Juhan Liivi luule suhted kirjandusliku traditsiooniga: Varane looming
Juhan Liiv’s poetry and its relationship with literary tradition: The early works

Summary/Abstract: This article explores the relationship between Juhan Liiv’s poetry and the literary traditions of both Estonian and world poetry in his time. It focuses on Liiv’s early work, during which his distinctive poetic style emerged. While previous research in Estonian literary studies has identified certain aesthetic influences on Liiv, the prevailing view has held that his writing style developed largely in isolation from literary tradition. I compiled all previous observations on Liiv’s influences, connected and expanded upon these findings, and concluded that: (1) Liiv’s development as a poet took place within the context of German literature, particularly under the influence of Friedrich Schiller; (2) he refined his poetic form in the manner of Heinrich Heine’s poetry; and (3) he sought his lyrical voice in the footsteps of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Thus, Juhan Liiv’s lyricism – and with it, the beginnings of the first renewal in Estonian poetry – developed in close contact with world poetry and literary thought.

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