Review article
Our Lady in Croatian Literature
Drago Šimundža
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Split
Abstract
The worship of Our Blessed Virgin has been very spread among
Croatian people since ancient times. In this light, through centuries, it
has spontaneously developed from religious practice to spiritual
heritage. It is present an ali branches of arts: architecture, sculpture
and painting, in songs and prayers.
In this paper the author investigates Marian motives in Croatian
literature during the history of ali periods: from medieval legends to
contemporary lyrical inspirations, in artistic forms and also in
popular forms, in literature and in church songs. In addition to the
oldest popular verses and legends, passion-plays and dramas from
13th to 15th century, there are also authorial poems, which appeared
very early in humanism and renaissance, like Marian praises,
religious and patriotic prayers, pious hails and thanks, contributions
of theological and existetially religious motivation.
This course - though of variable frequency - has been continually
going on in popular or artistic form up to the present days. Marian
motives are very frequent in XX. century, in literary styles as well as
in popular (church) songs. That is why the main part of the paper is
dedicated to recent Marian motives in Croatian literature. The fields
of topics and poetic motives are various, theologically and religiously
abundant. Lyrical poetry takes the central place. Although religious topics in it are prevailing in traditional expression, there are also rnany valuable literary inspirations, of modern form and of high aesthetic value.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
50762
URI
Publication date:
21.9.1999.
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