ISRAEL

How did the literature start?

The origins of modern Israeli literature lie in the Hebrew literature written in Eastern Europe during the 19th century. Interestingly, poetry, and not prose, was the dominant medium in Hebrew literature until the mid-20th century. Chaim Nachman Bialik (1873-1934) published his first volume of poetry in 1901 and came to be recognized as the preeminent voice in Hebrew poetry.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON THEMES OF THEIR LITERARY PIECES?

Their literature is generally emotional, often passionate. It describes the character of the people, their daily lives, the beautiful scenery of their land.

CHOOSE ONE LITERARY PIECE AND SHARE IT TO THE CLASS.

Sad Song

Do you hear me, you who are
So far away from me, my dear?
Do you hear me crying aloud,
Wishing you were well, wishing you were near?

The world is vast, its ways diverse,
Brief meetings, partings long,
Men, with unsure feet, post on never to return, too weak

To find the treasure they have lost.
My last day drawing near
Of the tears of separation
I will await you until
my life leaves
as Rahel did her beloved.


-Rahel Bluwstein

If you are to compare the early literature to the modern ones, what are the improvements or changes?

IMPROVEMENTS

• The usual theme for early Israeli literature is focused on spiritual themes.
• For modern it is focused less in spriritual.
• The writers of early literary pieces in Israel were usually of old age.
• For the modern Israeli literature younger writer most write literary pieces.
• There is a lot of European influence in the modern Israeli literature.

REFERENCE

• English Communication Arts Q2
• http://www.docstoc.com/docs/112069675/PowerPoint-Presentation---Trends-in-I...
• http://m.poemhunter.com/poem/sad-song/

Darla Esquivel
Alec Merida
Poula Espino
Troy Dayao
Joyce Matibag
Immanuel Portus