Die rol van nostalgie binne die konsep van ontluistering in die werk van N.P. van Wyk Louw

Abstract

The reason for this study was to determine if there is any connection between nostalgia and the debunking effect in the work of N.P. van Wyk Louw Starting with a thorough explanation of the term nostalgia to establish any implications the word might have. They can be summarised as: A longing for a simple life without loneliness where the person will feel at home. A desire to reach a better understanding of God and the primordial as the source of all life. Nostalgia develops as a result of a interrelationship between the past, present and the future and an interrelationship between the abstract and concrete aspects of nostalgia. In short: Nostalgia is a desire to establish an Utopian existence. It was found that the secondary literature on the topic is of a limited nature. The literature relating to Van Wyk Louw concentrates mostly on Nuwe Verse and Tristia and especially on the type of language used in "Klipwerk" and the fact that the author resided in the Netherlands while writing these two books. To outline the developement of nostalgic tendencies, the theme-poem of every book was looked at and it was found that Alleenspraak, Die Halwe Kring and Gestaltes en Diere encompasses the desire aspect of nostalgia, while Nuwe Verse and Tristia have a bearing on the remembrance aspect. The study of the love-, monologue- and prophet-figures showed that the search for certainty and unity leads has a debunking effect. Innocence brings the primordial into play which was studied using the poem "Die Swart Luiperd". The study showed that it is impossible to return to origin of life. With the debunking of the abstract aspects of nostalgia, attention was given to the earthly aspects. In this regard it was also found that the human being is isolated. Lastly, the poem "Groot Ode" was looked at to see if the poet has any answer to the debunking effect of nostalgia. Here irony was suggested as an answer to the debunking effect of nostalgia and as something that would make nostalgia bearable.