Elegiac moods: Early Greek elegy and more

This article explores the relationships and correlations between early Greek elegy (7th—5th c. BC) and the elegiac mood of a poem understood today as a nostalgic and melancholic attitude of the subject evoked in a poem. The known surviving ancient texts prove the thematic heterogeneity of the elegiac genre at its early stage of development, while this elegiac emotionality is by no means a distinctive feature of this particular poetical category within the archaic parental context even though it does occur in some works composed in distichs that are traditionally labeled as elegiac (e.g. works of Archilochus and Mimnermus). Elegiac attitude, within modern understanding of the term, is also to be fundin the melic poetry of early Greek poets (such as Sappho, Anacreon and Simonides of Ceos) which were, in fact, considered by ancient theoreticians as non elegiac as far as their genre was concerned. The attribution of the elegiac character, not linked genetically with any of genres, to one poetical category is thus a result of multilayered processes of cultural interaction and the reception of the early Greek literature rather than the substance of the genre

"Thou hath ebellished the shape of man over all creation" : on the Good of creation and the evil of sin based on psalmic cantos in "Niepróżnujące próżnowanie" by Wespazjan Kochowski

The study is devoted to the issues of eulogy of the world and contempt of the temporal and sinful condition of man based on "psalmic cantos" in "Niepróżnujące próżnowanie" ["Not Idling Idleness"] by Wespazjan Kochowski. As I try to prove, the religious attitude of the Sarmatian poet indicates continuity of patristic tradition, especially the so-called "golden era" of the Fathers of the Church (turn of the fourth and fifth centuries). Kochowski’s theological vision contained in the song Everything from Heaven and in the poetic series To the Penitent is based on the dichotomy between the original perfection of creation and the need for God’s healing grace

W końcu świat

Recenzja zawiera opis struktury poetyckiej książki Wojciecha Kudyby pt. W końcu świat (Sopot 2014). Autor opisuje treść (zawartość) i ukazuje listę krytyków, którzy napisali opinie o Kudybie.The review contains the description of the structure of Wojciech Kudyba’s poetical book W końcu świat [The world in the end] (Sopot 2014). The author describes the content and presents the list of critics, who wrote opinions on Kudyba

Solon’s elegy as an example of ancient political propaganda

Publikacja jest zbiorem artykułów eksplorujących relacje między dziennikarstwem a literaturą z różnych perspektyw i w różnych obszarach językowych. Wobec postępującej w ostatnich dziesięcioleciach kontaminacji między dziennikarstwem a literaturą autorzy tekstów pochylają się nad historycznymi związkami między badanymi dziedzinami (począwszy od starożytności do czasów najbardziej współczesnych), stawiają pytania dotyczące kontekstów kulturowych determinujących badaną ekspresję, przyglądają się typowym dla niej środkom wyrazu, wychwytują nieuniknioną hybrydyzację form oraz kreślą sylwetki konkretnych dziennikarzy-pisarzy. Wartością dodaną jest zderzenie perspektyw badawczych w odniesieniu do różnych kręgów kulturowych (hiszpański, latynoamerykański, francuski, bułgarski, polski, amerykański, angielski, germański, klasyczny, włoski). Takie ujęcie prowadzi do wieloaspektowej problematyzacji niezwykle aktualnego wymiaru współczesnej kultury.Najstarsze greckie świadectwa literackie nie potwierdzają trenodycznego charakteru elegii. W zachowanym dorobku archaicznych poetów znajdują się utwory o tematyce bitewnej, miłosnej, parenetycznej, dydaktycznej, filozoficznej. W tę różnorodność treściową wpisuje się elegia publicystyczna Solona. Jego twórczość poetycka w głównej mierze jest związana z aktywnością w życiu społeczno-politycznym Aten VII/VI wieku p.n.e. Część wprowadzonych przez Solona reform, zmierzających do likwidacji głębokiego kryzysu wewnętrznego ateńskiej polis, nie spotkało się z akceptacją grup społecznych zaangażowanych w konflikt. Twórczość poetycka, w tym także elegijna, tego męża stanu stała się polem publicystycznej dyskusji z przeciwnikami politycznymi, a jego utwory instrumentem propagandy społecznej.The earliest texts written in ancient Greek language do not confirm mourning character of ancient elegy. Among the oldest surviving works of archaic period poets there are texts that focus on military, amatory, parenetic, didactic or philosophical themes. Solon’s works on social and political subjects may be also included in that miscellany of issues. Solon’s literary works result from his active participation within political and social community of Athens in the VII-VI centuries B. C. Some of his reforms to legislate against political, economic, and moral decline in archaic polis failed in the short term as they were not approved by the Athenians engaged in the conflict. Therefore his poetry became a way to defend his constitutional, economic and moral reforms and beliefs against political opponents. Thus, Solon’s elegy may be regarded an instrument of social and political discussion written not for pleasure but rather as patriotic propaganda

Kazimiera Iłłakowiczówna mniej więcej znana

The article is the analysis of the place of Kazimiera Iłłakowiczówna in contemporary literary discourse. The author of the article claims – using Pierre Bayard’s theory – that the poetess is known “more or less”: she is remembered as someone who got prizes and recognition but at the same time she is impossible to read nowadays. There is political ambiguity and antiquity in her texts that keep her in the past. Marzec points at four areas of literary studies, where Iłłakowiczówna is still present: 1. Poetics: Iłłakowiczówna uses an original and unusual type of the Polish tonic verse. The author of this article analyses it using tools of psychoanalysis. 2. Religious discourse: Iłłakowicz.wna is interpreted as the author of religious poetry but Marzec argues with such interpretations. 3. Post-dependence studies: Iłłakowiczówna has not been analysed in terms of post-dependence studies yet but she is mentioned in the Polish borderlines discourse. 4. Feminist literary criticism: Iłłakowiczówna used to be studied as the author of androgynous poetry, but Marzec points out other motifs such as miscarriage, infanticide or problems of the new woman, like work at government institution, contestation of vitalism and bureaucracy. The aimof this article is to show that writing of Kazimiera Iłłakowiczówna needs to be read in terms of the history of literature which is devoid of evaluation and judging. Such analysis means going back in terms of modern literary studies which have undergone multiple turns that changed the tools accessible to contemporary critics.The article is the analysis of the place of Kazimiera Iłłakowiczówna in contemporary literary discourse. The author of the article claims – using Pierre Bayard’s theory – that the poetess is known “more or less”: she is remembered as someone who got prizes and recognition but at the same time she is impossible to read nowadays. There is political ambiguity and antiquity in her texts that keep her in the past. Marzec points at four areas of literary studies, where Iłłakowiczówna is still present: 1. Poetics: Iłłakowiczówna uses an original and unusual type of the Polish tonic verse. The author of this article analyses it using tools of psychoanalysis. 2. Religious discourse: Iłłakowicz.wna is interpreted as the author of religious poetry but Marzec argues with such interpretations. 3. Post-dependence studies: Iłłakowiczówna has not been analysed in terms of post-dependence studies yet but she is mentioned in the Polish borderlines discourse. 4. Feminist literary criticism: Iłłakowiczówna used to be studied as the author of androgynous poetry, but Marzec points out other motifs such as miscarriage, infanticide or problems of the new woman, like work at government institution, contestation of vitalism and bureaucracy. The aimof this article is to show that writing of Kazimiera Iłłakowiczówna needs to be read in terms of the history of literature which is devoid of evaluation and judging. Such analysis means going back in terms of modern literary studies which have undergone multiple turns that changed the tools accessible to contemporary critics

Polish literature and the Konzentrationslager. The beginning

 In the article the author discusses the beginnings of Polish camp literature, more precisely: literature referring to the Nazi German concentration camps. For decades it was assumed that the earliest Polish texts of that type were published in 1945. It appears that the first works – reports and memoirs – were published before the outbreak of WWII. In this article, the author discusses them in the historical and historical-literary contexts (mainly in the context of German writings).

Muses in the intimate light. Transformation of Arts in the Years of “Thaw” and “Polish October 56”

Muses in the intimate light. Transformation of Arts in the Years of “Thaw” and “Polish October 56”The study assesses the changing nature of the Polish art in the period of liberalization after Stalin’s death. It includes detailed analysis of various (social, political, philosophical and especially aesthetic) implications for important issues such as: poetry, drama, cinema, peinture, sculpture, song, popular culture etc.Marek Hendrykowski provides case studies that lead to alternative ways of viewing current conceptual frameworks of aesthetics and its consequences for interdisciplinary reflexion on arts.The study assesses the changing nature of the Polish art in the period of liberalization after Stalin’s death. It includes detailed analysis of various (social, political, philosophical and especially aesthetic) implications for important issues such as: poetry, drama, cinema, peinture, sculpture, song, popular culture etc.Marek Hendrykowski provides case studies that lead to alternative ways of viewing current conceptual frameworks of aesthetics and its consequences for interdisciplinary reflexion on arts

Poezja dla dzieci po przełomie ‘56

In the 1950s the poetry for children involves the elements of language poetry (movement in Polish literature characterized by the domination of linguistic forms over fiction), draws on absurdity, and combines the Interbellum period traditions with the tendencies in literature which began after the events of October 1956. These features are manifested in the works of poets who debuted in the second part of the 1950s, as well as in the poems of prior writers, molded by the pre-war culture and the avant-garde tradition. Books with poetry for children in the late 1950s stimulate imagination and respond to children’s needs to experiment with language, test its flexibility and potential. Also, thanks to the enclosed unique illustrations, the books develop aesthetic sensitivity. Despite the ongoing changes in the outside world, the books haven’t lost their relevance and can successfully be used in teaching.Poezja dla dzieci w latach 50. podejmuje elementy lingwizmu, operuje absurdem, łączy tradycje dwudziestolecia międzywojennego z tendencjami zapoczątkowanymi w literaturze po przełomie ’56. Można to zaobserwować zarówno w twórczości poetów debiutujących w drugiej połowie lat 50., jak i w wierszach starszych twórców, ukształtowanych jeszcze przez kulturę przedwojenną i tradycję awangardową. Książki poetyckie dla dzieci pod koniec lat 50. pobudzają wyobraźnię oraz odpowiadają na dziecięcą potrzebę eksperymentowania z językiem, sprawdzania jego możliwości i wytrzymałości. Dzięki wyjątkowym ilustracjom rozwijają też wrażliwość artystyczną. Mimo zmian zachodzących w świecie zewnętrznym, nie straciły swej aktualności i mogą być skutecznie wykorzystywane w dydaktyce

Marina Vìtaliivna Babenko-Zhirnova

Tekst jest informacją biograficzną o Marinie Vitalijevnej Babenko-Żirnowej z Ukrainy.The text is a biographical infromation on Marina Vitalievna bebko-Zhirnova from Ukraine

Zofia Wojnarowska. Poetka dla dzieci – poetka miłości – poetka rewolucji

The article discusses Zofia Wojnarowska’s (1881-1967) biography and poetry which were representative of the life path and artistic career of many other active Polish poetesses at the turn of the 19th  century. The output of Wojnarowska, who made her debut in the period of Young Poland and reached her artistic maturity in the interwar period, expresses a typical situation of an artist–epigone whose mediocre talent looks for its own expression and place in the literary Parnassus in the time of, important for the national community, political, economic and cultural changes. Political facts like the country’s occupation, World War I and a difficult process of the restoration of an independent country influenced the judgments of Polish critics who rarely applied esthetic criteria to the evaluation of poetesses’, including Wojnarowska’s, output and instead appreciated their subordination to the following functions: didactic (in children’s poetry), expressive (in love poetry) and ideological (in the poetry of proletarian revolution). The situation in which systemic and individual factors like the emancipation of women, the crystallization of literary professions literary critics’ lenient approach to the artistic output of women and the ease of writing overlapped, the need of success and ideological engagement, on the one hand, made it difficult for women writers to improve their own work, to function in higher mainstream and to play the roles of culture creators and, on the other hand, made it easier for them to function in the popular mainstream and play a role of literary craftsmen.The article discusses Zofia Wojnarowska’s (1881-1967) biography and poetry which were representative of the life path and artistic career of many other active Polish poetesses at the turn of the 19th  century. The output of Wojnarowska, who made her debut in the period of Young Poland and reached her artistic maturity in the interwar period, expresses a typical situation of an artist–epigone whose mediocre talent looks for its own expression and place in the literary Parnassus in the time of, important for the national community, political, economic and cultural changes. Political facts like the country’s occupation, World War I and a difficult process of the restoration of an independent country influenced the judgments of Polish critics who rarely applied esthetic criteria to the evaluation of poetesses’, including Wojnarowska’s, output and instead appreciated their subordination to the following functions: didactic (in children’s poetry), expressive (in love poetry) and ideological (in the poetry of proletarian revolution). The situation in which systemic and individual factors like the emancipation of women, the crystallization of literary professions literary critics’ lenient approach to the artistic output of women and the ease of writing overlapped, the need of success and ideological engagement, on the one hand, made it difficult for women writers to improve their own work, to function in higher mainstream and to play the roles of culture creators and, on the other hand, made it easier for them to function in the popular mainstream and play a role of literary craftsmen