A survey of Yiddish literature in English translation, including poetry,
prose, drama, and folksong, from the very
beginnings (c. 1382) to the present. Readings from Yiddish medieval
romance, through Middle Yiddish and the
"classical" period (Mendele, Sholem Aleikhem, Peretz), ending with
the moderns. The literature to be viewed
against its social and ideological background; e.g., early shtetl and
later, big city life; Khasidism; Haskalah;
Bundism; Zionism; etc. To include an analysis of the origin and development
of the Yiddish language and its
dialect structure.
This beginning course in the Yiddish language teaches basic reading
and writing; it also provides an introduction
to the history of Yiddish as a mirror of the last 1,000 years of Ashkenazic
Jewish life. Folklore, folksongs,
literature and conversational Yiddish supplement the basic course materials.
Attention to grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and conversational skills
is given in addition to attainment of greater
proficiency in reading and writing. Many opportunities are provided
for reading and studying Yiddish poetry and
prose in the original, e.g., Sholem Aleichem, Peretz, Asch, Leyvik,
Manger, and many others.