Category
Topic
Year
Dark temples brimming with sweetness from the shared impulse of all living things
Keywords: early 20th-century Estonian literature, psychoanalysis, Jaan Oks, subject in process, avant-garde, gender
This article delves into the modernist/avant-garde subject that emerges in Jaan Oks’ poetic prose, utilizing psychoanalytic theories. It aims to elucidate how the libidinal-impulsive dynamics of the psyche manifest within the context of the poetic revolution seen in the texts under scrutiny, expanding the concept of the subject beyond fixed identities and the conventional portrayal of selfhood as something stable and permanent. Key concepts include Julia Kristeva’s subject in process and the Freudian oceanic feeling: these concepts are employed to describe various movements of this elusive modernist subject…
This article delves into the modernist/avant-garde subject that emerges in Jaan Oks’ poetic prose, utilizing psychoanalytic theories. It aims to elucidate how the libidinal-impulsive dynamics of the psyche manifest within the context of the poetic revolution seen in the texts under scrutiny, expanding the concept of the subject beyond fixed identities and the conventional portrayal of selfhood as something stable and permanent. Key concepts include Julia Kristeva’s subject in process and the Freudian oceanic feeling: these concepts are employed to describe various movements of this elusive modernist subject…
Waning sex beyond good and evil
Keywords: literary studies, decadence, gender, Jaan Oks, Friedrich Nietzsche
This article aims to reconstruct the philosophical message found in Jaan Oks’ fragmentary works “Females” (Emased, 1908), “Flesh” (Ihu, 1908), and “Nameless Beast” (Nimetu elajas, 1909). The author argues that within these works, amidst alternating and colliding voices, a louder and more distinct one emerges – a prophetic-philosophical narrator who uses unfolding sketches to provide broad metaphysical generalizations and assessments, primarily concerning human nature and gender differences. In addition to reconstructing the philosophical positions, these are compared with Friedrich Nietzsche’s views on the same subjects, exploring the extent of Nietzsche’s influence on…
This article aims to reconstruct the philosophical message found in Jaan Oks’ fragmentary works “Females” (Emased, 1908), “Flesh” (Ihu, 1908), and “Nameless Beast” (Nimetu elajas, 1909). The author argues that within these works, amidst alternating and colliding voices, a louder and more distinct one emerges – a prophetic-philosophical narrator who uses unfolding sketches to provide broad metaphysical generalizations and assessments, primarily concerning human nature and gender differences. In addition to reconstructing the philosophical positions, these are compared with Friedrich Nietzsche’s views on the same subjects, exploring the extent of Nietzsche’s influence on…
Guy De Maupassant’s short stories in Estonia in the early 20th century
Keywords: literary studies, translation history, French literature, Maupassant, decadent culture, realism
In the early 20th century, the influx of foreign literary movements into Estonia was largely facilitated through print media. Periodicals predominantly favoured concise and captivating stories. Between 1900 and 1939, a significant number of translations of Guy de Maupassant’s short stories were published due to their alignment with these criteria. These translated stories later found their way into collections. Maupassant’s short stories can be interpreted as both realistic and decadent, with both perspectives finding representation in the Estonian reception. Nevertheless, the prevailing view depicts Maupassant as an eccentric writer whose…
In the early 20th century, the influx of foreign literary movements into Estonia was largely facilitated through print media. Periodicals predominantly favoured concise and captivating stories. Between 1900 and 1939, a significant number of translations of Guy de Maupassant’s short stories were published due to their alignment with these criteria. These translated stories later found their way into collections. Maupassant’s short stories can be interpreted as both realistic and decadent, with both perspectives finding representation in the Estonian reception. Nevertheless, the prevailing view depicts Maupassant as an eccentric writer whose…
Filtered decadence
Keywords: literary studies, Gabriele D’Annunzio, Young Estonia, decadence, naturalism, translation
The article examines the Estonian translations and reception of the Italian decadent writer, poet, and playwright Gabriele D’Annunzio during the period 1906–1915, encompassing a total of 13 published translations. These include a series of short stories featured in Estonian newspapers and magazines, along with two separate books: the novel Süütu (“The Innocent”, 1913) and a collection of D’Annunzio’s short stories titled Mäss (“Revolt”, 1915). The latter initiatives were associated with the modernist movement Young Estonia (Noor-Eesti), with Young Estonian poet and language reformer Villem Grünthal Ridala emerging as the most prolific…
The article examines the Estonian translations and reception of the Italian decadent writer, poet, and playwright Gabriele D’Annunzio during the period 1906–1915, encompassing a total of 13 published translations. These include a series of short stories featured in Estonian newspapers and magazines, along with two separate books: the novel Süütu (“The Innocent”, 1913) and a collection of D’Annunzio’s short stories titled Mäss (“Revolt”, 1915). The latter initiatives were associated with the modernist movement Young Estonia (Noor-Eesti), with Young Estonian poet and language reformer Villem Grünthal Ridala emerging as the most prolific…
Decadence as the aesthetics of ambivalences
Keywords: literary studies, Charles Baudelaire, Friedrich Nietzsche, Friedebert Tuglas, Estonian literary decadence, Nordic literary decadence
This article defines decadence as the aesthetics of ambivalences, drawing on Charles Baudelaire’s poem “A Carcass” (Une charogne), where decadence signifies both decline and deterioration, as well as rising, transition, and renewal. This extends beyond the organic and physiological sense, serving as a reference to the transformation of artistic aesthetics.
The usage tradition of the concept of decadence in 18th and early 19th-century French culture is briefly explored. Initially denoting historical decline (Charles de Montesquieu, Edward Gibbon), it later, in the early 19th century, encompassed aesthetic degeneration…
This article defines decadence as the aesthetics of ambivalences, drawing on Charles Baudelaire’s poem “A Carcass” (Une charogne), where decadence signifies both decline and deterioration, as well as rising, transition, and renewal. This extends beyond the organic and physiological sense, serving as a reference to the transformation of artistic aesthetics.
The usage tradition of the concept of decadence in 18th and early 19th-century French culture is briefly explored. Initially denoting historical decline (Charles de Montesquieu, Edward Gibbon), it later, in the early 19th century, encompassed aesthetic degeneration…
From feldspar to alder buckthorn and the colour yellow
Keywords: names of colours, trees and rocks, etymologies, Finno-Ugric languages, Indo-European languages, comparative linguistics
The onomatopoetically derived stems *pakka- and *paka- trace back to ancient times, originally signifying actions like breaking and splitting along with the associated sounds. Over time, the concept of colour became syncretically intertwined with these meanings. Derivatives formed by adding suffixes to the root *pakka- include the Finnish pakkunen ‘three-lobe beggarticks (Bidens tripartitus)’, the Olonetsian pakkuinen ‘yellow’, the Vepsian pakuine ‘yellow’, and the Hungarian fakó (
The onomatopoetically derived stems *pakka- and *paka- trace back to ancient times, originally signifying actions like breaking and splitting along with the associated sounds. Over time, the concept of colour became syncretically intertwined with these meanings. Derivatives formed by adding suffixes to the root *pakka- include the Finnish pakkunen ‘three-lobe beggarticks (Bidens tripartitus)’, the Olonetsian pakkuinen ‘yellow’, the Vepsian pakuine ‘yellow’, and the Hungarian fakó (
On a concept missing from Estonian and the substitute thereof
Keywords: history of written Estonian, conceptual history, the concept of vānitās, the word edevus
This article explores the Latin-French-English concept vānitās/vanité/vanity as an example of how the Latin-based European conceptual system has dissolved into different words in younger literary languages such as Estonian. It distinguishes between the older definition of the concept, ‘something that is vain, empty, or valueless’, as expressed by equivalents of the Hebrew word hebel in Old Testament translations, and the meaning of ‘inflated pride in oneself or one’s appearance’, which is predominant in the more modern English and French usage. The article examines how these two meanings…
This article explores the Latin-French-English concept vānitās/vanité/vanity as an example of how the Latin-based European conceptual system has dissolved into different words in younger literary languages such as Estonian. It distinguishes between the older definition of the concept, ‘something that is vain, empty, or valueless’, as expressed by equivalents of the Hebrew word hebel in Old Testament translations, and the meaning of ‘inflated pride in oneself or one’s appearance’, which is predominant in the more modern English and French usage. The article examines how these two meanings…
Women in the Society of Estonian Literati
Keywords: Society of Estonian Literati, Estonian national awakening, civic activism, women’s movements
The Society of Estonian Literati (Eesti Kirjameeste Selts) (1872–1893) was a prominent initiative during the Estonian national awakening in the latter half of the 19th century. Its main pursuits included the development of Estonian as a literary language, the publication of Estonian-language literature (particularly school textbooks), and the collection of folk songs, tales, and artifacts. Established during the height of the national awakening, the society played a role in the subsequent division of the movement in the 1880s and faced closure, partly due to internal rivalry during the period…
The Society of Estonian Literati (Eesti Kirjameeste Selts) (1872–1893) was a prominent initiative during the Estonian national awakening in the latter half of the 19th century. Its main pursuits included the development of Estonian as a literary language, the publication of Estonian-language literature (particularly school textbooks), and the collection of folk songs, tales, and artifacts. Established during the height of the national awakening, the society played a role in the subsequent division of the movement in the 1880s and faced closure, partly due to internal rivalry during the period…
Occupational terms and societal roles in early Estonian lexicography
Keywords: historical lexicography, historical occupational terms, core professions, societal roles, lexical development, influences of German language in Estonian
This article explores findings from six German-Estonian and Estonian-German dictionaries compiled during the 17th and 18th centuries. It covers all the main lexicographical sources from that period, from Heinrich Stahl’s “Vocabula” (1637) to August Wilhelm Hupel’s “Wörterbuch” (1780), with the exception of two 17th-century authors, Clare and Svenske. The primary aim of this overview is to examine professional titles that were extensively documented in these historical dictionaries. In addition, the article delves into terms describing incidental activities. Thirdly, the discussion also includes societal…
This article explores findings from six German-Estonian and Estonian-German dictionaries compiled during the 17th and 18th centuries. It covers all the main lexicographical sources from that period, from Heinrich Stahl’s “Vocabula” (1637) to August Wilhelm Hupel’s “Wörterbuch” (1780), with the exception of two 17th-century authors, Clare and Svenske. The primary aim of this overview is to examine professional titles that were extensively documented in these historical dictionaries. In addition, the article delves into terms describing incidental activities. Thirdly, the discussion also includes societal…
The song of creation on the swing of new beginnings
Keywords: Kalevala-metric song, mythology, ritual swinging, seasonal festivities
The Estonian myth recounting the creation of the world and heavenly bodies has been recorded as a Kalevala-metric epic song (regilaul) that has parallels in other Finnic traditions. Various connections emerge within Estonian folklore between the Creation song and the popular practice of swinging at Easter or Pentecost, and the beginning of the summer season. In light of the cyclical conception of time, we can interpret the practice of singing the Creation song while on a swing as a part of the spring ritual marking the beginning of the year. In order to…
The Estonian myth recounting the creation of the world and heavenly bodies has been recorded as a Kalevala-metric epic song (regilaul) that has parallels in other Finnic traditions. Various connections emerge within Estonian folklore between the Creation song and the popular practice of swinging at Easter or Pentecost, and the beginning of the summer season. In light of the cyclical conception of time, we can interpret the practice of singing the Creation song while on a swing as a part of the spring ritual marking the beginning of the year. In order to…
A Cinderella story
Keywords: literature didactics, teaching poetry, basic psychological needs
In recent years, discussions about the modernization of literature education have gained prominence. However, there persists a lack of insight into the actual practices occurring in schools. From the perspective of poetry education, it is crucial to delve into the reality of how poetry is taught in Estonian schools. There is a dearth of information on which authors are being taught, how poetry is approached, and how students are supported in their reading. This article is the first to address these questions. It offers a comprehensive analysis that maps the position of poetry…
In recent years, discussions about the modernization of literature education have gained prominence. However, there persists a lack of insight into the actual practices occurring in schools. From the perspective of poetry education, it is crucial to delve into the reality of how poetry is taught in Estonian schools. There is a dearth of information on which authors are being taught, how poetry is approached, and how students are supported in their reading. This article is the first to address these questions. It offers a comprehensive analysis that maps the position of poetry…