Vladimir Nazor — A poet of Croatian Modernism

Abstract

Using literary-interpretative method in explaining Nazor’s art the author discovers and points out the complex, multi-layered and specific traits of Nazor’s poetic voice in the time of Croatian Modernism. From Slavenske legende and Hrvatski kraljevi ito Medvjed Brando, Istarske priče and Lirika to Nove pjesme and Intima Nazor the writer was constantly changing and transforming. Now he is a poet of the Slavic Olympus and Earth, myth and history, of all Slavic and national feeling, racial energy and weakness, intoxicating nature, and ethereal visions, a national bard and individualist, optimist and sceptic, pagan and mystic, classicist and romantic, erudite and symbolist, dreamer and thinker, lyric and epic poet of the eternal fight between Good and Evil in man, nature, society and cosmos. Therefore, in his works the voices of doubt and pain are accompained by dithyrambic raptures of joy and serenity of beautiful youth longing for the beauty of life and sublime sense of the Good, primeval forms of life and native shores, those inexaustible sources of Nazor's radiant, visions of the bright free thought and Mediterranean regions full of sunshine. All this can best be shown by the interpretation of his two poems, »Maslina« and »Konjik«.