M.A. (Afrikaans) / In this study the place of the death poem as genre and particularly its incidence in Afrikaans is traced. Because the corpus of poems about death is so comprehensive, a distinction is made between two significant categories: death poetry in general and death poetry with specific regard to the death of a beloved, especially with reference to a close relative. For the purpose of this study the latter is dealt with. It is established that the death poem referring to the death of a close relative has in almost every known literature been responsible not only for some of the most touching poems, but also for some of the best. In certain Iiteratures particular conventions in connection with . the death poem have crystallized. In others the theme of death has found unrestrained expression. A comparative study and an assessment of value are the two most important methods that were used in this study to ascertain the place of the death poem in literature. The death poem can be classified under several categories, each of which has contributed to a greater or lesser degree to the genre of the death poem. The category of the beloved deceased, especially the beloved close relative is emphasized in this particular study. Most poets have contributed to the corpus of the death poem, but Totius, Elisabeth Eybers, D.J. Opperman and T.T. Cloete, each representing one of the great literary eras in Afrikaans, have contributed the best death poems. It appears from the comparative study that there has been a qualitative improvement in this genre.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:3869 |
Date | 11 February 2014 |
Creators | Van Zyl, Engela Anna |
Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
Detected Language | English |
Type | Thesis |
Rights | University of Johannesburg |
Page generated in 0.0018 seconds