houdingwaarde

Houdingwaarde, often translated as "attitude value" or "stance value," is a concept primarily found in the context of Dutch literature and literary criticism. It refers to the underlying emotional and intellectual disposition or perspective that an author conveys through their work. This value is not explicitly stated but is inferred by the reader through the author's choices in narrative, characterization, tone, and subject matter.

It encompasses the author's perceived stance on the themes and characters they present. Is the author sympathetic, critical, ironic, detached, or something else? Houdingwaarde helps understand the author's engagement with their subject and their implicit judgment or commentary on it. It's about the subtle, often unspoken, attitude that shapes the reader's interpretation and emotional response to the text. Analyzing houdingwaarde involves looking beyond the plot and surface-level meanings to uncover the deeper currents of the author's perspective.

Scholars use the concept to dissect an author's worldview and their relationship to societal issues, human nature, or philosophical questions. It is a crucial element in grasping the full artistic and intellectual significance of a literary work.