Tijdschrift voor Nederlandse Taal- en Letterkunde

René Veenman

Meer dan sfeer: Jacques Perks verwijzingen naar klassieke poëzie in Eene helle- en hemelvaart

Abstract -- The Dutch poet Jacques Perk (1859-1881) is well-known for his Mathilde-cycle, published after his death by Willem Kloos in a famous edition. Perk himself, however, published ten poems out of the Mathilde-cycle in the periodical De Nederlandsche Spectator shortly before he died. This publication of the smaller cycle, Eene helle- en hemelvaart (‘A Journey to Hell and Heaven’), has been much neglected. Unrightfully so, since Perk gave each of the ten poems a Greek or Latin motto, while in Kloos’ edition only one has such a motto. By studying these mottos and other references it becomes clear Perk meant to describe a katabasis like those in the Aeneid and Odyssea. Furthermore, a reference to Ovid’s Fasti connects the ascent to heaven at the end of the cycle with poetic frenzy.

TNTL 120-1 (maart 2004), 57-64