Zesłańczy romantyzm lat 20. i 30. XIX wieku. Autokomentarze Tomasza Zana do nienapisanego romansu

Abstract

The article analyses the texts of Tomasz Zan, written during his exile, in terms of the author's literary consciousness and, most importantly, his understanding of the concepts of “romanticism” and “romanticist”. Zan used these terms in the context of his own intellectual activity, which can be regarded as a manifestation of creative self-proclamation. Many of the philomath's literary opinions are voiced in reference to his own romance, which he planned for years but never completed. Analysing his diary and correspondence, it can be concluded that the author's opinions concerning Romanticism were typical of those of the early 1820s, manifested in his association of this literary trend with German authors, as well as with the romance genre. Zan's views on the literary arts may have been shaped by his cultural isolation in connection with his exile, which prevented the philomath from engaging in discussions concerning Romanticism. From Zan's reflections on literature, it can be concluded that the author considered the following characteristics of a literary work to be of particular importance: accuracy in reflecting the local aspects, the personal, autobiographical nature of the work, and the impact of inspiration.