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EXISTENTIALISM IN LITERATURE

K. Slamova

First published: 2019https://doi.org/10.5593/SWS.ISCAH.2019.1/S27.061View metrics

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the connection between existential philosophy and the literary work of particular authors. In the first part, it will focus on the work of Egon Hostovsky, who belongs to the typical representatives of existential prose. Due to his Jewish origin, Hostovsky was forced to stay in exile at the time of the occupation of Czechoslovakia, but he felt very dissatisfied and never came to terms with his destiny of the emigrant. His feelings became the basis for his existentially oriented prose. The second part will be devoted to Jiri Mahen, trying to point out some features that can be identified with existentialism, even though this author is not traditionally considered an existentialist. Specifically, the paper will focus on his novel Nejlepsi dobrodruzstvi (The Best Adventure), set in the post-World War I era and dealing with the fate of the three main characters, representatives of three different generations. All of them seek the meaning of life, but each of them is looking for it in their own way. Finally, in the third part, the paper will mention the legacy of the Beat Generation literary movement revolting against middle-class values regarded as representatives of existentialism.

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Publication details

Title
EXISTENTIALISM IN LITERATURE
Authors
K. Slamova
Proceedings
6th SWS International Scientific Conference on Arts and Humanities ISCAH 2019
Publisher
STEF92 Technology
Year
2019
Pages
481-488
SWS Citekey
Slamova201927481488
ISSN
2682-9940
ISBN
978-619-7408-90-4
Language
en
Publication type
Proceedings Paper
Keywords
existentialismexileemigrantEgon HostovskyJiri Mahen
References7

  1. Kossak J. Existencialismus ve filozofii a literatuЕ™e, Praha: Svoboda, p. 29, 79, 216, 2004.

  2. Neff V. FilosofickГЅ slovnГ­k pro samouky neboli Antigorgias, Praha: DruЕѕstevnГ­ prГЎce, p. 144, 1948.

  3. ДЊernГЅ V. PrvnГ­ a druhГЅ seЕЎit o existencialismu, Praha: MladГЎ fronta, p. 36, 1992.

  4. VlaЕЎГ­n Е . JiЕ™Г­ Mahen, Praha: Melantrich, p. 32, 1972.

  5. Mahen J. NejlepЕЎГ­ dobrodruЕѕstvГ­, Brno: Rovnost, p. 26, 1950.

  6. Mahen J. Kniha o ДЌeskГ©m charakteru, kapitola 3.,VyЕЎkov: FrantiЕЎek Obzina, p. 27, 47, 110, 112, 1924.

  7. B.U. Bridge: Boston University community‘s weekly newspaper, No. 16, 2001, p. 1

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