CJL04 Czech Literature 1895-1945 foc Bachelors

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2026
Extent and Intensity
2/2/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Petr Bubeníček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Michal Fránek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Luisa Nováková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jitka Bednářová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Eliška Smutná (seminar tutor)
Mgr. et Mgr. Dominik Bárt (assistant)
Mgr. Michaela Koníková (assistant)
Mgr. Bc. Tomáš Macalík (assistant)
Mgr. Anna Škrabánková (assistant)
Mgr. Petr Vokřínek, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Luisa Nováková, Ph.D.
Department of Czech Literature – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Veronika Bromová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Czech Literature – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Tue 16:00–17:40 D22, except Mon 16. 11. to Sun 22. 11.
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
CJL04/01: Wed 12:00–13:40 D33, except Mon 16. 11. to Sun 22. 11., L. Nováková
CJL04/02: Tue 14:00–15:40 C11, except Mon 16. 11. to Sun 22. 11., L. Nováková
CJL04/03: Mon 10:00–11:40 D33, except Mon 16. 11. to Sun 22. 11., M. Fránek
CJL04/04: Mon 8:00–9:40 B2.34, except Mon 16. 11. to Sun 22. 11., P. Bubeníček
CJL04/05: Tue 10:00–11:40 B2.51, except Mon 16. 11. to Sun 22. 11., J. Bednářová
Prerequisites (in Czech)
CJL01 Introduction into Czech Literature
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 90 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 86/90, only registered: 1/90
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 8 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Abstract

This course focuses on the most prominent authors and themes from the Czech Modernist generation through the mid-1940s. Students are guided toward understanding literature both in its intrinsic terms and within a broader historical context. Emphasis is placed particularly on understanding key aspects of literary development, on shifts in poetics in the works of significant authors, and on the analysis of specific literary works, whereby an important role in their interpretation is played not only by situating the works within the context of a given author’s oeuvre or literary movement, but also within the broader cultural and social framework. Students will utilize both contemporary sources, literary criticism, manifestos, and polemics, as well as more recent secondary literature. Skills leading to the creation of high-quality academic texts will also be strengthened.





Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:


- identify key milestones in literary development, major movements, and the poetics of significant authors from the 1890s to 1945;


- understand the broader cultural and literary context;


- are able to conduct a thorough analysis of specific literary works;


- are capable of critical synthesis and are familiar with its methods.

Key topics
The course will examine the major trends in Czech literature of the first half of the 20th century, from the 1890s through 1945 (with reference to the European context). Particular attention will be devoted to the analysis of literary texts, with an emphasis on the transformation of literary genres, the dominant forms of literariness in the contemporary literary field, and their syncretism; literary-critical and literary-historical reception will also be taken into account. The course includes a review of the subject’s scholarly literature.
Key topics (applies to both seminars and lectures):


•    A Cultural-Historical Introduction to the Study of the First Half of the 20th Century 
•    Czech Poetry 1890–1918 
•    Czech Prose 1890–1918 
•    Czech Drama 1890–1918 
• Transformations in Czech Drama, 1918–1945
•    Transformations in Czech Prose in the 1920s
•    Transformations in Czech Poetry in the 1920s 
•    Transformations in Czech Prose in the 1930s (until 1938)
•    Transformations of Czech Poetry in the 1930s (until 1938)
•    Literary Criticism 1890–1945 
•    Czech Poetry 1938–1945
•    Czech Prose 1938–1945








Study resources and literature
    required literature
  • PAPOUŠEK, Vladimír. Dějiny nové moderny : česká literatura v letech 1905-1923. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2010, 627 s. ISBN 9788020017925. info
  • PAPOUŠEK, Vladimír. Dějiny nové moderny : česká literatura v letech 1924-1934. Vydání první. Praha: Academia, 2014, 622 stran. ISBN 9788020022967. info
  • PAPOUŠEK, Vladimír. Dějiny "nové" moderny : česká literatura v letech 1935-1947. Vydání první. Praha: Academia, 2017, 833 stran. ISBN 9788020027368. info
  • NOVÁK, Jan Václav and Arne NOVÁK. Přehledné dějiny literatury české : od nejstarších dob až po naše dny. 4. přeprac. a rozš. vyd. V Brně: Atlantis, 1995, 1804 s. ISBN 8071081051. info
  • Dějiny české literatury. Edited by Jan Mukařovský. 1. vyd. Praha: Victoria Publishing, 1995, 714 s. ISBN 80-85865-48-3. info
  • LEHÁR, Jan. Česká literatura od počátků k dnešku. 2., dopl. vyd. Praha: Lidové noviny, 2004, 1078 s. ISBN 80-7106-308-8. info
    recommended literature
  • CHALUPECKÝ, Jindřich. Expresionisté :Richard Weiner, Jakub Deml, Ladislav Klíma, podivný Hašek. [Praha]: Torst, 1992, 200 s. ISBN 80-85639-00-9. info
  • Avantgarda známá a neznámá. 1919-1924. Edited by Štěpán Vlašín. Praha: Svoboda, 1971. info
  • JEŘÁBEK, Dušan. Česká literatura od konce národního obrození do roku 1918. Vyd. 2. přeprac. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 1993, 95 s. ISBN 8021007028. info
  • PUTNA, Martin C. Česká katolická literatura v evropském kontextu 1848-1918. Vyd. 1. Praha: Torst, 1998, 801 s. ISBN 80-7215-059-6. info
  • PAPOUŠEK, Vladimír. Gravitace avantgard : imaginace a řeč avantgard v českých literárních textech první poloviny dvacátého století. 1. vyd. Praha: Akropolis, 2007, 144 s. ISBN 9788086903521. info
  • Avantgarda známá a neznámá. Edited by Vladimír Dostál. Praha: Svoboda, 1970. info
    not specified
  • Avantgarda známá a neznámá. Sv. 2, Vrchol a krize poetismu 1925-1928 [11669/2]. Praha: Svoboda, 1972. info
  • JANOUŠEK, Pavel; Lucie ANTOŠÍKOVÁ; Zdeněk BRDEK; Marie BRUNOVÁ; Eduard BURGET; Vojen DRLÍK; Erik GILK; Lukáš HOLEČEK; Petr HRUŠKA; Petr JANEČEK; Michal JAREŠ; Lenka JUNGMANNOVÁ; Ivan KLIMEŠ; Jiří KŘESŤAN; Klára KUDLOVÁ; Petra LOUČOVÁ; Martin LUKÁŠ; Ester NOVÁKOVÁ; Luisa NOVÁKOVÁ; Iva MIKULOVÁ; Martin PILAŘ; Karel PIORECKÝ; Pavel ŠIDÁK; Martina ŠMEJKALOVÁ; Jitka ŠOTKOVSKÁ; Štefan ŠVEC; Milena ŠUBRTOVÁ; Václav VELČOVSKÝ; Petra JANÁK ZACHATÁ and Jiří ZIZLER. Dějiny české literatury v Protektorátu Čechy a Morava. Edited by Iva Málková - Kateřina Piorecká - Alena Šidáková Fialová - Bar. Vydání první. Praha: Academia, 2022, 735 stran. ISBN 9788076580534. info
  • SKÁCEL, Jan. Třináctý černý kůň. Vyd. 1. Brno: Blok, 1993, 259 s. ISBN 80-7029-085-4. info
  • !Křičte ústa! : předpoklady expresionismu. Edited by Marie Rakušanová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2007, 442 s. ISBN 9788020015019. info
  • MED, Jaroslav. Spisovatelé ve stínu. Vyd. 2., rozš., v Portále. Praha: Portál, 2004, 237 s. ISBN 8071789399. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
One and a half hours of seminar instruction per week, one and a half hours of lectures per week; reading of the works covered, presentation of a paper, individual and group analysis, and class discussions.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements

The final written exam is designed to assess students’ knowledge of literary history, the major theories and concepts of the discipline, and their ability to independently analyze a literary work.


Requirements for completing the seminar and lectures (prerequisite for admission to the exam): Seminar paper (oral and written sections), active participation in the seminar, successful completion of the reading discussion, and passing the required number of practice tests on the lecture material (4 practice tests in ELF with a passing score of 65%).


Exam Requirements: To be admitted to the exam, students must complete the reading discussion. 1. Explanation of the historical development of literature in the relevant period, covering the scope of the textbook by Lehár, Jan et al.: Czech Literature from Its Beginnings to the Present. 2. Knowledge of the recommended primary literature. 3. Analysis of the literary works read.





Language of instruction
Czech
Teacher's information
Information regarding the reading discussion: For the reading discussion, students must compile a list of their readings and submit it to the designated examiner at least 3 days prior to the discussion. From the list of recommended reading for the relevant period (from the 1990s to 1945), which is published on the department’s website, students must read most of the titles; a 10% margin of deviation is allowed. The reading lists are available here: https://ceska-literatura.phil.muni.cz/studium/informace-pro-studenty/seznamy-cetby-k-jednotlivym-kurzum/ceska-literatura-zakladni-cetba
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Spring 2022, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024, Autumn 2025.
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