SPECIFICITY OF LITERATURE AND CULTURE OF REMEMBRANCE IN UWE TIMMʼS NOVEL «IN MY BROTHERʼS SHADOW»

Abstract

The article deals with the specificity of literature and culture of remembrance in Uwe Timmʼs novel “In my brothers shadow”. The aim of the study is to reveal the features of the literature and culture of remembrance in the novel. The aim is to solve the following tasks: to investigate the relationship of historical facts and fictional elements in the text; to analyze individual and collective memory in the novel; to reveal the important role of memories to cope with traumatic experiences. Analysis of the novel suggests that the author skillfully combines documented historical facts with memories in the text. This approach gives the depicted events authenticity and credibility, inspires confidence in the reader. U. Timm emphasizes that individual memories form a collective memory, which is part of culture. In the novel, he refers to his memories, as well as the memories of his family and those who survived the horrors of the Holocaust. Finally, the author emphasizes that keeping silent about the experienced events or their continuous discussion is a way to cope with the traumatic experience of the past. The author himself sees in the process of recollection the possibility of liberation from the burden of memories.