mersiowsky - 10-2-2016 at 01:43 PM
Lětopis Abstract 2010 1: Marti, Roland: “Wot Lubina do Błótow?” Jakub Bart-Ćišinski, the Sorbs in Lower Lusatia and Lower
Sorbian Literature
Jakub Bart-Ćišinski is considered to be the classical representative of “Sorbian literature.” This implies that he has the same function for the
Upper and the Lower Sorbs. Since Bart-Ćišinski wrote exclusively in Upper Sorbian it is only legitimate to raise the question whether he is
indeed the representative of “Sorbian literature” as a whole. The article analyses Bart-Ćišinski’s attitude towards the Sorbs as a whole and
finds that he indeed stresses the unity of the Sorbian people, i.e. the Lower and the Upper Sorbs. This unity is also stressed with regard to Sorbian
literature. A closer analysis reveals, however, that the main (sometimes almost exclusive) emphasis is placed upon Upper Sorbian literature. The
perusal of different sources (poetry, journalistic publications, letters) allows for the conclusion that Bart-Ćišinski’s attitude to Lower
Sorbian literature was highly critical. Furthermore, it seems that he did not pay enough attention to the differences between Lower and Upper Sorbian
literature. A case apart is his relationship with the equally classic Lower Sorbian poet, Mato Kósyk, who was active at about the same time. There
seems to have been a certain rivalry prompting Bart-Ćišinski to downplay Kósyk’s role in Sorbian literature.