MACEDONIAN CHILDREN′S LITERATURE IN THE XIX CENTURY

Abstract

The text will follow the appearance of the first children's works in the Macedonian literary XIX century. Their significance, despite the fact that they do not have high aesthetic values, is neverthelessgreat, because they respondedto theneeds of the time. Furthermore,they give us the opportunity to determine the continuity ofdevelopment of Macedonian children's literature, which has primary importance for the mental, emotional and educational developmentof children. We note,especially inthe last few years,thatthe interest forchildren's literatureis great, both by authors and bypublishers, who have started republishing works. Thisconfirms the universality of children's literature, with its timeless themes and motives which are interesting, intriguing, attractive, fun, fulfilling their ultimatepedagogicalfunction, directing the child towardsbetter life principles.Up until the Enlightenment, there was no interest in the child, except for thesolitary manifestations by John Locke, Jan Amas Komensky and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. A real interest in the child was shown in the time of Romanticism. Withinthe Macedonian cultural development there is an interest shown in children during the Enlightenment, at the beginning of the XIX century.Thefirst books published in the vernacular were intended for adults, but at the same time provided directionsfor better upbringing of children. The first authors of children's works,among the series of their activities, were collectors of folk art whowerealso engaged in education. Authors of the so far discovered works for children are Partenija Zografski, Jordan Hadzi Konstantinov Dzinot, Grigor Prlichev, Evtim Sprostranov, Tomo Sminjanic Bradina, and we will also acknowledgeMarko Cepenkov