Godzinki moskalofilskie by Telesfor Chełchowski – Remarks on Structure and Style

Abstract

Subject to analysis in this article is T. Chełchowski’s Godzinki moskalofilskie. 300 dni łaski carskiej za każdorazowe odmówienie tych godzinek z pokorą i skruszonym sercem [Moscophile Hours: 300 Days of Grace for Each Saying of the Hours with Humility and Contrite Heart]. The Hours is a text that fits the general poetics of the political disputes typical of the Polish émigré milieus at the turn of the 20th century. At the same time, the text retains a lot from the Polish literary tradition. Taking into account the fact that the text exploits a prayer as a textual genre (Canonical Hours), and acknowledging the roots of the genre, the Hours can be classified as a travesty (trawestacja in Nycz’s approach) or as an idiosyncratic token (okaz in Wojtak’s terms) of the prayer genre. The generic linkage is realized by constructing the text of the Hours in seven parts (Matins, Prime, Terce, Sext, Nones, Vespers and Compline) with its introduction, hymn, verses, responsories and prayers; by consecutive use of metre in invocations and hymns; by an apostrophic opening of the hymns; by positioning verses and responsories after hymns or prayers; as well as by stylistic and semantic references (invocations addressed to the Tsar and hymn protagonists, modelled on apostrophes to God and Mary; paraphrases of biblical and prayer collocations). Departures from the canonical text-type include: the reduced form of the final antiphon, lack of prayer and an introduction that is modified per each hour.