Gothic elements in the novel Valerie a týden divů

ČOUPKOVÁ, Eva. Gothic elements in the novel Valerie a týden divů. In All That Gothic 2, Katedra anglistiky, University of Lodz, 9. - 11. října 2014. 2014.

Basic information

• Original name: Gothic elements in the novel Valerie a týden divů
• Authors: ČOUPKOVÁ, Eva (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: All That Gothic 2, Katedra anglistiky, University of Lodz, 9. - 11. října 2014, 2014.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Presentations at conferences
• Field of Study: 60200 6.2 Languages and Literature
• Country of publisher: Poland
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14640/14:00077674
• Organization unit: Language Centre
• Keywords in English: Nezval; Gothic elements; film; Surrealism; Valerie

Abstract

The paper discusses the Gothic motifs in the Surrealistic novel of the Czech poet, writer and translator Vítězslav Nezval. The novel Valérie a týden divů was written in 1935 but remained unpublished until 1945, becoming Nezval’s least known but most Surrealistic fiction. As critics have shown, Nezval drew on many sources – M.G. Lewis’s The Monk, K.H. Mácha’s poem May, F.W. Murnau’s film Nosferatu, or Ann Radcliffe’s The Mysteries of Udolpho. Valérie is a variation on the Gothic novel as Nezval was a Gothic enthusiast. There are several Gothic motifs in Valérie: the grandmother’s house which resembles a Gothic castle; anti-Catholic sentiment embodied in the figure of the priest Gratian, who is a great orator able to control crowds through the force of his prayer, but also a rapist who attempts to seduce Valerie; disguises, which sometimes bring about comic effects; and an almost baroque theatricality in scenes like the wedding procession and reception. Nezval’s Valérie a týden divů inspired the director Jaromil Jireš who created the film of the same name in 1970.