Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis contains the results of an investigation into the elements of the horror story and
the Gothic novel in three contemporary works. The investigation was conducted within the
theoretical framework of the original historical Gothic novel of the eighteenth century, in
comparison with contemporary theorization on the Gothic, with specific reference to the study
of Eddy Bertin, and to some extent Hendrik van Gorp and Fred Botting. Four conventions of
the Gothic genre were identified, and were applied to an Afrikaans novel and drama, as well
as a Dutch novel, to establish to which extent the Gothic manifests itself in these
contemporary texts. The study focussed on The night only has one eye (1991) by Francois
Bloemhof, Crossing/ Passion (1994) by Reza de Wet and A heart of stone (1999) by Renate
Dorrestein.
From these texts, which were read within a Gothic framework, it could be deduced that there
is a deviation from the conventional Gothic texts within both the Afrikaans and the Dutch
texts. This deviation especially occurs with regard to characterization, with specific reference
to the female character. The authors use the traditional Gothic characters as a point of
departure, but bring about renewal in the texts by making them part of a wider philosophical
field. The portrayal of the themes of good versus evil, space and tension, also shows a
deviation from the Gothic conventions.
An important finding in this study is that the Gothic genre in its pure form can not successfully
be traced in contemporary literature. The three texts under discussion show the occurrence of
allogamy between the different sub-categories of horror. A further important conclusion is that
these three texts cannot be merely categorized as Popular literature because of the renewal it
brings regarding the traditional Gothic conventions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis bevat die resultate van 'n ondersoek na elemente van die gruwelverhaal en die
Gotiese roman in drie kontemporêre tekste. Die ondersoek is gedoen binne die teoretiese
raamwerk oor die genre van die oorspronklike historiese Gotiese roman van die agtiende eeu,
in vergelyking met die hedendaagse teoretisering oor die Gotiek, met spesifieke verwysing na
die navorsing van Eddy Bertin, en in 'n mindere mate Hendrik van Gorp en Fred Botting. Vier
konvensies van die Gotiese verhaaltipe is geïdentifiseer en toegepas op 'n Afrikaanse roman
en drama, asook 'n Nederlandse roman, om vas te stel in watter mate en op watter wyse die
Gotiek gemanifesteer word in dié hedendaagse tekste. Die navorsing fokus op Die nag het
net een oog (1991) van Francios Bloemhof, Drif (1994) van Reza de Wet en Een hart van
steen (1999) van Renate Dorrestein.
Dié tekste vertoon al drie duidelik Gotiese kenmerke, maar vertoon daarbyook opvallende
afwykings van die tradisionele verskyningsvorme van die Gotiek. Dit geld veral vir
karakterisering - meer spesifiek die vroulike karakter en die verhouding tussen die twee
geslagte. Die outeurs gebruik die tradisionele Gotiese tipe karakters as vertrekpunt, maar
bring vernuwing deur die tekste deel te maak van 'n wyer filosofiese veld. Die tekste se
hantering van ander konvensies op die terrein van die tematiese (die goeie versus die bose),
ruimte en spanning wyk ook af van die historiese Gotiek.
'n Belangrik aspek wat in die ondersoek na vore kom, is dat die Gotiek as verhaaltipe selde
nog in sy suiwer vorm in literatuur aangetref word. Die drie tekste onder bespreking toon in
watter aansienlike mate kruisbestuiwing plaasvind tussen die onderskeie sub-kategorieë van
die riller. Laastens word daar aangevoer dat die Gotiese en gruwel-elemente binne dié drie
tekste op so 'n vernuwende wyse geproblematiseer en uitgedaag word, dat dit nie sonder
meer as triviaalliteratuur beskou kan word nie.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52778 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Buys, Helga Minnette |
| Contributors | Van Zyl, D. P., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences . Dept. of Afrikaans & Dutch. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | af_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 94 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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