10429 Israeli Poetry of the 1950s

Credits: 6 intermediate credits in Hebrew Literature

Prerequisites: none

Author: Rachel Weissbrod. The materials also include Across from the Silent Fireplace, by D. Miron; The Flowers and the Vase, by B. Arpali; and a reader that includes articles and sections from books about the poets studied, the collections studied and specific poems within them.

The aim of the course is to acquaint the student with Israeli poetry of the 1950s. During that decade, young Israeli poets (members of “Likrat” and others) sought new poetic ways. At the same time, poets of former generations (“Palmach,” “Moderna”) renewed their former poetics. Through conflicts and interrelations between the various generations, Hebrew poetry underwent significant changes: the persona of the lyrical “I”; language in general, and figurative language, rhythm, tone and world-view. The course examines these changes against the background of the situation in Israeli society and culture at that time.

Topics: General overview – the change which took place in Israeli poetry in the 1950s and its origins; Veteran poets – Natan Alterman, “City of the Dove”; Yonatan Ratosh, “Rib”; Poets of the Palmach generation – Haim Guri, “Compass”; Amir Gilboa, “Songs in the Early Morning”; Poets of the beginning of the State whose poetry was shaped in the 1950s – Natan Zach, Various Poems; Yehuda Amichai, Now and in Other Days; David Avidan, Beheaded Lipped Spigots; Dalia Rabikovitz, Love of an Orange.