Ironic references to Sienkiewicz’ historical novel pattern in “Bohun” by Jacek Komuda Cover Image

Przekorne nawiązania do Sienkiewiczowskiego wzorca powieści historycznej w Bohunie Jacka Komudy
Ironic references to Sienkiewicz’ historical novel pattern in “Bohun” by Jacek Komuda

Author(s): Dorota Szagun
Subject(s): Polish Literature, Theory of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
Keywords: text pattern; tributary quote; intentionality; intertextuality;

Summary/Abstract: This article concerns the nature of the pattern and extent of referring to the convention in opposition to the originality of the creator being part of a trend of historical novels. The basis of this article is a historical novel by Jacek Komuda entitled “Bohun” (Lublin 2012) juxtaposed with “Trilogy” by Henryk Sienkiewicz. The comparative analysis is based on text linguistics tools, and above all on two criteria of textuality: intentionality and intertextuality. The combination of the writing workshops of two novelists is motivated by the genre (historical novel), setting in the reality of Sarmatian Poland and source base. However, a very clear division between both texts is the understanding of literary elements in historical novel, and thus the approach to historical truth. The irony mentioned in the title can be seen in conscious opposition to the proposed by Sienkiewicz and strongly rooted in Polish readership tradition pattern of historical novel written for “spirit lifting” and thus in a negative reflection of the ideological concept of Sienkiewicz. This is done by selecting the main themes of the novel – natural history of the Polish army, a negative image of the Polish gentry and ennobling image of the Cossack. The similarity between the two texts is reflected in the language realisation. In the novel by Komuda linguistic elements common in Sienkiewicz are present, specific and reproducible, obtaining the status of so-called “winged words” repeatedly documented by lexicographers by quotes from Sienkiewicz.

  • Issue Year: 2015
  • Issue No: 49
  • Page Range: 81-92
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: Polish