Polish Literature Research Articles

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of themes related to English physical culture in Polish literature up to 1795. The aim of the research was to identify which elements of English physical culture appeared in Polish works of the era and whether any of these elements were particularly popular. An attempt was also made to determine the influence of English physical culture on Old Polish customs and traditions related to physical culture. The source material included travel accounts, memoirs, press, and other contemporary works. The first part discusses English physical culture in the accounts of Old Polish travelers, the second part analyzes the presence of English physical culture in the press of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth period, with an emphasis on horse racing and associated gambling. The third part is dedicated to themes of English physical culture appearing in other contemporary works, including geographical literature and stage plays. The analysis reveals that English physical culture appeared in almost all contemporary literary forms, although the audience for these works was primarily the upper social classes. The source analysis also indicates that while some English customs related to physical culture were reflected in Polish practices, this influence was limited and mainly affected the aristocracy. However, there is no evidence of the widespread adoption of these practices in pre-partition Poland. The article concludes with a reflection on the limited and impermanent nature of English physical culture’s influence, which only began to gain broader social acceptance, albeit not without resistance, in the latter half of the nineteenth century.

The aim of this introductory survey article is to present the various ways in which Chineseness is dialogued with and exposed in the Polish literature of the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Another objective of this exploratory paper is to indicate the forms of presence and the ways and functions of absorbing Chinese themes, as well as to reflect on their functionality in different genres and discourses of that period. Following the findings and diagnoses of Bogdan Mazan (and other scholars focused on the second half of the 19th century), the author tries to indicate and bring closer slightly different areas of meaning than those investigated in research to date. He points to possibilities of interpreting traces of Chineseness in the literature of that period and in other texts determining important, albeit often marginal and not central, messages of the analysed works authored by Polish positivist and modernist writers.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) characterised by predominant obsessive thoughts without accompanying overt compulsions is traditionally referred to as pure obsessional OCD (“Pure O”). Its prevalence is relatively low, accounting for only about 2–4% of all OCD cases, which is why it is often omitted from studies evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. The limited research available suggests that cognitive behavioural therapy offers relief to individuals struggling with “pure” obsessive thoughts, although its efficacy tends to be lower compared to other OCD subtypes. Patients struggling with this condition often experience intense shame, and alongside obsessive thoughts, they frequently exhibit covert compulsions or neutralising behaviours. Given the unique challenges faced by patients with this form of obsession, it is advisable to adjust standard therapeutic protocols for obsessive-compulsive disorder and tailor intervention strategies to better address their specific needs. The paper explores how obsessive thoughts are conceptualised within cognitive-behavioural models, offers recommendations for clinical practice, and outlines ways of adapting selected cognitive-behavioural techniques for working with patients experiencing pure O. It also reviews findings on the effectiveness of various CBT approaches in treating this subtype of OCD and highlights limitations that should be taken into account when interpreting and generalising the results. Due to the limited number of clinical descriptions of Pure O in Polish literature and the diagnostic challenges associated with this subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder, the aim of this paper is not only to outline therapeutic approaches for working with patients experiencing pure obsessional symptoms, but also to promote greater awareness of the condition among clinicians and therapists. By doing so, it seeks to improve the chances of affected individuals receiving an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Appropriate eating habits are formed from the early childhood but can be modified at different stages of life and into the old age. They depend on economic, social and psychological factors. Eating habits are formed mainly in the family environment and their correct formation is crucial for healthy human development and disease prevention. In the elderly, poor nutrition can be caused by many factors, including: health problems, lack of access to adequate food, physiological changes and socio-economic factors. The aim of the article is to present the need of improving the eating habits of the aging Polish society. The research section presents an up-to-date review of Polish literature using Google Scholar, PubMed and statistical data of the Statistics Poland (GUS). Optimal development, maturation and aging of the body depend on proper nutrition and promotion of proper eating habits during childhood and adolescence. The level of affluence significantly affects eating irregularities, which may result in a preference for unhealthy eating behaviors. A balanced diet during adolescence can prevent many diseases later in life. A properly balanced diet leads to the prevention of many diseases in old age. Building proper eating habits is key to maintaining proper physical condition. Appropriate health education and the use of modern technologies play an important role in creating and maintaining appropriate nutritional behaviors and improving health. It is essential to implement actions aimed at improving dietary habits among the elderly.

Abstract Background The research evidence on the importance of outdoor play for children's health is strong but literature reviews indicate their uneven geographical representation. As cultural context affects many health behaviours, this may be a significant bias. This study aims to identify and map the available evidence on Polish children's outdoor activity and its determinants. Methods The scoping review included peer-reviewed publications (in English or Polish), available in electronic databases and added by snowball search. Selection was based on the key words (e.g. “outdoor play” and “Poland") with no restrictions regarding e.g. the year of publication. Results Most of the studies were descriptive, published in the past two decades. The main topics identified include: 1. Presentation of the experiences of other countries (especially Scandinavian and English-speaking); 2. Description of outdoor play facilities in a specific location in Poland; 3. A decreasing trend of time children spent outdoors; 4. Attitudes towards outdoor play among children, parents and educators (e.g. comparisons between urban and rural areas, good and bad weather or children's with specific health needs); 5. Benefits (mainly health-related) and risks (e.g. air pollution, falling trees) associated with outdoor play; 6 Outdoor games as a form of tourism (e.g. questing). Conclusions Although the literature on Polish children's outdoor play is not extensive, it has been developing in recent years. Since cultural factors significantly determine the subjective assessment of the facilitators and barriers to outdoor play, more cross-country comparative studies are needed to better understanding, planning, implementing and evaluating interventions aimed at increasing the time children spend outdoors. Key messages • Outdoor play is important for children's health, but available data are geographically skewed. • A review of Polish literature highlights the complexity of cultural factors related to outdoor play.

The article concerns an analysis of New Latin literature from the Czech area in search of references to Polish culture and to Czech culture in Polish literature in Latin. The cultural community, whose bonding element was antiquity, is particularly relevant to Prague, Wrocław and Kraków. Participation in rhetorical agonas in Latin, mutual descriptors of nationality: these are just some of the issues. Also interesting is the model of the character of Szwejk, for whom the prototype could also be drawn from antiquity. The character of the warrior, who has a distance from the events in which he participates, and is inconspicuous but nevertheless ‘spring of events’, protected by fate. This is in fact a typical hero of antique and New Latin comedy, who, however, evolved in a special way in Czech literature (Jaroslava Hašek, Zdenek Jirotka, Petr Šabach) unlike in Polish literature (Aleksander Fredro, Henryk Sienkiewicz, Kazimierz Sławiński).

Objective: The aim of this paper was to analyse the impact of supervisor support, including the provision of appropriate induction training, on employees’ decisions to leave their jobs at a Polish manufacturing company. It also undertook to show how socio-economic characteristics influence the reasons for leaving a job. Research Design & Methods: The data was collected from people working in hazardous conditions at a manufacturing company. The company has been operating in Poland since 2016 and operates in the area of section C – industrial processing, division 10 – production of foodstuffs. 89 questionnaires were analysed. Data were collected over a period of 2.5 years. The following variables were controlled for: gender, length of service with the company, total length of service, supervisor support and provision of induction training. Subsequently, 14 reasons for leaving a job were identified and compared against the variables. The article used the chi-square statistical test and Cramér’s V test. Findings: Overwork and stress, as well as the need for change, were the most common reasons employees gave for leaving. The survey showed that the vast majority of respondents had received adequate induction training. Those who had not undergone adequate onboarding often left because they felt they had been undervalued, believed employees were treated unfairly, perceived a poor team atmosphere and/or had poor relations with their manager. No confirmation was found that turnover was a consequence of inadequate onboarding. The article examined the relationship between the lack of support from a supervisor and the reasons for leaving a job. It has been shown that people who did not receive support cite unequal treatment of employees as a reason for resigning from work. However, men leave work more often than women due to a feeling of being undervalued and lack of promotion opportunities. No correlation was found between gender and other reasons for leaving. Implications / Recommendations: Supervisor support can go a long way towards reducing employee stress and lowering turnover levels. Leaders actively supporting their employees can help them increase their sense of belonging and commitment to the organisation. Adapting motivation and development strategies to the specific needs of different groups of employees can help reduce turnover. Contribution: The issue of employee turnover has attracted the attention of researchers and human resource management practitioners in companies throughout the world. Despite this, there remains a gap in the Polish literature that would indicate the relationship between supervisor support and turnover intention in manufacturing companies. This study is an important prelude to further research on Poland and in manufacturing enterprises that are struggling with high levels of employee turnover. The article makes a significant contribution to the literature by providing valuable new data that can be applied to management practice in Polish manufacturing companies.

This paper offers a glance at the poetic oeuvre of two outstanding personalities of Persian and, respectively, Polish literature: Foruq Farroxzād and Halina Poświatowska (both 1935–1967). Although their environment differed in almost every respect: geography, sociopolitics, culture and religion, they shared more than just dates of life. Working on the translations of Poświatowska’s poetry into Persian (a collection of poems was published in 2015 under the title Ādamak, matarsak va āšeq) and Farroxzād’s poetry into Polish helped the author discover their similar sensibilities and shared concerns. Described as feminine, sensual and at times even scandalous, their poetry is also philosophical and reflective, touching upon topics such as woman’s prescribed role in society, relationship with nature, passage of time and inevitability of death. Through linguistic analysis of selected poems, the author would like to draw attention to the similarities in terms of form and poetic imagery between the discussed poets who – despite never meeting each other – sometimes enter dialogue and sometimes sing in unison.

Abstract Despite the fact that cryptocurrency trading has been taking place in Poland for a dozen or so years, the issue of the existence and nature of the right to cryptocurrency units has not been resolved in civil law doctrine and case law. The legislature has also not taken any action in this regard, including in the draft act on the cryptoasset market currently in process. Meanwhile, this issue is of significant theoretical and practical importance. This article therefore examines the currently presented views together with their indicated consequences, and then supplements the ongoing discussion with comparative legal remarks usually omitted in Polish literature. In this respect, solutions proposed or in force in European Union, German, British and Chinese law are taken into account. This provides an opportunity to comment on existing concepts, in particular the rejection of the proposal to adopt in Polish law de lege lata the right to a unit of cryptocurrency, effective erga omnes (although with the submission of a de lege ferenda application), and the view that there is no substantive right in this respect. In conclusion, it is considered that currently in Poland, the right to a unit of cryptocurrency is of a relative nature.

The reception of world literature and the translation activity of Ukrainian writers at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries shaped the key trends and perspectives in the development of national culture. Among foreign literatures, Polish literature was regarded as the closest to Ukrainian in terms of historical context, shared themes, and common concerns. However, engaging with non-national literary material also raised several challenges. Among the most pressing were the development of the Ukrainian literary language, the selection of appropriate authors and texts for translation, and the establishment of a professional school of translation. Olena Pchilka (O.P. Kosach, 1849–1930) was an active participant in this cultural and literary exchange. Her interest in Polish literature is evidenced by her translations of works by V. Syrokomla and Juliusz Słowacki, as well as her literary-critical essays on Słowacki and Eliza Orzeszkowa, in which she articulated her distinct approach to the form of translation. At the core of her method was the search for an ideal means of rendering the original text on lexical, thematic, and emotional levels. This type of work demands considerable effort, time, and expertise; not all translators can avoid interference from their native language or adequately preserve the integrity of the foreign text. Olena Pchilka’s translation strategy, which prioritized fidelity to the original, should therefore be considered a significant literary accomplishment.

The article investigates the artistic and philosophical representations of Kraków and Warsaw in Polish literature, focusing on multi-genre works by authors such as Stanisław Wyspiański, Tadeusz Borowski, Julian Tuwim, Antoni Słonimski, Kazimierz Wyka, Zofia Nałkowska, Maria Dąbrowska, and others. Through detailed poetics-based analysis, the author explores how the literary imagery of Kraków evolved into a symbolic «spiritual capital» of Poland, particularly through the multidimensional work of Wyspiański–poet, playwright, painter, and designer. The Kraków text is analyzed as a confluence of memory, identity, and artistic synthesis, shaped by sound, rhythm, visual art, and mythopoetic motifs. In contrast, the Warsaw text, particularly in the wartime poetry and memoirs from 1939 to 1945, encapsulates the existential experience of suffering, resistance, and national dignity. Texts by Baczyński, Gajcy, Lechoń, Tuwim, and others are interpreted as responses to historical trauma, deeply rooted in Polish collective consciousness and imbued with universal pathos. The paper emphasizes the resilience of cultural identity through literature and the transformative power of poetic language in narrating national fate.

This chapter is devoted to an analysis of the specific ways in which the Province functions as a literary topos in Polish literature. The theoretical framework draws on structuralism (Roland Barthes), geopoetics (Elżbieta Rybicka), and postcolonial studies (Agnieszka Matusiak, Yaroslav Polishchuk). This interdisciplinary approach makes it possible to examine the following aspects: from a semiotic perspective, the topos of the Province emerges as a symbolic component of the cultural space constructed in literature; the narrative structures of works focused on the Province include such recurring elements as the motif of escape from / return to / life in the Province; the asymmetry between center and periphery; and the symbolic interpretation of Life / Death and Eternity / Transience through geographical imagery and biographical storytelling. The author analyzes the works of Olga Tokarczuk and Andrzej Stasiuk, highlighting the key elements that shape the topos of the Province in their prose. The Polish model of this topos emphasizes yet another dimension – postcolonial experience – which is evident in Tokarczuk’s prose (e.g., The Province as an Idyllic Place) and Stasiuk’s narratives (e.g., The Province. The Road Beyond the Horizon). The topos of the Province thus emerges as a complex topo-cultural construct in which the Self and the Other, the concepts of Center and Periphery, urban spaces, and landscape imagery are intricately interwoven.

The cult of Blessed Bronisława, a nun from the Norbertine monastery in Zwierzyniec, developed intensively in Poland since her death in the 13th century. It gained particular importance in the 17th and 18th centuries, when both printed and handwritten literature was an important tool for promoting her sanctity. The subject of this article is to show the ways in which the cult of Blessed Bronisława found expression in Polish literature of the 17th and 18th centuries. Particular attention is paid to two main types of sources: religious prints, such as hagiographies, sermons and collections of prayers, and manuscripts containing prayers, songs and various liturgical forms. The aim of the article is to present the image of Blessed Bronisława in these accounts, as well as to show their significance in shaping the spirituality of the faithful and in perpetuating her cult in the public consciousness.

The article is a comprehensive critical review of Iwona E. Rusek’s monograph Stanisław Wyspiański. Mit – tradycja – historia (Warsaw 2024), published within the series “Literature and Memory” under the honorary patronage of the President of Poland. The Author highlights the threefold aim of Rusek’s work – didactic, popularizing, and scholarly – emphasizing its value for students, teachers, and scholars of Polish literature. Rusek examines three key dramas by Wyspiański: Wesele, Warszawianka, and Noc listopadowa, each approached with different methodological emphases. While Wesele is treated as a synthesis of symbolic interpretations rooted in tradition and enriched by visual and critical sources, Warszawianka is analyzed through an independent lens, with a focus on psychological and gender dynamics. The chapter on Noc listopadowa offers a deeply symbolic reading grounded in Eleusinian mystery rites and Christian eschatology, culminating in the myth of death and rebirth. Jakiel praises Rusek’s interpretative restraint and clarity, noting that her work, though selective in its use of secondary literature, effectively stimulates deeper engagement with Wyspiański’s mythopoetic dramaturgy.

The subject of battlefield logistics security in some countries lies outside the mainstream of military historians’ studies of armed conflicts in the broadest sense. This is surprising insofar as these activities almost always determine the manner and possibilities of conducting military operations. For example, this issue can be seen in the Polish literature on the defensive war of 1939. Although several comprehensive studies have been written, significant gaps remain in many areas, hindering a proper understanding of various aspects of the September 1939 fighting. One such topic is the preparation of the Polish civilian and military administration to meet the food needs of the civilian population in urban agglomerations in September 1939. The purpose of this article is to show the inadequacies of Polish preparations against the background of German efforts in this regard and to determine what effect victualling had on the ability to conduct a prolonged and organized defense. For this purpose, the author will use the example of one of the longest-defending urban centers in September 1939, namely the Polish capital, Warsaw.

In every society there are people who have the legal or biological status of a disabled person. There are 1.3 billion people worldwide who require assistance and support at every stage of their medical treatment and rehabilitation. Their social needs are underestimated, which reduces their quality of life. The aim of the review is to identify the types of medical and social problems encountered by the disabled, the importance of their extent and level of interdependence, defined by the tasks of comprehensive rehabilitation in order to maximise the independence of people with disabilities. A review was conducted of scientific literature in English, German and Polish covering the years 1980-2024 on the rehabilitation process with regard to medical and social needs. The following key words were used in the research in PubMed, PubMed Central and Google Scholar databases: disabled people, interdependence of medical and social needs, rehabilitation process. Disabled persons, especially the most severely disadvantaged, are among the most excluded groups in many countries. They are marginalised in both social and working life. Fundamental support for people with disabilities involves the full implementation of comprehensive rehabilitation that takes into account both medical and social needs. The majority of scientific works deal with the medical side of disability. Rehabilitation is not always accessible to disabled persons, especially those living in small towns and villages. People with disabilities require much more support in terms of social and vocational rehabilitation. Their level of participation and improved quality of life is ensured by well-organised comprehensive rehabilitation.

The article attempts to thoroughly address the issue of suspending firefighters from their duties during the years 2013–2024. It involves the applicable legal regulations, stages of administrative procedures, and the authorities responsible for issuing such decisions. The article also examines the legal and professional implications of suspension. A novel aspect in the research approach is the inclusion of statistical data regarding the number and course of proceedings in the discussed period, which not only describe the legal mechanisms but also evaluate their practical functioning. The aim of the article is to analyze the legal and practical aspects of suspending firefighters from their duties and to assess the effectiveness of this institution in light of the data from 2013–2024. The work aims not only to present the procedures but also to add value by diagnosing administrative practice in this area, constituting a new element in Polish literature on the subject. The following research questions have been posed: Is the firefighter suspension procedure in line with the principles of the rule of law and does it provide the officer with appropriate guarantees? What are the legal, professional, and social effects of suspension from service? Was the suspension institution applied more frequently in certain years and for what reasons? The following hypotheses have also been formulated: 1. The procedure for suspending an officer is highly formalized and standardized, yet not always transparent to the participants in the proceedings. 2. Suspension causes significant and lasting legal and social effects on the officer, regardless of the final outcome. 3. During the analyzed period, significant quantitative and qualitative changes in the application of the suspension institution can be observed. The study applied the method of legal (dogmatic) analysis through a review of the legislation governing the suspension of officers in their duties, case law, and literature on the subject. The empirical part employed statistical analysis—the numerical data concerning administrative proceedings conducted by the relevant authorities in the years 2013–2024 were compiled. This data was obtained from official sources (reports from the National Headquarters of the Fire Service, public inquiries), allowing a reliable comparative analysis. The innovative nature of the work is demonstrated in the combination of normative analysis with an empirical assessment of the effectiveness and frequency of suspension in practice. Previous publications have mainly focused on the description of legal provisions—this study fills a gap in the literature by evaluating to what extent suspensions are implemented in accordance with the letter and spirit of the law and what effects they have on officers.

The study presents legal solutions regarding euthanasia in the legislation of Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands. The preparation of this report involved the use of foreign-language legal acts as well as foreign and Polish literature on the subject. Information available on the websites of the ministries of health, interior affairs, and institutions, organisations, and associations in the discussed countries, whose activities are related to euthanasia, was analysed. The study also draws on materials from the database of the European Centre for Parliamentary Research and Documentation (ECPRD).

Abstract The obligation of a doctor to provide information about a patient’s health is a frequently discussed topic in Polish literature on medical law. To date, publications have focused on the topics of providing information about the diagnosis or about possible treatment options and discussing test results, and rarely discuss the termination of causal treatment, giving information instead on specialized symptomatic management and palliative care for patients with a chronic disease or a disease with an unfavourable prognosis. Providing honest and reliable information in this area increases patients’ awareness of their current health status, and thus allows them to make appropriate decisions related to the abandonment of futile therapy, and also reduces the distress associated with a fear of a lack of specialized medical care and physical, social and spiritual suffering. This article presents legal considerations for informing patients about specialist palliative care.

Abstract This text analyses the anthropogeographical and ethnographic clues about the Forest Germans [Głusi Niemcy, Głuchoniemcy] in the Carpathian Foothills by the Enlightenment scholar and priest, Franciszek Siarczyński. In his description of Galicia at the dawn of the 19th century, the author explored the phenomenon of descendants of German-speaking settlers brought to the former Polish–Ruthenian frontier by King Kazimierz the Great in the 14th century. Siarczyński created an account that reflected the processes of describing the rural populations, their culture, and their history in the context of the space they inhabited that were characteristic of the late Polish Enlightenment. Among other things, he devoted considerable attention to the etymology of the term ‘Forest Germans’, and conducted field observations in the village of Markowa, near Łańcut, where he recorded old songs and elements of the local language, indicating that the residents spoke a distorted form of German. The materials collected by Siarczyński are likely the most detailed among existing studies on the Forest Germans in Polish literature. Furthermore, they provide an insight into the beginning of history of the scientific discourse that has developed around this phenomenon since the turn of the 18th and 19t centuries.