Ethos rycerski w Zawiszy Czarnym Juliusza Słowackiego
The Chivalric Ethos in Zawisza Czarny (Zawisza the Black) by Juliusz Słowacki

Author(s): Jakub Rawski
Subject(s): History, Language and Literature Studies, Literary Texts, Studies of Literature, Philology
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: Zawisza Czarny (Zawisza the Black); Juliusz Słowacki; romantic drama
Summary/Abstract: Zawisza Czarny (Zawisza the Black) is one of the least discussed, studied and interpreted works by Juliusz Słowacki. This unfinished drama from the poet’s late period opens a vast field for researchers who have to reach for historiographic resources in its interpretation. Słowacki’s approach to the chivalric ethos, which was the constituent element of chivalric culture, reveals the specific nature of the chivalric culture on our own ground, when compared for instance with French culture. The bard’s employment of the ethos so ingrained in medieval culture gives rise to a conscious polemic with the legend of Zawisza the Black who was known as „the most famous and bravest knight”. Słowacki seems to be far from idealizing medieval Polish warriors. On the contrary, by showing their humanity, he demythicized the culturally retained ideals and schemata. The following analysis uses the methodology of Hayden White’s historicism viewing a historical source as a fictional narrative to compare the model for Zawisza the Black’s character preserved in Jan Długosz’s Annals or Chronicles with Słowacki’s literary creation.

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