Students are introduced to the works of Palamas, Cavafy, Sikelianos, Karyotakis, Ritsos, Varnalis, the generation of the ’30s, the Surrealists, the minor poets of the interwar period, Tsirkas, Pentzikis, the first and second post-war generation and the contemporary writers, especially Valtinos and Patrikios. Special focus is given to the work of the great translators: Chatzopoulos, Theotokis, Kosmas Politis and Aris Alexandrou.

Upon successful completion of the course, the students will:

• become familiar with modern Greek literature.
• understand the connection of modern Greek literature with the modern Greek language as well as with the translation activity of modern Greek writers.
• They will get to know the work of various contemporary modern Greek poets (Cavafy, Ritsos, Elytis, Seferis, etc.) and novelists (Theotokis, Politis, etc.).

• They will get to know the translation activity of contemporary modern Greek writers, which shaped modern Greek literature.

Week 1: K.P. Cavafy

Week 2: K. Karyotakis

Week 3: Aggelos Sikelianos, Kostas Varnalis

Week 4: The Generation of the ’30s

Week 5: Greek Surrealism

Week 6: Greek prose from 1930 to today

Week 7: Yannis Ritsos

Week 8: Odysseas Elytis

Week 9: Yorgos Seferis

Week 10: Costantinos Hatzopoulos

Week 11: Constantinos Theotokis

Week 12: Kosmas Politis

Week 13: Aris Alexandrou

Suggested reading:

Selected excerpts from the works of poets and novel writers.

Linos Politis, «Ιστορία της νεοελληνικής λογοτεχνίας / A History of Modern Greek Literature», ΜΙΕΤ, Αθήνα 1985.

Yorgos Kentrotis, «Πόσα χουνέρια και τι πλεκτάνες», Τυπωθήτω, Αθήνα 2004

Yorgos Kentrotis, «Στις κερκίδες του λόγου», Δίαυλος, Αθήνα 2007.

Face-to-face/ Lecture. Discussion in class. Essays.

Use of ICT in teaching.

Semester 2-3,000 word essay.