THE HOUSE AS A SYMBOL OF IDENTITY CONTINUITY IN ONDREJ ŠTEFANKO’S BOOK “UNSPEAKABLE”
THE HOUSE AS A SYMBOL OF IDENTITY CONTINUITY IN ONDREJ ŠTEFANKO’S BOOK “UNSPEAKABLE”
Author(s): Elisabeta SalvaSubject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Literary Texts, Essay|Book Review |Scientific Life, Anthology, Fiction, Studies of Literature, Novel, Short Story, Slovak Literature, Cultural Essay, Philology, Theory of Literature, Sociology of Literature
Published by: Editura Arhipelag XXI
Keywords: house; identity; symbol; memory; Slovak literature in Romania; Ondrej Štefanko; cultural continuity;
Summary/Abstract: This article explores the symbolic significance of the house in Ondrej Štefanko’s poetry volume Nespus nici în cuvânt (Unspoken Even in Words), focusing on its role in shaping and preserving cultural identity. Drawing on theories of symbolic space and identity developed by Gaston Bachelard, Ivan Evseev, Romul Munteanu and other scholars, the study examines how domestic imagery functions as a repository of memory, belonging and continuity. The analysis highlights the recurring motifs of the house, courtyard, gate, garden and family table, revealing their contribution to the construction of both individual and collective identity within the Slovak community in Romania. The house emerges not merely as a physical dwelling, but as a symbolic center where personal memory, family heritage and ethnic belonging converge, ensuring the continuity of cultural values across generations.
Journal: Journal of Romanian Literary Studies
- Issue Year: 2026
- Issue No: 45
- Page Range: 381-386
- Page Count: 6
- Language: Romanian
