THE PERCEPTION OF BOSNIA IN IVO ANDRIC'S WORKS

Abstract

This paper provides analysis of critical aspects of Ivo Andric’s literary oeuvre, with a particular emphasis on the image of Bosnia. It also offers interpretation of his major characters’ critical perception of Bosnia with particular reference to the fact that these characters are foreigners in Bosnia, or, in a broader sense, the others. In his literary work Andric often writes about Bosnia, its people, history and mentality; his observations are serious, analytical, profound, fundamental and frequently unpleasant. But it is also very common for his narrative procedure that such observations are made in the form of criticism of, or advice to, Bosnian people by depiction of foreign characters. We therefore decided to scrutinize such images, perceptions and such opinion, to make a typology and analyze those cognitions and self-cognitions with the main aim of attending deeper understanding of Andric’s oeuvre and criticism.