Elfriede Jelinek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elfriede Jelinek
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Jelinek in 2004
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| Born | 20 October 1946 Mürzzuschlag, Austria |
| Occupation | Playwright, novelist |
| Education | University of Vienna |
| Genre | Feminism, social criticism, postdramatic theatre |
| Years active | 1963–present |
| Notable works | The Piano Teacher, Die Kinder der Toten, Greed |
| Notable awards | Georg Büchner Prize 1998 Nobel Prize in Literature 2004 |
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Elfriede Jelinek (born October 20, 1946) is a famous Austrian writer of plays and novels. She is known for being one of the most celebrated authors who write in the German language.
In 2004, she won the 2004 Nobel Prize in Literature. The Nobel committee praised her for her unique writing style. They said her work shows how common sayings and ideas in society can be silly and controlling. Many people think she is one of the most important living playwrights in the German-speaking world.
Contents
Life Story
Early Life and Education
Elfriede Jelinek was born in the town of Mürzzuschlag, Austria. She grew up in the city of Vienna. Her mother, Olga, was a director at a company and came from a Romanian-German family. Her father, Friedrich, was a Czech Jewish chemist. His last name, Jelínek, means "little deer" in the Czech language.
Her father was a smart chemist who was able to keep working during World War II. This protected him from the dangers that many other Jewish people faced. Sadly, many of his relatives were victims of the Holocaust.
Elfriede's mother wanted her to become a "Wunderkind," which is German for a child prodigy, in music. From a young age, Elfriede learned to play the piano, organ, guitar, violin, and other instruments. She later studied at the Vienna Conservatory and earned a diploma as an organist.
While trying to live up to her mother's high hopes, she also cared for her father, who was dealing with illness. At the same time, she studied art history and theater at the University of Vienna.
A Writer's Beginning
During her studies, Jelinek began to suffer from a strong anxiety disorder. This made it hard for her to be around people. She spent a year at her parents' house, feeling isolated. To help herself cope, she started to write. This became a form of therapy for her.
After a year, she started to feel better and began leaving the house again. She had been writing poems since she was young. Her first book, Lisas Schatten (Lisa's Shadow), was published in 1967. She won her first writing award in 1969.
In 1974, she married Gottfried Hüngsberg. They have an unusual marriage because they live in two different cities. Jelinek lives in Vienna, while her husband lives in Munich, Germany. She has said that traveling back and forth has been good for their relationship.
Writing and Beliefs
Jelinek's writing is deeply connected to Austrian culture, even though she often criticizes her home country. She is known for questioning Austria's history, especially its role during the Nazi era. Her work is influenced by other great Austrian writers like Ingeborg Bachmann and Robert Musil.
What Does She Write About?
Jelinek's writing often focuses on three main topics:
- How modern society is too focused on buying and selling things.
- The lasting effects of Austria's fascist past on people's lives.
- The unfair treatment of women in society.
She has said that the tradition of Jewish humor and satire has been a big influence on her. Satire is a way of using humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize people's foolishness or bad habits. She feels connected to a Jewish-Viennese tradition of writing that she believes was nearly lost.
Her Famous Works
Jelinek has created many types of art. She has written radio plays, poetry, theater scripts, novels, and even music.
Her work is often controversial, meaning it causes a lot of debate. Some people praise her writing, while others strongly dislike it. Her play Ein Sportstück (Sports Play) looks at the negative side of competitive sports. Her novel Die Klavierspielerin (The Piano Teacher) explores difficult and intense relationships. This book was later made into a famous movie.
Despite the controversy, Jelinek has won many major awards for her work. These include the Georg Büchner Prize in 1998 and the Franz Kafka Prize in 2004, the same year she won the Nobel Prize.
Not everyone was happy about her Nobel Prize win. A member of the committee that chooses the winner resigned in protest. He said he found her work too chaotic and inappropriate.
Political Views
Jelinek is not afraid to share her political opinions. From 1974 to 1991, she was a member of Austria's Communist Party. In the 1990s, she became well-known for her strong criticism of the Freedom Party of Austria, a right-wing political party.
When the Freedom Party joined the government in 1999, Jelinek became one of its loudest critics. The government at the time asked Austrians to unite and support it. People like Jelinek, who spoke out against the government, were sometimes accused of being disloyal to their country.
Awards and Honors
- 1996: Literaturpreis der Stadt Bremen (Bremen Literature Prize)
- 1998: Georg Büchner Prize
- 2002: Mülheimer Dramatikerpreis (Mülheim Dramatists Prize)
- 2003: Else Lasker-Schüler Dramatist Prize
- 2004: Hörspielpreis der Kriegsblinden (War Blinded Audio Play Prize)
- 2004: Franz Kafka Prize
- 2004: Nobel Prize in Literature
- 2004: Stig Dagerman Prize
- 2004: Mülheimer Dramatikerpreis
- 2009: Mülheimer Dramatikerpreis
- 2011: Mülheimer Dramatikerpreis
- 2011: Honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters
- 2017: Theatre prize Der Faust for lifetime achievement
- 2021: Honorary citizen of the City of Vienna
- 2021: Nestroy Theatre Prize for lifetime achievement
See also
In Spanish: Elfriede Jelinek para niños
- List of female Nobel laureates
- Gottfried Hüngsberg (German Wikipedia)
- List of Austrian writers
- List of Jewish Nobel laureates
