Po ojczyźnie-polszczyźnie z różdżką chodzę… Poezja a magia
PO OJCZYŹNIE-POLSZCZYŹNIE Z RÓŻDŻKĄ CHODZĘ (‘I WALK THROUGH THE HOMELAND OF THE POLISH LANGUGE WITH A MAGIO WAND’). POETRY AND MAGIO

Summary/Abstract: An attempt is made to identify model situations of connecting poetry to magic. The most straightforward case is when a text features more or less conspicuous references to magical practice. In more complex cases, what makes it possible to juxtapose these very different spheres of human activity is a peculiar status of a word in both magic and poetry: it is believed to be causing events and effecting changes in the world. As a consequence, certain abilities and intentions are attributed to poets, as if to wizards or sorcerers, which would never be attributed to ordinary people. The object of a people’s ‘magic activity’ may be a word, the world presented in a given poem, or the recipient. These elements are strictly connected with one another, therefore it is sometimes the case that the poet’s actions are directed to two or to all of them. The article offers a more detailed discussion of the situations mentioned above. They are also illustrated with examples from Polish poetry. Furthermore, attention is paid to the role of poetry in de-camouflaging quasi-magical practices employed by politicians, propagandists, advertisers and others who attempt to impose a particular worldview on the recipients.

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