Cultural Aspect of Regional Patriotism Fostered in the Nineteenth-Century Literature of Autochthon Upper Silesians
Cultural Aspect of Regional Patriotism Fostered in the Nineteenth-Century Literature of Autochthon Upper Silesians

Summary/Abstract: This text is part of the author’s research on the literary culture of the nineteenth-century UpperSilesia. The author shows that at the forefront of modern Europe (at the beginning of industrializationand urbanization of the continent) the autochthon writers of Upper Silesia undertook actionsaimed at fostering cultural awareness amongst their compatriots, who were considered to belong toa national minority, in order to instil patriotic feelings in them. In the current post-colonial discoursetheir struggles are recognized as the “voice of the periphery”. Striving to achieve civic maturity intheir Polish ecumene, these writers demonstrated considerable knowledge of their own Polish rootsas the inhabitants of this region. They assumed they must be aware of their distinctness from thedominant society in the Prussian state. The messages conveyed to their compatriots consisted inemphasizing the common history of Silesians and Poles and remembering the glorious past of thelatter. These were the foundations for shaping the sense of identity as well as for creating strongties with their own land. The development of such an emotional attitude towards the place and itspast among the readers allowed for effective building of patriotic attitudes, which was confirmed bycontemporary observers of the writers’ efforts. They continued coming to Upper Silesia from otherregions of the former Polish Republic to learn about ways of writing “for people.”

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