The reading of selected literary texts in this thesis traces the changes from a divinely ordered world of stability (Thomas Mann's Bud<lenbrooks) to surroundings characterized by insecurity (William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury) to an unstable environment giving rise to largely futile attempts at finding answers to seemingly illogical questions (Thomas Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49). As a product of the accelerated speed of technological progression and the information revolution in the twentieth century, man is more often than not incapable of adjusting to changed circumstances in a seemingly hostile environment. Indeed, instability and unpredictability are external factors determining the sense of insecurity and uncertainty characterising the 'world' depicted in the literary texts under consideration. For this reason judicious use will be made of philosophical and psychoanalytical concepts, based, amongst others, on Nietzschean and Freudian theories, to explain the disintegration of families, the anguish experienced by individuals or, indeed, the shifting identities informing the portrayal of character in selected literary texts. / Afrikaans and Theory of Literature / D.Litt. et Phil. (Theory of Literature)

This paper is devoted to a critical analysis of the book I and Thou in the attempt to identify the main points of the dialogical philosophy as presented by Martin Buber. The introductory passages present the background of the book in terms of time (the era after WWI), cultural background (the influence of Hasidism), or the history of philosophy (an opposition to immanentism, monism, idealism, transcendental philosophy etc.). The main goal of the following interpretation is to try to understand man as a person in his complex existential situation, i.e. through his potential relationships or objectifying attitudes to the world. Being is described as a dual structure either of the basic pair of words I-Thou or of the basic pair of words I-It. As opposed to the usual use of the term, dialogue is defined as a specific interaction of man and the remaining world metaphorically expressible by the structure of addressing-responding. By this scheme, the characteristic reciprocity and direct continuity is expressed. The dialogue is also placed in the area "between" I and Thou, which mediates the genuine, immediate and transcendental knowledge constituting the reality. Finally, the dialogical attitude is compared and contrasted to the monological comprehension of the world. Key words: personalism, dialogical...

Work "Short exotic stories in work of Julius Zeyer" deals with five selected Zeyer's works that are set in the exotic land of India and Far East. One prose is associated with India, the other four with China and Japan. The works are a result of careful collecting, translating and creative work of Julius Zeyer. The present diploma thesis outlined in brief the life of Julius Zeyer and its role in the contemporary literature. It characterized Zeyer's interest in the exotic motives and way he followed them. The diploma thesis also considered form of the Zeyer's prose. The present work examined characteristics of plot and main characters and as well as the representation of the exotic places. It showed that the narrative places take part in creating the atmosphere that corresponds to the current experience of the characters. The nature of the characters is revealed against the background of the plot. Zeyer elaborated mutual connection between the characters and areas. Part of the interpretation was in each case devoted to the overall Zeyer's evocation of India, China and Japan and its artistic depth.

In the Apartheid South Africa, repression and the heightening of the Blacks' struggle for political emancipation, prompted artists to challenge the system through their music, oral poetry and writing. Most produced works of protest in English to reach a wider audience. This led to the general misconception that literatures in the indigenous languages of South Africa were insensitive to the issues of those times. This study seeks firstly to put to rest such misconception by proving that there is Commitment in these literatures as exemplified in the poetry of S.F. Motlhake. Motlhake not only expresses protest against the political system of the time, but also questions some religious and socio-cultural practices and institutions among his people. The study also examines his selected works as genuine poetry, which does not sacrifice art on the altar of propaganda. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)

The reading of selected literary texts in this thesis traces the changes from a divinely ordered world of stability (Thomas Mann's Bud<lenbrooks) to surroundings characterized by insecurity (William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury) to an unstable environment giving rise to largely futile attempts at finding answers to seemingly illogical questions (Thomas Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49). As a product of the accelerated speed of technological progression and the information revolution in the twentieth century, man is more often than not incapable of adjusting to changed circumstances in a seemingly hostile environment. Indeed, instability and unpredictability are external factors determining the sense of insecurity and uncertainty characterising the 'world' depicted in the literary texts under consideration. For this reason judicious use will be made of philosophical and psychoanalytical concepts, based, amongst others, on Nietzschean and Freudian theories, to explain the disintegration of families, the anguish experienced by individuals or, indeed, the shifting identities informing the portrayal of character in selected literary texts. / Afrikaans and Theory of Literature / D.Litt. et Phil. (Theory of Literature)

This doctoral thesis involves two components, a book length collection of poems and a critical study of ‘Herbert White’ and ‘Ellen West’ by Frank Bidart. The collection of poems, The Coagulate, consists of four parts: 1) Semi-personal poems focusing on nature both in a general sense and in specific reference to the natural British landscape. 2) Poems that explore the nature-based myths and contemporary social idiosyncrasies of Japan.3) Poems that explore the social perception of mental illness and the individual voices that exist in spite psychological classification.4) Poems by an alter-ego and pseudonym named Lee Cole, a completely foreign perspective to my own. These poems were written with the intent to adhere to Frank Bidart’s concept of Herbert White as ‘all that I was not.’ However, unlike Bidart, these poems attempt to remove the presence of the poet and forgo the use of a feint. The collection is organised with contexture in mind rather than chronology. Poems build upon one another and one section flows into the next causing the book to have a fluid quality. The critical component examines Bidart’s treatment of two mentally ill characters in respect to the establishment of the form, style, and voice that would become a hallmark of his poetry. Chapter 1 looks at the first poem of Bidart’s first book, ‘Herbert White.’ This chapter examines how Bidart’s unique use of typography, voice, Freudian theory, and the sharing of the poet’s history contributed to the crafting of a mentally ill character and the contexture of Golden State. It suggests that the inclusion of the poet, a stable presence in comparison to White, allows the reader to recognise certain universal human personality traits in a character that seems inhuman. Chapter 2 examines how Bidart crafted ‘Ellen West,’ a character just as unlike Bidart as ‘Herbert White.’ Central to this analysis is the examination of how to construct a character struggling with identity. It also examines the use of dramatic monologues and how ‘Ellen West’ fits into a form with a flexible definition. As with Chapter 1, Chapter 2 examines how Bidart uses the poet’s self to add to a fictional narrative and how that reflects upon his personal poetry, indicating that Bidart’s use of the self is a redirection from how the Confessional poets used first-person.

Dans « La littérature franco-ontarienne à la recherche d’une nouvelle voie : enjeux du particularisme et de l’universalisme » (2002), Lucie Hotte signale que les artistes francophones minoritaires, ayant longtemps puisé dans l’esthétique particulariste, optent maintenant pour une esthétique de l’univeralisme. Jane Moss confirme l’hypothèse de Hotte dans son article, « Francophone Theatre in Western Canada : Dramatic Tales of Disappearing Francophones » (2009). Moss observe qu’au sein du théâtre francophone dans l’Ouest canadien s’opère une transition quant à la représentation de l’identité francophone minoritaire vers un courant postmoderne où les dramaturges, mettant de côté les récits mémoriels nostalgiques, se penchent plutôt sur des thématiques plus universelles. Tout de même, le questionnement identitaire demeure latent à travers ces pièces. Par ailleurs, dans La distance habitée (2003) François Paré remarque que les énonciateurs minoritaires retiennent souvent une mémoire de migration et d’itinérance; que cette distance métaphorique les « habite »; et qu’ils se voient constamment forcés de négocier cette « distance » entre eux et la communauté majoritaire où ils vivent. Partant du constat du Moss, ce mémoire analyse l’énonciation de trois personnages/énonciateurs dans trois monologues fransaskois contemporains, soit Il était une fois Delmas, Sask... mais pas deux fois! d’André Roy, Elephant Wake de Joey Tremblay et Rearview de Gilles Poulin-Denis. Nous examinerons leur identité complexe, riche et problématique. Pour analyser l’énonciation de chacun des personnages, nous nous appuyons sur l’analyse de discours telle que développée par Dominique Maingueneau. Ce faisant, nous visons à combler une lacune importante dans la recherche sur le théâtre fransaskois.