The world of Digenes Akrites on proper names in the Grottaferrata version, taking into account historical layers and literary association possibilities Cover Image

Die Welt des Digenes Akrites Zu den Eigennamen in der Grottaferrata-Version unter Berücksichtigung historischer Schichten und literarischer Assoziationsmöglichkeiten
The world of Digenes Akrites on proper names in the Grottaferrata version, taking into account historical layers and literary association possibilities

Author(s): Ondřej Cikán, Markéta Kulhánková
Subject(s): Theoretical Linguistics, Middle Ages, Philology
Published by: AV ČR - Akademie věd České republiky - Slovanský ústav and Euroslavica
Keywords: proper noun; poems; G manuscript; Paulician layer; Kommagenian layer; speaking names; intertextual connections;

Summary/Abstract: This paper summarizes and complements the research on the proper nouns used in the poem, with a special focus on the G manuscript. Starting with an account of the historical and literary layers of the epos, it continues with an exploration of personal names. Most of them can be sorted into either the Paulician or the Kommagenian layer, while contamination of the two layers and doubling of the names is frequent. Further, geographical names and demonyms are examined. The main aim of the article is to highlight the importance of speaking names, intertextual connections, and literary associations, which often must have been of great importance for the medieval recipient. Especially in the G version, the intentional and creative use of names helps to emphasize the main themes and so to preserve the coherence and the unity of the episodic poem.

  • Issue Year: LXXVIII/2020
  • Issue No: 1-2
  • Page Range: 240-261
  • Page Count: 22
  • Language: German