Which monumental 1936 poem by Yannis Ritsos was inspired by a photograph of a mother weeping over her slain tobacco-worker son?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Epitaphios
- Step 1: In May 1936, striking tobacco workers in Thessaloniki were fired upon by police, killing several laborers. Ritsos saw a newspaper photo of a grieving mother over her son's corpse, inspiring 'Epitaphios', which fuses the lament of Mary with worker struggle. Answer: Epitaphios. Why not the others: "Moonlight Sonata monologue" is Ritsos's haunting 1956 theatrical dramatic monologue from 'The Fourth Dimension'; "Romiosini epic struggle" is his heroic 1945–1947 cycle celebrating the Greek national resistance movement; "The Fourth Dimension cycle" is his overarching collection of dramatic monologues reimagining classical figures.
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