Refocalization as a Strategy of Apocryphal Rewriting

Abstract

The paper discusses refocalization as a strategy of rewriting in the literary apocrypha (D. Szajnert). Refocalization, that is based on G. Genette and H. Jenkins’ conclusions, refers to the shift from the perspective and narrative that dominates canonical works into perspective and narrative predominant in the literary apocrypha of the canonical works. As the subject of research I chose the apocrypha of the Homeric epics (M. Atwood’s The Penelopiad and Ch. Wolf ’s Cassandra) in which patriarchal, omniscient narrative is replaced by perspective and narrative of women marginalized in the epic.