scholarly journals Margaret Atwood, World-Famous but Yet to Be Discovered by Many Slovene Readers

2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 33-47
Author(s):  
Tomaž Onič ◽  
Michelle Gadpaille ◽  
Jason Blake ◽  
Tjaša Mohar
Keyword(s):  
Short Fiction ◽  
Margaret Atwood ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
80Th Birthday ◽  
The Novel ◽  
University Library ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
Lecture Series ◽  
Shadow Side ◽  
Selection Of

Margaret Atwood is the only Canadian author whose 80th birthday in 2019 was celebrated by the global academic community. This is not surprising, as she is the most famous Canadian writer, popular also outside literary circles. On this occasion, Slovene Canadianists organized a literary event at the Maribor University Library, which presented an outline of Atwood’s oeuvre and a selection of translated poems and excerpts of prose texts; some of these were translated especially for the event. Of Atwood’s rich and varied oeuvre, only eight novels, a few short fiction pieces and some thirty poems have been translated into Slovene. This article thus aims at presenting those aspects of Atwood’s work which are less know to Slovene readers. It is no secret that Atwood is often labelled a feminist writer, mostly on account of The Handmaid’s Tale and the TV series based on the novel. However, many Slovene readers may not know that she also writes poetry, short fiction, non-fiction and children’s literature, that she is a committed environmentalist, and that she discussed the problem of “Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth” in a prestigious lecture series. There are not many authors who master as many genres as Atwood and who are so well-received by readers and critics alike. The latter is true of Atwood also in Slovenia, and we can only hope that Slovene publishers will make more of Atwood’s work available to Slovene readers. All the more so since Atwood has no plans to end her career: just before her 80th birthday she was on a tour in Europe promoting her latest novel, The Testaments, and she would have continued touring in 2020 were it not for the COVID pandemic.

scholarly journals Margaret Atwood’s Poetry in Slovene Translation

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-137
Author(s):  
Tjaša Mohar ◽  
Tomaž Onič
Keyword(s):  
Short Fiction ◽  
Margaret Atwood ◽  
Children's Books ◽  
Children’S Books ◽  
Literary Magazines ◽  
Prolific Author ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
Insight Into

Margaret Atwood is undoubtedly the most popular Canadian author in Slovenia, with eight novels translated into Slovene. Although this prolific author also writes short fiction, poetry, children’s books, and non-fiction, these remain unknown to Slovene readers, at least in their own language. Atwood has published as many poetry collections as novels, but her poetry is inaccessible in Slovene, with the exception of some thirty poems that were translated and published in literary magazines between 1999 and 2009. The article provides an overview of Atwood’s poetry volumes and the main features of her poetry, as well as a detailed overview of Atwood’s poems that have appeared in Slovene translation, with the names of translators, titles of poetry collections, dates of publication, and names of literary magazines. This is the first such overview of Slovene translations of Atwood’s poetry. Additionally, the article offers an insight into some stylistic aspects of Atwood’s poetry that have proven to be particularly challenging for translation.

A Compact Embodiment of Pluralities and Denial of Origins: Atwood’s The Year of The Flood

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 141
Author(s):  
Rana Sağıroğlu
Keyword(s):  
Science Fiction ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Social Order ◽  
Margaret Atwood ◽  
Rapid Change ◽  
The Novel ◽  
The World ◽  
Narrative Techniques ◽  
Why Questions ◽  
Near Future

Margaret Atwood, one of the most spectacular authors of postmodern movement, achieved to unite debatable and in demand critical points of 21st century such as science fiction, postmodernism and ecocriticism in the novel The Year of The Flood written in 2009. The novel could be regarded as an ecocritical manifesto and a dystopic mirror against today’s degenerated world, tending to a superficial base to keep the already order in use, by moving away from the fundamental solution of all humanity: nature. Although Atwood does not want her works to be called science fiction, it is obvious that science fiction plays an introductory role and gives the novel a ground explaining all ‘why’ questions of the novel. However, Atwood is not unjust while claiming that her works are not science fiction because of the inevitable rapid change of 21st century world becoming addicted to technology, especially Internet. It is easily observed by the reader that what she fictionalises throughout the novel is quite close to possibility, and the world may witness in the near future what she creates in the novel as science fiction. Additionally, postmodernism serves to the novel as the answerer of ‘how’ questions: How the world embraces pluralities, how heterogeneous social order is needed, and how impossible to run the world by dichotomies of patriarchal social order anymore. And lastly, ecocriticism gives the answers of ‘why’ questions of the novel: Why humanity is in chaos, why humanity has organized the world according to its own needs as if there were no living creatures apart from humanity. Therefore, The Year of The Flood meets the reader as a compact embodiment of science fiction, postmodernism and ecocriticism not only with its theme, but also with its narrative techniques.

The Yellow Wall-Paper and Other Stories

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Short Fiction ◽  
Social Problems ◽  
Charlotte Perkins Gilman ◽  
Early Twentieth Century ◽  
Selection Of

Charlotte Perkins Gilman was America's leading feminist intellectual of the early twentieth century. The Yellow Wall-Paper and Other Stories makes available the fullest selection of her short fiction ever printed. In addition to her pioneering masterpiece, ‘The Yellow Wall-Paper’ (1890), which draws on her own experience of depression and insanity, this edition features her Impress ‘story studies’, works in the manner of writers such as James, Twain, and Kipling. These stories, together with other fiction from her neglected California period (1890-5), throw new light on Gilman as a practitioner of the art of fiction. In her Forerunner stories she repeatedly explores the situation of ‘the woman of fifty’ and inspires reform by imagining workable solutions to a range of personal and social problems.

Typographical and Editorial Solutions as a Source of Hybridization in Polish Non-Fiction Literature

Tekstualia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (66) ◽  
pp. 57-72
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Frukacz
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Layout ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
Experimental Works ◽  
Printing Paper ◽  
Cover Design ◽  
Physical Components ◽  
Selection Of

The article focuses on the selected examples of the blurring of a book’s genre status by means of specifi c editorial solutions, such as the use of a spatial layout of the text, the differentiation of fonts, the selection of printing paper, the cover design etc. This mechanism is discussed on the example of six experimental works of contemporary Polish non-fi ction literature. Books by Filip Springer and Jarosław Mikołajewski, bordering upon literary reportage, show how the use of typography enhances the formal hybridity or even amorphousness of the text. In turn, Mariusz Szczygieł and Wojciech Tochman, their documentary narratives, emphasize the mutual synergy between the physical components of the book, which undermines the standard genre classifi cation.

scholarly journals Indestructible Pasts and Paranoid Presents: John Franzen against Active Forgetting in Purity

2019 ◽  
pp. 21-34
Author(s):  
Cristina Garrigós
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Event ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Past ◽  
Personal Archives ◽  
Conscious Process ◽  
Unconscious Desire ◽  
Selection Of

Forgetting and remembering are as inevitably linked as lifeand death. Sometimes, forgetting is motivated by a biological disorder, brain damage, or it is the product of an unconscious desire derived from a traumatic event (psychological repression). But in some cases, we can motivate forgetting consciously (thought suppression). It is through the conscious repression of memories that we can find self-preservation and move forward, although this means that we create a fable of our lives, as Nietzsche says in his essay “On the Uses and Disadvantages of History for Life” (1997). In Jonathan Franzen’s novel, Purity (2015), forgetting is an active and conscious process by which the characters choose to forget certain episodes of their lives to be able to construct new identities. The erased memories include murder, economical privileges derived from illegal or unethical commercial processes, or dark sexual episodes. The obsession with forgetting the past links the lives of the main characters, and structures the narrative of the novel. The motivated erasure of memories becomes, thus, a way that the characters have to survive and face the present according to a (fake) narrative that they have constructed. But is motivated forgetting possible? Can one completely suppress facts in an active way? This paper analyses the role of forgetting in Franzen’s novel in relation to the need in our contemporary society to deny, hide, or erase uncomfortable data from our historical or personal archives; the need to make disappear stories which we do not want to accept, recognize, and much less make known to the public. This is related to how we manage information in the age of technology, the “selection” of what is to be the official story, and how we rewrite our own history

scholarly journals Hope and equilibrium in the dystopian world of The Hunger Games

2021 ◽  
Vol 85 ◽  
pp. 227-244
Author(s):  
María Sandra Peña-Cervel ◽  
Andreea Rosca
Keyword(s):  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Linguistics ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Hunger Games ◽  
Accurate Picture ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Hunger Games ◽  
The Status ◽  
Selection Of

This paper provides evidence of the fruitfulness of combining analytical categories from Cognitive Linguistics and Critical Discourse Analysis for the analysis of complex literary characterizations. It does so through a detailed study of the “tributes”, i.e. the randomly selected children who have to fight to death in a nationally televised show, in The Hunger Games. The study proves the effectiveness of such categories to provide an analytically accurate picture of the dystopian world depicted in the novel, which is revealed to include a paradoxical element of hope. The type of dehumanization that characterizes the dystopian society of Panem is portrayed through an internally consistent set of ontological metaphors which project negative aspects of lower forms of existence onto people. This selection of metaphors promotes a biased perspective on the poor inhabitants of Panem, while legitimizing the social inequalities the wealthy Capitol works hard to immortalize. However, Katniss undergoes a metamorphosis through her discovery of her own identity, which hints at an emerging female empowerment. This transformation, together with her identification with the Mockingjay, a supernatural being that voices her beliefs and emotions, contributes to disrupting the status quo imposed by the almighty Gamemakers and to purveying a message of optimism.

scholarly journals On freedom in the times of Economic Crisis – A Close Reading Of Margaret Atwood's The Heart Goes Last

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-154
Author(s):  
Ewelina Feldman-Kołodziejuk ◽  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Margaret Atwood ◽  
Civil Liberties ◽  
Close Reading ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Economic Experiment ◽  
Experimental Project ◽  
The Times ◽  
Far Future

In her fifth dystopian novel, The Heart Goes Last, Margaret Atwood portrays North America in the not so far future, in the wake of a global economic crisis. Parts of the country are in the state of complete chaos, subjected to a ruthless gang rule. The solution to the system's breakdown comes in the form of the socio-economic experiment that requires from its participants relinquishing their freedom as every other month they will spend in prison. The seemingly preposterous experimental project enables Atwood to explore principal questions about the limits of our freedom in the times of an economic crisis or a neoliberal model of economy. The satirical form the novel takes, especially towards its end, helps the writer to decry people's over-willingness to give away their freedom and civil liberties in exchange for happy, uninterrupted consumption. The following article aims to demonstrate that the notion of freedom and free will permeate The Heart Goes Last, which is, in that respect, a politically and socially engaged satire.

scholarly journals Diving into the Subconscious of Women and Nature: Margaret Atwood’s Surfacing as an Ecofeminist Novel

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Hyma Santhosh
Keyword(s):  
Margaret Atwood ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Worth Living ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Life Worth Living ◽  
Female Community ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Rapid Industrialization ◽  
Male Dominated ◽  
Self Discovery

Woman and nature can be considered the best creations of god. Both together keep the earth alive and balanced through the process of creation. The male dominated practices have destroyed the nature as well as women. This paper deals with the different aspects of Eco-feminism through the novel Surfacing by Margaret Atwood. The narrator’s quest to the wilderness of Canada in search for her father which leads to a quest of self-discovery in the lap of nature becomes the major focus of this paper. The unknown protagonist becomes a representative of the entire female community. The realization that women are just an object to be conquered and violated by men is what leads to the ‘surfacing’ of the protagonist. In complete harmony with nature excluding clothes, language, food etc. the protagonist goes crazy which gives her more happiness that with her other relationships. The paper also tries to analyse the close relationship between women and nature and how the virgin nature and woman are destroyed by the invasion of the male community. Repressed gender roles, submissiveness, self-realization through nature and the challenges faced by women that are presented. The concept of women and nature as both victims of the male dominated society is also emphasized. This novel is the perfect literary example of an Eco-feminist work that portrays the destruction of women and nature even in the minutest episodes in the novel. Nature is a treasure-house of many myths that lay hidden in the beliefs, rights and rituals of the aboriginals which are passed from one generation to another. In the same manner women also are the sustainer's of many myths that the male society has made upon her. The mother i.e. both woman and nature is examined here.In a vast country like Canada,nature comprises to its majority through its wilderness.This wilderness hides many priceless virtues and knowledge that can be learnt only in complete harmony with nature.Surfacing is not just the journey of a woman but it is the quest that the female gender thrives for.This paper combines the theories of eco-criticism, eco-feminism and to analyse the novel Surfacing into a biological whole that merges nature, man and the beliefs of man that make existence meaningful and life worth living. In an era of rapid industrialization and materialism, it is necessary to go on a quest back to nature and learn how life was easier in the lap of nature. Great writers like Shakespeare,Chaucer and Wordsworth were able to carve out such master pieces only because of their relationship with the purest and virgin nature which is the greatest teacher for mankind of all times.

scholarly journals قضايا موضوعية في "أم النذور" للروائي عبد الرحمن منيف: دراسة تحليلية نقدية / Topical issues in the novel “Umm Nuzur” by Abdurrahman Munif: An Analytical and Critical Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nor Safirah Binti Ahmad Sufian ◽  
Mohammed Ahmed Al Qudah
Keyword(s):  
Social Issues ◽  
Arabic Literature ◽  
Critical Study ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Artistic Creativity ◽  
Critical Studies ◽  
Religious Issues ◽  
Critical Methods ◽  
Selection Of

ملخص البحث: تتطرّق هذه الدراسة إلى قضايا شتى في رواية "أم النذور" للكاتب عبد الرحمن منيف، وتهدف إلى إظهار إبداعية الكاتب في صياغتها في روايته. يعتمد الباحثان في هذه الدراسة على المناهج الآتية: الوصف والتحليل والنقد؛ إذ يقومان بعرض نبذة عن حياة الروائي في بداية الدراسة، ثم يقومان بالتحليل والنقد للقضايا المتوافرة في الرواية مع التنويه بمظاهر الإبداع الفني فيها. تحاول هذه الدراسة الإسهام في إثراء الدراسات النقدية في الأدبي العربي فضلاً عن توسيع المراجع المتعلقة بفن السيرة والتراجم. ومما توصّل إليه الباحثان من خلال هذه الدراسة أن رواية "أم النذور" تحمل في طياتها قضايا عديدة، وهي تنقسم إلى ثلاثة أقسام، أولها القضايا الاجتماعية، ومن أهمها الشعوذة وغيرها من أمور الغيبيات والمعتقدات الخرافية. وثانيها القضايا الإنسانية التي لها علاقة بشعور الإنسان وعاطفته، وثالثها القضايا الدينية التي ترتبط بالأبعاد الإسلامية، وفضلاً عن ذلك، وجدت الدراسة أن الكاتب وفّق في رسم الشخصيات، وانتقاء أسمائها، وبناء الأحداث في روايته، كما تبدو كذلك محاولته في تشويه سمعة الرجال المتديّنين.   الكلمات المفتاحية: رواية "أم النذور" – عبد الرحمن منيف – القضايا – الشعوذة – الجوانب الإسلامية.    Abstract: This study discusses various issues in the novel “Umm al-Nudhur” written by Abd al-Rahman Munif. It aims to highlight his creativy as formulated in his novel. The writers make use in the study descriptive, analytical and critical methods. The researchers present briefly an overview of the writer’s background at the beginning of the study and then analyze critically the various issues in the novel keeping in mind the artistic creativity of the novel. This study is expected to contribute to the existing critical studies of Arabic literature as well as to enrich the biographical references related to the art of biography wrting. In conclusion, the novel "Umm al-Nudzūr" is found to accommodate diverse issues which can be divided into three sections. First: social issues that encompass mystical belief such as witchcraft, sorcery and superstition. Second: human issues which are related to emotion and feeling of mankind. Third: religious issues that reflect the dimensions of Islam. This study also found the ability of Abd al-Rahman Munif to depict the characters through the selection of their name and building a successful plot. Apart from that, it could be seen indirectly that the writer attempts to defame the reputation of religious men in his novel.   Keywords: Novel “Umm al-Nudhur” – Abd al-Rahman Munif – Issues – Mystic Belief – Islamic Teaching.   Abstrak: Kajian ini membincangkan isu-isu yang dalam novel "Umm al-Nudhur" karya Abd al-Rahman Munif. Tujuan kajian ini dijalankan adalah untuk meninjau pemikiran Abd al-Rahman Munif, sekaligus menonjolkan cara penampilan kreativiti beliau dalam karya tersebut. Reka bentuk kajian ini adalah berdasarkan kepada metod deskriptif, analitikal dan kritis. Pengkaji mengemukakan biografi penulis secara ringkas pada permulaan kajian, disusuli dengan analisis dan kritikan terhadap isu-isu yang dipaparkan dalam novel yang dikaji di samping menekankan aspek kreativiti penulis dalam mengolah isu-isu berkenaan. Kajian ini diharap dapat memberi sumbangan terhadap bidang kritikan dalam kesusasteraan Arab selain dapat menambah rujukan tentang seni penulisan biografi. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa novel “Umm al-Nudhur” mengandungi pelbagai isu dan persoalan yang boleh dikategorikan kepada tiga bahagian. Pertama: isu-isu kemasyarakatan melibatkan kepercayaan mistik seperti ilmu sihir, khurafat dan kepercayaan karut. Kedua: isu-isu kemanusiaan berkaitan emosi dan perasaan seseorang insan. Ketiga: isu-isu keagamaan yang memaparkan dimensi-dimensi ajaran Islam. Kajian ini juga dapat melihat kemampuan penulis dalam mempersembahkan jalan cerita secara baik, keupayaan beliau dalam menggambarkan setiap watak melalui pemilihan nama-nama sebilangan watak dan kejayaan beliau dalam menyusun plot yang berkesan. Selain itu, kajian juga mendapati bahawa Abd al-Rahman Munif cuba secara tidak langsung merendahkan reputasi golongan agamawan melalui novel tersebut.   Kata kunci: Novel “Umm al-Nudhur” – Abd al-Rahman Munif – Isu dan persoalan – Kepercayaan karut – Ajaran Islam.

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