Informacyjność a ozdobność tytułów w tekstach żałobnych XVII wieku

Abstract

“Pompa funebris” of the 17th century, was not only a coffin portrait but also a mournful text in verse or in prose, including numerous sermons. They were usually printed as separate texts, and only renowned preachers, e.g., P. Skarga, included them in their books. Such texts were criticised for excessively long titles and ornamentality, because the then conceptism has not been taken into account. Conceptism valued the amazement of listeners and readers by means of, for instance, ornamentality of metaphors and very numerous imaginary and surprising allusions to heraldic elements. If we isolate three main parts on the title page, it becomes manifest that it is the title which is visibly ornamental. Also, the part providing exact information about the deceased person surprises us with praises in her/his honour and a complex naming system of positions and offices. Similarly, the information about the authors (apart from the recognized poets) is very detailed and amplifies their positions and titles. We discern in the above a reflection of the writing “fashion”, compliant with the presumptions of Baroque rhetoric and stylistics, but also the conviction of the nobles (magnates), searching for confirmation of their value through superlatives and conspicuous manifestation of wealth and weirdness