ONE’S OWN AND FOREIGN MEMORY IN THE NOVEL “THE FRIEND AND THE STRANGER” BY UWE TIMM

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ONE’S OWN AND FOREIGN MEMORY IN THE NOVEL “THE FRIEND AND THE STRANGER” BY UWE TIMM

Journal Title: ІНОЗЕМНА ФІЛОЛОГІЯ - Year 2018, Vol 131, Issue

Abstract

The term “memory” is usually understood as a complex phenomenon and refers both to the physiological and mental processes, which deals with such areas as medicine, biology and psychology, it gives an opportunity to gain experience and it applies the focus of the sociological, political, cultural and literary research. This also requires different approaches to the analysis of memory concepts. These approaches may be particularly relevant to the study the concept of memory in contemporary German literature, as well as it correlates with the modern consciousness of the past. The opening of numerous historic museums, memorial plaques, art and photography exhibitions, production of historical fi lms throughout Europe testifi es that such events as the First and the Second World Wars, revolutions, crimes against humanity have become the central part of the culture of remembrance. The article deals with to the problem of reconstruction of individual and collective memory and the processing of historical experience. The author attempted to analyze the ways of functioning and interaction between individual and collective memory in fi ction. The subject of the study is the novel written by German contemporary writer Uwe Timm “The Friend and the Stranger” (“Der Freund und der Fremde”, (2005)), which combines historical and autobiographical components. The research of the novel “The Friend and the Stranger” is based on theoretical works of Maurice Halbwachs, who was the fi rst to introduce the notion of collective and individual memory, justifying their interaction, as well as the generative approach of Aleida Assmann. The prerequisites of the emergence of a number of works devoted to the theme of the past, in the modern German literary space are revealed. The generational aspect and socio-cultural approaches to the study of artistic work are described. It was established that the author attempts to analyze again the role of personality of Beno Onesorg in the historical context and his involvement in the students’ movement, whose activity occurred in 1967–1968, also to present him as a person who does not deal with politics. The author actualizes the individual memory and complements the narration by his own memories too, indicates the interaction of collective and individual memory in the process of processing the historical past with the help of recollecting the circumstances of the students’ murder. He complements the memories with the offi cial documents, letters, stories, refl ecting the image of a friend, who consolidates collective memory of the Germans.

Authors and Affiliations

Mariya Tretevych

Keywords

memory individual memory collective memory generation reminiscence historical experience

EP ID EP468873
DOI 10.30970/fpl.2018.131.2149
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