The aim of this graduate thesis is to present the symbolism of bread in fiction and non-fiction works of Slovene authors. The books depict events that happened douring World War I which give us some insight into a time when food was scarce. One of the most important foods back then was bread which holds an important place in Slovene cultural heritage and is considered to be an important Slovenian value in general. If we analyse peoples' relationship to bread during the war and compare it with the way bread is treated today, in a society of abundance, a great change can be seen. In the thesis, the opinions of Slovene population and the soldiers perspectives of bread are dealt with; moreover, the symbolism of bread is presented in the following memoirs: Na krvavih poljanah by Ivan Matičič, Zapiski vojaka (1914-1921) by Leopold Vadnjal and Dnevnik (1914-1920) by Fran Milčinski. Other prose works in which the motive of bread is analysed are: Pomladni dan by Ciril Kosmač, Gadje gnezdo by Vladimir Levstik and Doberdob by Prežihov Voranc. Among Slovenes, bread is the symbol of survival, and dignity, and is deeply connected to the Christian tradition. Farmer's bread is a symbol of the villages the caracters in the works call home, and the memories of these places they hold dear, while white bread is associated with wealth. Soldiers in World War I considered wheat bread to be a treasure, while the military bread called komis was symbol of hunger, shortage and sickness. Potica is a traditional holiday bread, and represents abundance; it helped lift people's spirit in the mist of the raging war.
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