to the ideas reflected in the writing. Estonian literature reveals a great deal about Estonians’ view of life.

19. 1991-2001 JaanUndusk (born 1958), MatiUnt and ViiviLuik and HassoKrull (born 1964) inter textual poetry prepared the ground for a bold new Estonian literature.

20. The new century The beginning of the 21st century has been fertile and fruitful for Estonian literature. Blossoming out of the waning nineties; a new, vibrant generation of poets had appeared. JürgenRooste (1979), IvarSild (1977), Wimberg (pen name of JaakUrmet, 1979) and KristiinaEhin (1977) have all very distinctive voices combined with a profound knowledge of both Estonian and world-literature.

21. Thank you for your attention!