Review article
https://doi.org/10.15291/csi.4801
Notes From а Trip: Folklore аnd Other Topics in the Letters of Stanko Vraz to Dragojla Štauduar
Marijana Togonal
orcid.org/0009-0003-7305-5125
; Croatian Catholic University, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
A valuable source of information about Vraz’s folklore
travels, ambitions, and plans can be found in his letters.
These letters contain collected folk songs and chants, as
well as notes on his experiences during his travels. They
also cover numerous other topics that are important for reconstructing
Vraz’s life and literary work. Vraz maintained
regular communication with his contemporaries, including
the Illyrian native Dragojla Štauduareva. Štauduareva was
part of a group that supported the work and activities of the
Illyrians. The first part of this paper will present a model
of socialization among the Illyrians and their supporters,
using the example of their gatherings at the parish church
in Marija Bistrica during the time of Ivan Krizmanić, who
was Štauduareva’s uncle. It was in Marija Bistrica that
Vraz and Štauduareva first met. The relationship between
Vraz and Štauduareva was directly influenced by Ljudevit
Gaj, who was related to Štauduareva by family. This paper
will analyse the reasons for the estrangement between the
two friends, which ultimately affected the content and tone
of some of Vraz’s letters. In the second part of the paper,
Vraz’s letters to Štauduareva will be interpreted using content
analysis, with an emphasis on three components: (1)
factual data, (2) ethnographic descriptions, and (3) elements
of literary and artistic style.
Keywords
Dragojla Štauduar; folkloristics; correspondence; Marija Bistrica; Stanko Vraz
Hrčak ID:
334036
URI
Publication date:
25.7.2025.
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