Literary Eras and Movements

Vocabulary flashcards detailing the chronological literary eras, sub-movements, and distinct stylistic currents from Antiquity to Postmodernism.

Ókor (Antiquity)

The literary period lasting from the 12th century BC to the 5th century AD, characterized by the emergence of fundamental literary genres and forms, the birth of literary archetypes and topoi, and quantitative versification (időmértékes verselés).

Középkor (Middle Ages)

The literary era spanning from 476 to approximately 1500 (up to the age of great geographical discoveries), characterized by a dual worldview and conception of humanity (earthly life ↔ afterlife, possibility of salvation), and comprising ecclesiastical, chivalric, courtly, and secular literature.

Reneszánsz (Renaissance)

The cultural and literary era lasting from 1300 to 1600, defined by the rebirth of antiquity, an anthropocentric perspective (emberközpontúság), and a profound love of nature.

Humanizmus (Humanism)

A key current of the Reneszánsz period that turned toward humanity as an essential, primary value.

Reformáció (Reformation)

A major movement within the Reneszánsz period focused on the renewal and reform of religious and church life.

Barokk (Baroque)

The literary period from approximately 1575 to approximately 1770, associated with the Counter-Reformation (ellenreformáció) and characterized by monumentality, decorativeness, dynamic energy, the intent to overwhelm/impress, and polemical religious debate literature (hitvitázó irodalom).

Felvilágosodás (Enlightenment)

The literary and intellectual era spanning from the end of the 17th century to the beginning of the 19th century (1772–1825 in Hungary), marked by the development of science and technology, rationalism, anti-clericalism, deism, pantheism, and cosmopolitanism (világpolgárság).

Rokokó (Rococo)

A stylistic trend of the Felvilágosodás characterized as light, playful, and delicate, with the enjoyment of life as its central theme; often approaching kitsch, with the song (dal) as its representative genre.

Klasszicizmus (Classicism)

A period style during the Felvilágosodás following antique traditions and philosophical thought; it appeals to reason/intellect, observes strict genre rules and formal constraints, possesses a rhetorical nature, and features the ode (óda) as its characteristic genre.

Szentimentalizmus (Sentimentalism)

A stylistic trend of the Felvilágosodás that appeals to emotions and sensory organs, frequently employs contrasts of time and value, portrays value-depleted nature alongside feelings of death and solitude, and features the elegy (elégia) as its typical genre.

Népiesség (Populism / Folk style)

A stylistic tendency during the Felvilágosodás that manifested among many writers as a fashionable trend and a learned, cultivated manner.

Romantika (Romanticism)

The last comprehensive period style, active from the end of the 18th century through the first half of the 19th century (1825–1900… in Hungary), featuring enthusiastic and disillusioned variants; characterized by national consciousness, looking back to the past, escapism (dreams, exoticism), folklore, poetic self-awareness, cult of genius, intense emotionality, conflict between ideal and reality, genre mixing, imagery, visionary nature, and fragmentation.

Klasszikus modernség (Classical Modernism)

The literary era from approximately 1850 to approximately 1910…, characterized by the pursuit of classical ideals alongside a revolt against traditional forms (such as Romanticism and Realism), a cult of form, and a rebellious tone.

Realizmus (Realism)

A stylistic approach within Klasszikus modernség primarily characteristic of epic literature, emphasizing the authentic depiction of reality, reflection of social issues, and portrayal of typical social types and lower social classes (kisemberek).

Naturalizmus (Naturalism)

A stylistic current within Klasszikus modernség mainly prominent in epics, focused on portraying socially vulnerable classes, the world of instincts, and the unpleasant or ugly side of life.

Parnasszizmus (Parnassianism)

A stylistic trend of Klasszikus modernség adhering to the principle of l'art pour l'art, where beauty, form, acoustics, and musicality are paramount rather than the content.

Impresszionizmus (Impressionism)

A stylistic trend of Klasszikus modernség focused on capturing fleeting, momentary impressions and static images (állóképek) while appealing directly to the senses.

Szecesszió (Secession / Art Nouveau)

A stylistic movement of Klasszikus modernség characterized by nostalgic, over-ornamented artistry, a decorative color palette, motifs of death, exoticism, tendrils, and floral decorative elements.

Szimbolizmus (Symbolism)

A stylistic movement of Klasszikus modernség marked by the recurrent employment of symbols, subtle suggestion, and associative connections.

Avantgárd (Avant-garde)

A collective designation for form-breaking artistic movements (1905 – c. 1960…) standing in opposition to both tradition and modernism, often displaying a political or movement-like character; includes expresszionizmus, szürrealizmus, futurizmus, dadaizmus, konstruktivizmus, and kubizmus.

Későmodernség (Late Modernism)

A literary era (1921–1990) that distanced itself from classical modernism and the avant-garde; characterized by objectivity (suppression of the lyrical ego), visionary-symbolic poetry, confessional public speech (the prophetic vates role), aestheticism, shape-shifting poetry with multiple perspectives, the absurd and grotesque in prose, and the continuation of realist traditions such as sociography.

Posztmodern (Postmodernism)

An artistic and philosophical era-consciousness (1970 – present) encapsulating diverse contemporary worldviews; marked by the dissolution of plot-driven storytelling, foregrounding of intertextual connections, playfulness, self-reflexivity, dissolution of work boundaries, elevation of the recipient's role, and the blending of modernism's innovative techniques with classical realist heritage.