CYRILO-METODSKÁ TRADÍCIA V LITERATÚRE PRE DETI A MLÁDEŽ V MATIČNOM OBDOBÍ (JARNIE KVETY, MALÝ REČNÍK)

In the paper we identify and focus on literary reflection of the Cyrillo-Methodian legacy in the literature for children and youth in the pre-artistic, or more narrowly, Matica period. We consider the works from the context of (non-intentional → intentional) literature for children and youth, which are/form part of literature of the Matica period connected with the foundation and activity of Matica slovenská. In terms of motifs and themes, the selected poetic texts from the investigated works are connected with the life and work of apostles Cyril and Methodius or emphasize the importance of their mission in the Great Moravian environment to the Slovak nation. We focus on Ján Levoslav Bella’s (Poludničan’s) poem Ku vzkrieseniu Cyrilla (On Cyril’s Resurrection), published in Cyril a Method – Katolícke Noviny pre Cirkev a Dom (Cyril and Methodius - Catholic News for Church and Home), a period newspaper, and on poems that can be classified as important poetic works from the context of literature for children and youth in the Matica years. These include the collection by Ján Levoslav Bella, Andrej Method Čerňanský and Janko Slávoľub Kršák Jarnie kvety (1863, Spring Flowers), which contain poems Lipa (Linden), Kde ja bývam? (Where do I reside?); and František Otto Matzenauer’s anthology Malý rečník (1873, Little Speaker), which contain poems by J. E. Dobrucký Vlasť (Homeland), J. Mičátek Oj Slovensko! (Oh Slovakia!), M. Pohronský Žiaľ nad Devínom (Sorrow above Devín) and the national song Nitra.