STEFAN LICHAŃSKI AS A SCHOLAR OF RURAL LITERATURE

Abstract

Among Stefan Lichański’s (1914-1983) essayistic and critical works of particular
importance are those focusing on literature created by writers who identify themselves
with rural communities. While characterising the rural movement in post-war literature
and constraints affecting his description, Lichański emphasised its sociological nature.
His remarks remain so prominent – both quantitatively and qualitatively – that we can
treat various forms of those reflections on “rural writing” as a separate thematic
movement.
Considering the idea of rural literature as an artistic and socio-cultural phenomenon,
Lichański focused on the following issues:
-relation between literature created by rural communities and national literature/culture;
-socio-cultural implications of this kind of literature, especially in the era of profound
changes which the scholar has experienced and in which he participated;
-methodological tools enabling isolating and describing immanent features of rural
literature which determine its (potential) individuality.