Dwa rodzaje dyskursów w polskiej literaturze lagrowej

Abstract

Two types of discourse in Polish “gulag literature”

The purpose of this article is to show the differences in presenting the reality of concentration camps in polish postwar prose. I am presenting two discourses in gulag literature: humanistic and anti-humanistic. I find differences mainly in presenting the reality of concentration camp and I consider them with regard to concentration reality through the prism of stable humanistic values or internal perspective. I concentrate on showing the condition of human being in gulag reality and the perception of human dignity, the basic experiences in labor camp conditions such as people behavior and attitude, omnipresent death, and relations between people. In the summary I try to bring awareness to the process of language conventionalization and perpetuation of symbols in description of concentration camps.

Key words: postwar prose; concentration camps; discourse;