Dictatorship and Literature Teaching in Secondary Education in Greece (1936-1940)

Developed by TEI of MESSOLONGI, Department of Applied Informatics in Management and Economy, eBusiness Lab (GR)

The Essay "Dictatorship and Literature Teaching in Secondary Education in Greece (1936-1940)" has been developed by the National Workgroup of the TEI of Messolongi, Department of Applied Informatics in Management and Economy, eBusiness Lab

The Essay researches the ideological tenets of the Metaxa’s dictatorship in Greece (1936-1940), as they emerge from the teaching of literature in secondary education. Aspects of teaching like the writing of schoolbooks and the choice of literary texts to be included (the books interestingly incorporate texts of the dictator himself), curricula, ministry regulations for the teaching of literature and laws reveal the aims and methods of the regime as well as the uses to which literature has been put in this period. The Essay also traces the kind of theoretical backing that this enterprise was given in journal and newspaper articles and letters. It also situate the instrumental view of literature propounded by the dictatorship within a larger historical context.

The Essay attempts to show how Metaxas’s dictatorship took advantage, among others, of textbooks on Modern Greek literature in secondary education, in order to reinforce its authority and impose its basic ideological and political directives on the students.

Please use the interactive Index of Contents at the bottom of the page to Browse the Essay, or click here to start from its first page, or click here to download the .pdf version

Transnational Discussion

Please join in the transnational discussion focused on the essay "Dictatorship and Literature Teaching in Secondary Education in Greece (1936-1940)" created by the TEI of MESSOLONGI, Department of Applied Informatics in Management and Economy, eBusiness Lab (GR).

Your comments are welcome.

To leave your comment about this Essay use the Blog here below, click on the Write a Comment button, fill in the form and click "Send message".

To access the Blog you must be registered to the Portal, click here to register.

Index of contents

• History of Modern Greek literature textbooks
• Modern Greek literature school textbooks and ideological guidance in the years of Metaxas
• Bibliographic References