Igno Šeiniaus literatūros kūrinys „Raudonasis tvanas“ istorijos pamokose
Application of the Literary Work Raudonasis tvanas by Ignas Šeinius in History Lessons

Summary/Abstract: Lithuanian secondary schools pay exceptional attention to Lithuania’s occupation and annexation by the USSR in 1940. However, the material provided in textbooks and personal experience prompt a conclusion that schools do not approach this topic as deeply and thoroughly as they should. The article proposes to analyze the work of memoir prose Raudonasis tvanas (The Red Flood) by the Lithuanian diplomat and writer Ignas Jurkūnas-Šeinius (1889-1959) during history lessons. Having himself experienced the Soviet occupation and fled to Sweden, the writer wrote his famous work in several weeks, making the Western world familiar with the tragedy faced by Lithuanian residents as early as 1940. The aim of the article is to provide practical guidelines on how to apply Raudonasis tvanas by Ignas Šeinius in history lessons effectively. To that end, the following objectives were set: to reveal the exceptionality and importance of Raudonasis tvanas by Ignas Šeinius; to specify the advantages of analysis of Raudonasis tvanas during history lessons. The study determined that the internationally recognized work of memoir prose, Raudonasis tvanas by Ignas Šeinius, which focuses on Lithuania’s occupation and annexation by the USSR in 1940, is a work of exceptional value by its relevance, range of topics and content and can reasonably be recommended for analysis in the secondary school, primarily history lessons. The analysis of Raudonasis tvanas performed in the course of history lessons in the form of a paper would enable pupils to sense, at least for a short time, the peculiarities of the historian’s work, develop the competences required in that field and nurture critical thinking. The analysis of the literary work would not only enable pupils to enhance their knowledge on Lithuania’s occupation and annexation executed in the summer of 1940 but also to learn from it by realizing that the country’s independence is very precious and we have to value it.

• Details
• Contents