Papers by Weronika Łaszkiewicz
ATLANTIS Journal of the Spanish Association of Anglo-American Studies, 2024
The aim of this article is to determine why the prototypical form of high/epic fantasy cannot eff... more The aim of this article is to determine why the prototypical form of high/epic fantasy cannot effectively address the present environmental, social and political problems gathered under the umbrella term of the Anthropocene. Drawing on Marek Oziewicz's concept of planetarianist fantasy and scholarship on the Anthropocene, as well as on examples of selected fantasy series (J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Stephen R. Donaldson's The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Guy Gavriel Kay's The Fionavar Tapestry, and Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time), this article investigates the sub-genre's most persistent components and juxtaposes them against issues related to ethnicity, species interconnectedness, non-human agency, sustained urban development and urban ethics which are raised by Anthropocene debates. This analysis will illustrate why the form of high/epic fantasy requires reconfiguration so that it can continue to evolve together with the needs of contemporary readers.
Science Fiction Studies, 2023
The aim of this article is to juxtapose two of Sheri S. Tepper’s works—Beauty (1991) and the Plag... more The aim of this article is to juxtapose two of Sheri S. Tepper’s works—Beauty (1991) and the Plague of Angels trilogy (1993–2014)—in order to demonstrate how her vision of humanity’s future beyond the Anthropocene evolves or devolves in the course of her literary career, from the promise of magical salvation into a disturbing scenario of scientific advancement involving passive genocide, genetic modification, and eugenics. My reading is grounded in Marek Oziewicz’s theory of planetary narratives, Donna Haraway’s concept of the Chthulucene, and Joan Gordon’s figure of the amborg, which allow one to critically evaluate the author’s perception both of interspecies relations and humanity’s position among other living creatures.
Horror Studies, 2023
The following article examines the portrayal of Indigenous peoples and traditions in modern horro... more The following article examines the portrayal of Indigenous peoples and traditions in modern horror fiction written by non-Indigenous Euro-American authors. While the figures of the noble savage, beautiful maiden and victim of white progress are some of the most enduring stereotypes associated with indigeneity, in this article I demonstrate how in modern horror Indigenous characters and traditions serve as the embodiment of evil, which the White protagonists need to defeat to ensure their own survival. If any Indigenous characters appear in these narratives, they do so mostly in the roles of helpers, which contributes to the marginalization of Indigenous characters in the genre. To illustrate these problems, I draw examples from a number of horror stories ranging from classic to pulp fiction in order to expose the genre’s latent colonial rhetoric, which reinforces the simulation of Indigenous presence in contemporary culture – a phenomenon analysed by the Anishinaabe scholar, Gerald Vizenor, whose work will provide a theoretical background for my investigation.
Zeitschrift für Anglistik und Amerikanistik , 2021
The aim of this article is to investigate the works of Charles de Lint in order to evaluate their... more The aim of this article is to investigate the works of Charles de Lint in order to evaluate their position within the genre of urban fantasy. The theoretical framework is adopted from Stefan Ekman’s article “Urban Fantasy: A Literature of the Unseen” (2016) which investigates the genre’s development and formulates a list of its most distinctive features. While this article uses Ekman’s study to examine de Lint’s fictional cities, it also indicates how de Lint’s works challenge
Ekman’s analysis. Moreover, the article demonstrates how de Lint’s concern with problems of urban communities transforms his works into narratives of social inclusion, which are particularly significant in the age of the Anthropocene.
Ilha do Desterro, 2021
The aim of this article is to analyze the portrayal of Native Americans in Orson Scott Card's The... more The aim of this article is to analyze the portrayal of Native Americans in Orson Scott Card's The Tales of Alvin Maker (1987-2003), an alternative history of the US, in which the author condemns the country's colonial history. However, in spite of his obvious sympathy for Native people, Card does not manage to avoid the traps awaiting a non-Native author writing about tribal communities. The following article demonstrates how Card both empowers his Indigenous characters and undermines their empowerment. The framework for the analysis is provided by Gerald Vizenor's theories regarding the simulation of Native presence in the dominant culture, persistence of stereotypical indians, concept of survivance, and possible retrieval of Native sovereignty.
Acta Neophilologica, 2020
The aim of this paper is to examine Charles de Lint's novel Widdershins (2006), whose main theme ... more The aim of this paper is to examine Charles de Lint's novel Widdershins (2006), whose main theme is an interspecies war for the American land. The paper demonstrates how, by exploring the themes of Indigenous suffering, belief in species interconnectedness, reverence for the natural world, and approach to trauma, the novel participates in the deconstruction of colonial structures present in the concept of the Anthropocene. The paper also engages de Lint's novel in a dialogue with the studies on the Anthropocene to prove that, by providing its readers with alternative modes of thinking, fantasy fiction can contribute to the cognitive change required to save our planet from human-wrought destruction.
Brno Studies in English, 2020
The aim of this paper is to analyze the portrayal of Native American people and traditions in Cha... more The aim of this paper is to analyze the portrayal of Native American people and traditions in Charles de Lint's most recent novel The Wind in His Heart (2017). The theoretical framework for the proposed analysis will be provided by Gerald Vizenor's works dealing with the depiction of Indigenous communities in mainstream (predominantly white) culture and Marek Oziewicz's One Earth, One People (2008) in which the author examines the restorative power of mythopoeic fantasy. Since the works of Charles de Lint, which belong to the category of mythopoeic fantasy, implicitly argue that Indigenous spirituality may play a significant role in the process of restoration discussed by Oziewicz, the inclusion of Oziewicz's perspective will contribute to the overall assessment of de Lint's portrayal of Native people and traditions.
Mythlore, 2020
This essay examines Peter S. Beagle’s depiction of unicorns in his two recent works, In Calabria ... more This essay examines Peter S. Beagle’s depiction of unicorns in his two recent works, In Calabria (2017) and “My Son Heydari and the Karkadann” (2017), in order to demonstrate how these mythic creatures embody Rudolf Otto’s concept of the numinous (defined as mysterium tremendum et fascinans) and thus expand the unicorn imagery developed by the writer since 1968.
Fantastyka a realizm, 2019
The aim of this paper is to analyze George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire in order to demon... more The aim of this paper is to analyze George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire in order to demonstrate that in spite of its medieval character, Martin’s work is based on postmodern conventions and enters into a dialogue with the expectations of 21st century readers. Thus, the paper analyzes the structure of the narrative, the world depicted in it, and its characters. This analysis is preceded by a discussion of “fantastic neomedievalism,” particularly in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and later Tolkienesque fantasy prone to nostalgic rendition of the Middle Ages. The analysis is complemented by a passage on other fantasy novels which show signs of postmodern sensibility and, therefore, offer a glimpse into the process of transformation within medieval-inspired fantasy, of which Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire can be regarded as the most recent product.
Studies in Canadian Literature, 2018
The aim of this paper is to analyze the portrayal of Indigenous American characters and tradition... more The aim of this paper is to analyze the portrayal of Indigenous American characters and traditions in the selected works of Charles de Lint (Moonheart, Svaha, Someplace to Be Flying, Forests of the Heart and others) in order to demonstrate that while some of his early works perpetuate a stereotypical representation of indigenous people, de Lint gradually parts with these stereotypes and manages to bestow sovereignty on his native characters. Consequently, he contributes to the deconstruction of the distorted images of Indigenous Americans present in popular fiction. To support this claim, the following paper investigates the different roles and functions of de Lint’s native characters, and examines the various elements of tribal cultures and problems of contemporary native communities, which de Lint incorporates in his novels. Thus, this paper joins the debate on the misrepresentation of Indigenous Americans in fantasy literature, which has recently been reignited by J.K. Rowling’s portrayal of indigenous people in her “History of Magic in North America.”
Studies in the Fantastic, 2018
The aim of this paper is to investigate the theme of female empowerment in William Morris’s late ... more The aim of this paper is to investigate the theme of female empowerment in William Morris’s late prose romances: The Wood Beyond the World (1894), The Well at the World’s End (1896), and The Water of the Wondrous Isles (1897). A comparative analysis of these narratives offered in this paper demonstrates how Morris, a Victorian writer, gradually liberates his heroines from stereotypical constructs of femininity generated by the tradition of chivalric romances and Victorian sensibility.
Acta Neophilologica, 2017
The aim of the following paper is to examine the conflict between the cult of the Mother Goddess ... more The aim of the following paper is to examine the conflict between the cult of the Mother Goddess and Christianity, which affects King Arthur’s reign in Marion Zimmer Bradley’s original retelling of Arthurian legends—The Mists of Avalon (1983). The religious conflict presented in the novel is inextricably linked with representations of femininity and the figures of Morgaine (Morgan le Fay) and Queen Gwenhwyfar, who are dedicated, respectively, to Avalon and the Church. By investigating both women’s beliefs, actions, and relationship with Arthur, this paper will demonstrate how in Bradley’s retelling the transition from the worship of the Goddess to Christianity conditions King Arthur’s reign and ultimately contributes to his downfall.
Mythlore, 2017
The aim of this paper is to explore the diverse arboreal imagery of fantasy fiction. In modern fa... more The aim of this paper is to explore the diverse arboreal imagery of fantasy fiction. In modern fantasy trees and forests become the vessel of the numinous, the last vestige of myth and faerie in the modern world, the catalyst of a hero’s metamorphosis, the main agent in the resolution of a grand conflict, and the allegory through which the author can provide comments on the relationship between people and the environment. In order to analyze the multifaceted images of fantastic trees and forests, as well as their significance within the structures of the genre, I intend to focus on a selection of works, including those by Steven Brust, Stephen R. Donaldson, Robert Holdstock, Guy Gavriel Kay, Charles de Lint, George R.R. Martin, and J.R.R Tolkien.
Tekstowe światy fantastyki, 2017
Znany w Polsce i za granicą głównie jako autor nieśmiertelnego już „Ostatniego jednorożca”, Peter... more Znany w Polsce i za granicą głównie jako autor nieśmiertelnego już „Ostatniego jednorożca”, Peter S. Beagle wyróżnia się na tle innych pisarzy fantastycznych prawdziwą dbałością o jakość prozy, którą tworzy. Jednym z elementów świadczących o jego kunszcie literackim jest właśnie narracja. W przeciwieństwie do wielu pisarzy fantastycznych, którzy wszystkie swoje książki piszą na przysłowiowe „jedno kopyto” i pozwalają wszystkim bohaterom mówić takim samym głosem, Beagle bawi się wariantami narracji i zmienia je z tekstu na tekst. W „Ostatnim jednorożcu” używa metafikcyjnych komentarzy, aby kpić z konwencji baśni i średniowiecznych stereotypów, które powieść powiela. W „Pieśni karczmarza” eksperymentuje z narracją wielogłosową, dzięki której odkrywa indywidualne głosy każdego z bohaterów, tworząc tym samym mozaikę doświadczeń i emocji. W „Tamsin” decyduje się na opowiedzenie historii widzianej oczami nastoletniej Jenny, która już jako prawie dorosła kobieta spisuje pamiętnik z niezwykłych wydarzeń swego dzieciństwa. Zaglądający jej przez ramię czytelnicy stają się świadkami nie tylko jej przygód, ale również procesu tworzenia samego pamiętnika, który przerywany jest wątpliwościami autorki w kwestii jej warsztatu pisarskiego albo stopnia, do którego zobowiązana jest oddać prawdę opisywanych wydarzeń. Ponadto, między wszystkimi tekstami ukryte się słowa i motywy, pozwalające, jeśli nie zestawić je w jedno fantastyczne uniwersum, to chociaż połączyć je nicią wiodącą czytelnika z jednego tekstu do drugiego. Z tych i innych względów warto przyjrzeć się rodzajom i funkcjom narracji w utworach Petera S. Beagle’a.
The Light of Life: Essays in Honour of Professor Barbara Kowalik, 2017
Questions about the relationship between modern fantasy fiction and Christianity—or religion in g... more Questions about the relationship between modern fantasy fiction and Christianity—or religion in general—have generated one of the most heated debates concerning the fantasy genre. While some works, e.g. J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia, have been praised for their worlds steeped in Christian ethics and theology, others have been treated with suspicion (J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series) or downright condemned for their critique of Christianity (Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy). Because of its subversive potential, fantasy fiction may serve as a tool of religious criticism¬, since it allows authors to create alternative worlds that challenge established beliefs and customs. Yet these subversive, alternative worlds are not the only means through which fantasy fiction can oppose, or even rebel against, Christianity. In some cases, fantasy challenges Christianity by displaying a strong preference for the mythic past and its pagan religion(s) revolving around old deities and nature worship. Such are the premises of Robert Holdstock’s “Thorn” and “Scarrowfell,” Poul Anderson’s The Broken Sword, Charles de Lint’s Moonheart and Greenmantle, and Clive Barker’s Weaveworld. The analysis of these texts will bring to light a different dimension of the relationship between fantasy fiction and Christianity, and contribute to the discussion on the religious aspects of the fantasy genre.
Ad Americam, 2016
The following article explores the similarities between Polish Indian novels (written mostly in t... more The following article explores the similarities between Polish Indian novels (written mostly in the second half of the 20th century) and modern fantasy fiction in an effort to argue that the former should not be examined–and then criticized–only in terms of their idealized
representations of Native American tribes and life in the wilderness. To demonstrate the parallel between these Indian novels and fantasy fiction, this article will first analyze how the works of Polish writers and fantasy narratives are motivated by similar desires. It will then examine the Indian novels in the context of John H. Timmerman’s study on
the six generic traits of fantasy. This perspective will allow us to circumvent the question of authenticity in representation, and instead acknowledge the significance of the Indian novels for the readers and writers of the People’s Republic of Poland.
Imaginary Creatures in Medieval and Modern Fantasy Literature, 2016
The following paper analyzes the nature of the benevolent and malevolent beasts and creatures app... more The following paper analyzes the nature of the benevolent and malevolent beasts and creatures appearing in Guy Gavriel Kay’s Fionavar Tapestry, and argues that they are a significant part of Fionavar’s secondary sacrum, i.e. they are related to divinity and function in religious contexts. The analysis is developed in reference to the definitions of sacrum provided by phenomenology of religion, particularly by the works of Rudolf Otto and Gerardus van der Leeuw.
Dwelling in Days Foregone: Nostalgia in American Literature and Culture, 2016
The ways in which John Milton Harney, Joseph Rodman Drake, James Kirke Paulding, John Greenleaf W... more The ways in which John Milton Harney, Joseph Rodman Drake, James Kirke Paulding, John Greenleaf Whittier, Charles M. Skinner, and Nathaniel Hawthorne defined the notion of enchantment and incorporated fairies into their works reveal a lot about the impact which the Old World’s legacy had on the sensibility of American writers. The following paper will examine a selection of works by Harney, Drake, Paulding, Whittier, Skinner, and Hawthorne in order to demonstrate how the fairies and enchantment from their narratives express a vicarious yearning for the Old World, boastfully promote the New World, or attempt to recombine the old with the new to create something distinctly American.
Acta Neophilologica, 2014
The aim of the following paper is to prove that the tools applied by phenomenology of religion to... more The aim of the following paper is to prove that the tools applied by phenomenology of religion to the study of sacrum, i.e. various religious phenomena and manifestations appearing in our world, can be successfully applied to the study of sacrum present in the secondary worlds of modern fantasy fi ction. When applied, the phenomenological approach will contribute to a better understanding of the imaginary world and of the spiritual dimension of the heroes’ adventures, and reveal the author’s inspiration with particular religions/mythologies. The following paper, fi rst of all, provides a brief summary of phenomenology of religion as a discipline; secondly, discusses this discipline’s
applicability to fantasy literature, and finally provides a sample study of a fantastic religion present in Guy Gavriel Kay’s Fionavar Tapestry.
Crossroads. A Journal of English Studies, 2017
The aim of the following paper is to examine Anna Brzezińska’s Wody głębokie jak niebo—a collecti... more The aim of the following paper is to examine Anna Brzezińska’s Wody głębokie jak niebo—a collection of
short stories set in a fantastic world resembling Renaissance Italy. The paper will, first of all, present Brzezińska’s
work as being representative of the sub-genre of fairytale fantasy. Secondly, it will investigate how the interplay of
history, religion, and magic developed in the collection affects the shape of Brzezińska’s imaginary world. Thirdly, it
will analyze the theme of female empowerment, which reappears in subsequent stories.
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Papers by Weronika Łaszkiewicz
Ekman’s analysis. Moreover, the article demonstrates how de Lint’s concern with problems of urban communities transforms his works into narratives of social inclusion, which are particularly significant in the age of the Anthropocene.
representations of Native American tribes and life in the wilderness. To demonstrate the parallel between these Indian novels and fantasy fiction, this article will first analyze how the works of Polish writers and fantasy narratives are motivated by similar desires. It will then examine the Indian novels in the context of John H. Timmerman’s study on
the six generic traits of fantasy. This perspective will allow us to circumvent the question of authenticity in representation, and instead acknowledge the significance of the Indian novels for the readers and writers of the People’s Republic of Poland.
applicability to fantasy literature, and finally provides a sample study of a fantastic religion present in Guy Gavriel Kay’s Fionavar Tapestry.
short stories set in a fantastic world resembling Renaissance Italy. The paper will, first of all, present Brzezińska’s
work as being representative of the sub-genre of fairytale fantasy. Secondly, it will investigate how the interplay of
history, religion, and magic developed in the collection affects the shape of Brzezińska’s imaginary world. Thirdly, it
will analyze the theme of female empowerment, which reappears in subsequent stories.
Ekman’s analysis. Moreover, the article demonstrates how de Lint’s concern with problems of urban communities transforms his works into narratives of social inclusion, which are particularly significant in the age of the Anthropocene.
representations of Native American tribes and life in the wilderness. To demonstrate the parallel between these Indian novels and fantasy fiction, this article will first analyze how the works of Polish writers and fantasy narratives are motivated by similar desires. It will then examine the Indian novels in the context of John H. Timmerman’s study on
the six generic traits of fantasy. This perspective will allow us to circumvent the question of authenticity in representation, and instead acknowledge the significance of the Indian novels for the readers and writers of the People’s Republic of Poland.
applicability to fantasy literature, and finally provides a sample study of a fantastic religion present in Guy Gavriel Kay’s Fionavar Tapestry.
short stories set in a fantastic world resembling Renaissance Italy. The paper will, first of all, present Brzezińska’s
work as being representative of the sub-genre of fairytale fantasy. Secondly, it will investigate how the interplay of
history, religion, and magic developed in the collection affects the shape of Brzezińska’s imaginary world. Thirdly, it
will analyze the theme of female empowerment, which reappears in subsequent stories.
The articles gathered in this book tackle some basic concepts that come with studying the genre, including but not limited to the history of fantasy fiction, some classifications of the genre proposed by different scholars, the themes with which fantasy is engaging, as well as deconstruction of some symbols and myths that take place in some notable works of fantasy writers. It is an engaging read, no matter how much knowledge the reader already possesses; what is even more important is that it allows the value of fantasy fiction and ways in which it takes its roots in the oldest traditions of storytelling to be understood and pinpointed.
fiction, but also readers’ concerns over portrayals of religion in fantasy. Yet while analyses of these works fill many volumes, other fantasy series have received much less attention. This critical study explores the fantastic religions and religious themes in the works of American and Canadian writers Stephen R. Donaldson (Chronicles of Thomas Covenant), Guy Gavriel Kay (Fionavar Tapestry), Celia S. Friedman (Coldfire Trilogy), and Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn) series. References to biblical tradition and Christian teachings reveal these writers’ overall approach to Christianity and the relationship between Christianity and
the fantasy genre.
https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781793636638/Images-of-the-Anthropocene-in-Speculative-Fiction-Narrating-the-Future
pozwalające pisarzom wyrażać to, co jest fantastyczne, a przez to „niewyrażalne”.
Fantastykę w jej minimalistycznym wydaniu omawia Mariusz M. Leś.
Najwięcej artykułów, w niniejszej książce zamieszczonych, dotyka problematyki metafikcji. Magdalena Szczepocka, na przykładzie Hyperiona Dana Simmonsa i obecnych w dylogii tendencji metafikcjonalnych, wskazuje na przekraczanie ram gatunkowych science fiction. Karol Chojnowski z kolei, przy okazji analizy powieści Gniazdo światów Marka S. Huberatha, poszerza obraz literatury
fantastycznej i jej ontologii o teorię recepcji Wolfganga Isera. Anita Całek zajmuje się w swoim tekście poświęconym renarracjom w literaturze fantasy. Rafał Szczerbakiewicz, także wskazując na metafikcjonalność omawianej przez siebie trylogii Kima Stanleya Robinsona, konfrontuje jej wymiar ideologiczny z mocą światotwórczą oraz tekstową (narracyjną i lingwistyczną) prezentacją świata. Omawiając cykl The Demon Princes Jacka Vance’a, Piotr Stasiewicz również stawia pytania o jego poetykę i przynależność gatunkową. Weronika Łaszkiewicz w swoim tekście o powieściach Petera S. Beagle’a koncentruje się na kwestiach związanych z narracją, tuż obok metafikcji.
W kontekście charakterystycznych dla modernizmu pojęć twórczość Jana Dreżdżona analizuje Przemysław Kaliszuk. O bardzo popularnej w ostatnim dwudziestoleciu fantasy historycznej w kontekście tradycyjnej prozy historycznej pisze Jacek Stopa. Bliższy natomiast tradycyjnemu literaturoznawstwu jest tekst Marka Dybizbańskiego poświęcony zagadnieniom związanym z fantastyką w dramacie i teatrze XIX wieku.
W swojej analizie powieści Roberta Rankina Zbigniew Głowala wskazuje
na różnorodność zastosowanych w niej konwencji i intertekstualnych odniesień. Analizując motywy składające się na Pieśń dla Arbonne Sylwia Borowska-Szerszun skupia się przede wszystkim na konstrukcji jej postaci kobiecych, w której dostrzega intrygującą syntezę i przemianę elementów charakterystycznych dla literatury fantasy oraz romansów rycerskich i miłości dworskiej. W swoim tekście o twórczości Margaret Atwood Ewelina Feldman-Kołodziejuk zwraca naszą uwagę na rolę myślenia symbolicznego w procesie tworzenia, przekazywania i recepcji kultury, a samo myślenie symboliczne ukazuje jako cechę, która charakteryzować będzie także postludzi. Rafał Modzelewski analizuje
twórczość Teda Chianga, który wykorzystuje swoje fantastyczne światy do polemizowania z polityką, filozofią i teologią.
The organizers of the 9th Congress of the Polish Association for Canadian Studies (PACS) are pleased to invite scholars working across various disciplines, as well as writers and artists, to submit paper and panel proposals which consider the broadly-understood issues of exclusion and inclusion in the Canadian context. We are interested in bringing together scholars from various fields, especially but not exclusively, politics and public policy, international relations, social studies, history, literature and the arts, cultural and media studies, linguistics, etc. We encourage interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives and welcome abstract submissions from postgraduate students.