hulit1-3, Exercise 3: Petofi, fact and legend

Model answer (one possible paragraph; check every detail):

Documented: Petofi (1823 to 1849) was a poet who wrote in plain, direct language and published widely while very young. He wrote "Nemzeti dal" in March 1848, took part in the revolution, joined the army in the war of independence against Habsburg rule, and was last seen in the fighting at Segesvar in July 1849. His long poem Janos vitez and his love poems are central to the literature.

Legend and dispute: stories of how and where he died, including later claims that he survived and was held in Siberia, are not supported by firm evidence. His body was never found, which feeds the legends. His image as a perfect national hero has been used by different regimes: nationalists, communists and democrats each stressed the parts of his work that suited them.

A balanced account gives the documented record, labels the legends as legends and notes that the symbol has been shaped by later use.