WOJTYŁA'S DAVID: LOST OR FOUND? CONTEXTUAL CLUES TOWARD POSSIBLE SOLUTION OF A LITERARY MYSTERY
WOJTYŁA'S DAVID: LOST OR FOUND? CONTEXTUAL CLUES TOWARD POSSIBLE SOLUTION OF A LITERARY MYSTERY
Author(s): Keith A. HoudeSubject(s): History of ideas, Polish Literature, Theory of Literature
Published by: Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II
Keywords: Karol Wojtyła; John Paul II; David drama; Psalter of David poetry; literary mystery;
Summary/Abstract: Scholarly consensus suggests that Karol Wojtyła (the future Pope John Paul II) wrote an early drama entitled David that has been lost to history. The primary source of information regarding this literary work comes from Wojtyła's wartime correspondence with friend and mentor Mieczysław Kotlarczyk. Contextual clues, through closer reading of this correspondence, as well as textual clues, via study of an early collection of poetry by Wojtyła known as the Psalter of David, suggest an alternate interpretation. This literary mystery is explored through consideration of context, content, title, genre, form, history, provenance, style, themes, and meaning. Perhaps what had been lost as a drama has been found as a collection of dramatic poetry.
Journal: Ethos. Kwartalnik Instytutu Jana Pawła II KUL
- Issue Year: 39/2026
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 193-213
- Page Count: 21
- Language: English
