Rhythmical and Thematic Structures in the Croatian Church Slavic Life of Saint Wenceslaus

Abstract

The first Slavic version of the mediaeval Life of St Wenceslaus (FSL) offers myriad opportunities for scholarly research on a number of levels, rhetorical, stylistic and thematic. The current article seeks to coordinate an understanding of how the formal rhythmical structures of the vita enhance the work’s thematic material. In this regard it is shown that the FSL is composed in rhythmically structured prose as described in R. Picchio’s theory of the isocolic principle and that the rhythmical patterns of the texts play a significant role in both enhancing the oral performance aspects of the work and, in turn, in highlighting the work’s themes and messages. Including both the exposition of Wenceslaus as a good and saintly prince and martyr, and the implied exhortation to the listeners to follow the example of Christian behaviour, these theologically oriented and biblically inspired leitmotifs are skilfully applied to the events of Wenceslaus’ pious life. From the rhetorical and compositional point of view it is shown that the interplay of isocolic rhythms with their contrasting patterns enhances the presentation of the themes through artistic juxtapositions and contrasts, parallels, disjunctions, and similar rhetorical devices. It is concluded that contrary to some assessments of the FSL as a somewhat ‘primitive’ composition, the Life is an artistic complex of Christian themes and motifs, artfully presented.