Simboliek en mitologie as interpretasiehulpmiddels in die migranteliteratuurroman, Paravion, deur Hafid Bouazza

[摘要] English: The contribution of symbolic and mythological references towards theinterpretation process and eventual evaluation of a novel is researchedaccording to primarily semiotic premises. The retrieval, interpretation andevaluation of these references were central not only to the study, but also withregard to the way in which these integrate with other elements of a novel.Narrative categories, in particular narratology and space, were addressed. ADutch novel, namely Paravion by Hafid Bouazza, was chosen as text becausenot only did it extensively make use of symbolism and mythology to create asocial reality wherein two opposing frames of reference occur, but also becausethe text is regarded as one of the culminating points in the so-called migrantliterature, which is currently experiencing a tremendous revival in theNetherlands.In the formulation of a new identity construct, both by migrants and natives ofthe host country, religious customs, traditions and myths of Islam, as well asaspects of the Western culture, value systems and way of life were investigated.The former is represented in the novel by the Qu'ran and One thousand and onenights and the latter by the idylls of Theocritus. By means of the study theconclusion was reached that the vision of the text cannot communicate in asatisfactory manner with the reader without additional information, which isprovided by means of the symbolic and mythological references.The relevance of the study relates to the conclusion that the interpretation andevaluation of migrant literature, as a relatively new genre in the Dutch canon,should be approached in a different and more innovative way than thetraditional. Social, realistic points of departure can play an important role toachieve this.

[发布机构] University of the Free State