The influence of the animal motif on the presentation of various images of femininity in selected Olga Tokarczuk’s works

Abstract

The main topic of the article is the literary motif of animals and its role in selected works by Olga Tokarczuk (including “Tales of the Bizarre”, “Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead”, “E.E”, and “Day House, Night House”). The main objective of the article is to indicate the way in which Polish writer uses the animal motif to present various images of femininity, using the example of selected literary heroines. At the beginning, the animal motif is presented as one of the most universal literary motifs. The text also includes the most important functions of this motif in literature from ancient times to the present day. Particular attention is paid to its understanding in the context of femininity. Then Olga Tokarczuk is presented as one of the representatives of the Polish feminist literary movement. Then, using selected examples, it is presented how selected motifs of animals are introduced into Tokarczuk’s work and how they correlate with the features of the main characters, illustrating their character, reflecting their psychological state, and also showing the stage of life they are in, ranging from youth through adulthood to senility.