Detektivní romány Michala Sýkory

František ŠMEHLÍK

Bachelor's thesis

Analysis of Michal Sýkora's crime novels

Abstract:

Bakalářská diplomová práce je zaměřena na beletristickou tvorbu olomouckého spisovatele Michala Sýkory, který v současnosti patří k předním českým autorům detektivního románu. V předkládané práci se soustředíme na komplexní analýzu jednotlivých děl Michala Sýkory, zaměřující se převážně na jazyk, prostředí, typologii postav a jejich vývoj. V kapitole o jazyku jsou autorovy prózy srovnávané s románem Michala Viewegha Báječná léta pod psa.

Abstract:

The aim of this bachelor's thesis is to analyse four novel crime series written by contemporary Czech author Michal Sýkora. The thesis is composed of three main parts, each of them dealing with a different aspect of his work and writing. The first part focuses on the characterization of the crime fiction genre in general, also including worldwide known authors' (like Raymond Chandler, P.D. James) viewpoints. The topic of the so-called high literature and whether we can see components of high literature in crime fiction and vice versa is also brought up. In the second part the type of language he used in his works is analysed, mostly because it's very specific for him, especially compared to other contemporary Czech crime novels. It is important to note that Michal Sýkora is also a literary scientist and a university lecturer, who had written several studies about modern novels and crime fiction. This work seems to have strongly influenced his use of language in creative writing. In this part I also compare Sýkora's works to the novel Báječná léta pod psa (1992, The Wonderful Years of Lousy Living) written by Michal Viewegh. Viewegh also uses specific language, which is partly similar, the difference being the way Viewegh uses it to create humorous situations. In Sýkora's novels it seems to be more his inability or unwillingness to change writing style from literature studies to fiction. In the end of this part I research another element of his novels - the setting, which is strongly tied to his hometown Olomouc, where most of the plot is placed. The last part of this thesis studies the characters he has created. The main investigator of this series is fifty-something years old lawyer Marie Výrová. Marie and the other detectives use mostly their intelligence to solve cases, not their muscles, they also seem to have very strong sense of morality. In comparison his murderers usually lack any compassion or empathy whatsoever, they commit horrendous crimes for their own gain, although most of the times it does not end up bringing them any good. The second book Modré stíny (2013, Blue Shadows) is more politics oriented and focuses on different type of crimes beside murder.

Keywords

Michal Sýkora, detektivní román, klíčový román, Olomouc, postava ženy jako detektiva, styl Michala Sýkory, existenciální krize, otázka viny a trestu, Michal Viewegh, detektivka jako žánr vysoké literatury

Language used: Czech

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 7. 5. 2020

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Mgr. Erik Gilk, Ph.D.

Palacký University Olomouc

Faculty of Arts

Bachelor programme / field:
Philology / Czech Philology