Thesis (MA)- Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In fulfilment of the degree of Magister in Creative Writing: Afrikaans, a novel titled
Sirkus (Circus) is presented in which the main character figures as an idiot. It is
accompanied by a perspicacious formal essay which maintains the relationship between
theory and novel. The essay titled "Die idioot: spieël en skadu" (The idiot: mirror and
shadow) reflects on the problematics concerning the representation of the idiot in literary
texts.
The essay investigates the phenomenon of the idiot in literature according to well-known
literary texts presenting idiots. What these texts have in common is that the narrator acts
on behalf of a character who does not have the ability nor the will to narrate himself. The
problematics is viewed from a thematic as well as writing technique niveaux, according
to insights gleaned from literature, philosophy, narratology and psychology. The
argument concludes by reflecting on the responsibility of the author and the ethics of
creating an effigy of the idiot.
The novel Sirkus, (Circus), focuses on an idiot character with webbed hands and feet,
Siegfried Landman. It is an exposition of his journey to hell starting on a farm in the
Karoo. It takes him through a grotesque urban landscape where he eventually ends up in a
circus of freaks. The text starts with the death of Siegfried's father and is in the form of a
quest narrative, a quest for the vague image of his uncle Fischer. The tale emanates
predominantly from Siegfried's consciousness. During the course of the text he is
accompanied by varioius travelling companions who each fmd a voice in the text. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING
Ter vervulling van die graad van Magister in Kreatiewe Afrikaanse skryfkunde is 'n
roman getiteld Sirkus voorgelê waarin die hoofkarakter 'n idiotefiguur is. Dit word
vergesel met 'n verbandhoudende beskoulike werkstuk: "Die idioot: spieël en skadu",
wat die vorm aanneem van 'n essay oar die problematiek rondom die representasie van
die idioot in literêre tekste.
In die werkstuk word die verskynsel van die idioot in die letterkunde ondersoek aan die
hand van bekende literêre tekste waarin idiotefigure gerepresenteer word. Hierdie tekste
het dit gemeen dat die verteller optree namens 'n karakter wat nie die vermoë óf die wil
het om self te vertel nie. Die problematiek word beskou op tematiese sowel as
skryftegniese vlakke aan die hand van insigte uit die letterkunde, filosofie, narratologie
en sielkunde. Die argument sluit uiteindelik af met 'n besinning oor die skrywerlike
verantwoordelikheid en 'n skrywerlike etiek ten opsigte van die uitbeelding van die
idioot.
Die roman Sirkus fokus op 'n idiote-karakter met gewebde hande en voete, Siegfried
Landman. Dit is 'n uitbeelding van sy hellevaart wat begin op 'n plaas in die Karoo en
hom voer deur 'n groteske stadslandskap voor hy uiteindelik opeindig in 'n sirkus van
fratse. Die teks begin met die dood van Siegfried se vader en is in die vorm van 'n
soektognarratief, 'n soektog na die vae beeld van sy oom Fischer. Die verhaal word
grotendeels vanuit Siegfried se bewussyn vertel. Hy word deur die verloop van die teks
vergesel deur verskeie reisgenote wat elk ook 'n eie stem in die teks verkry.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53373 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Anker, Willem P. P. |
| Contributors | Van Niekerk, M., 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 | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 291 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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