Natchnienie                     Polish

Anna Frajlich photo by Zosia Zeleska-Bobrowski

In Polish the word is a carbon copy of the Latin inspiration and etymologically, as in English, is linked to words denoting breathing and the spirit. It indicates that inspiration is believed to be natural inhaling and exhaling and simultaneously a supernatural spirit phenomenon. Since Boilaeu and Kant, in literature and art inspiration has been associated with the topic of genius.

This is what Romanticism inherited from the earliest periods, and put on the pedestal. In Poland, the original discussion about creative power of man and inspirational sources of knowledge comes with major Romantic poet Adam Mickiewicz , who believed poetry to be a divine spark that comes from God on the wings of inspiration. Mickiewicz possessed quite a rare gift of improvisation which was seen as a most profound indication of his genius. He was recognized as “inspired” by the Russians and the French, many called him the “inspired one”, and believed that this was a sign of his prophetic powers. Mickiewicz makes his alter ego look up for inspiration.

Juliusz Slowacki, a younger Romantic poet believed that poetic inspiration is a greatest source of wealth than land, trade, and distribution of work. Another contemporary, Romantic poet, Zygmunt Krasinski yearned for incarnation of inspiration, he painfully recognized the hiatus existing between the poetic inspiration and the real life deed.

Aleksander Michaux among others believed that the inspired poet is always subject to unrest and striving. A woman poet, Jadwiga Luszczewska believed that a man in the state of inspiration has all the characteristic of divination except immortality. But inspiration also burns its subject.

Influenced by German Romantic theories, some writers awarded inspirational cognitive status to other disciplines as well. Thus Maurycy Mochancki, a prominent critic of these times, regarded work of an original thinkers also inspired.

Influenced by the English critical and theoretical thought, Romantics saw two contradictory concept of inspiration: external – coming from God and hidden powers of nature, and inner – conceptual.

The poet was believed a superior creative being and what he created was a revelation of truth intuitively grasped. Odyniec believed that inspiration comes from the feeling of truth but empathy is necessary for poetic creation.  With time, the concept of inspiration was subjected to evolution. Cyprian K. Norwid, the most intellectual Polish poet of all times, pointed that school of style argued with the school of inspiration.  A woman writer representing so called Positivist trend in the Polish literature, Eliza Orzeszkowa  believed that inspiration comes from talent but once it exist it should be govern by the “know how”.

 
Jerzy Żuławski perhaps the last one to talk openly about inspiration proclaimed that inspiration comes from within and represents the voice of spirit in the intellect. It says “I am” and promises to act. With time the notion of inspiration became a bit archaic and obsolete.
 

Interview Questions

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Edwin: What is the word for inspiration in Polish?

Anna:  Natchnienie - These are the most general definitions of inspiration in the Polish vocabulary.

• 1. state of spiritual tension (strain), creative animation, stimulation; creative outburst. Strive toward something great, sublime/elevated. Psychological or emotional tension influencing positively creative, intellectual mental work; creative impulse, surge.

• 2. thought, stimulus, scooped from somewhere, stimulating someone to creativity; encouragement, incentive, spur to a intellectual effort.

• 3. (obsolete) stimulation to action, to deed, to the creative act

Natchnienie Malarza, Jacek Malczewski, Muzeum Narodowe, Kraków

I found a painting by Jacek Malczewski titled, Natchnienie Malarza.  Combining some of his comments about inspiration (if available) with this painting might be interesting. As you see this "inspiration" is allegorical, even more than symbolical. And it is so called "Young Poland" period, half century after the Romanticism.  But it may serve the purpose. What do you think the painting by Jacek Malczewski, Natchnienie Malarza, is saying? It shows the artist in the state of creative pains.

Mickiewicz on the Cliff of Yudah, Walenty Wankowicz

There are two paintings presenting Adam Mickiewicz in state of inspiration, one by Walenty Wankowicz, one by Józef Oleszkiewicz.

Adam Mickiewicz, Józef Oleszkiewicz, National Museum in Krakow. From publication : Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855) Muzeum Literatury im. Warszawa 1998)

What are your personal thoughts about inspiration. For instance, do you recall the first time you felt inspired?

 The word "inspiration" is considered a bit pathetic in contemporary Polish. No one would talk about his own inspiration, writing from inspiration, etc. No serious writer talks about being inspired.  It sounds very pretentious. Milosz says that there are poems dictated by Daimonion, received,  something along these lines. I write since I was 12,  I published first time when I was 16, and published first book eighteen years later. I had my collection ready sooner but my exile prevented it from happening.   I write only these "dictated" poems, I  catch them when they come.
 
Are you saying you are inspired by Daimonion? Can you tell me more about that?
I see the following definition for Daimonion;

• the divine power, deity, divinity
• a spirit, a being inferior to God, superior to men
• evil spirits or the messengers and ministers of the devil

We are talking here about poems that are "given" to the poet, "received" by the poet. That come suddenly and  ready to pen them down, as opposed to the poems that are planned and labored on.

Also, I think the whole concept with Daimonion comes from the idea that poet is a sort of medium.

Can you tell me more of why you think inspiration is "pathetic"? What do you mean by that?

Why is inspiration "pathetic"? In Polish it is not a neutral word, it is a word of very high register,  and using such word for description of one's own state sounds very pretentious. It indicates  exaltation to which no modern man would like to subscribe.  In English it may serve as both, high and neutral word. You can almost say: "I was inspired by you to buy this table. Student is inspired by teacher". In Polish it is impossible to make such a statements, you make them but without this particular word.  I would never say that "I am/was inspired, or had an inspiration, it is definitely of the19th century.

What is the actual poem  "Adam Mickiewicz , who believed poetry to be a divine spark that comes from God on the wings of inspiration."

The poem I quote is known by its incipit as .....Ja rymow nie dobieram" meaning; "I don't select (match/pick) the rhymes" and it goes;

I Don't Select  the Rhymes,

 

I don't put together syllables

I have written everything as I say it to you

As I strike my chest the spring of words will gush

And if on this current the divine spark will flash

It's not a result of the mind, and it is not an embryo of a dream:

I accepted it from God on the wings of inspiration:

through it (by it)

I see the future, grasp thoughts, govern the feelings through it (by it) empowered,

I'll judge our sins and our future.
Know, that there is only one way for the poet
To look into the heart for inspiration, and strive toward (the) God.

That is literal translation. But with rhymes etc. it is very powerful and it really gives you the description of the Romantic perception of inspiration.