Possessed by the “powers of horror” of The Great War Cover Image

La possession par les « pouvoirs de l’horreur » de la Grande Guerre
Possessed by the “powers of horror” of The Great War

Author(s): Anna Branach-Kallas, Piotr Sadkowski
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Studies of Literature, Comparative Study of Literature, Pre-WW I & WW I (1900 -1919), Theory of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: Great War; spectre; abjection; fantastic fiction;

Summary/Abstract: In this article, we aim to analyse the representations of the First World War as a cultural trauma in three works of fiction classified as belonging to the “néofantastique” convention, which, according to Jean‑Pierre Andrevon, summarises “our fears and uncertainties”. We intend to demonstrate that in “La scie patriotique” (1997), by Nicole Caligaris, “La vigie” (1998) and by Thierry Jonquet, “Cris” (2001) by Laurent Gaudé, the Great War is approached either explicitly or metaphorically, yet at the same time indicative of the phenomena of spectre and abjection.

  • Issue Year: 11/2016
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 207-216
  • Page Count: 10
  • Language: French