MYTH AND FEMININE SELF-EXPRESSION IN THE POETRY OF ANNA LESZNAI AND ANNA HAJNAL

• Authors: Polgár Anikó
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

In this paper the author analyses the poetry of two Hungarian poetesses, Anna Lesznai and Anna Hajnal, from the perspective of myth as a means of feminine self-expression. Anna Lesznai (1885–1966) belonged to the first, while Anna Hajnal (1907–1977) belonged to the third generation of the journal Nyugat (1908–1941). The theoretical background relates to women’s studies, while, starting from myth as an energy reaching back to women’s own identity and lineage, also relies on the results of the French feminist school. In the works of Anna Lesznai and Anna Hajnal, the uncovering of the mythical layers of poetry is intertwined with the modes of expression of female identity. Lesznai’s typical alter ego, Melusine, who is not accepted back by nature, breaks from her partner as well as her children. Anna Hajnal melds together the Greek and Jewish traditions, making Greek deities a part of her own private mythology.

Keywords

EN

WOMEN; LITERATURE; HUNGARIAN LITERATURE; MYTHOLOGY; SELF-EXPRESSION; POETRY

• Publisher: Institute of World Literature, Slovak Academy of Sciences
• Journal: World Literature Studies
• Year: 2017
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 89 – 102

Contributors

author

Polgár Anikó

• Department of Hungarian Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts, Comenius University in Bratislava, Gondova 2, 814 99 Bratislava, Slovak Republic