'n Ondersoek na die aard en samestelling van die volksboek met toespitsing op Komas uit 'n bamboesstok van D.J. Opperman
Abstract
PRECIS : KOMAS UIT 'n BAMBOESSTOK BY D. J. OPPERMAN AS A
MODERN SOPHISTICATED CHAP-BOOK
On the title page of Komas uit 'n bamboesstok by D. J. Opperman the words "'n
Volksboek"appear. This is an indication that it was the poet's intention to present the
collection of poems as a traditional chap-book, typical of those that appeared during the
sixteenth 10 eighteenth centuries.
In this study the character and composition of the traditional chap-book have been
explained and the internal a.s well as the external features of this literary form have been
indicated. In accordance with this, Komas uit 'n bamboesstok has been examined to
see if any of these characteristics arc found. The conclusion of the study shows that
most of the features that arc characteristic of the traditional chap-book arc present in
Kamas uit 'n bamboesstok, although there arc some aspects in which there are
differences.
The black and white photograph that h:is been used on the cover and the title page
resemble the illustrations that appeared in traditional chap-book . Also the layout of
the title page which was based on the title pages of Atlas Nouveau of Guillaume de
L'lsle and the journal of Bontekoe, compares with that of the chap-book. The journal
of Bontekoe describes his travels and it was published in the form of a chap-book. The
story was edited by Jan Janz. Dcutel. The text by Opperman is also based on the Travels
of Marco Polo the Venetian, which was edited by Rustichiano from Piza. On the title
page of Korn.as uit ' n bamboesstok it is indicated that the story is that of Marco Polo
and the editor is D. J. Opperman. The collection is divided into seven rolls with a pro- and epilogue as in some of the chap-books of the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries.
Internally the contents of Kamas uit 'n bamboesstok comprises several different
documents, as with many of the traditional chap-books. The main document is a report
10 the academics of the University of Stellenbosch. This was the normal way of starting
a report in the traditional chap-book.
The collection of Opperman's poems isn't just a reproduction of an old literary form.
but also exceeds these forgotten books. This is accomplished by the use of various
masks, metaphors and words used with new meanings. Also the intertextual references
to other poets' and writers' works, to I.he same work and or her works by I.he same poet,
and to the Bible helps to create the dense network of outside information that has to be
taken into consideration when studying Kamas uit 'n bamboesstok. This aspect is the
most important difference between the Opperman work and the traditional chap-book. ...
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