[Self-harm in fiction literature].
European literature contains fictional descriptions of self-harm and self-punishment over a time span of almost 2 500 years. This article presents such descriptions, from Sofocles' tragedy about King Oedipus to contemporary literature. Particular interest is dedicated to the Austrian Nobel prize laureate Elfriede Jelinek and the Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgård. In Jelinek's fictional universe, self-harm is particularly related to the topic of autonomy in a family context; while Knausgård describes the role of shame in triggering and sustaining self-harming behaviour.
Avdeling for helse- og sosialfag, Høgskolen i Lillehammer, 2626 Lillehammer. finns@online.no
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D001317:Austria; D004324:Drama; D018645:Greek World; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008513:Medicine in Literature; D009664:Norway; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000266:history*; D013561:Symbolism