Matija Beckovic
Encyclopedia
Matija Bećković OSS
is a Serbia
n writer and poet. He is one of the most prominent Serbian poets of the 20th century and a full member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
.
, in the Serbian province of Vojvodina
(then Danube Banate
, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
), to a family of Montenegrin Serbs
. He graduated from the Valjevo Gymnasium
in Valjevo
in 1958. It was during his gymnasium years in Valjevo that he published his first poem, in the journal 'Mlada Kultura'. Furthermore, it was also in Valjevo that Bećković met Vera Pavladoljska, to whom the poem of the same name, published in 1960, was dedicated. This poem remains one of his most widely known and read poems. Beckovic went on to marry Pavladoljska, and he remained married to her until her death.
Upon graduating from the Valjevo gymnasium, he entered the University of Belgrade
, graduating with a degree in Yugoslav and world literature. He became a corresponding member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
in 1983, becoming a full member in 1991.
Bećković is a close friend of Serbian former Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica
, and an active supporter of his Democratic Party of Serbia
.
He lives in Belgrade
since 1960.
On the Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006
, Bećković did not vote since he lives in Serbia. However, he, as the most prominent figure in the block against Montenegrin independence, gave passionate speeches against separation.
Even so, other features that distinguish Bećković's poetry in the cannon of South Slavic literature will not be lost on the foreign reader. Bećković's poetry often strikes the reader as profoundly rhetorical.
By the same stroke, he avoids the danger of didacticism that often comes hand in hand with the resort to rhetoric. He does so by insisting on the entertaing aspect of his poetry, regardlessly of the subject matter, ranging from love, over politics, to theology.
Order of St. Sava
The Order of St. Sava was a decoration instituted by the order King Milan I of Serbia in 1883. The Order of Saint Sava originally was established to recognize civilians for meritorious achievements in the arts and sciences. In 1914 a change was made permitting military personnel to receive the...
is a Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n writer and poet. He is one of the most prominent Serbian poets of the 20th century and a full member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the most prominent academic institution in Serbia today...
.
Life
Bećković was born on November 29, 1939, in SentaSenta
Senta is a town and municipality on the bank of the Tisa river in the Vojvodina province, Serbia. Although geographically located in Bačka, it is part of the North Banat District...
, in the Serbian province of Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
(then Danube Banate
Danube Banovina
The Danube Banovina or Danube Banate was a province of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia between 1929 and 1941. This province consisted of the geographical regions of Syrmia, Bačka, Banat, Baranja, Šumadija, and Braničevo. The capital city of the Danube Banovina was Novi Sad...
, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
), to a family of Montenegrin Serbs
Serbs of Montenegro
Montenegrin Serbs is a regional, ethnographic group of ethnic Serbs. They compose the second largest ethnic group in Montenegro after the Montenegrins....
. He graduated from the Valjevo Gymnasium
Valjevo Gymnasium
Valjevo Gymnasium is a public secondary education school located in Valjevo . It was first founded in 1870...
in Valjevo
Valjevo
Valjevo is a city and municipality located in western Serbia. It is the center of the Kolubara District, which includes five other smaller municipalities with a total population of almost 180,000 people...
in 1958. It was during his gymnasium years in Valjevo that he published his first poem, in the journal 'Mlada Kultura'. Furthermore, it was also in Valjevo that Bećković met Vera Pavladoljska, to whom the poem of the same name, published in 1960, was dedicated. This poem remains one of his most widely known and read poems. Beckovic went on to marry Pavladoljska, and he remained married to her until her death.
Upon graduating from the Valjevo gymnasium, he entered the University of Belgrade
University of Belgrade
The University of Belgrade is the oldest and largest university of Serbia.Founded in 1808 as the Belgrade Higher School in revolutionary Serbia, by 1838 it merged with the Kragujevac-based departments into a single university...
, graduating with a degree in Yugoslav and world literature. He became a corresponding member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the most prominent academic institution in Serbia today...
in 1983, becoming a full member in 1991.
Bećković is a close friend of Serbian former Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica
Vojislav Koštunica
Vojislav Koštunica is a Serbian politician, statesman and the president of the Democratic Party of Serbia. He was the last President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, succeeding Slobodan Milošević and serving from 2000 to 2003...
, and an active supporter of his Democratic Party of Serbia
Democratic Party of Serbia
The Democratic Party of Serbia is a political party in Serbia.-Foundation:The Democratic Party of Serbia was founded when a faction of the Democratic Party that supported its involvement in the Democratic Movement of Serbia split from the party and formed their own in 1992.Soon after the March...
.
He lives in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
since 1960.
On the Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006
Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006
The Montenegrin independence referendum was a referendum on the independence of the Republic of Montenegro from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro that was held on 21 May 2006.The total turnout of the referendum was 86.5%...
, Bećković did not vote since he lives in Serbia. However, he, as the most prominent figure in the block against Montenegrin independence, gave passionate speeches against separation.
Poetic Style
A distinguishing feature of Bećković's poetry is its regionalism. Distinctly Serbian archaic dialect and phraseology permeate his work. This aspect of his work is most often lost when one reads it in translation.Even so, other features that distinguish Bećković's poetry in the cannon of South Slavic literature will not be lost on the foreign reader. Bećković's poetry often strikes the reader as profoundly rhetorical.
By the same stroke, he avoids the danger of didacticism that often comes hand in hand with the resort to rhetoric. He does so by insisting on the entertaing aspect of his poetry, regardlessly of the subject matter, ranging from love, over politics, to theology.
Major works
- Vera Pavladoljska
- Metak Lutalica
- Tako je govorio Matija
- Dr. Janez Paćuka o međuvremenu
- O međuvremenu
- ČE: Tragedija koja traje (Published in English as CHE: Permanent Tragedy)
- Reče mi jedan čoek
- Međa Vuka Manitoga
- Lele i kuku
- Dva sveta
- Poeme
- Služba Svetom Savi
- O Njegošu
- Kaža
- Čiji si ti Mali?
- Nadkokot
- Služba
- Sabrane pesme
- Kosovo najskuplja srpska reč
- Ćeraćemo se još
- Kad budem mlađi (Published in English as: When I'm Younger)
External links
- Bećković's poems at the South Slavic Library - Mostly in Serbo-Croat, one English translation.