“You cannot become Moominmamma only because you brought  a table outside”. A biographical-intertextual interpretation of  the Moominmamma character in Tove Jansson’s books Cover Image

„Nie można stać się Mamą Muminka tylko dlatego, że się wyniosło stół na dwór”. Biograficzno-intertekstualna interpretacja postaci Mamy Muminka w książkach Tove Jansson
“You cannot become Moominmamma only because you brought a table outside”. A biographical-intertextual interpretation of the Moominmamma character in Tove Jansson’s books

Author(s): Hanna Dymel-Trzebiatowska
Subject(s): Anthropology, Philosophy, Studies of Literature
Published by: Uniwersytet Gdański
Keywords: Moominmamma; characterization; biography; intertexts

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the article is to explore the phenomenon of Moominmamma via biographical and intertextual reading of the Moomin books by Tove Jansson. Moominmamma is a sophisticated figure, multileveled and dynamic within the series. Furthermore, she seems to be the most deliberate character already from the first volume. She embodies not only tolerance and joy inspired by Jansson’s mother, Signe Hammarsten-Jansson, but her characterization also includes deeper intertextual references. Experienced readers can, for example, spot elements of the élan vital concept by Henri Bergson, Socratic maieutics, or features of the apostle Paul’s Hymn of Love

  • Issue Year: 21/2017
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 9-21
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Polish