Indonesian Poetry by Ajip Rosidi: An Affirmation of a Sundanese Demon Myth

Abstract

The main concern of the present research is whether the Sundanese demon myth in Ajip Rosidi’s poetry has negated the myth within Mohamad Ambri or has stayed at the same affirmation position, or even lied on another category? To answer it, the present research used inter-textual approach by utilizing Genette trans textuality theory. The method employed was comparative analysis descriptive. The result showed that the poetry entitled “Burak Siluman” by Ajip Rosidi was the hypertext of hypo text Burak Siluman the novel by Mohamad Ambri. Looking at the relation, the novel was not the total imitation of Ambri’s work, because, although those two had the same title, the translation from a Sundanese novel into Indonesian poetry indicated two phenomena, the language transformation (from Sundanese into Indonesian), and the genre transformation (from novel into poetry). Viewing the category, the “Burak Siluman” did not only provide nostalgia towards the Sundanese demon myth, since the demon in the novel was a new born baby, but in the poetry, the demon was delineated as a fine young man with horse feet. Thus, the poetry had firmed the myth of demon. Having a look at the message, either the novel or the poetry conveyed the same message that a Sundanese woman should not go alone to quiet and dark places for its risk and danger. This message also entirely perfects the myth function to secure the Sundanese local wisdom. Keywords—affirmation, hypertext, hypotext, myth, transtextualit