Questions tagged [polish-language]
Questions about works of literature that were originally written in the Polish language, regardless of whether they were written or published in Poland or elsewhere.
23
questions
8
votes
2
answers
618
views
What did Lem find in his game-theoretical analysis of the writings of Marquis de Sade?
According to Peter Swirski in Stanislaw Lem: Philosopher of the Future (Liverpool University Press, 2015; on Google Books; emphasis mine),
The author [Lem] himself eloquently argued on behalf of ...
- 47.3k
2
votes
1
answer
68
views
What aspects of Roman Ingarden's theory of literature does Stanisław Lem criticise and how?
According to the Wikipedia article on Stanisław Lem's The Philosophy of Chance,
Lem criticizes the contemporary literary theory, in particular, Roman Ingarden's Literary Work of Art, and proceeds ...
- 47.3k
2
votes
0
answers
155
views
Theme of ‘The Twenty-first Voyage of Ijon Tichy’ by Stanisław Lem
In ‘The Twenty-first Voyage of Ijon Tichy’ (1971) by Stanisław Lem, translated into English by Michael Kandel in The Star Diaries (1976), the space traveller Ijon Tichy lands on the planet of ...
- 60.1k
4
votes
1
answer
701
views
What part of the valley is the "mouth", in this passage from the Witcher series?
For visualization purposes I would like to know what part of the valley does the 'mouth' refer to in English.
Taken from Sapkowski's "The Lady Of The Lake":
it lay right beside the mouth of ...
- 211
1
vote
0
answers
67
views
How long has Pan Tadeusz been compulsory reading in Polish schools?
Pan Tadeusz or Master Thaddeus, or the Last Foray in Lithuania: A Nobility's Tale of the Years 1811–1812, in Twelve Books of Verse is an epic poem by the Polish author Adam Mickiewicz (1798–1855), ...
- 47.3k
5
votes
1
answer
156
views
"You have to take pains so the goods won't go off" from The Witcher
I am reading The Witcher - The Tower of Swallow in English and I would like to know what the following phrase means:
He ordered the people who had gathered to bring him a sack of salt
and a keg of ...
- 211
8
votes
1
answer
251
views
What is being satirized in Witold Gombrowicz's Trans-Atlantyk?
Trans-Atlantyk by Witold Gombrowicz is a satire of Polish identity. However, it is difficult to know what exactly is being satirized if you're not Polish, and not intimately acquainted with Polish ...
- 118
3
votes
1
answer
185
views
Why is Szymborska's "Tarsier" sometimes written (in translation) with simplistic grammar?
Szymborska's poem "Tarsier" ("Tarsjusz" in the original Polish) has been translated, in a version that says "Translations and Comments by Magnus J. Krynski and Robert A. ...
- 74.1k
1
vote
0
answers
116
views
About Solaris translators Jasiensko (French), Kilmartin and Cox [closed]
I am looking for an account of, or historical information about: Jean-Michel Jasiensko's Polish-French translation of Solaris. Particularly, why did he vary the text?
Also, Joanna Kilmartin and Steve ...
- 139
5
votes
0
answers
1k
views
What is the origin of the name Nilfgaard?
The empire of Nilfgaard becomes very important in the Witcher saga starting from the end of Sword of Destiny and continuing through the novels starting with Blood of Elves. The name has always ...
- 74.1k
2
votes
1
answer
64
views
Who collected Dandilion's songs in written books?
The final chapter of Blood of Elves covers the beginning of Ciri's training with Yennefer, learning about magic but also many other things. One passage describes her reading, and I noticed the ...
- 74.1k
5
votes
1
answer
328
views
What real word is "havekar" alluding to?
During the 2nd chapter of Baptism Of Fire, Geralt and Dandelion come across a group of traders trying to sell Cahir to the Nilfgaardian army, who are introduced as "havekars", basically war profiteers ...
1
vote
1
answer
364
views
English translation of The Promised Land by Władysław Reymont
Does The Promised Land by Władysław Reymont have an English translation?
I could not find it on Amazon. I am very naive about book shopping beyond Amazon and I could not find anything by Googling. ...
- 111
7
votes
1
answer
187
views
Looking for an Aeschylus quote mistranslated from Polish
I am working through a book of poetry by Tadeusz Miciński, a Polish writer who was active toward the end of the 19th century. The book is called "W mroku gwiazd" or "In the Twilight of the Stars" and ...
1
vote
0
answers
927
views
Is there any significance to the choice of similes for poetry in "Some Like Poetry"?
The poem "Some Like Poetry" by Polish writer Wislawa Szymborska is a musing lament about the unpopularity of poetry among the general population. The middle verse consists of a series of similes which ...
- 74.1k