Kerényi Ferenc - Kováts Imre (szerk.): „Tanuljátok meg, mi a költő…” (Gyula, 2001)
„You should learn what the Poet is..."
,,^/oa r/ásM/ÁI/ea^n wÁa/t tAe &oet iá... Memorial Exhibition of Sándok Petőfi in the Museum of Literature Petőfi The Museum of Literature Petőfi was established in the city center in Károlyi Palace built in baroque style in the middle of the 18lh century and rebuilt in classicist style at the end of the 18th century. It was named Sándor Petőfi (1823—1849) after the poet, who is considered to be the synonym of „poet” and is the number one delegate of Hungarian literature in the classic world of literature highlighted by the name of Goethe. Sándor Petőfi was a son - as he himself described in his autobiography intended as introduction of the German language publication of his works - of „poor parents”, his father was a butcher. He was born at Kiskőrös, a small town in the middle of the Hungarian plain. For him it was that landscape, the Hungarian steppe, „the plain” that represented an impressive experience in his childhood: that inspired him to feel freedom, independence and life without boundaries. In the first showroom the white walls reflect the atmosphere of village houses and mansions. We can learn about the self-realization attempts of the romantic personality, his failing military carrier and objects of his life as an actor. In the meantime he was writing his poems and caused a real revolution in lyric. His poems echoed the rhythm of Hungarian folk songs and they began to become part of folklore immediately, broke the Feudal monopoly of culture and forecasted the same for politics. Since every rank and file of conservative minded man of literature plotted against him, Petőfi also went through the period of Byronic hatred of man and world of the Romantics in 1845-1846. In the second showroom of the exhibition the social and topographical media in which Petőfi became an undisputedly leading personality after 1846 are shown. On his 24,h birthday he closed the manuscript of all his poems he had written until then. The volume was an unprecedented success. In the second quarter of the 19lh century, the Reform Age, the cultural institution of civic Hungary, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the National Theatre were established and the literature of periodicals requiring a lot of works, both of poetry and prose flourished. All of those were connected to Budapest - three autonomous cities of that time - situated on the hanks of the river Danube. The three cities were united in 1848 for the first time. Budapest became the fastest developing city of the 19th century. To meet the new needs of rea- ders, authors and publicist who made a living by the pen replaced the man of literature living in the countryside in his mansion, for whom writing was a leisure time activity. Among them the young ones formed a group around Petőfi, who was the first Hungarian poet, who earned his living (and could support himself) by his poems exclusively. Following the example of Giovine Italia and Junges Deutschland they organized the interest protection of writers. After studying the French Revolution the organization set the goal of a deep transformation of Hungary, even by means of a revolution. We can see their features and become acquainted with their works and enter their favorite meeting place, the Pilvax coffee house. The marriage of Petőfi also reflected a 36
