Instytut Badań Literackich Polskiej Akademii Nauk

(De perfecta poesi by M.K. Sarbiewski in the context of contemporary theory of narrative)

Year of publication: 2014
Page range: 16 (49-64)
Keywords: Sarbiewski, Aristotle, poetics, narrative, narratology, rhetoric, structuralism
Authors: Łukasz Lipiński, Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu

Abstract

This article is an interpretation of De perfecta poesi by Maciej Kazimierz Sarbiewski (1595–1640, Polish Jesuit, Latin poet), based on the contemporary narrative theories. The source of a parallel between the 17th century work by Sarbiewski and the 20th century theories on narrative (mainly the structuralist narrative) can be found in Aristotle’s Poetics. De perfecta poesi as well as works created by French structuralists were based on the logocentrism and thus being connected with each other, despite the chronological differences. The similarities are not only general, but also more detailed. However, it does not mean that De perfecta poesi and 20th century theories are the same. There are some disparities that do not allow to compare the work by Sarbiewski and narrative theories too closely.

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