Orientador: Sérgio Vicente Motta / Banca: Antonio Roberto Esteves / Banca: Sônia Helena de Oliveira Raymundo Piteri / Resumo: O exercício de análise acerca da obra Matrinchã do Teles Pires tende emergir os aspectos literários que a constituem na construção da temática do mito da busca, na recriação da lenda do profeta João Maria e na releitura de acontecimentos históricos. O percurso de leitura e de produção de sentido percorre os três elementos principais, o mítico, o lendário e o histórico, desfibrando-os para reconhecer, em seu interior, a coerência no conjunto dos procedimentos estéticos que lhe asseguram o caráter de ficção. O aspecto mítico retoma, parodisticamente, o enredo do Livro do Êxodo e manifesta-se na travessia de milhares de brasileiros que deixaram suas terras, suas tradições para irem em busca de seu sonho: a terra prometida. A lenda do profeta reconstrói-se a partir das variantes que se estendem em vários espaços, desde Sorocaba, São Paulo, passando pelo conflito do Contestado e se recriando em Eleutério, personagem central da obra em estudo. Um andarilho que assume o caráter messiânico após a morte de seu ídolo histórico, Getúlio Vargas, e duplica as ações do primeiro monge em terras mato-grossenses. A presença do fator histórico na narrativa marca-se no resgate da era Vargas e dos projetos de expansão nacional que vão desencadear o movimento migratório para o norte do estado de Mato Grosso. Para o desenvolvimento do estudo desses pontos na composição da estrutura são utilizadas teorias e bibliografias específicas. Posteriormente, consideram-se os fundamentos da narrativa para a constituição do narrador, centro da investigação, que funciona como elemento catalisador entre as outras categorias como tempo, espaço, enredo e personagens. Todos esses fragmentos são cimentados no mosaico ficcional pela ironia sutil e pela pluralidade de vozes que dão a obra um perfil pós-moderno. / Abstract: The analysis exercise concerning the novel Mantrinchã do Teles Pires tends to emerge the literary aspects which constitute in the thematic construction of the myth research, in the legend recreation of the prophet João Maria and in the re-reading of historical happenings. The reading course and the sense production go through the three main elements: the mythical, the legendary and the historical, analysing them to recognize, in its interior, the coherence in the aesthetic set of procedures that assure it the fiction character. The mythical aspect retakes, in a parody way, the plot of Exodus Book and manifests in the crossing of thousands of Brazilians who left their lands and tradition to go through their dream: the promised land. The prophet legend reconstructs from versions that extend in several spaces, from Sorocaba, São Paulo, passing by Contestado conflict and recreating itself in Eleutério, the main character of the book. A hiker who assumes the messianic character after his historical idol death, Getúlio Vargas, and doubles the first monk action in the lands of Mato Grosso. The historical factor presence in the narrative fixes itself in the rescue of Vargas Era and of national expansion projects which will trigger off the migratory movement to the North of the state of Mato Grosso. For the study development of these points in the structure composition we will use specific theories and bibliographies. Afterwards, we will consider the narrative basis to the narrator constitution, the main point of this research, which works as the catalyst element between the other categories like time, space, plot and characters. All these fragments are cemented on the fictional mosaic by subtle irony and by plurality of voices which give to the work a post-modern profile. / Mestre

Habilitationsschrift--Constance. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 189-193) and index.

Thesis (doctoral) - Universität, Heidelberg, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 389-417) and index.

Thesis (doctoral)--Université de Paris III, 1999. / Originally presented as the author's thesis (doctoral)--Université Paris III, Sorbonne Nouvelle. Includes errata. "Diffusion ANRT." Includes bibliographical references (p. [550]-573).

The reading of four contemporary novels, namely: Credo by Melvyn Bragg, The Catastrophist by Ronan Bennett, Everything You Need by A.L. Kennedy and American Gods by Neil Gaiman explores the prominent position of mythification and remythification in contemporary literature. The discussion of Bragg's novel examines the significance of Celtic mythology and folklore and to what extent it influenced Christian mythology on the British Isles and vice versa. The presentation of the transition from a cyclical, pagan to a linear, Christian belief system is analysed. My analysis of Bennett's novel supports the observation that political myth as myth transformed contains elements and qualities embodied by sacred myths and investigates the relevance of Johan Degenaar's observation that "[p]ostmodernism emphasises the fact that myth is an ambiguous phenomenon" and practices an attitude of "eternal vigilance" (1995: 47), as is evident in the main protagonist's dispassionate stance. My reading of Kennedy's novel explores the bond that myth creates between the artist and the audience and argues that the writer as myth creator fulfils a restorative function through the mythical and symbolic qualities embedded in literature. Gaiman's novel American Gods focuses on the function of meta/multi-mythology in contemporary literature (especially the fantasy genre) and on what these qualities reveal about a society and its concerns and values. The thesis contemplates how in each case the original myths were substituted, modulated or transfigured to be presented as metamyth or myth transformed. The analysis shows that myth can be used in various ways in literature: as the data or information that is recreated and transformed in the creative process to establish a common matrix of stories, symbols, images and motifs which represents a bond between the author and the reader in terms of the meaning-making process; to facilitate a spiritual enrichment in a demythologized world and for its restorative abilities. The study is confirmed by detailed mythical reference. / English Studies / (D. Litt. et Phil. (English))

The purpose of the study is to review the short stories of S M Mofokeng and M P Pelo critically in an attempt to interrogate their skills and techniques with a view to establishing how they complement each other. Furthermore the approach to the study will be informed by an integrated comparison and contrasting process. In the main, this study deals with how the authors who wrote at different time periods differ in style, albeit on the same discipline, the short story. The study comprises the introductory section, which includes the aims, method of approach, forerunners of the short stories, biographical sketches of the authors and organisation of the study. The setting, functions of the setting and definitions of keywords are also discussed. Characterization and the method of presenting characters is explained and the elements of style are identified and dealt with. A summary of the findings as well as the conclusion of the study is provided. / African Languages / M.A. (African Languages)

Summary in English / Romanticism as a broad movement of thought developed as a reaction against rationalism and empiricism in the period of Enlightenment. In his critical evaluation of Getman literature Eichendorff as a historian exammes the excessiveness of esoteric theories in the work of the young intellectuals of the early romantic period in Getmany. The romanticists' idealist celebration of the self, and their tendency to overestimate the power of the imagination and the supreme value of art led to self-adulation and subjectivism which was unacceptable to Eichendorff s understanding of art and religion. The "romantic" attempt at creating a new mythology usmg art as a new kind of religion and thereby making the poet an omnipotent creator could only be rejected by Eichendorff whose moral convictions were strongly based on Christian Catholic beliefs. The young romanticists replaced ethics with aesthetics. Eichendorffs judgement of this development is devastating. He describes the early romantic movement as a "premature abortion". / Classics and Modern European Languages / M.A. (German)

Mgr. Magdalena Kučerová Dissertation work: Myth of Narcissus in French literature at the turn of the 20th century ABSTRACT: This dissertation thesis based on knowledge of French myth criticism deals with the issue of myths in literature, which is a specific manifestation of human symbolic imagination. In its most general level the work studies the definition of a myth and its social function as well as the matter of opposite notions regarding to the mythos and logos, which have gradually more and more differentiated along with the development of European thinking. The myth of Narcissus has probably been one of the oldest myths in European culture. In its most renowned and most comprehensive form, the myth first appeared in the third book of Metamorphoses by Ovid, which has served as an inspiration for remakes by many later authors. The story of a young man who fell in love with his own reflection on the surface of the water contains a great variety of semantically strong structures (mainly the motifs of a mirror, narcissistic love, passively superior character of a hero, or the final metamorphoses into a flower), which are analysed in this study. The author of this study outlines the interpretational evolution of the myth of Narcissus in French literary history...

Summary in English / Romanticism as a broad movement of thought developed as a reaction against rationalism and empiricism in the period of Enlightenment. In his critical evaluation of Getman literature Eichendorff as a historian exammes the excessiveness of esoteric theories in the work of the young intellectuals of the early romantic period in Getmany. The romanticists' idealist celebration of the self, and their tendency to overestimate the power of the imagination and the supreme value of art led to self-adulation and subjectivism which was unacceptable to Eichendorff s understanding of art and religion. The "romantic" attempt at creating a new mythology usmg art as a new kind of religion and thereby making the poet an omnipotent creator could only be rejected by Eichendorff whose moral convictions were strongly based on Christian Catholic beliefs. The young romanticists replaced ethics with aesthetics. Eichendorffs judgement of this development is devastating. He describes the early romantic movement as a "premature abortion". / Classics and Modern European Languages / M.A. (German)

Scholars and storytellers alike have deemed George MacDonald a great mythopoeic writer, an exemplar of the art. Examination of this accolade by those who first applied it to him proves it profoundly theological: for them a mythopoeic tale was a relational medium through which transformation might occur, transcending boundaries of time and space. The implications challenge much contemporary critical study of MacDonald, for they demand that his literary life and his theological life cannot be divorced if either is to be adequately assessed. Yet they prove consistent with the critical methodology MacDonald himself models and promotes. Utilizing MacDonald’s relational methodology evinces his intentional facilitating of Mythopoesis. It also reveals how oversights have impeded critical readings both of MacDonald’s writing and of his character. It evokes a redressing of MacDonald’s relationship with his Scottish cultural, theological, and familial environment – of how his writing is a response that rises out of these, rather than, as has so often been asserted, a mere reaction against them. Consequently it becomes evident that key relationships, both literary and personal, have been neglected in MacDonald scholarship – relationships that confirm MacDonald’s convictions and inform his writing, and the examination of which restores his identity as a literature scholar. Of particular relational import in this reassessment is A.J. Scott, a Scottish visionary intentionally chosen by MacDonald to mentor him in a holistic Weltanschauung. Little has been written on Scott, yet not only was he MacDonald’s prime influence in adulthood, but he forged the literary vocation that became MacDonald’s own. Previously unexamined personal and textual engagement with John Ruskin enables entirely new readings of standard MacDonald texts, as does the textual engagement with Matthew Arnold and F.D. Maurice. These close readings, informed by the established context, demonstrate MacDonald’s emergence, practice, and intent as a mythopoeic writer.