GATALICA
GATALICA
Author(s): Petar PijanovićContributor(s): Dragan Purešić (Translator)
Subject(s): Comparative Study of Literature, Serbian Literature, Theory of Literature, Sociology of Literature
Published by: Матица српска
Keywords: Laza Kostić; Simo Matavulj; Serbian literature; Serbian story; Serbian fable; gatka; gatalica; Aleksandar Gatalica; literary evaluation; literary criticism;
Summary/Abstract: At the very end of his life Laza Kostić wrote a very important essay, “On Simo Matavulj” („O Simi Matavulju”, 1909). Kostić’s evaluations and comments regarding the great story writer are crucial and interesting. Two of them are quite related. In the first comment he states that the list of Simo Matavulj’s works includes “fables and stories”,1 while in the second one the author of the essay considers what could have been gained if Matavulj had lived longer. Then he says: “A good and friendly eye could see that Simo’s longer life would only enrich and elevate the Serbian book, the Serbian fable (gatalica).”2 This shows that Laza Kostić joins “stories” with “fables” (gatka), and that he considers “the Serbian book” and “the Serbian fable” as the same thing. Omen est nomen. It seems that with its root, i.e. with its full form, the words “gatka” and “gatalica” determined not only the surname of our writer, Aleksandar Gatalica, but also his occupation.
Journal: Literary Links of Matica srpska
- Issue Year: 2017
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 87-100
- Page Count: 14
- Language: English
