Dutch literature

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Heinrich von Veldeke

Dutch literature is the name given to literature that was written in the Dutch language . The Dutch-language literature in Belgium is also part of the Dutch literature.

middle Ages

The 11th century verse Hebban olla vogala, discovered in an English manuscript in 1933, is often regarded as the oldest surviving evidence of Dutch literature , although the exact linguistic assignment was at times disputed. The oldest surviving literary works in a Dutch dialect are writings from the 12th century by Heinrich von Veldeke (ndl. Hendrik van Veldeke ), who is also counted among German literature . He wrote a Servatius legend , various Minneieder and an adaptation of the Aeneid based on the French novel d'Énéas . In the 13th century, a rich poetry emerged with works such as the courtly novel Walewein , the mystical poems of Hadewijch and the popular Beatrijs poem. The Flemish animal poem Van den vos Reynaerde should also be mentioned, the material of which can also be traced back in the wider European cultural area of ​​those centuries, even if it is usually not expressed in words as socially critical as here.

In the northern Netherlands, the first important work was the Rijmkroniek van Holland (13th and 14th centuries) ascribed to Melis Stoke . The work of Jacob van Maerlants marked the rise of the bourgeoisie in the late 13th century. He wrote natural scientific courtly novels, historical works and poetry such as the encyclopedic natural history in verses Der naturen bloeme and the oldest Grail novel in Dutch literature, Historie van den Grale en Merlijns Boeck .

The urban Rederijkers occupied an important place in the 15th and 16th centuries . The humanist Erasmus von Rotterdam , Dirck Volckertszoon Coornhert and Philips van Marnix should also be mentioned .

Joost van den Vondel, 1665

The Golden age

The golden age of Dutch literature coincided with the establishment of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands . The moral works of Jacob Cats enjoyed great prestige . Other important writers of this age were Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft ( Geeraerdt van Velsen ), Constantijn Huygens and Gerbrand Bredero ( De Spaansche Brabander ), but above all Joost van den Vondel .

The most important southern Dutch writers of the Renaissance were Carel van Mander and Jonker van der Noot . The most important author of the first half of the 17th century was the French classicism- oriented Pieter Langendijk , the most important poet Hubert Kornelisz. Poot .

Multatuli, aka Eduard Douwes Dekker

The Enlightenment and the 19th Century

The Enlightenment was mainly represented in the northern Netherlands by Justus van Effen with his moral weekly De Hollandsche Spectator . Other important representatives were Rhijnvis Feith , Elisabeth Maria Post and the friends Betje Wolff and Aagje Deken . Together they wrote a number of realistic, sensitive epistolary novels such as De historie van mejuffrouw Sara Burgerhart (1782).

Important early romantics were Rhijnvis Feith and Willem Bilderdijk . Bilderdijk was the leading figure of the political and religious movement Réveil , which also included Isaäc da Costa , Willem de Clercq and Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer . The so-called "West Flemish particularism" of Guido Gezelle was important in Belgium .

An important theorist was Jacobus Geel . Everhardus Johannes Potgieter's De Gids was the organ of romanticism in the Netherlands . Historical novels were written by Jacob van Lennep , Anna Louisa Geertruida Bosboom-Toussaint , HJ Schimmel and the Flame Hendrik Conscience , humorous works by Nicolaas Beet , Klikspaan and Piet Paaltjens . The most important author of the 19th century was Multatuli (Eduard Douwes Dekker), whose Max Havelaar or the coffee auctions of the Dutch Trade Society , a satire on Dutch colonialism , were very influential.

Beginning of the modern age

The eighties

A turning point in Dutch literary history and the beginning of modern Dutch literature marked the movement of the eighties (ndl. Tachtigers ) in the eighties of the 19th century. It is considered a late continuation of the romanticism and at the same time a reaction to it. Leading representatives include Willem Kloos , Frederik van Eeden ( De kleine Johannes ), Lodewijk van Deyssel and Albert Verwey . Following on from Potgieter's earlier publication, the magazine De Nieuwe Gids became its mouthpiece . They turn against the themes that had prevailed in poetry up to that point, such as religion, morality, virtue or help in life. The Tachtigers turned sharply against the "homely bakery of literature" and thus sought connection with the literary currents of English Romanticism, French Naturalism and Impressionism that predominated abroad. Art should be made for its own sake and beauty should be the focus. For her, poetry is the expression of the poet's most individual emotions and is aimed at extraordinary people. The poet should express his unique feelings with unique linguistic means and thus create a unity of form and content.

The eighties are also known for their new form of self-expression, which was particularly noticeable in a strong polemic against what had gone before. Carel Steven Adama van Scheltema and Herman Gorter ( Mei ) led a countermovement .

naturalism

The upheavals that the eighties brought about in poetry also took place in prose. Based on the French naturalism of the late 1860s, a naturalism of scientific character emerged in the Netherlands. The founder is Marcellus Emants , who saw humans as determined by heredity, social background and personal experiences. The typical narrative form of naturalistic prose is experienced speech, which is intended to give the reader more direct access to the thoughts of the characters.

Fin de Siècle

In the fin de siècle various intellectual currents come together, such as the last traits of symbolism , decadentism and aestheticism . It is the time of Art Nouveau , but also of the first Expressionists . During this period, Louis Couperus (1863–1923; De boeken der kleine aimen ) gained international recognition . Also to be mentioned are Arthur van Schendel (1874–1946) and the Flemings Stijn Streuvels (1871–1969) and Herman Teirlinck (1879–1967).

After the First World War

Important representatives of Dutch literature after the First World War were Ferdinand Bordewijk (1884-1965; New Objectivity ), the vitalist Hendrik Marsman (1899-1940) and the group around the magazine Forum , edited by Edgar du Perron (1899-1940) and Menno ter Braak (1902-1940). Simon Vestdijk (1898–1971) also belonged to this group . Important Flemish authors of the interwar period were Paul van Ostaijen (1896–1928; Expressionism ), Willem Elsschot (1882–1960), Gerard Walschap (1898–1989), Marnix Gijsen (1899–1984). Was popular Felix Timmermans (1886-1947); was also known Hubert Lampo (1920-2006 magic realism ).

After the Second World War

After the Second World War , poets such as Lucebert (1924–1994), Gerrit Kouwenaar (1923–2014), Remco Campert , Simon Vinkenoog (1928–2009), Leo Vroman and Hans Andreus (1926–1977) broke with many conventions. Two groups can be distinguished in post-war poetry : the hermetic one around the magazine Raster , to which Gerrit Kouwenaar and Cees Nooteboom belong, and the neo-symbolist group around the magazine De Revisor with Jan Kuijper and Willem Jan Otten . Other important poets are Gerrit Achterberg (1905–1962), Gerrit Komrij and Annie MG Schmidt (1911–1995). Leading critics: HA Gomperts (1915–1998), Paul Rodenko (1920/1976) and Kees Fens (1929–2008).

Political engagement can be found above all in the works of Willem Frederik Hermans (1921–1995) and Harry Mulisch ; social engagement with the Flemings Louis Paul Boon (1912–1979) and Hugo Claus (1929–2008). Other leading post-war authors are Gerard Reve (1923–2006; De avonden (The Evenings), Nader Tot U (Closer to You)), Anna Blaman (1905–1960), Cees Nooteboom , Jan Wolkers (1915–2007), Hella Haasse , Anton Koolhaas (1912–1992) and Rudi Kousbroek (1929–2010); from the 1980s J. Bernlef , AF Th. van der Heijden , Arnon Grunberg (published in Germany under the name Grünberg), Connie Palmen , Maarten 't Hart , Boudewijn Büch (1948–2002), Leon de Winter , Charlotte Mutsaers and Jan Siebelink , who wrote the most successful novel in post-war history ( Knielen op een bed violen ). In Belgium, Monika van Paemel , Kristien Hemmerechts , Tom Lanoye and Herman Brusselmans should be mentioned.

Generatie nothing

The Generatie Nix (meaning: "Lost Generation") was a collective name for several young Dutch writers who made their debut in the 1990s. Authors who were so named were Ronald Giphart, Rob van Erkelens, Joris Moens, Hermine Landvreugd and Don Duyns. In addition, other writers were also linked to the term such as Arnon Grunberg , Jerry Goossens, Serge van Duynhoven and Joost Zwagerman . What they have in common is a pessimistic or even nihilistic topic and the often “rough-realistic style”, with topics such as pop culture and sexuality .

Canonization

In 2002, after a survey of members of the Maatschappij der Nederlandse Letterkunde , the Digitale Bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse Letteren published a Dutch literary canon that aims to collect the classics of Dutch literature. The dynamic canon of the Koninklijke Academie voor Nederlandse Taal en Letteren , published in spring 2015, pursues a similar goal , which is a canon from a Flemish perspective. Both lists are also intended as a guide for teaching.

See also

literature

  • Ralf Grüttemeier, Maria-Theresia Leuker (ed.): Dutch literary history. Metzler, Stuttgart 2006. ISBN 978-3-476-02061-1 .
  • Georg Hermanowski: The modern Flemish literature. Francke, Bern 1963.
  • L. Leopold: Nederlandsche schrijvers en schrijfsters , ed. by W. Pik, Groningen and The Hague 1919.
  • Herbert van Uffelen (Ed.): Dossier: Dutch literature . In: June. Magazine for culture and politics. No. 1/91. June publishing house. Mönchengladbach 1991, pp. 9-79. ISSN  0931-2854 .
  • Ingrid Wikén Bonde: What does this guest have to tell us? Or the hunt for the Nobel Prize : on the reception of Dutch literature in Sweden, with a bibliography of the translations 1830–1995 (= Stockholm German Research , Volume 53, Acta Universitatis Stockholmiensis ), Almqvist & Wiksell International, Stockholm 1997 (also Diss. Stockholm University 1997 ). ISBN 91-22-01754-2 .
  • the frozen sea - magazine for literatur.international : n + 3 - Literair Nederland (edition on current Dutch literature in two languages). n + 3, 2007. ISSN  1864-4848 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ See Brockhaus literature. Fundamentally revised and expanded paperback edition in eight volumes. Edited by Werner Habicht, Wolf-Dieter Lange and the Brockhaus editorial team. BI-Taschebuchverlag, Mannheim et al., P. 92.
  2. ↑ The Curse of the Righteous. Note on the book from SPIEGEL ONLINE from October 11, 2007.
  3. ↑ University of Vienna  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . About the "Generatie Nix". Dutch, accessed September 9, 2010@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / lic.ned.univie.ac.at