Høje kvinder og fede mænd: Karikatur som et stilistisk virkemiddel i Karen Blixens fortællinger

Abstract

Visual art is one of the fundamental inspirational influences in the work of Karen Blixen and it is reflected not only on the thematic level, but also in the technical construction of the text. One of its manifestations is the use of the caricature technique. Not only does Blixen thematize the substance of caricature on the textual level, she also uses it to describe the characters, over-emphasizing one of the character’s particular physiognomic features. The over-emphasized part often gains a symbolic meaning in relation to the character or even to the theme of the story. In addition, certain characteristic features can be found in more characters appearing in different stories; when comparing the meaning of the given feature across stories, we can reveal archetypal features of Blixen’s heroes and heroines, who are often depicted by means of caricature.

Keywords

• karen blixen
• danish literature
• caricature
• literary caricature
• archetype