This bachelor's thesis examines the life, scholarly work, and literary production of Pavel Strmšek (1891–1965), a literary historian, educator, and writer whose contribution to Slovenian literature has remained largely overlooked. Particular attention is devoted to four previously unpublished prose texts preserved in manuscript form. For the purposes of this study, the texts were transcribed, analysed from a literary perspective, and compared with selected works of world literature.
The theoretical framework is based primarily on the literary concepts developed by Matjaž Kmecl, especially his discussions of the fable, short prose narrative, plot, and narrative structures. The analysis highlights recurring motifs such as rivalry, pride, mortality, death, and the relationship between humans and nature, while also emphasizing the symbolic, didactic, and moral dimensions of Strmšek's prose. Comparative readings alongside works by Jean de La Fontaine, Oscar Wilde, Nikolai Gogol, and other authors demonstrate that Strmšek's writings participate in broader European literary traditions while retaining distinctive features of the Slovenian rural and cultural environment.
An important contribution of the thesis is the presentation of Ljudmila Štrekelj's life and the inclusion of an interview with Strmšek's granddaughter, Nataša Schlabschy, which provides valuable insight into the author's family background and creative process. The thesis concludes that Strmšek's literary legacy deserves greater scholarly attention, as it represents a meaningful contribution to Slovenian narrative prose of the first half of the twentieth century and offers promising opportunities for further research.
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