Herbert's attitude to the Greco-Latin World

Abstract

The article is a detailed review of ancient motifs and traces in Herbert's poetry. The author describes Herbert's classicising attitude as the poet's „archaeological” action. He removes from our vision of the Greco-Latin world „the patina and incrustations deposited by time and people” and shows not only its beauty, but also its grimness. This artistic attitude is a heroic attempt to touch the truth through touching „the trace”. The kind of perception accepted by the author allows revealing an epistemological perspective in these „classical motifs”. It also allows – which is especially significant – noticing both the „the classical character of art” and „the classical character of pain”. A number of questions essential for understanding Herbert's poems are also in the circle of the author's interests, like ancient philosophy and mythology, the relation between „art” and „life”, the consequences of artistic choices and gestures, and a reflection on poetics.