Text Against Oblivion: The Theme of Death in the Works of Daniela Hodrová

Abstract

This article analyzes the representation of death in the literary works of the Czech writer and literary theorist Daniela Hodrová. The first part of the study provides a brief overview of the current state of literary thanatology and cites key interdisciplinary works essential to the analysis. The second part presents the analysis of Hodrová’s works, divided into two periods: her early novels of the 1990s (the trilogy Trýznivé město, 1991) and her 21st-century works (Vyvolávání, 2010; Točité věty, 2015). In Hodrová’s prose, death is present at all levels — compositional, motivic, and even within the system of characters — yet its representation undergoes a distinct evolution. In her early works, death dominates at the compositional level, serving as a catalyst for character initiation, and functions as an important theme, particularly the autobiographical experience of losing loved ones (father, husband, etc.). In her later texts, however, death is mythologized, transforming into a symbol. Here, the focus shifts from the physiology of dying and the experience of trauma to the issue of memory loss and methods of overcoming the oblivion of loved ones.

Received: 01.08.2025.
Revised: 15.02.2026.
Accepted: 17.03.2026.

Citation
Kozhina S. A. Text Against Oblivion: The Theme of Death in the Works of Daniela Hodrová // Slavic Almanac. 2026. No 1–2. P. 351–362 (in Russian). DOI: 10.31168/2073-5731.2026.1-2.19