Topophilie und topophobie in stig sæterbakkens roman Gjennom natten

Abstract

This article focuses on the emotional perception of space in Stig Sæterbakkenʼs novel Gjennom natten (2012). Topoanalysis is used to examine the various emotions that the protagonist Karl feels about specific spaces – be it a house, an apartment, a part of an apartment, or a city. It turns out that space serves as a projection surface for Karlʼs feelings. Therefore, his descriptions of the respective spaces usually coincide with the narratorʼs mood, and in this sense, topoanalysis allows us to predict and better understand the motivations behind the protagonistʼs actions. Based on Gaston Bachelardʼs space concept and Yi-Fu Thuanʼs terminology, Karl's feelings are classified as topophilia (love of place) and topophobia (fear of place). However, the analysis has shown that the binary opposition topophilia-topophobia is not sufficient for determining the emotions presented and, therefore, the terms “topoaversion” and “topoanimosity” are introduced.