Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: “A verse might be complete, but then I fiddle with it again and it is not complete anymore,” Ina Rousseau says in an interview. When one compares poems from her Versamelde gedigte 1954-1984 and Die stil middelpunt with their predecessors in magazines and in her volumes of poetry, one sees that Rousseau often made revisions. Over the years her poetry has come into being like a “living organism”. It reminds one of the rewritings of Martinus Nijhoff. This study aims to discuss the variants in the poetry of Ina Rousseau, by means of a variant system that unlocks the printing history of all 253 published poems. My discussion focuses on 17 poems (at least one from each volume of poetry) that is printed in full in the variant edition. I’ve used supplement material and reception texts to give the reader a perspective on Rousseau as poet, and the involvement of other roll players. By bringing in these secondary texts I aim to situate the poem discussions and try to show that theme and textgenesis should not be viewed as separate entities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: “’n Vers kan miskien afgerond wees en dan gaan peuter ek weer aan hom en dan is hy nie meer afgerond nie,” sê Ina Rousseau in ’n onderhoud. Wanneer ’n mens dan gedigte uit haar Versamelde gedigte 1954-1984 en Die stil middelpunt vergelyk met vroeër weergawes in tydskrifte en in bundels, sien ’n mens dat sy lief was daarvoor om veranderinge aan te bring. Haar poësie, wat deur die jare soos ’n “lewende organisme” tot stand gekom het, herinner aan die verbete herdigtings van Martinus Nijhoff. Hierdie studie het ten doel om die variante in die poësie van Ina Rousseau van naderby te beskou aan die hand van ’n variante-apparaat wat die volledige drukgeskiedenis van 253 gedigte ontsluit. My bespreking fokus op 17 gedigte (minstens een uit elke bundel) wat volledig in ’n variante-edisie afgedruk staan. Ek gebruik ook aanvullende materiaal en resepsietekste om die leser ’n perspektief op Rousseau se digterskap en die betrokkenheid van ander rolspelers te gee. Deur die byhaal van hierdie sekondêre bronne probeer ek om die gedigbesprekings te situeer en te toon dat tematiek en teksontwikkeling nie losmaaklik van mekaar is nie.

This study is concerned with modern Christian poetry in Afrikaans. Afrikaans poetry, which initially carried the clear stamp of the Afrikaner's Calvinistic view of life, gradually assumed a new image to the extent that it could no longer be recognised as religious and specifically Calvinistic poetry. To the contrary, modern Afrikaans Christian poetry is the expression of a contemporary conceptualisation of the very same gospel. The occasional violent reaction especially of conservative institutions to so called "unchristian" modern poetry in Afrikaans during the past three decades, has prompted this study which attempts to illustrate that modern Afrikaans poetry still exhibits a strong Christian element. The essential qualities of contemporary Christian poetry in Afrikaans are illustrated in the discussion of the works of particular leading Afrikaans poets. Chapter 3 attempts to indicate a transitional stage between traditional and modern Christian poetry by means of an overview of the latest tendencies and approaches, with brief references to the recent poetry of the Louws, the poetry of Peter Blum as the initial exponent of the poetry of the Sixties, and the poetry of Ina Rousseau. The work of Sheila Cussons, eminent Roman Catholic (and thus also Christian) poet who is probably the most impressive contemporary exponent of metaphysical/mystic poetry in Afrikaans, is discussed in chapter 4. Chapter 5 illustrates the traditional Calvinistic Christian point of view and Christian experience as represented in the poetry of I.L. de Villiers. The poetification of the ministry adds new dimension to religions poetry in Afrikaans. Chapter 6 constitutes a discussion of the works of T.T . Cloete, the most significant contemporary Reformed poet in Afrikaans indicating the extent to which the many related facets embodied in his poetry consistently reflect a Christian attitude and are unified in and encompassed by the principle of Soli Deo Gloria. Chapter 7, by way of conclusion, reviews the religious poetry of Lina Spies and Petra Müller who write accessible popular poetry, nevertheless exploring interesting references. In conjunction with the poetry of Ina Rosseau, this poetry represents a contribution to modern Afrikaans religious poetry from a feminine point of view