ASPECTE ALE ÎNCEPUTULUI LITERATURII FINLANDEZE
Upon the Beginnings of the Finnish Literature

Summary/Abstract: Finnish literature might not have, according to commun belief, the same extent as other great literatures of Europe. Several considerations, historical and social, have determined this fact. Starting with the geographically unapropriate conditions in which Finnish people emerged as nation, continuing with the historical context and concluding with a trend towards isolation and self centered living, but not going as far as meditation or introspection is involved, Finnish literature became popular mainly during the 20th century. Overall it is caracterised by an inconsistent evolution rate, growing into the unknown, bearing the stigma of being written in an unpopular, unspoken and not indo-european language. In addition to that, Finnish literature as it is conceived today, was actually written in three languages, Swedish and Latin joining the team. Finnish literature was entirely written in Finland. Rigid and spoken only by a reduced amount of people, it never crossed the borders. Due to milder living conditions, the majority of the population lives in Southern Finland, which determines an even greater isolation for the Northern inhabitants and leads to the formation of several dialects. The origines of Finnish literature strech way back to the Iron age and Kalevala is the national epos. Matti Kuusi had the most important contribution when it came to developing the modern Finnish critique. Major influences came from the eastern Baltic and Slavic area, Scandinavian languages from west and Germanic from south-west.

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