First Israeli Writers
This course focuses on the writers who shaped Israeli literature and, in some
ways, Israel itself. Dubbed "The Generation of the State," they were the
first to emerge after 1948, in the newly-established State of Israel and the
first to embrace English models like T.S. Eliot and W.H. Auden. The 1955
anti-war poem by Yehuda Amichai "I Want to Die in My Bed" led a generations
rebellion against glorifying nationalism and sacrifice. Other writers like
Amos Oz, A.B. Yehoshua and Natan Zach fought for individual expression over
the collective cause. Now considered the pillars of Hebrew literature, their
lives are the subject of numerous documentaries and their works have been
adapted into films.
There will be five film screenings; the films will also be placed on reserve
at the library for those students unable to attend. The content of this
course changes from year to year, and therefore, students may take it for
credit more than once.