literaturoznawcze

Literaturoznawcze is an adjective used in Polish to describe matters related to literaturoznawstwo, the academic discipline of literary studies. Literaturoznawstwo investigates literature as a cultural and artistic phenomenon, analyzing texts, authors, genres, periods, and literary contexts. The field combines close reading with broader historical, theoretical, and cultural analyses to explain how literature functions in society and how meanings are produced and received.

Typical topics within literaturoznawcze include textual interpretation, intertextuality, genre theory, and narrative techniques, as well as the history of literature. Methodologically, the work employs close reading, historical-critical methods, philological approaches, and theoretical frameworks from literary theory (formalism, structuralism, post-structuralism, narratology) alongside interdisciplinary perspectives from philosophy, sociology, linguistics, and cultural studies. The aim is to situate literary works within their historical milieu while illuminating their formal properties and significance.

Historically, Polish literaturoznawstwo developed from 19th and 20th century philology and literary criticism, influenced by European theory and trends. In recent decades, the field has broadened to include gender studies, postcolonial studies, adaptation studies, digital humanities, and reception studies, reflecting wider scholarly currents. Research in literaturoznawcze typically results in scholarly articles, monographs, conference proceedings, and contributions to university teaching.

Literaturoznawcze intersects with related disciplines such as comparative literature, linguistics, philosophy, and art history. It is pursued in universities, research institutes, and journals, contributing to the understanding of literature’s forms, functions, and value across cultures and time.