'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. ...