Literature of New Zealand
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The literature of New Zealand commenced with the oral literature (narratives, songs and chants) of the Māori and expanded into written literature with the arrival of the largely English-speaking colonists. Most New Zealand literary works appear in English, but Māori publications grow apace.
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[edit] Writers
The confluence of Māori and settler experiences led to the development of a rich literature. Writers from various cultural backgrounds, such as novelists Patricia Grace, Albert Wendt, Maurice Gee and children’s author Margaret Mahy, are prominent in New Zealand.[1]
Keri Hulme gained prominence when her novel, The Bone People, won the Booker Prize. Witi Ihimaera wrote the novel that became the critically acclaimed movie Whale Rider, directed by Nikki Caro. His works deal with Maori life in the modern world, often incorporating fantastic elements.
Writers claimed by New Zealand as its own include immigrants, such as South African-born Robin Hyde, and emigrants who went into exile but wrote about New Zealand, like Dan Davin and Katherine Mansfield. Erewhon, a novel set in New Zealand and written by Samuel Butler as a result of a stay in New Zealand, arguably belongs primarily to English literature. Likewise the New Zealand work of Karl Wolfskehl, resulting from his sojourn in Auckland, belongs rather to the story of German literature.
[edit] Poetry
New Zealand poetry began with Maori songs (waiata) and the shouted lyrics of haka. Ngā Mōteatea is an important body of traditional song lyrics compiled by Sir Apirana Ngata.[1]
With the arrival of printing presses and the evangelisation of existing inhabitants, Maori oral traditions gave way to English. New Zealand poetry after colonisation was modeled upon pre-existing English poetic forms and sentiments.
Today, most New Zealand poetry published by the major publishers subscribes to a comprehensibly prosaic approach.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Swarbrick, Nancy (updated 13 January 2009). "Creative life". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. http://www.teara.govt.nz/NewZealandInBrief/CreativeLife/6/en. Retrieved on 2009-04-26.
[edit] External links
- New Zealand Electronic Text Centre
- New Zealand Electronic Poetry Centre
- New Zealand Book Council
- LeafSalon
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