Literature Forum

Chasing an impossible dream (First examples of literature on the area of Montenegro)

Vukota Vukotic — 2024-01-09

So little attention modern science in Montenegro gives to the problem of our oldest literature. Actually, we never know or exploit those boundaries. Our goal is to be objective and study the facts about the earliest form of literature in ancient province of Praevalitana, today Montenegro. Modern Montenegrin historiography attaches the beginning of literature for the novel of Andreacci from year 809 AD. That means that in one great period of time, more than half of millennium, we have no traces of written word in this area. For same period of time, we attach the foundation of antic town of Doclea, Roman government, creation of Praevalitana province, but also and start of Christianity, lack of traces of written words, seems impossible. Remains of material culture from the period of late antiquity, tell us about very developed culture, so our opinion is that we can say the same thing for literature.

Medium-conscious, self-standing literariness for diverse audiences in graphic novel adaptations of Alki Zei’s young adult novels

Evangelia Moula — 2024-01-19

This paper aims to critically comment on two adaptations of literary works by the internationally recognized Greek author, Alki Zei, in graphic novels. The works under discussion are Peter’s Great Walk and Wildcat Under Glass. At first and as a prerequisite for understanding the proposed approach, the role of storytelling in today’s media-dependent world is discussed. This is followed by a brief reference to the relationship of literature to the graphic novel genre, and to the notion of cognitive complexity as central to the “literariness” of a graphic adaptation. The interpretative toolkit to be used for the analysis of the texts is then delivered and the works under consideration are briefly presented. In the main part of the analysis, more criteria of graphic novels’ literariness are introduced. A key criterion of the self-contained literary quality of the adaptations is graphitization, as it fruitfully intersects and cross-fertilizes the visual style with the heroes’ characterization and the prevailing mood of the story. “Iconic solidarity” and focalization are used in the same direction. Graphic counterparts of literary expressions or Figurative language are also sought and the “authentication” index of adaptations is examined as an indication of the intended readership. In conclusion, it is perceived that both adaptations, although staying true to their sources, meet the conditions of a genre-specific literariness, but also differ in the degree of cognitive complexity, to the point of addressing different reading audiences.

Exploring the intersection of literature and professional identity: A comparative study of a Vietnamese EFL teacher and the literary character Chi Pheo

Le Thanh Thao — 2024-03-18

This study presents a unique exploration of the professional identity of a Vietnamese male teacher of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) through a comparative analysis with Chi Pheo, a character from Nam Cao’s Vietnamese literature. Conducted in the culturally rich Mekong Delta region, the research employs a qualitative case study methodology, utilizing in-depth interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis to delve into the intricate relationship between cultural narratives and educational practices. The findings reveal a complex professional identity marked by resilience, innovation, empathy, and a sophisticated balance between traditional and modern teaching methods. These characteristics, while showing parallels with Chi Pheo, particularly in terms of resilience and the quest for authenticity, also exhibit significant differences, most notably in the teacher’s constructive approach to challenges and commitment to student engagement. The study underscores the impact of cultural narratives on educational practices and highlights the dynamic nature of teacher identity in the Vietnamese context. It contributes to the literature on teacher identity by emphasizing the role of cultural and literary influences in shaping educational roles and practices. The research has implications for teacher training, curriculum development, and policy-making, advocating for approaches that are culturally responsive and pedagogically innovative. This investigation into the professional identity of a Vietnamese EFL teacher offers new perspectives on the interplay between literature, culture, and education, providing valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and researchers in the field of teacher identity and education.

A narrative discourse analysis of short story Soldier’s Home by Ernest Hemingway: A micro and macro-structural narrative analysis

Muhammad Hammad Hussain Shah — 2024-07-22

This article employs narrative discourse analysis to analyze Ernest Hemingway’s “Soldier’s Home” by using two narrative analysis frameworks that focus on the Macrostrucre and Microstructure aspects of the story. This analysis has been chosen to explain and understand that stories are not merely a sequence of events but as mirrors reflecting the intricacies of our own psyche, inviting us to confront our fears, desires, and the enigmatic depths of human nature and how lexical resources are deployed to express them. In exploring both structural and psychoanalytical dimensions of a story, we embark on a journey that transcends the pages of literature and resonates within the corridors of our consciousness, urging us to contemplate the narratives that shape our perceptions. The analysis covers the story’s generic structure using Paltridge’s model of schematic structure (2000), thematic nuances, psychoanalysis and lexico-grammatical cohesion. Findings show that the writer follows a series of structural moves and uses a variety of narrative strategies (e.g. high level of involvement and a wide range of lexical and grammatical cohesive ties) which contribute to the creation of a well-formed text that has effectively achieved its purpose and made its intended effect. The study aims to unveil the intricate structural and linguistic choices contributing to the meaning and impact of “Soldier’s Home” and the simple writing approach that Hemmingway has utilized to write this story.

Contribution of M. V. Dovnar-Zapolsky to the organization and acquisition of the Fundamental Library of the Kyiv Commercial Institute (1906-1917).

Zoya Borisovna Afanasyeva — 2024-08-12

The article is devoted to the director of the first private educational institution—the Kyiv Commercial Institute (KCI), Professor of the University of St. Vladimir Mitrofan Viktorovich Dovnar-Zapolsky—in the creation and acquisition of the book fund of the Fundamental Library of the educational institution, with an extensive system of specialized libraries in two departments (faculties) of the institute: the Student Library of textbooks, the Seminary of Financial and Economic Sciences, and the Museum of Commodity Science, with laboratories, specialized studies, and libraries. The purpose of the article is to highlight the role of M. V. Dovnar-Zapolsky in the acquisition of the Fundamental Library of the Institute and specialized libraries of educational support units’ studies on the basis of archival and published materials. The research methodology consists of the use of scientific methods: systemic, historical, and bibliographic; biographical and heuristic; analysis; and synthesis. The practical significance and scientific novelty of the article lie in the new and authentic knowledge obtained as a result of processing and analyzing a large array of archival documents and published materials about the personality of Professor Mitrofan Viktorovich Dovnar-Zapolsky, director of the KCI, as an initiator and active participant in the acquisition of the Institute’s library. Results and conclusions: on the basis of published and archival-historical materials, revealing the role of the director of the KCI, Professor Mitrofan Viktorovich, as an organizer and active participant in the acquisition of the necessary literature for the library of the Institute, which makes it possible for a wide range of modern biographers and scientists to obtain new information about the scientific and organizational activity of M. V. Dovnar-Zapolsky in the KCI.