Svit se konča
S(ve)t se kon'ča
Page from the songbook of Code slave 11, 1380
Author(s)Anonymous
LanguageOld Croatian language, Chakavian-Ikavian dialect
Datec. 1320-1370
SeriesParis songbook poems
Manuscript(s)Code slave 11
GenreSatirical poem, dispute
Verse formDodecasyllable
Length13 stanzas, 49 lines
SubjectCorruption, clergy, apocalypse

"Svit se konča" (transl. 'The light is dying away' or 'The World Ends')[1] is a 14th-century poem written in old Chakavian Croatian language.[2] The poem is most commonly described as a satire on the life of clergy, criticizing the corruption within the Catholic Church.[3] Written in 13 stanzas of 3-4 predominantly dodecasyllabic verses, it is regarded as the oldest and most prominent example of early Croatian secular poetry during the Middle Ages. It is preserved in the 1380 Glagolithic codex Code slave 11 (also known as the 'Paris codex'), among the collection of other poems contained at the end, though the poem itself is dated earlier than the manuscript, either to 1320 or 1370. Its exact authorship is unknown, but some scholars associate it with the začinjavci literary tradition.[2]

Description

The poem's subject matter deals with the corruption of the world caused by a fear of the impending judgment day. Because of this, the author strongly condemns the hypocrisy and deviation of the religious classes, from the lowest, right up to the Inquisition. Some analysts interpret the poem as a clash between two conflicting principles, as its characters are symbolic, rather than allegorical. It belongs to a group of medieval poems not intended for the common people, but seems to have been written with specific literary intent by the unknown author.[2] Some authors describe it as anti-clerical.[4]

Folk elements are present in its diction and style such as parts of verses "Obuje mi srce tuga" or "skot bi pasli i orali" which are reminiscent of Octosyllabic verses from folk songs. Similarly, "krivo gleda drug na druga" is a folk syntagm.

Structurally, it is an attestation of twelve-syllable verses being in use in these areas since at least the 14th century and its mature versification techniques point to an already existing practice of writing this kind of poetry.[5]

Reception and influence

Literary historians state that the poem uses a demanding form and artistic skill to convey an "exceptional testimony of an intimate experience of a world sinking into darkness, suppressing known Christian ideals".

The poem is said to have influenced later authors, most notably the Rennaisance poet Marko Marulić, also known to have relied on dodecasyllabic verses in his Croatian works.[5][4] Radoslav Katičić notes that even more modern authors took influence from the poem, such as Miroslav Krleža in his Ballads of Petrica Kerempuh.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Journal of Croatian Studies Volumes 28-29. Croatian Academy of America, University of Wisconsin - Madison. 1988. p. 24. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Tot, Anita (2016). "S(ve)t se kon'ča". University of Zadar Institutional Repository. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  3. ↑ "satira". Croatian Encyclopedia. Miroslav Krleža Institute of Lexicography. 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  4. 1 2 Vučković, Josip. "Vučković, Josip Interpolacija stihova iz pjesme Svit se konča u izlaganju o Posljednjem sudu iz Berčićeva zbornika br. 5". brb.irb.hr. CROSBI. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  5. 1 2 Malić, Dragica (2011). "Odjeci najstarije hrvatske pjesmarice u Marulićevim stihovima". Colloquia Maruliana. 20. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  6. ↑ Garvanović-Porobija, Đurđica (2013). "Kriza i eshatološki motivi u starohrvatskoj pjesmi Svit se konča". Biblijski Pogledi. 21. Retrieved 29 April 2023.

Further reading

  • Ivan Grljušić, "Svit se konča : antologija hrvatskoga pjesništva od početaka do danas", ISBN 978-953-97481-9-5
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