THE ESSAY GENRE IN THE CREATIVITY OF JERZY STEMPOWSKI

Abstract

The article describes the specifics of the essay genre as such his active development, his belonging to a certain genre and the main features of this genre. It is indicated that it contains the author’s thoughts on a certain problems, allows synthesis in the content of artistic, journalistic, philosophical and scientific principles. It is noted that the essay is characterized by polemics. The works of researchers regarding the nature of the genre are given in the article. it is noted that today there are many interpretations of this term. The features of this genre have been clarified in the work of the famous Polish essayist and literary critic Jerzy Stempowski. In Polish essay writing, the preference belonged to emigre writers, who quite often used this genre in their works. Emigration becomes a special place for creativity, where the writer is free from all cultural and social norms of his society. The main social and personal reasons for the appearance and popularity of the essay genre in the works of the Polish artist are determined, in particular, attention is paid to his long-term cooperation with the magazine “Kultura”. The universality of the theme of the collection “Selected Essays”, which includes 22 works, is indicated. The subjectivity inherent in a genre essay is the main aspect of E.Stempovsky’s essay writing. The position of the peasantry, ancient philosophy, current politics, international relations, the nuances of literary studies, the search for the essence and purpose of art, the moral attitude in times of indignity — all these are the leading themes of the essayist’s works. Jerzy Stempowski’s work, in which he described Ukraine and Ukrainian history in an essay, presented Ukrainian culture to the Polish reader.