Outobiografie en identiteit : 'n vergelykende beskouing van 'n Wonderlike geweld (2005) van Elsa Joubert en 'n Ander tongval (2005) van Antjie Krog

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Autobiography is a growing, but elusive literary genre. However, when texts are read asautobiographical – and thus as a form of self-representation – the theme of identity provides thereader with an interesting and useful method by which to approach it.In this study, two Afrikaans autobiographical texts are approached in a comparative manner, withthe aim being to examine the writers' representations of themselves. The texts studied are 'nWonderlike geweld (2005) by Elsa Joubert, and 'n Ander tongval (2005) by Antjie Krog. Besidesthe autobiographical nature of these texts, the comparison is also based on: the writers' status inthe Afrikaans literary system, similarities beween them and their backgrounds, and thecorresponding publication dates.The theoretical basis from where the concepts autobiography and identity are viewed is explainedbriefly. The emphasis falls on autobiography as a hybrid genre, that is defined mainly by how itis read. The use of identity as a reading strategy is suggested, with identity being understood asan unstable construction that changes constantly, depending on the context in which it isconstructed.Consequently, the different identities according to which Joubert and Krog reveal themselves tothe reader and the autobiographical forms through which they achieve this, are examined anddiscussed in separate chapters. Specific emphasis is placed on how they convey the spirit of thetime and on the influence of the context in which the texts are published.Finally, the differences and similarities in the writers' representation of themselves aresummarised. In the end it emerges that the reading strategy focused on identity provides thereader with a useful approach to the study of texts in the autobiographical genre, since it ispossible to successfully apply it to two texts with diverse autobiographical qualities. Furthermore,it becomes clear that the structure and style of these texts mirror the writer's approach to identityto a great extent.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University