The following master’s dissertation tries to answer how and if the Slovene writers from Primorska region portrayed the Italians in their novels. The results of the research of time novels (9) and historical novels (9) showed that in time novels, the Italians are associated with Fascism, while in historical novels they are associated with Longboards, Gorizia counts and Patriarchate of Aquileia. The Slovene writers attributed specific physical and characteristic traits, names and language to the Italians, and placed them in a specific place and time. Possible stereotypes are derived from the above mentioned traits: visual appearance with clothing and bodily features, characteristic appearance with speech (eloquence and gesture), cruelty, philandering and two-faced cowardice. In historical novels, nepotism, incompetence and laziness are present. Rare positive traits are associated with language knowledge and opposition to the authorities. They are represented as a group in a form of authority officials, who occupy the leading positions. The Slovenes, both literary characters as writers, perceive the Slovene collaborators as traitors, who are divided into helpers and friends. The latter are physically disabled, take over bad habits of the Italians and their way of dressing. The Italians are involved in some love affairs with the Slovene women, while in historical novels the Slovenes are involved with the Italian women. In some works, writers use the Italian language and the Italian names for Italian characters and places in order to illustrate their traits. The Slovenes were subjected to a lot of pressure and language restrictions; a Slovene misunderstanding of the Italian language and an Italian misunderstanding of the Slovene language is described. A description of apathy is present. In time novels, the struggle for domination is described with the metaphor of the struggle between politics and the church, while in historical novels, between the church and the pagans. There is a connection to the Bible. In time novels, the ethnicity is represented by Italian and Slovene literature and culture. On the local level, the differences between the Italians and the Slovenes are shown in the position (high: low) and between the town and the village; the happening place of the Italians is enclosed space, meanwhile the happening place of the Slovenes is connected with nature, the latter is especially expressed in historical novels where the pagans are bound to special (mountain) places. In terms of time frame, the novels are divided into longer and shorter development. They are situated in a specific period of time based on recorded years, historical events and important personalities or professions.
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