Simboliek en mitologie as interpretasiehulpmiddels in die migranteliteratuurroman, Paravion, deur Hafid Bouazza

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Date
2008
Authors
Lambrechts, Margaretha Elizabeth
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University of the Free State
Abstract
English: The contribution of symbolic and mythological references towards the interpretation process and eventual evaluation of a novel is researched according to primarily semiotic premises. The retrieval, interpretation and evaluation of these references were central not only to the study, but also with regard to the way in which these integrate with other elements of a novel. Narrative categories, in particular narratology and space, were addressed. A Dutch novel, namely Paravion by Hafid Bouazza, was chosen as text because not only did it extensively make use of symbolism and mythology to create a social reality wherein two opposing frames of reference occur, but also because the text is regarded as one of the culminating points in the so-called migrant literature, which is currently experiencing a tremendous revival in the Netherlands. In the formulation of a new identity construct, both by migrants and natives of the host country, religious customs, traditions and myths of Islam, as well as aspects of the Western culture, value systems and way of life were investigated. The former is represented in the novel by the Qu’ran and One thousand and one nights and the latter by the idylls of Theocritus. By means of the study the conclusion was reached that the vision of the text cannot communicate in a satisfactory manner with the reader without additional information, which is provided by means of the symbolic and mythological references. The relevance of the study relates to the conclusion that the interpretation and evaluation of migrant literature, as a relatively new genre in the Dutch canon, should be approached in a different and more innovative way than the traditional. Social, realistic points of departure can play an important role to achieve this.
Afrikaans: Die bydrae wat simboliese en mitologiese verwysings in die interpretasieproses en uiteindelike evaluering van ’n roman lewer, word ondersoek aan die hand van hoofsaaklik semiotiese uitgangspunte. Ontsluiting, interpretasie en evaluering van hierdie verwysings het nie alleen sentraal in die studie gestaan nie, maar ook die wyse waarop dit ïntegreer met ander romanelemente. Narratiewe kategorieë, veral vertelwyse en ruimte is verreken. ’n Nederlandse romanteks, naamlik Paravion deur Hafid Bouazza, is as teks gekies omdat dit nie alleen op uitgebreide skaal van simboliek en mitologie gebruik maak om ’n sosiale werklikheid te skep waarin daar van twee opponerende verwysingsraamwerke sprake is nie, maar ook omdat die teks as ’n hoogtepunt van die sogenaamde migranteliteratuur, wat tans ’n geweldige opbloei in Nederland beleef, beskou word. In die formulering van ’n nuwe identiteitskonstruk deur beide migrante en inwoners van die gasheerland, is godsdienstige gebruike, tradisies en mites van Islam, sowel as die westerse kultuur, waardesisteem en lewenswyse verken. Eersgenoemde word in die roman verteenwoordig deur die Koran en ’n Duisend-en-een nagte en in laasgenoemde geval deur die idilles van Theokritos. Deur middel van die studie is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die teks se visie nie bevredigend met lesers kan kommunikeer sonder bykomende inligting wat deur middel van die simboliese en mitologiese verwysings verskaf is nie. Relevansie van die studie hou verband met die slotsom dat interpretasie en evaluering van migranteliteratuur, as relatief nuwe genre in die Nederlandse kanon, op ’n ander, nuwe manier as die tradisionele benader moet word. Hierin kan veral sosiale realistiese uitgangspunte ’n belangrike rol speel.
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Keywords
Paravion, Migrant problematic, Migrant literature, Identity, Islam, Greek and Arabic mythology, Semiotics, Idylls of Theocritus, One thousand-and-one nights, Mythodology in literature, Symbolism in literature -- Netherlands, Dutch fiction -- 21st centruy -- History and criticism, Dissertation (M.A. (Language Studies))--University of the Free State, 2008
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