Difference between revisions of "D.J. Opperman"

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'''Diederik (or Dirk) Johannes Opperman''', commonly referred to as '''D.J. Opperman''', (1914-1985) was a hugely influential [[Afrikaans]] poet, dramatist, critic and university lecturer.  
 
'''Diederik (or Dirk) Johannes Opperman''', commonly referred to as '''D.J. Opperman''', (1914-1985) was a hugely influential [[Afrikaans]] poet, dramatist, critic and university lecturer.  
  
His most formidable contribution to South African literature (besides his own resounding poetry), must be the comprehensive ''Groot Verseboek'' (“Great book of verse”) which first appeared in 1956, and became the definitive canonizing instrument in [[Afrikaans]] literature, a work he periodically updated. He was editor of the journal ''Standpunte'' for many years, while his poetry workshop in the [[University of Stellenbosch]]’s Department of Afrikaans and Dutch was enormously influential, with numerous later poets, writers, critics and dramatists passing through his hands. (Among these later dramatists were [[Pieter Fourie]], [[Herman Pretorius]], [[Marlene van Niekerk]], [[Charles Fryer]] and others.
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His most formidable contribution to South African literature (besides his own resounding poetry), must be the comprehensive ''Groot Verseboek'' (“Great book of verse”) which first appeared in 1956, and became the definitive canonizing instrument in [[Afrikaans]] literature, a work he periodically updated. He was editor of the journal ''Standpunte'' for many years, while his poetry workshop in the [[University of Stellenbosch]]’s Department of Afrikaans and Dutch was enormously influential, with numerous later poets, writers, critics and dramatists passing through his hands. (Among these later dramatists were [[Pieter Fourie]], [[Herman Pretorius]], [[Marlene van Niekerk]], [[Charles Fryer]] and others. (Tucker)
  
 
He was awarded the [[Hertzog Prize]] four times: twice for [[Afrikaans]] Drama (1956 & 1969) and twice for [[Afrikaans]] poetry (1947 & 1980).
 
He was awarded the [[Hertzog Prize]] four times: twice for [[Afrikaans]] Drama (1956 & 1969) and twice for [[Afrikaans]] poetry (1947 & 1980).
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CNA Award for: ''Dolosse'' (1964) and ''Komas uit 'n bamboesstok'' (1980).
 
CNA Award for: ''Dolosse'' (1964) and ''Komas uit 'n bamboesstok'' (1980).
  
WA Hofmeyr Prize for:
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WA Hofmeyr Prize for: ''[[Periandros van Korinthe]]'' (1954), ''Blom en Baaierd'' (1956), ''Dolosse'' (1966) and ''Komas uit 'n bamboesstok'' (1980).
1954 Periandros van Korinthe, 1956 Blom en Baaierd, 1966 Dolosse and 1980 Komas uit 'n bamboesstok
 
Louis Luyt prize 1980 for : Komas uit 'n bamboesstok
 
Gustav Preller Prize 1985 for literary criticism
 
  
Doctor honoris causa:
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Louis Luyt Prize for : ''Komas uit 'n bamboesstok'' (1980).
1968 University of Natal, 1976 University of Stellenbosch, 1980 University of Cape Town and 1982 University of Pretoria
 
  
1956: Prize of the Drie-Eeue Stigting
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Honorary Doctorates from: [[University of Natal]] (1968), [[University of Stellenbosch]] (1976), [[University of Cape Town]] (1980) and [[University of Pretoria]] (1982).
In the sixties he became a Honorary Member of the Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie voor Nederlandse Taal- en Letterkunde
 
1970: Diplôme d'Honneur du Prix de la Propagande
 
1979: KWV Award
 
1977: Diploma, União Brasileira de Escritores, Manaus
 
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==

Revision as of 07:36, 26 July 2016

Diederik (or Dirk) Johannes Opperman, commonly referred to as D.J. Opperman, (1914-1985) was a hugely influential Afrikaans poet, dramatist, critic and university lecturer.

His most formidable contribution to South African literature (besides his own resounding poetry), must be the comprehensive Groot Verseboek (“Great book of verse”) which first appeared in 1956, and became the definitive canonizing instrument in Afrikaans literature, a work he periodically updated. He was editor of the journal Standpunte for many years, while his poetry workshop in the University of Stellenbosch’s Department of Afrikaans and Dutch was enormously influential, with numerous later poets, writers, critics and dramatists passing through his hands. (Among these later dramatists were Pieter Fourie, Herman Pretorius, Marlene van Niekerk, Charles Fryer and others. (Tucker)

He was awarded the Hertzog Prize four times: twice for Afrikaans Drama (1956 & 1969) and twice for Afrikaans poetry (1947 & 1980).

Biography

Youth

He was born on 29 September 1914 in Dundee in Natal, where he grew up. He went to school in the towns of Estcourt and Vryheid.

Training

Studied at the University of Natal and graduated with an M.A. Degree.

Career

Directly after graduating from university Opperman first taught at schools in Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg. He later on became editor of the popular weekly Afrikaans-language general interest family magazine, Die Huisgenoot. In 1949 he became a lecturer at the University of Cape Town. In 1960 he was appointed professor of Afrikaans at the University of Stellenbosch, a position he filled until his retirement in 1975. During this period he also served on the editorial board of the publication Standpunte ("Points of View"). Dirk Opperman died in Stellenbosch in 1985.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Opperman wrote three full-length stage plays, all verse plays: Periandros van Korinthe (1954), Vergelegen (1956) and Voëlvry (1968).

His plays were however seldom really effective on stage and certainly the weakest of his literary works, despite the perrenial prescription of Periandros van Korinthe as a drama text for schools and universities. Nevertheless, he was twice awarded the Hertzog Prize for Drama. (Tucker)

Awards, etc

Hertzog Prize for Afrikaans Poetry: 1947 (Heilige Beeste) and 1980 (Komas uit 'n bamboesstok).

Hertzog Prize for Afrikaans Drama: 1956 (Periandros van Korinthe) and 1969 (Voëlvry).

Gustav Preller Prize for Literature and Literary Criticism (1985).

SA Academy of Arts and Science: Honorary Member (1983).

CNA Award for: Dolosse (1964) and Komas uit 'n bamboesstok (1980).

WA Hofmeyr Prize for: Periandros van Korinthe (1954), Blom en Baaierd (1956), Dolosse (1966) and Komas uit 'n bamboesstok (1980).

Louis Luyt Prize for : Komas uit 'n bamboesstok (1980).

Honorary Doctorates from: University of Natal (1968), University of Stellenbosch (1976), University of Cape Town (1980) and University of Pretoria (1982).

Sources

Tucker, 1997

Wikipedia [1]

Afrikaans Wikipedia [2]

Stellenbosch Writers website [3]

LitNet [4]

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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