“Nikola Vaptsarov” Foreign Language High School, Shumen, Bulgaria

 

Didactical path “How to defend freedom of conscience and beliefs and to respect other people’s choice.”

Literature Classes

 

Objectives:

            The interpretation of the poem "Izvorat na Belonogata" (The Spring of the White-legged Maiden) by Petko Slaveykov serves to give meaning to the rights and freedoms such as the right to choose their beliefs, to defend them without harming people’s interests.

 

Working methods: brainstorming, reading, interpreting, preparing to write a short text on the issue of "freedom of conscience and beliefs and the dictate of the consumer civilization".

 

Introducing the topic:

            Petko Slaveykov was a noted poet, publicist, public figure and folklorist during the period of the Bulgarian National Revival (the mid of 19^th century). The period is remarkable for the rich literary heritage of authors that inspired the Bulgarian struggle for independence and an autonomous church. “Izvorat na Belonogata” strongly defended the Bulgarian “self” and urged the preservation of traditional patriarchal values in a changing, threatening and obscure world by offering a set of archetypal, historical and folkloric images.

The students read the text. What types of freedom does the work discuss?

Various forms of freedoms are discussed – love as a matter of personal choice; the woman's right to defend their choice, the right to have their own concept of "happiness" and to stand up for it despite the "fashion" and the dictate of the consumer civilization; the right to express and defend their views before the powerful.

            Bulgarian Revival began in the middle of the 18th century. The Bulgarians continued their struggle for independent church and freedom of religious belonging. Bulgaria strengthened its contacts with Europe. Many of Bulgarian Renaissance figures - Paisii Hilendarski (Paisius of Hilendar), Todor Ikonomov, Dobri Voynikov and Petko Slaveykov expressed concern about the cultural penetration from Europe.

The period the poem was created.

Why the poet returned to an ancient legend?

In what way the poet depicted traditional Bulgarians’ way of life?

Each student chooses a passage which details the picture and analyses it.

What literary techniques the author used to present the charm of traditional Bulgarians’ way of life?

 

Summary: The poem "The Spring of Belonogata" directs our thoughts to the ability of man to defend their right to choose their beliefs and their place in the world. Freedom of conscience and mind is freedom associated with cultural patterns and circumstances. Only respect and tolerance in the dialogue between cultures may give scope for the protection of universal human rights.

 

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