Quality Of Literature Research Articles

Identifying “Hidden Meanings” in Vanda Rozenbergová’s <i>Book Freedom for Pheasants</i>

The study focuses on identifying hidden meanings in Vanda Rozenbergová’s short story collection called Freedom for Pheasants (2011). Being based on the concept of hermeneutic circle, the study aims to identify places of indeterminacy in the book, focusing especially on metaphors. The primary focus is on the meaning of the metaphor of birds, while relying on the theoretical solutions of Paul Ricoeur, George Lakoff and other authors, who have been dealing with this issue. It also follows up on the solutions of cognitive linguistics, especially the theory of prototypes. The study accents the role of metaphors of birds in the short stories, for instance the role of metaphor of the pheasant and swallow, while analysing their function as regards portraying the literary characters.

The poetics of YHWH: Establishing criteria for identifying intentional allusions to the divine name in YHWH-acronyms

The Hebrew Bible features 24 verses in which the initial letters of a four-word phrase form the divine name, Y-H-W-H. This paper proposes criteria for evaluating the intentionality of these acronyms drawing on the work of Roman Jakobson. Besides using this methodological approach, this article also brings to light allusions to the divine name that have not been discussed in exegetical scholarship before. With its differentiated and probabilistic approach, this paper suggests a differentiation between four levels of likelihood. Notably, the intentional use of this stylistic device is not limited to ‘poetic’ texts in the traditional sense. On a general level, this article also contributes to the question of identifying the intentionality of literary features as well as theological allusions in the Hebrew Bible.

Greening of the national tax system

Greening the tax system is one of the tools for achieving sustainable development. Domestic literature on the subject presents various suggestions for the improvement of the tax system in Poland. This paper attempts to make a general assessment of the extent of the Polish tax system environmental reform implemented between 2007 and 2021. The paper has a literary and empirical character. The empirical analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics methods. The assessment is mainly based on selected indicators: pro-ecological solutions in traditional taxes, the number of ecological taxes in the tax system, the fiscal efficiency of ecological taxes measured as a share in total tax revenues, and the economic importance of the examined taxes measured as a share in GDP. A comparative analysis of the national ecological levy system with the tax systems of EU countries was also conducted. A review of selected general taxes shows certain pro-environmental solutions but also solutions that seem controversial from the point of view of environmental protection and human life and that do not encourage entrepreneurs and consumers to be more environmentally friendly. A positive observation, on the other hand, was an increase in the number of environmental taxes and charges. However, these are still far less important from the economic and fiscal perspective compared to conventional taxes. The decarbonisation process of the economy and, the increase in public spending during the 2008 financial crisis and the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are not conducive to the greening of the tax system.

List jako świadectwo życia kulturalno-naukowego na przykładzie spuścizny rękopiśmiennej ks. Jana Kudery

Father Jan Kudera, together with Father Emil Szramek and Konstanty Prus, belonged to the first generation of researchers of the Silesian literary regionalism. This paper presents the results of an analysis the correspondence of Fr. Jan Kudera, kept at the Archdiocesan Archives in Katowice. The analysed documents come from 9 fonds of the legacy bearing reference numbers from ZS 515 to ZS 523. The research of a historical and literary character was conducted mainly through content analysis. The letter was treated as a document and at the same time an autonomous statement. Correspondence from the legacy of the priest can be a valuable and unique source of information on cultural and scientific life in Silesia in the years 1922–1939 and about Kudera itself.

Kiedy gra staje się literaturą? "Dzikie Pola: Rzeczpospolita w ogniu" jako tekst na pograniczu literatury

The instruction to the RPG Dzikie Pola: Rzeczpospolita w ogniu is a text that can be placed on the border between literature and non-literature. In analyzing the literary features of this work, the author uses five theses on the nature of literature, collected by Jonathan Culler in his Theory of Literature. Dzikie Pola meets the assumptions of four of them – within the text one can notice the emphasis on language, its special integration, fictional relationship to reality, as well as intertextuality and autotelicity – however, the dominance of the informative function over the aesthetic function does not allow them to be included in the realm of literature. Giving the game manual a form similar to literature may be related to the neo-Sarmatian character of this work. Given that this trend consists in creating one’s own and collective identity through references to 17th-century Sarmatism, and that this was the goal of the creators of the discussed system, it can be assumed that bringing the form of the text closer to literature may have a greater impact on the reader than it would otherwise. this procedure, and thus: it will allow him to more easily construct his own identity based on the ideology of the nobility.

Effect of diet combined with exercise intervention on tumor necrosis factor α in overweight or obese groups: Based on the exercise dose-response relationship

Background: Chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, often linked to obesity or being overweight, is associated with various complications and an increased risk of disease development. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) is a key inflammatory factor that significantly impacts various body functions. Objective: 1) To assess whether combined interventions are more effective than single interventions in combining diet and exercise. 2) To assess the effectiveness of exercise dose in different interventions on tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) levels in obese or overweight patients. Methods: A thorough search was conducted across four electronic databases of randomized controlled trials that focus on exercise or dietary interventions for patients with obesity or overweight. This comprehensive review encompasses data collected up to August 2024. Two independent researchers conducted a thorough evaluation of the literature's quality. Network and dose-response analyses were performed using random effects models to examine the impact of diverse interventions on TNF-α. Results: A total of 19 randomized controlled trials with 1479 patients with obesity or overweight were included. The meta-analysis showed that the hypocaloric diet combined with aerobic training (HDAT) possessed the highest ranking (SMD= -1.00,95%CI -1.51 to -0.49), followed by the hypocaloric diet (HD) (SMD= -0.40,95%CI -0.89 to 0.09), hypocaloric diet combined with resistance training (HDRT) (SMD= -0.48,95%CI- 1.43 to 0.48), and aerobic training combined with resistance training (ART) (SMD= -0.18,95%CI -0.92 to 0.57). Additionally, a notable improvement in TNF-α levels was observed in individuals adhering to a hypocaloric diet in conjunction with exercise when the cumulative exercise volume reached 150 metabolic equivalent of task minutes per week. Conclusion: Based on the GRADE rating guidelines, moderate-quality research evidence indicates that a hypocaloric diet combined with aerobic training (HDAT) is the most effective intervention for enhancing tumor TNF-α levels in individuals with obesity or overweight. Additionally, the dose-response relationship was observed between the total exercise dose and TNF-α levels. Future research should investigate the specific effects of various aerobic exercise modalities on TNF-α levels in obese or overweight patients to develop a more personalized approach to exercise prescription.

Māori ancestral knowledge of communication

Emerging from a need for culturally grounded speech-language therapy in Aotearoa (New Zealand), this study examined Māori (Indigenous people of New Zealand) values and perspectives on communication held within a data set of 2,669 pepeha (ancestral sayings). Analysis of literal translations, context, literary features, and philosophical meanings led to identification of 368 sayings relevant to communication. Thematic analysis of these sayings resulted in eight themes: (a) āhuatanga karere (message and messenger characteristics), (b) mana reo (power and influence of language), (c) reo ā-tinana (body language), (d) te whē (sound), (e) tohu (signs, instructions, marks, visions, omens), (f) whakarongo (listening, hearing, obeying), (g) whanaungatanga (relationships), and (h) whatumanawa (open expression of emotion). These themes identify a holistic view, beyond interpersonal interactions, emphasising the interconnectedness of the human, spiritual, and natural worlds in ancestral communication. Findings contribute a deeper understanding of traditional Māori communication and add to the foundations guiding culturally grounded therapeutic approaches.

Stimmen des Fortschritts

Abstract In the utopian literature of the fin-de-siècle, engineers represent recurring literary characters. This article highlights their role as voices of progress (Fortschritt). Focussing on Theodor Hertzka’s Freiland (1889) and Theodor Herzl’s AltNeuLand (1902), it differentiates these voices of progress according to their semantic and temporal structure, as well as their use of media, thereby illuminating differences within the concept of progress.

Poetic Expression of Gay Lexicon Conveyed through Imagery in Lines of Poems

The focus of this study revolves around gay literature, specifically the poetics related to homosexuality. Gay literature includes literary works authored by individuals who identify as gay, as well as literary works by heterosexual writers that explore or discuss homosexual themes, and literary works that incorporate gay terminology. While there have been recent studies on gay literature and works, there has been a lack of attention given to gayspeak, which can be referred to more formally as a lavender lexicon, being incorporated into texts or selections that are thought to have literary significance. The study seeks to address how gayspeak is depicted in literature. Are there poetic elements present in texts that use gayspeak? The study seeks to determine the potential impact of homosexual poetics or gay speak on the advancement of literature and the teaching of literature, particularly about its literary qualities. The study utilized a limited selection of only two poems due to the scarcity of available poetry incorporating gay language. Every poetry in the collection is accompanied by translations in Filipino and English, which accurately convey the original phrases written in gayspeak. The poems were assessed based on their poetic substance and the extent to which the language used in the poem's lines demonstrates literary qualities, which is the study's primary objective. The analysis of these poems involved the application of established theories and research, such as Shklovsky’s concept of Defamiliarization (2004) and the Imagery and Symbolism concept by Dimalanta and Abad (2003). Gay language in poetry has literary qualities, conveying meaning through imagery. It enhances comprehension of a poet's work and creative process. Studying imagery provides insight into the poet's production and interpretation of the text, whether written in standard or specialized language.

“I feel as lonely as a wreck at sea”: Reviewing Fernando Pessoa’s Youth Literary Companion, Charles Robert Anon

When initiating the journey to explore Fernando Pessoa’s (1888-1935) literary world, one rapidly becomes conscious of the vast literary output developed by the author. With means of understanding his whole literary universe, it must be acknowledged that Pessoa was bilingual, and that English, and Portuguese language cohabited in his literary universe. One is struck by astonishment when discovering that there are in fact so many English-writing literary characters, so many texts, anthologies, fragments, and literary projects in English. This study revises Pessoa’s pre-heteronymic process and the creation of English literary characters who are introduced into a dialogical chain, which later becomes a more serious literary depersonalisation process in his adulthood. By revising Pessoa’s youth companion Charles Robert Anon, this study intends to outline the Portuguese authors literary process and the starting point and evolution of what later became his most exceptional concept: the heteronyms. Through his character and the texts he signed, Anon represents young Pessoa’s “intellectual anxieties and existential concerns of a young intellectual entering adulthood” (Zenith in Pessoa 2001: 7). This study sustains that the edition, publication, translation, and critical analysis of the totality of Anon’s literary production is an important element to shed light in the understanding of Pessoa’s drama-in-people and adult writings.

El Cancionero de Sebastián de Horozco: estrategias autoriales del erotismo

Abstract This work explores how Sebastián de Horozco constructs throughout his poetry a multiform authorial image far from his biographical circumstances to satirise the most relevant social and literary characters of his time. The analysis of some relevant poems in this sense will show that Horozco is an essential link in the development of satire and eroticism as an authorial strategy, which will reach full of vitality to voices as multifaceted as those of Luis de Góngora or Francisco de Quevedo.

Stories we live and die by: ‘salience’ and ‘conviction’ in nature writing

In this paper, we explore nature writing as a specific contemporary genre and contextualise the writing of the Scottish author Kathleen Jamie within the larger framework of the genre. Jamie embraces her “northernness” and “marginalness” (Dósa 2009) by focusing on the realm of non-human on the fringes of Europe, thus re-learning to see the world and constituting a new ‘poetics of noticing’. The aim of the study is to extract a cluster of linguistic and literary features from selected essays (Findings (2005) and Sightlines (2012)) by Kathleen Jamie to represent ‘salience’ and ‘conviction’ (Stibbe 2015) within the theoretical frameworks of ecolingustics and ecosophy. In search of new stories to live and die by, nature writing, therefore, is proposed to function as an important medium in constructing salience, beliefs and convictions about how humans perceive their (dis)place(ment) in nature as well as their inner and outer landscape. / Keywords: nature writing, Kathleen Jamie, poetics of noticing, salience, conviction, ecolinguistics, ecosophy

Breastfeeding, Folklore, and Nature

This article focuses on depictions of breastfeeding that move beyond idealization and/or realistic depictions of breastfeeding, and do not necessarily elicit an empathic, personal connection with the reader, but rather, I argue that it is via their engagement with Japanese folklore and nature, that they create the necessary distance to critically explore the question of breastfeeding within a feminist framework. I analyze the fantastical treatment of breastfeeding through its fictional representation in two short stories: “Higanbana” (彼岸花 Spider Lilies, 2014; trans. 2014) by Oyamada Hiroko, and “Enoki no isshо̄” (エノキの一生 Enoki, 2019; trans. 2020) by Matsuda Aoko. One of the representative features of the writing of both Oyamada and Matsuda is how they bring together fantastic events within realistic settings, blending realism and science fiction, the human and the non-human, the ordinary and the extraordinary. In the selected stories, both authors play with traditional beliefs and popular stories passed by word of mouth as well as feature personification and imagery of plants, flowers, and trees. This literary quality—problematizing “nature” and folklore while blending fantasy and reality—can be read as a subversive strategy for potential feminist critique. Hence, I read their depiction of breastfeeding in terms of it being fantasy grounded in reality, focusing on unraveling affects of shame and disgust, often associated to breastfeeding, and moving towards a reproductive justice framework.

The displaced relationship between original and translated literature: a polysystem view of Nobel Literature Prize norms

ABSTRACT This study analyzes the Nobel Literature Prize award speeches from 2000 to 2023 from the perspective of polysystem studies and the framework of translational norms. Using a combination of corpus-based methods and qualitative coding analysis, it compares, describes, and interprets the discourse features and underlying norms of these speeches. It was found that the awarding institution emphasizes literary works that explore the marginalized or peripheral aspects of society, although its evaluations of original and translated literature exhibit subtle differences. The institution tends to favor niche authors from the Western original literary system, underscoring their works’ universal appeal while highlighting translated works that conform to Western literary conventions. Such a focus suggests that the Westernization of world literature helps reinforce the dominance of the Western literary paradigm. Furthermore, the current analysis indicates that translated literature included in the Nobel system often retains marginal status as perceived by the awarding body, serving primarily as a vehicle for introducing non-Western voices while still centering Western perspectives. The role of translations, while crucial in bridging diverse literary characteristics, is often overlooked, as evidenced by award speeches. They implicitly maintain the centrality of Western perspectives when presenting literature from non-Western contexts.

MANUSCRIPT No. 7082 OF BAYONIY'S DIVAN

This article discusses manuscript copy No. 7082 of Bayoni's Divan, its scientific and literary characteristics, and composition.

Exploration of AI and AR Technologies in the Character Design of "Dream of the Red Chamber"

This study explores the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) technologies in recreating the character of Wang Xifeng, a core figure in the Chinese classical literary masterpiece "Dream of the Red Mansions". By integrating two advanced tools, Midjourney and Kivicube, the study successfully created and displayed a digital virtual avatar of Wang Xifeng. The research employed qualitative research methods, including content analysis, experimental research, and a questionnaire survey. The feedback results showed that most participants were satisfied with the reshaped image of Wang Xifeng using AI and AR technologies. This study not only opens up new avenues for the modern interpretation of traditional literary characters but also provides valuable experience and theoretical support for the inheritance and innovative practice of traditional culture.

Tragic Curse, or Messianic Hope? Reading Genesis 3:16 in Light of Genesis 3:15

In this paper, it will be shown that Genesis 3:16 parallels the Messianic prophecy of Genesis 3:15 with which it also shares significant linguistic links and literary features. From this literary observation, it will be established that the two key words “desire” and “rule” have a positive significance which is further supported by the literary and syntactical construction of the sentences. The positive understanding of Genesis 3:16 in the light of Genesis 3:15 will also be reinforced and illuminated by the comparative analysis with the parallel text of Genesis 4:7. Rather than proclaiming the tragic “curse” of the subordinated woman in her relationship with man, the connection of Genesis 3:16 with Genesis 3:15 brings a message of blessing in the perspective of redemption.

STRUCTURAL AND SEMANTIC ORIGINALITY OF THE SEMANTIC FIELD ‟POWER” IN VLADIMIR MAKSIMOV’S NOVEL ‟TO LOOK INTO THE ABYSS”

The article characterises the semantic field ‟Power” in the novel by the famous Russian prose writer of the 2nd half of the 20th century, Vladimir Maksimov (1930–1995). The purpose of the study is a comprehensive analysis of the structural and semantic features of the field, determination of the originality of the textual functioning of its core components, which are the semantic dominants of the work, actively involved in the organisation of the narrative, in the artistic depiction of historical events and the creation of images of literary characters. The theoretical concepts of the semantic field and semantic space of the text, which unites its conceptual, denotative and emotive meanings, are defined. Linguistic modelling of the field structure is based on the principles of discourse analysis of the text and is determined by the specific linguistic personality of the writer, genre-stylistic and plot-compositional features of the work. Characteristic of component composition of the field, its core, centre and periphery, microfields is given. Semantic connections and intersections of field components are determined with contextual synonymy and antonymy revealed. The core of the field includes the key lexemes “power”, “strength”, “leader”, “will”. The semantic field unites five microfields: the central part of the field structure includes the microfields ‟White-Guard Power of Alexander Kolchak” and ‟Soviet Power of Vladimir Lenin”; the peripheral zone includes the microfields ‟Power of Social Elements”, ‟Military Force of Foreign Intervention” and ‟Power of Selfless and unselfish Love”. The semantic dominants of the text, being the key components of the field, contribute to the dynamics of the narrative, create an artistic chronotope, reflect the author’s position, and convey the bright features of the writer’s linguistic personality.

Engaging the Classic

This paper explores the literary characteristics of the Nigerian maqāmāt, which are inspired by the classical Arabic prototypes. Nigerian Arabic writers have actively embraced the maqāma genre since the early 21st century, producing various collections that consciously or unconsciously emulate the classical models. Throughout their maqāmas, Nigerian writers recalibrate the features of the genre by showcasing the influence of their primary model, al-Ḥarīrī’s Maqāmāt (446-516/1054-1122). Through techniques such as allusion, borrowing, continuation, and more, these works raise important themes of originality, literary emulation, competition, and homage, thereby highlighting the impact of classical Arabic heritage on contemporary Arabic writing. In this paper, the analysis of these emulating features is complemented by textual examples from four recently published maqāma collections in Nigeria, which are compared to their classical prototypes. Key words: maqāma, Nigeria, rewriting, emulation, literary influence, Classical Arabic.

The Schnorrer in Israel Zangwill's Work

Abstract This article charts the historical and literary origins of the schnorrer, a Yiddish term for ‘proud beggar’ and a character of Eastern European Jewish culture. It aims to shed light on the schnorrer's entrance as a protagonist in British popular literature in the work of Israel Zangwill, and to show its originality. To do so, it focuses mainly on the novella The King of Schnorrers (1894), in which the schnorrer holds the leading role, and on Children of the Ghetto (1892), in which the schnorrer is a secondary and yet essential character. By locating the schnorrer outside of the Ashkenazi ethno-social context, Zangwill carries out a refashioning of this figure and grounds him in a wider social and literary lineage. He turns him into a literary character who challenges Western capitalist societies, thanks to a multi-layered identity, conflicting contexts and plural literary genres.