Papers in Literature

MTo My Critics , or How Maria Morozowicz-Szczepkowska Responds to the “Gentlemen Reviewers”: Women’s Dramaturgy in the Interwar Period in Theatre Reviews

2025-10-31T13:46:35+00:00

Maria Morozowicz-Szczepkowska developed feminist dramaturgy in the interwar period. Her
play Type Aprovoked amoral scandal. An analysis of theatre critics’ reviews reveals the extent of
moral censorship, the level of misogyny, and the entrenchment in patriarchy.

'Stupid Effeminate Exaltation’: The Autobiographical Work of Izabela Czajka-Stachowicz in Light of Selected Concepts of Feminist Criticism

2025-10-31T13:46:33+00:00

The article examines the autobiographical works of Izabela Czajka-Stachowicz, published primarily in the 1960s. It focuses on the literary analysis of selected novels through the lens of contemporary concepts of female autobiographism. One of the analytical foundations is the understanding of autobiography presented in Encyklopedia Gender. Płeć w kulturze. The female experience depicted in the author’s autobiographical texts is approached as a subject of literary inquiry from the perspective of feminist criticism, drawing on the concept of the literary self-portrait. The article attempts to situate the analysed texts along a continuum of feminist reflection – from the ideas expressed by de Beauvoir in her essay From Maturity to Old Age to contemporary concepts proposed, among others, by Gautier. It also addresses the issue of dichotomy, which may be described along the axis of ‘Czajka-Stachowicz on herself / others on Czajka-Stachowicz.’

Two Lives Combined: AFather’s Biography as a Daughter’s Autobiography in Aleksandra Zbroja’s "Mireczek. Patoopowieść o moim ojcu"

2025-10-31T13:46:29+00:00

The aim of this paper is to analyze autobiographical strategies contained in Aleksandra Zbroja’s book: Mireczek. Patoopowieść o moim ojcu in terms of literary studies and psychology. There are three main parts in this paper. First one presents the structure of the text as well as metaphorical and stylistic means. In addition, this particular type of autobiography consist of numerous other texts and statements that help Zbroja to construct the narrative. Second part focuses mainly on autobiographical aspects of the book. In the third, author explores in more details the relationship between the father and the daughter explaining its significance.

Nature Writing or Recovery Memoir: The Outrun by Amy Liptrot

2025-10-31T13:46:32+00:00

This article examines The Outrun (2016), Amy Liptrot’s distinctive recovery memoir, which stands out amid the proliferation of similar works published in recent years. Most literary critics have focused on the memoir’s setting and, consequently, categorised the book as nature writing, largely overlooking its engagement with recovery. The principal aim of this article is to view The Outrun, first and foremost, as a literary record of confronting addiction and discovering ways to live in sobriety. Particular attention is given to Liptrot’s symbolic and metaphorical use of the natural world as a means of documenting her recovery.

Bernadetta Darska, Czas reportażu. O tym, co działo się wokół gatunku po 2010 roku, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Warmińsko-Mazurskiego w Olsztynie, Olsztyn 2023, ss. 353

2025-10-31T13:42:46+00:00

Zbigniew Chojnowski, Prowincjusze, tubylcy i bywalcy, Naukowy Projekt Wydawniczy – seria Przełomy / Pogranicza, Studia Literackie LIV, Katedra Badań Filologicznych „Wschód – Zachód” Wydział Filologiczny Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku, Wydawnictwo PRYMAT, Białystok 2024, ss. 388

2025-10-31T13:47:16+00:00

Jens Andersen, Żyje się tylko dziś. Nowa biografia Astrid Lindgren , tłum. W. K. Pessel, Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Akademickie SEDNO, 2021, ss. 479

2025-10-31T13:44:10+00:00

Sprawozdanie z ogólnopolskiej literaturoznawczej i kulturoznawczej konferencji naukowej „»Trzecia misja« ( Third Mission ) i transfer wiedzy w literaturoznawstwie i naukach humanistycznych” (Olsztyn, 13–14 grudnia 2024 roku)

2025-10-10T06:36:10+00:00

W 2022 roku obecna prodziekan Wydziału Humanistycznego Uniwersytetu Warmińsko-Mazurskiego, pani dr hab. Aneta Jachimowicz, prof. UWM, zainicjowała spotkania literaturoznawców. Ich głównym celem była zarówno integracja społeczności akademickiej Wydziału, jak też wymiana doświadczeń naukowych oraz inicjowanie wspólnych i międzyfilologicznych projektów badawczych. Pierwsze spotkanie miało miejsce dnia 25 listopada 2022 roku, a drugie – 1 grudnia 2023 roku. Już w czasie tych sympozjów podjęto zagadnienie roli literatury i literaturoznawstwa w obliczu zmian edukacyjnych i społecznych, kwestię przedkładania rezultatów ekonomicznych nad praktykowanie humanistyki oraz problem wpływu badań na otoczenie społeczno-gospodarcze.

Trzecie spotkanie literaturoznawców przekształciło się w ogólnopolską konferencję, w której wzięli udział nie tylko pracownicy naukowo-badawczy Instytutu Literaturoznawstwa UWM, lecz również badacze i badaczki z innych ośrodków naukowych. Za organizację sesji odpowiadały dwie panie prodziekan: dr hab. Aneta Jachimowicz, prof. UWM (Katedra Literatury i Kultury Krajów Niemieckojęzycznych) oraz dr hab. Joanna Chłosta-Zielonka, prof. UWM (Katedra Literatury Polskiej). Obrady odbywały się na Wydziale Humanistycznym UWM w Olsztynie.

Tytuł konferencji – nomen omen – „»Trzecia misja« (Third Mission) i transfer wiedzy w literaturoznawstwie i naukach humanistycznych”, nie wyznacza nowego pola badawczego, lecz wskazuje na rozszerzenie powszechnych zadań uniwersytetów obejmujących transfer wiedzy i odpowiedzialność społeczną. „Misja ta – jak piszą organizatorki w piśmie przewodnim – polegająca na integracji uniwersytetów ze społeczeństwem, stała się w ostatnich latach ważnym ogniwem chociażby ewaluacji nauki. Tylko te ośrodki badawcze, które wykazały realny wpływ na środowisko pozaakademickie, uzyskały uprawnienia do nadawania tytułów naukowych. W literaturoznawstwie trzecia misja odnosi się do społecznej odpowiedzialności uniwersytetów, która wykracza poza ich tradycyjne zadania badawcze (pierwsza misja) i dydaktyczne (druga misja). Obejmuje działania, poprzez które uniwersytety aktywnie przyczyniają się do rozwoju społecznego, kulturalnego, gospodarczego i politycznego. W literaturoznawstwie może dotyczyć komunikacji naukowej, projektów kulturalnych i współpracy z instytucjami, programów edukacyjnych dla publiczności, doradztwa i ekspertyz. Trzecia misja podkreśla zatem znaczenie studiów filologicznych i literaturoznawczych dla społeczeństwa i służy temu, aby wyniki studiów literackich były skuteczne nie tylko w świecie akademickim, ale także w całym społeczeństwie”.

Sprawozdanie z konferencji naukowej Egodokumenty w badaniach filologów i historyków (znaczenie, metodologia, teoria gatunków) (Olsztyn, 27–28 września 2024 roku)

2025-10-10T06:41:53+00:00

W dniach 27 i 28 września 2024 roku na Wydziale Humanistycznym Uniwersytetu Warmińsko-Mazurskiego w Olsztynie odbyła się ogólnopolska konferencja naukowa Egodokumenty w badaniach filologów i historyków (znaczenie, metodologia, teoria gatunków). Celem interdyscyplinarnego spotkania była dyskusja skoncentrowana na wielu kwestiach związanych z literaturą dokumentu osobistego. Refleksję podejmowano w odniesieniu zarówno do epok dawnych, jak i współczesności. Wydarzenie sfinansowano z grantu Narodowego Programu Rozwoju Humanistyki pt. Źródła do dziejów Czapskich w XVIII wieku. Egodokumenty członków rodziny wojewody pomorskiego Piotra Jana (1685–1736) – opracowanie filologiczno-historyczne i edycja (nr 0343/NPRH9/H11/88/2021). Konferencję zorganizowali członkowie zespołu realizującego wspomniany projekt, a patronat nad nią objął Instytut Literaturoznawstwa UWM w Olsztynie.

Lucjan Siemieński’s tale "Szczęście z biedą w parze idą" ["Happiness and poverty go hand in hand"] compared to Hans Christian Andersen’s a "Kalosze szczęścia" ["The Galoshes of Fortune"]

2025-10-31T13:47:19+00:00

This article seeks to assess – through comparative analysis – the extent to which Lucjan Siemieński’s tale Szczęście z biedą w parze idą [Happiness and Poverty Go Hand in Hand] is dependent on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale Kalosze szczęścia [The Galoshes of Fortune]. The comparison indicates that Siemieński does not alter the general message of the original. Modifications occur primarily in the storytelling rather than in the ideological dimension. In this regard, the text appears as a specific hybrid. Certain passages may undoubtedly be classified as translation, corresponding sentence by sentence to the source text. In other sections, however, the tale presents paraphrases of Andersen’s original. Siemieński adopts Andersen’s core ideas (such as character types or the nature of the dream), but alters the course of events, offering, in effect, his own version of the story. At times, he introduces entirely new episodes with no equivalent in the original; at others, he omits episodes present in Andersen’s tale. He also removes all four poems included in Andersen’s narrative, thereby avoiding the device of “a literary work within a literary work.”

Siemieński attempts to make the text more appealing and accessible to a broader Polish readership. This is evident in the Polonisation of the text: the represented world is given a distinctly Polish character, and humorous elements are added to certain parts of the narrative. In conclusion, Siemieński’s work constitutes a variation on The Galoshes of Fortune.

The case of the anti-hero in The White Caravan by Azem Shkreli

2025-10-31T13:47:18+00:00

The aim of the work was not only to identify the characteristics of the antihero but also to gain a deep understanding of the moral, social, and psychological aspects that shape his role in literature and society. Special attention was given to the role of Dyl Mehmeti as an antihero who opposes authoritarian structures and traditional society while simultaneously preserving his internal moral integrity. The methodology of the study included textual analysis of the novel to isolate the main characteristics of the antihero. An interpretative approach was applied, examining characters through the social and cultural contexts of the era, as well as postmodern criticism, to analyze the image of the antihero in light of changing paradigms of heroic and antiheroic behavior. The results of the study revealed that Dyl Mehmeti was a key figure who not only represents traditional resistance to change but also embodies a complex moral Dylemma, existing at the intersection of individual resistance and social pressures. He opposed the Soviet regime while simultaneously striving to preserve the traditional identity of the mountain peoples. It was found that the antihero in Shkreli’s novel is a central figure who remains unaffected by external changes and steadfast in his beliefs, distinguishing him from the classical hero. The main characteristics of Dyl Mehmeti, such as isolation, rejection of social norms, and internal conflict, are innovative for Albanian literature of the mid-20th century. The conclusions indicate that the image of the antihero in The White Caravan is critical of the society and historical conditions prevailing at the time of the novel’s writing.

Between Reportage and Essay: Modern Italy by Piotr Kępiński

2025-10-31T13:45:24+00:00

The aim of this article is to synthesise Piotr Kępiński’s work on contemporary Italy and to explore the image of the country as presented by the author. Central to Kępiński’s literary interests is Rome, which is portrayed as a palimpsest – a place consisting of many layers. The author’s personal perception, which is constantly evolving, also influences the creation of the image of the Eternal City and Italy. The author identifies three key terms that define the different ways in which Kępiński perceives Rome: degradation, multi-layering, and evolution. In describing contemporary Italy, Kępiński employs an intriguing genre hybrid dominated by essay and reportage, which allows his perspective to encompass a variety of viewpoints.

Textual Worlds in Tadeusz Piotrowski’s Mountaineering Narratives: ”Gdy krzepnie rtęć and Słońce” nad ”Tiricz Mirem”

2025-10-31T13:45:27+00:00

The article examines Tadeusz Piotrowski’s writings, specifically his autobiographical texts that explore mountaineering experiences and the experience of mountainous space. The analysis concentrates on two of Piotrowski’s books: Gdy krzepnie rtęć, which recounts a winter climbing expedition on Noszak in 1973, and Słońce nad Tiricz Mirem, which describes the ascent of the summit Tiricz Mir and the establishment of a new route in 1978. Piotrowski’s narrative employs various forms – such as description, report, chronicle, diary, and dialogue – reflecting a collage technique. The author frequently draws on textual elements from popular literature, specialised literature, cultural codes, and genres in an attempt to express his extreme mountaineering experience. The concept of intertextuality helps to demonstrate the aesthetics of mountainous landscapes.

Fugue to White Death – The Mysterious Protagonist of Whiteness

2025-10-31T13:45:20+00:00

The aim of this article is to analyse the symbols in Jon Fosse’s novella Whiteness, with an emphasis on understanding how these symbols help uncover the multiple meanings within the text. The main objective is to interpret Whiteness through the lens of Norwegian culture and local symbolism, allowing for an appreciation of both the universality of the story and its specific cultural significance within the context of Norway.

“The Gothick Hero” in Context: Poetry and Politics in Early Eighteenth-Century England

2025-10-31T13:45:26+00:00

Sweden and its prominent monarchs had captured the attention of English political and literary circles as early as the seventeenth-century conflict between King and Parliament. However, this interest intensified notably at the dawn of the eighteenth century. This heightened focus can be attributed to the political climate in Europe, marked by division and involvement in two significant conflicts: the War of the Spanish Succession and the Great Northern War. The poem “The Gothick Hero, a Poem, Sacred to the Memory of Charles XII” represents a literary engagement to England’s ambivalent stance towards the Swedish king during this tumultuous period. This article examines two versions of the poem, published in 1708 and 1715, respectively. A comparative analysis reveals the work’s transformation within the relatively short span of time, reflecting contemporary political developments. The conclusion addresses questions of authorship and argues for a re-evaluation of prevailing interpretations, which have traditionally regarded the poem as a celebration of the Hanoverian dynasty. This reassessment seeks to broaden the understanding of the poem’s political and cultural significance in its historical context.

The Reflection of National Historical Traumas in Selected Lithuanian Poetry

2025-10-31T13:45:19+00:00

This article examines how Lithuanian poetry reflects traumatic national experiences and contributes to the formation of national identity in the face of historical injustice. The central intertext of this literary interpretation is Christianity, with the Bible at its core. The theoretical framework guiding this analysis is the theology of literature, which explores the literary interpretation of the origin and sense of human existence.

Lithuanian poetry engages with the two periods of Russian occupation in the 19th and 20th centuries, attempting to explain the theodic problem of national history. The theodic thought in Lithuanian poetry reflects worldview challenges from both personal and national existential perspectives, focusing on the drama of seeking God and the weight of freedom of choice. By combining universal theodic reflections on free will and the mystery of God with the historical national experience, Lithuanian poetry underscores the primacy of the internal (moral and spiritual) sphere of both the individual and the nation in the contexts of occupation and genocide.

Symbolism and Functions of Marriage Motifs in Turkic Epics and Selected European Works (Fairy Tales, Legends) and Their Transformation in Modern Narrative Fiction

2025-10-31T13:45:15+00:00

This article examines the symbolism and societal roles of marriage motifs in the epic traditions of Turkic and European cultures, with a primary focus on fairy tales and legends. It offers a comparative analysis of recurring marriage motifs, including heroic trials, magical unions, and socially strategic marriages, demonstrating how these themes reflect cultural values, collective identity, and social cohesion. Special attention is given to the socio-political and ethical dimensions of marriage in Turkic epics, where partnerships frequently represent tribal unity and legitimacy, in contrast to the personal, moral, and transformational elements seen in European narratives. The article also explores the reworking of these motifs in Kyrgyz novels, particularly in the writings of Chingiz Aitmatov. In this context, marriage motifs from oral epic traditions are reinterpreted to address current issues such as modernisation, cultural identity, and gender roles. By analysing the preservation and adaptation of classic story structures, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the continuity and evolution of marriage symbols across diverse genres and cultural settings.

Warmian Piety in the Works of Maria Zientara-Malewska

2025-10-31T13:45:12+00:00

Maria Zientara-Malewska devoted numerous poetic and prose works to religious themes. Her depiction of Warmian piety is rooted in both her personal experience of faith and the socially embedded hierarchy of values, with God at its apex. In her writings, God is, first and foremost, seen as the Absolute who determines human fate, and is characterised by both omnipotence and justice. The path to union with Him is shown to lead through the recognition of his supremacy, fervent prayer, and the fulfilment of His will. Marian devotion and the veneration of saints also emerge as significant elements of Warmian religiosity, with outward manifestations including local pilgrimages and indulgences. Priests, held in high esteem by the local community, appear as exponents of divine will and apologists of Polish identity.

Between a letter and a testimony. The visions of prison reality from the perspective of Tomasz Zan – (ego)documental analysis

2025-10-31T13:45:28+00:00

The article compares the correspondence and testimonies of Tomasz Zan (Arcypromienisty) from the period of the investigation against the secret youth organizations in Lithuania in 1823–1824. Thanks to Zan's attitude of taking full responsibility for the activities of the Philarets and other societies, only 20 people were sentenced to exile. For this reason, Mickiewicz commemorated him in his drama (“Forefather’s Eve” part III). As the main character of Nikolay Novosiltsov's investigation, Zan was the most heavily guarded prisoner. During interrogations he gave written testimonies, and later he wrote long letters to his friends in a cell. The aim of the article is to show that factual explanations hide emotions that are released in sad correspondence. The key is the difference between the informational function of documents and the expression of (ego)documents, which results from adopting the perspective of the interrogated/sender as the leading method of reading.

The Diaries of the (Future) Historians in an Intertextual Perspective: Reading References in ‘The Göttingen Diary’ by Alexander Turgenev

2025-10-31T13:42:59+00:00

This paper discusses The Göttingen Diary by Alexander Turgenev (1784–1845) from an intertextual perspective, focusing on the years 1802–1804. The analysis is grounded in the methodology
of Małgorzata Czermińska and Philippe Lejeune. To provide context, the paper draws on Turgenev’s
letters to his parents. During this period, Turgenev studied history and political science in Göttingen, which influenced his writings. Throughout The Göttingen Diary, he makes references not only
to literary works, such as the poems of Vasily Zhukovsky, but also to historical texts, including
works by A.L. Schlözer on the history of Russia, among others.

The Perspective of an Individual in the Face of Groundbreaking Events of the 19th Century Based on Antoni Szymborski’s Diary The Turbulent Turns of Fortune

2025-10-31T13:45:21+00:00

Abstract:

The article analyzes Antoni Szymborski's diary, Burzliwe fortuny obroty, as a unique testimony to the life of an individual entangled in the dramatic events of 19th-century Polish independence uprisings and socio-political transformations. It also presents the reception of the diary by granddaughter, Wisława Szymborska. Discovered in the 1960s and published in 2000, the diary provides not only historical insights but also a glimpse into the emotions and mindset of its author. Szymborski, a participant in the Greater Poland Uprising, the Hungarian campaign under General Bem, and the January Uprising, offers detailed descriptions of his experiences, daily hardships, and profound disappointments related to unfulfilled political and personal hopes.

Memoir Writing Competitions in Exile (The Example of the ‘My First Year in Exile’ Contest)

2025-10-31T13:46:34+00:00

This paper examines the phenomenon of Polish memoir writing competitions in exile and
compares it with analogous initiatives in Poland. It uses the 1971 competition organised by the Lon-
don ‘Wiadomości’ as acase study.

Unknown Moments from V. Shchurat’s Life in the Interwar Period (1918–1939): Based on Autobiographical Materials

2025-10-31T13:46:31+00:00

The article presents a research on the interwar period in the life of Vasyl Shchurat, a literary scholar, translator, teacher, ethnographer and the first Galician comparativist. Little is known about the life and work of the Galician researcher during this period, so the article analyses both archival autobiographical materials and the memoirs of his acquaintances.

Notes from Reading or Self-Creation? Marcel Proust as aRecurring Figure in the Diaries of Sławomir Mrożek and Witold Gombrowicz

2025-10-31T13:45:25+00:00

This article analyses how Witold Gombrowicz and Sławomir Mrożek referred to the works of
Marcel Proust in their diaries, considering him both as an inspiration and a“literary adversary”.
Gombrowicz viewed Proust as an author whose method of reinterpretation of the past through
memory conflicted with his own strategy of self-creation, whereas Mrożek regarded Proust as
aguide who helped him understand his own life. In the context of both diaries, Proust functions as
acatalyst for literary self-analysis, serving as areference point for the search for identity and creative definition.

Passport – Media – Deception: Rescue Attempts During the Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda as Reflected in the Autobiography of Yolande Mukagasana

2025-10-31T13:45:17+00:00

Based on the autobiography of Yolande Mukagasana, a survivor of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, this article examines the long-term impact of racist stereotypes that were propagated during the country's colonisation by the Germans and Belgians. The “Hamite myth”, which included the notion that Tutsi people were of a “devious character”, suggested that Tutsi women systematically used their sexual allure to subjugate the Hutu majority. Two pertinent examples from the Rwandan press, which published corresponding caricatures with pornographic content, illustrate the brutality of these racial attributions. Racism had direct consequences for Mukagasana's life. When the genocide began on 6 April 1994, she was suspected of attempting to spy on important men as a prostitute. The article demonstrates how Mukagasana initially sought to take advantage of the false report that she had been found dead. However, when the genocidal forces eventually began to search for her, she experienced extreme spatial confinement and a severe restriction of movement: the death squads had erected roadblocks everywhere to control identities and prevent escapes. The subtle use of racist stereotypes – manipulated subversively to protect herself from the perpetrators – ultimately saved Mukagasana's life, but left her distraught and deeply traumatised. The murder scenes she witnessed while travelling through the capital, Kigali, illustrate the profound challenge of “surviving survival”. At the same time, the analysis of her autobiography provides insight into the adaptation strategies used by persecuted women in their desperate attempts to escape the genocidal apparatus.

Rearming James Bond. Ian Fleming’s Correspondence with Geoffrey Boothroyd

2025-10-31T13:45:23+00:00

The aim of this article is to explore the extent to which the portrayal of firearms in Ian Flemingʼs original James Bond book series was influenced by the letters exchanged between the writer and Scottish weapons expert Geoffrey Boothroyd from 1956 to 1964. Boothroydʼs profound knowledge of the subject sparked Fleming’s genuine interest, to such a degree that they embarked on a collaborative effort to diversify and accurately depict the firearms used by 007, as well as other fictional characters. It will be argued that this mutual endeavour was largely successful, although the writer did not always follow his advisorʼs suggestions and made some mistakes on that account.