TARAS SHEVCHENKO AND GERMAN CULTURE

Abstract

Taras Shevchenko is a writer who is known throughout the world. His works have been translated into many languages. However, the article focuses on the spread of Taras Hryhorovych’s work in Germany, translations of his works into German.

The article is devoted to the study of influence of Taras Hryhorovych on German culture, mainly literature. 

The main ways of spreading Kobzar's work were highlighted in the article. 

The first way was the spread through the work of German figures who lived in the territory of modern Ukraine. Interest in Taras Shevchenko also grew because of the Germans’ love for the beauty of folk songs.

Ukrainian figures also contributed to the spread of the artist’s works. They made linear prose translations, provided materials, and helped in every way. 

The first mention of Shevchenko in Germany dates back to 1843. The magazine included a brief bibliographic information about Shevchenko’s poem “Haidamaky”. This first mention can be considered the beginning of German Shevchenko studies.

Georg Obrist was the first translator of Taras Shevchenko’s works. His goal was not to provide the best possible translation, but above all to interest professional translators and literary critics.

Victor Umlauf von Frankvel, K.-E. Franzos and Yulia Virginia continued to work on translations and were significantly ahead of their predecessor. 

The article examines the achievements and shortcomings of Shevchenko’s German translations. The general interest in the work of the Ukrainian writer was studied. 

The ways of spreading his creativity were not easy. Both German and Austrian writers and translators, as well as Ukrainian and Western European writers, joined the work. And thanks to their joint efforts and hard work, Ukrainian literature became known to the world.

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REFERENCES

1. Pohrebennyk Ya. Shevchenko nimetskoiu movoiu. Kyiv: Naukova dumka, 1973. 300 s. (in Ukrainian).
2. Taras Shevchenko. Kobzar. Kyiv: Dnipro, 1974. 623 s. (in Ukrainian).
3. Tomas Mann. Pysma. M.: Nauka, 1975. 463 s. (in Russian).
4. Taras Shevchenko. Tvory v piaty tomakh. Tom 4 Kyiv: Dnipro, 1978. 411 s. (in Ukrainian).
5. Shevchenko i svit. Zbirnyk. – K.: Dnipro, 1989. 316 s. (in Ukrainian).
6. Julia Virginia. Taras Schewtschenko. Ausgewählte Gedichte. 1911. 112 s. (in German).