Uloga traktata u srednjovekovnom i savremenom književnom izražavanju (Crnorizac Hrabri, Danilo Kiš)
The role of treatises in medieval and contemporary literary expression (Crnorizac Hrabri, Danilo Kiš)

Summary/Abstract: The documentation of theoretical research and unbreakable dialogue with context are only some of the features that indicate the “internal creative dialogue” between medieval and contemporary literature. Danilo Kiš’s “Treatise on the Potato”/„Traktat o krompiru“ within the novel “Hourglass”, refers to the history of the Hebrews, while the treatise of Crnorizac Hrabri “About the Letters” regarding the 10th century script refers to the historical proliferation of writing. The authors have both recognized and introduced the concepts of their historical and literary period within their works. The real meaning and role of the treatise about the literate is reflected in the light of all spiritual aspirations of that time, aspirations that were reflected in real life and in the mission of Cyrill and Methodious in a very relevant manner. Nevertheless, the hidden meaning in these treatises represents the personification of the spirit of that particular historical context and tends towards the censured margins left unsaid. The hidden meaning is now, as it was a thousand years ago, the bearer of uncertainty (the person that fears persecution after Methodious’ death, the person that hides behind moral, political and religious attitudes, the identity of E.S. that melts within the period of the dehumanization of the human being). The reflections of E.S. regarding “the races scattered throughout the world, just as the unfortunate potato which under the various influences of the climate, acquired different shapes and names, remind us of the space theme, just as the idea of the spreading of writing. It is clear that the treatise of Crnorizac Hrabri, through its allusion to letters, pushes the notion to the Hebrews that they should “Come to Your Letters”. The message of Danilo Kiš has a clearly universal character and does not refer only to the destiny of the medieval Hebrews: “Save the man!” Respect the human values! Do not allow again for the essence of human kind to be destroyed! Taking into consideration the role played by the above mentioned treatises by making allusions to potatoes or letters which are part of the universal symbolism, they can also be regarded as a metatextual frame which raises essay-like reflections. What they symbolically bring together as a single point is the humanistic concept of responsibility.

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