Slovak literature

The following is a list of the most important poets of Slovak literature.

Slovak literature is the literature of Slovakia.

The first monuments of literature from territory now included in present-day Slovakia are from the time of Great Moravia (from 863 to the early 10th century). Authors from this period are Saint Cyril, Saint Methodius and Clement of Ohrid. Works from this period, mostly written on Christian topics include: the poem Proglas as a foreword to the four Gospels, partial translations of the Bible into Old Church Slavonic, Zakon sudnyj ljudem, etc.

The medieval period covers the span from the 11th to the 15th century. Literature in this period was written in Latin, Czech and slovakized Czech. Lyric poetry (prayers, songs and formulas) was still under the influence of the Church, while epic poetry concentrated on legends. Authors from this period include Johannes de Thurocz, author of the Chronica Hungarorum, and Maurus. Secular literature also emerged and chronicles were written in this period.

Literature of a national character first emerged in the 16th century, much later than for other national literatures. Latin dominates as the written language in the 16th century. Besides Church topics, there was a development of antique topics, related to ancient Greece and Rome.

The first Slovak printed book was The Book of Oaths (1561) by Vašek Zaleský. An early Slovak Renaissance love poem is the anonymous epic Siládi and Hadmázi (1560), set against a background of the Turkish incursions into Central Europe.

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