„Ja” Świetlickiego
Świetlicki’s lyrical “I”

Author(s): Katarzyna Niesporek-Klanowska
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Polish Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: Marcin Świetlicki; authenticity; romanticism; (ir)religiousness
Summary/Abstract: The book presents interrelations among Marcin Świetlicki’s works, whichfocus on three main themes: authenticity, romanticism and (ir)religiousness.The author does not address final versions of the poet’s works exclusively, butshe analyses first editions of his particular collections. The individual volumesand poems distinguish senses, figures and categories which may be combinedinto a coherent whole.In the first chapter, poems published originally in three volumes: Cold Countries:poems of 1980–1990 [Zimne kraje: wiersze 1980–1990] (1992), Cold Countries 2 (1995),Cold Countries 3 (1997) were subjected to analysis. Modifications introduced byŚwietlicki in these poems, the poems’ new sense and evolving programme werealso addressed in the book.In the second chapter, the emphasis is put on references to the Romantic periodthat interweave poems of the author of Schism [Schizma]. It is also a reminiscence,continuation and completion of the formerly expressed criticism. In this chapter,the writings of the author of Third Half [Trzecia połowa] were interpreted in thecontexts of: metamorphosis of the lyrical “I” (a deserted lover); love (sensual andromantic) as well as phantom, spectre and living ghost figures.In the third part of the book, Świetlicki’s (ir)religiousness is pondered upon.The title of this chapter illustrates the poet’s difficulty in determining his attitudetowards religious and transcendental values. In this poetry, religion is rather ofordinary nature, often contradicting the existence of any sanctity. The sacred existsonly in the profane sphere. This chapter leads to the last part of the book whichrevolves around the image of „God Almighty” – silent, presenting his silence invarious forms – emerging from Świetlicki’s poems.All the thematic fields are concatenated by the common title: Świetlicki’s lyrical “I”.Through interpretation, the book catalogues and organises various aspects and indentitiesof the lyrical “I” that emerge from the poems of the author of Cold Countries. Thelyrical “I” is often multiplied, riven, immersed in being incomplete, being constantlyon the way – not stopping and thus, not being able to define himself, to determinehis one, definite and solid “I”.

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