Sacrum i profanum w przestrzeni stepu ukraińskiego – wizja młodego pokolenia romantyków

Abstract

Sacred and profane space of the Ukrainian steppe – Romantic vision of the young generation

The paper considers the subject of Ukrainian regionalism of the early Romantic age concentrating upon the expanse of the Ukrainian steppe. Ukraine became the privileged Earth for Romantics although the course of history separated her from the borders of Poland, she functioned as the cradle of Polish history and the national spirit in the creative awareness of poets. The Ukrainian steppe with it vastness gave feeling to a sense of history and spirituality. The paper examines interest within the motif of the Ukrainian steppe in the works of poets involved in the so-called “Ukrainian school”. Consequently calling upon famous names such us Antoni Malczewski, Seweryn Goszczyński or Bohdan Zaleski, through equally referring to less famous poets like: Tomasz Olizarowski and Maurycy Gosławski. The author pays attention to the way the Ukrainian steppe was portrayed, considers the sphere of the fairytale and mythology which manifests itself within supernatural figures inhabiting the Ukrainian steppe.