TNTL 112

Maria-Theresia Leuker

Katholieke en protestantse martelaren in de negentiende-eeuwse Nederlandse literatuur. Over de nationale mythologie van Nederland

Abstract - In this study on Roman-Catholic and Protestant martyrs in nineteenth-century Dutch literature, a connection is established between scientific historical discourse and literary interdiscourse concerning Dutch mythology and the origin of Dutch national identity, which comprises several identities reflecting the pluriformity of opinions on national history. These investigations show that elements of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century history and culture were used in a popularized form as founding stories with respect to Dutch national identity. Roman-Catholic, Protestant and conciliatory points of view can be recognized in this literary interdiscourse. In scientific historical discourse and in literary interdiscourse, martyrological myths have denominational and national aspects, but in both the view is expressed that a collective national identity can only be established through a pluriform interpretation of the past.