Death as the UnRead Writing in the Poetry of Cyprian Kamil Norwid  Cover Image

Death as the UnRead Writing in the Poetry of Cyprian Kamil Norwid
Death as the UnRead Writing in the Poetry of Cyprian Kamil Norwid

Author(s): Łukasz Niewczas
Subject(s): Literary Texts
Published by: Polish Institute of Houston
Keywords: Poetry; Kamil Norwid

Summary/Abstract: In this essay I treat the word death as a sort of writing: a sequence of signs, the meaning of which is not always obvious and therefore permits various interpretations. Understood in this way, death, through its ambiguity and “multi-interpretativeness,” opens the perspective for reading in the direction that is a priori always indefinite. However, regardless of various interpretations it can be assumed that understanding the writing of death requires three basic abilities. First, noticing the sign character in the fact of dying, due to which it is not treated as something that simply happens and exhausts itself in its hastiness. Second, regarding the immanent interpretation of death, correctly decoding its deep sense. This is a result achievable only through the third ability: placing the writing of death in the appropriate context, explicating its meaning to the fullest and in the most versatile way.

  • Issue Year: XXXIII/2013
  • Issue No: 03
  • Page Range: 1771-1776
  • Page Count: 6
  • Language: English