Młoda Polska Literature: Symbolism, Expressionism, and Reymont

The Concept of Symbolism in Młoda Polska

  • Definition of Symbolism:

    • Symbolism was a major trend in literature and art from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries (przełom XIX i XX w.).
    • It rejected literalness (dosłowność) in favor of ambiguous concepts expressing emotional states and hidden ideas.
    • It openly opposed mimetism (mimetyzm).

  • Main Representatives:

    • Młoda Polska: Jan Kasprowicz, Stanisław Wyspiański.
    • French Symbolist School: Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, Arthur Rimbaud.

  • Worldview of Młoda Polska:

    • Creators of Młoda Polska believed that material reality is merely a facade hiding a deeper, mystical dimension inaccessible to the human senses.

  • Distinction Between Allegory and Symbol:

    • Allegory (Alegoria):
    • Possesses a fixed, singular meaning decoded strictly through cultural convention.
    • Examples:
      • A skeleton with a scythe (kościotrup z kosą) has served as an allegory of death since the Middle Ages.
      • A turtle (żółw) is consistently an allegory of slowness.
    • Symbol (Symbol):
    • Possesses a "double bottom" (podwójne dno) and awakens unlimited interpretive possibilities.
    • Its meaning depends directly on context.
    • Example: A red rose (czerwona róża)—its red color and scent can symbolize love and beauty, while its thorns (kolce) can symbolize suffering.

Analysis of "Krzak Dzikiej Róży w Ciemnych Smerczynach" by Jan Kasprowicz

  • Literary Movements in Kasprowicz's Work:

    • Throughout his career, Jan Kasprowicz incorporated naturalism, impressionism, expressionism, and franciscanism into his literary creations.

  • Title and Landscape:

    • The work presents a Tatras landscape (krajobraz tatrzański).
    • The rose represents the drama of existence and suffering (dramat istnienia - cierpienie).

  • Category of the Lyrical Subject:

    • The lyrical subject acts as an observer (3rd-person indirect lyricism / liryka pośrednia) and does not reveal itself directly.
    • The speaker betrays their emotions and fears while observing Tatra nature: "O rozżalenia! O wzdychania! O tajemnicze dziwne lęki!…"
    • The first part of the sonnet refers to the end of night and the beginning of pale dawn.
    • Employs personification: "drzemią stawy".

  • Juxtaposition of the Rose and Stone Pine (Limba):

    • Limba (Stone Pine):
    • Symbolizes death, old age, passing, decomposition, and defeat (starość, przemijanie, rozkładanie, śmierć, klęska).
    • Serves as the direct counterpart/opposite of the rose.
    • Paradox of Existence:
    • A powerful tree (potężne drzewo) did not survive, whereas a delicate rose (delikatna róża) remains alive.
    • Seeming strength turns out to be weakness, and seeming weakness strength (pozorna siła okazuje się słabością, a pozorna słabość siłą).
    • Natural Order:
    • Kasprowicz pairs the rose and stone pine not on the principle of contrasting good and evil, but as two elements existing side by side.
    • Life and death are part of the exact same natural order.

  • Typical Młoda Polska Characteristics:

    • Combines symbolism and impressionism.
    • Symbolic Dimension:
    • The rose and stone pine possess meanings extending beyond physical nature, suggesting human experiences.
    • The rose can be a symbol for every human being, as well as specifically for the artist (artysta)—lonely, standing out from the environment, delicate, yet resilient.
    • The limba symbolizes a world that lost to transience (świat, który przegrał z przemijaniem).
    • Impressionistic Dimension:
    • The poet records momentary impressions (chwilowe wrażenia), capturing colors, light, sounds, and the changing landscape.

Expressionism and Apocalypse in Jan Kasprowicz's "Dies irae"

  • Definition and Features of Expressionism:

    • A literary and artistic trend in Młoda Polska derived from the Latin word meaning "expression" (wyrażanie).
    • Originated at the end of the 19th century in Germany.
    • Focused on the inner world (świat wewnętrzny), frequently appealing to imagination, visions, dreams, or hallucinations (wyobraźnia, wizje, sny, halucynacje).
    • Concerned with human fate, suffering, human limitations, and moral conflicts, placing high value on emotionality.
    • A famous artistic milestone of expressionism is the painting "Krzyk" (The Scream) by Edvard Munch.

  • Biographical Context of Creation:

    • The work was written after a personal tragedy—poet's second wife left him for his friend.

  • Genre and Title Origin:

    • Genre: A hymn (hymn), characterized by an elevated tone (podniosły charakter) and prayerful addresses to God.
    • Title: "Dies irae" translates as "Dzień gniewu" (Day of Wrath).
    • The title was borrowed from a medieval church hymn depicting an apocalyptic vision of the Last Judgment (Sąd Ostateczny).
    • The text references books from both the New Testament and Old Testament (Księgi Nowego i Stary Testament).

  • Lyrical Subject and Dramatic Rebellion:

    • The lyrical subject uses apostrophes to address:
    • The Psalmist: "A ty, psalmisto Pański"
    • God: "O Boże!"
    • Christ: "O głowo owinięta cierniową koroną"
    • Kasprowicz utilizes the traditional hymn form to express man's dramatic rebellion against suffering and evil (dramatyczny bunt człowieka wobec cierpienia i zła).

Introduction to "Chłopi" by Władysław Reymont

  • Publication Details:

    • "Chłopi" was initially published in installments in the magazine "Tygodnik Ilustrowany".
    • It was published in book format between 1904 and 1909 with the subtitle "Powieść współczesna".

  • Nobel Prize Recognition:

    • In 1924, Władysław Reymont received the Nobel Prize in Literature (Literacka Nagroda Nobla) for this epic work.