Foreign Literature (Ukraine, 11th Grade)

This course explores a wide range of literary works from various countries and periods, focusing on developing critical thinking, analytical, and communication skills through the study of literature. The curriculum emphasizes the importance of literature and culture for promoting peace and spirituality, especially in the face of modern-day challenges.

Introduction: Literature, Morality, Humanity

This introductory unit emphasizes the vital role of literature and culture in maintaining peace and spirituality in a complex world. It also highlights the importance of translated literature in shaping Ukrainian readers and promoting cross-cultural understanding. The contributions of world literature laureates and their efforts in advocating for peace and spirituality are also examined.

Golden Pages of Distant Ages

• German Literature: This section focuses on the German Enlightenment and its influence on European development. Students study Johann Wolfgang Goethe's "Faust" (Part I), including the final monologue from Part II, exploring themes of human purpose, the pursuit of knowledge, and the eternal struggle between good and evil.

Modernism

• Modernist Prose: This unit provides an overview of early 20th-century modernist prose, exploring its worldview, aesthetic principles, and artistic innovations. Key figures like Franz Kafka, James Joyce, and Marcel Proust are introduced as foundational figures of the movement.
• German-Language Prose: Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" is analyzed, focusing on themes of alienation, existentialism, and the absurd.
• Russian Literature: Mikhail Bulgakov's "The Master and Margarita" is studied, exploring its complex philosophical themes, cultural and literary sources, and the interplay between Soviet reality, biblical antiquity, and the fantastic.
• Masterpieces of European Lyrics (First Half of the 20th Century): This unit explores the diverse currents of modernism and avant-garde in European poetry. Authors studied may include:
• French Poetry: Guillaume Apollinaire's works, such as "The Slaughtered Dove and the Fountain" and "The Mirabeau Bridge," are examined through the lens of avant-garde aesthetics and Cubism.
• Austrian Poetry: Rainer Maria Rilke's poems, including "Put out my sight..." and "Orpheus, Eurydice, Hermes," are studied, focusing on his unique poetics and philosophical depth.
• Spanish Poetry: Federico García Lorca's works, such as "Romance Sonámbulo" and "Guitar," are analyzed, emphasizing his vivid imagery and symbolism.
• Russian Poetry: The Silver Age of Russian poetry is explored through the works of Alexander Blok (e.g., "The Stranger"), Anna Akhmatova (selected poems and "Requiem"), Vladimir Mayakovsky (e.g., "Could you?..." and "Listen!"), and Boris Pasternak (e.g., "Hamlet," "In everything I want to reach…," and "Winter Night").

Anti-utopia in World Literature

• British Literature: George Orwell's "Animal Farm" or "1984" is studied as a prime example of the anti-utopian genre, exploring themes of totalitarianism, social control, and individual resistance.

The Problem of War and Peace in 20th-Century Literature

• German Literature: Bertolt Brecht's "Mother Courage and Her Children" is analyzed as a representation of war's impact and a demonstration of epic theater techniques. Heinrich Böll's "Traveler, When You Come to Spa..." is also studied, focusing on its condemnation of war and its psychological impact.
• German-Language Poetry: Paul Celan's "Death Fugue" is examined as a powerful response to the Holocaust, exploring its artistic innovations and harrowing imagery.

Man and the Search for the Meaning of Existence in Prose of the Second Half of the 20th Century

This unit explores existential themes through works such as:

• American Literature: Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea."
• Colombian Literature: Gabriel García Márquez's "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings."
• Japanese Literature: Yasunari Kawabata's "Thousand Cranes."

Literature of the Second Half of the 20th - Beginning of the 21st Century

• Theatre of the Absurd: This section provides an overview of the Theatre of the Absurd movement, including works by playwrights like Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Max Frisch, Eugène Ionesco, and Samuel Beckett.
• Postmodern Literature: Postmodernism is introduced as a literary phenomenon, exploring its characteristics and relationship with elite and mass culture. Authors studied may include:
• Serbian Literature: Milorad Pavić's "Glass Snail."
• Argentinian Literature: Julio Cortázar's "The Pursuer."

Contemporary Literature in Youth Reading

This section includes works chosen by the teacher and students, potentially including:

• Ukrainian Literature: Tair Khalilov's "Until the Last Breath."
• American Literature: John Green's "The Fault in Our Stars."
• Australian Literature: Markus Zusak's "The Book Thief."