Dane Zajc facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dane Zajc
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 26 October 1929 Zgornja Javoršica, Kingdom of Yugoslavia (now in Slovenia) |
| Died | 20 October 2005 (aged 75) Ljubljana, Slovenia |
| Occupation | Poet, Playwright |
| Literary movement | Existentialism, Surrealism |
Dane Zajc (born October 26, 1929 – died October 20, 2005) was a famous Slovenian poet and playwright. He led the Slovene Writers' Association from 1991 to 1995. He also won the important Prešeren Award in 1981 for his amazing work throughout his life. Many people see him, along with Edvard Kocbek and Gregor Strniša, as one of the most important Slovenian poets of the second half of the 20th century.
Contents
His Life Story
Early Life and Challenges
Dane Zajc was born as Danijel Zajc in a village called Zgornja Javoršica in Upper Carniola, near Moravče. His family was a farming family.
He went through a very difficult time during World War II. When he was just 13, his family's home was burned down. His father was also harmed during this event. Two of his brothers joined the resistance fighters and sadly passed away during the war. Because of the war, he had to stop going to school.
After the war ended in 1945, he went back to school. He studied in different places like Domžale, Kamnik, and Gornja Radgona.
School and Early Writing
In 1947, Dane started attending the Poljane Grammar School in Ljubljana. Here, he met many other young writers and poets.
He teamed up with friends like Lojze Kovačič and Janez Menart to start a youth magazine called Mi, mladi (which means We, the Young). This is where he first shared his poems with the world.
Difficult Times and Work
In 1951, Dane was arrested by the government at the time and spent three months in prison. After this, he was not allowed to finish school at Poljane. When he was released, he had to join the Yugoslav People's Army. These experiences made him question the government's ideas.
From 1953 to 1955, he worked as a clerk at a post office. Then, in 1955, he got a job at the City Library of Ljubljana. He worked there until he retired in 1989. He finished high school by taking special exams in 1958, but he wasn't allowed to go to university.
A Voice for New Ideas
In the mid-1950s, Dane Zajc became part of a group of smart Slovenian thinkers. They were called the Critical generation. This group included poets, writers, and thinkers who wanted to bring new ideas to Slovenia. They talked about important topics in philosophy, culture, and politics.
Dane was part of the team that created two important independent journals, Revija 57 and Perspektive. These were some of the first independent magazines in Slovenia after 1945.
When these journals were stopped by the government, Dane stepped back from public life for a while. But he kept writing and publishing his poems and plays. He returned to public life in the late 1980s, during a time of big changes in Slovenia. He strongly supported the movement for a more democratic Slovenia. In the 1990s, he became the president of the Slovenian Writers' Association.
Dane Zajc passed away in Ljubljana.
His Legacy
His work continues to inspire others. In 2008, an American singer and songwriter named Chris Eckman released a music album called "The Last Side of the Mountain." This album features more than 10 songs based on Dane Zajc's poems, translated into English by Chris's Slovenian wife, Anda Eckman.
His Creative Work
Dane Zajc wrote poems that explored feelings of doubt and fear that people might have in modern times. Some of his famous poetry collections include Požgana trava (Burned Grass) and Ubijavci kač (Snake Killers).
He also wrote plays that were often based on old Slovenian stories and folklore. Some of these plays are Mlada Breda, Voranc, and Jaga baba. He also wrote plays inspired by ancient stories and other themes, like Otroka reke (Children of the River).
Images for kids
-
Dane Zajc
