Two young women, two extremely talented poets, two distant cultures and one convergent fate marked by living with an incurable illness – this is how one could briefly summarize two of the most fascinating poetic personalities of the 20th century: Edith Södergran and Halina Poświatowska. Both poets died at the age of just over thirty, leaving behind works which testify not only to their great talent and poetic potential, but also to their extraordinary female sensitivity and maturity. Although they came from different cultures and times, and wrote in two different languages (Swedish and Polish), it is hard not to see a stunning affinity between their powerful poetic visions. The article explores these thematic similarities by focusing on their understanding of human fate, female sensuality and desire for existential freedom in expressing their own thoughts and their being in the world.

Motherhood without icing and retouching. The ‘Polish Mother’ icon in Polish literature created after the year 2000 and blogs Polish woman-centered symbolism has a specific dimension, which is depicted in the iconic ‘Polish Mother’ (Matka Polka). The iconic image is deeply rooted in Polish history and culture and it often refers to the mother of Jesus as she is expected to sacrifice her children for the motherland. As a woman, she realizes herself not only through motherhood but also in the service of her nation, and as such, she becomes a highly charged metaphor for both motherly love and patriotism. The ‘Polish Mother’ is a myth; a stereotype that has shaped the thinking of the nation for more than two centuries and is still largely in force. In contemporary literature (and also in various media texts and blogs) one can identify however, obvious attempts to re-evaluate this very traditional iconic image. Especially motherhood, in Poland today, has gained a new dimension. I investigate some of the most characteristic aspects of the selected texts, focusing on the discrepancy between the old clichés and expectations and the subversion of traditionally defined motherhood in a modern society, which no longer takes the ‘Polish Mother’ at face value.

The “between” zone in two novels by Katarzyna Tubylewicz

In this article I analyze two novels by Katarzyna Tubylewicz: Własne miejsca (2005) and Rówieśniczki (2014). They have similar narrative structures, themes and stylistic modes. Their plots take place in both Sweden and Poland and reveal a world seen through different filters: social, historical, cultural, religious and emotional. The world presented in these books falls therefore in a “between” zone. The common denominator is mainly a problem of emigration, external and internal, as well as the problem of nationality. The author takes up, amongst others, the problem of xenophobia and societal attitudes to abortion and the Jewish cause. Tubylewicz also refers to and parodies the various national stereotypes, including the image of the Polish Mother and opinions of other nationalities and cultures. An important question is whether preservation of national identity and fidelity to one’s own culture is possible in times of geographical mobility.

”Motherhood without icing.” The Re-evaluation of the ‘Polish Mother’ icon in contemporary literature, media texts and blogs Polish woman-centred symbolism contains a specific dimension which is depicted as the icon of the “Polish Mother” (Matka Polka). This iconic image is deeply rooted in Polish history and culture, and it often refers to the mother of Jesus, as she is expected to sacrifice her children for the motherland. As a woman, she realizes herself not only through motherhood but also in service to her nation, and as such, she becomes a highly charged metaphor for both motherly love and patriotism. The “Polish Mother” is a myth and stereotype that has shaped the thinking of the nation for more than two centuries and is still largely in force. However, in contemporary literature (and also various media texts and blogs), one can identify obvious attempts to re-evaluate this very traditional iconic image. Motherhood in particular has gained a new dimension in contemporary Poland. I investigate some of the most characteristic aspects of the selected texts, focusing on the discrepancy between the old clichés and expectations and the subversion of traditionally defined motherhood in a modern society which no longer takes the “Polish Mother” at face value.

The first spontaneous reaction by Swedish society when Wisława Szymborska was awarded the 1996 Nobel Prize in Literature was great collective surprise. In spite of the fact that never before had so much been written about the laureate - dealing with literary aspects as well as personal character traits - a majority of the Swedish public was still relatively ignorant of the laureate. Nevertheless, among Swedish Slavists, she had her loyal adherents. Already in the beginning of the 1960s, Nils-Åke Nilsson published an anthology of Polish poetry, Det nakna ansiktet (“The Naked Face”). In 1980, the first Swedish anthology of poems by Szymborska was published, interpreted by Per-Arne Bodin and Roger Fjellström: Aldrig två gånger (“Never twice”). Among those who discovered and appreciated Szymborska’s poetry at an early stage was undoubtedly Professor Sven Gustavsson. Already in 1980, he organized a conference on contemporary Polish poetry at the Department of Slavic Languages at Uppsala University and, in 1984, a symposium devoted exclusively to the poetry of Wisława Szymborska. In 1993, she visited Stockholm University and Uppsala University, attending meetings with students and other interested participants. Today, Szymborska’s poems are still very popular and appreciated, a fact that explains the great demand for renewed editions of her works. The reasons for this popularity are to be found in the complex picture of Szymborska’s literary and non-literary qualities, whose common denominator is simplicity. This is not just a keyword in relation to her poetry, but also in relation to the poet's psychological characteristics. It also forms the basis for what I call “the Szymborska phenomenon in Sweden.” In my article, beyond the reactions of society to Szymborska’s Nobel Prize, I discuss Sven Gustavsson’s lifelong commitment and involvement in the dissemination of Szymborska’s poetry in Sweden. This article is dedicated to the memory of Professor Gustavsson.