FRANCOPHONE LITERATURE: BOND BETWEEN THE PERIPHERY AND THE CENTER

Abstract

the Balkans. We are trying to examine how this literary production, which basically coincides with the rise of a national literature of the Balkan countries, i.e. in the 19th century, is developed. At that time, all literatures, in particular those of the countries which had just acquired their independence, imitated and were directed towards French literature. This is why the principles of imitation, adaptation, and creation, played a very significant role and thus developed and created a kind of cultural bond between the Center (Paris), which was admired, respected, and imitated, and the periphery (the Balkans), where all effort was put forth to translate, then to adopt and adapt before creating, the "requirements" of the Center. Consequently, the Francophone literature of the Balkan countries played a double role. Firstly, it encouraged the “new-born” literatures, which were then, "in the process of development", to be modernized and developed and in addition, it made it possible for French literature to be acquainted with other horizons and new parameters. Not only the case of J.Moreas and G.Seferis, but also that of Ionesco as well as those of other authors, are sufficient to illustrate the bonds existing between the Center and the periphery, to the benefit of both parties concerned