Wielogatunkowość "Sagi o wiedźminie" Andrzeja Sapkowskiego

Abstract

Andrzej Sapkowski’s book resembles the saga because of its compilative nature, romantic plot, elements of a chronicle and the presence of Celtic and Roman motifs. According to the author himself ‘saga’ is not so much a genologic name as it is the publisher’s marketing device to define this as fantasy. The sylvic nature of the Saga of the Wizard is clearly reflected in its multi-genre character. Characters’ actions are the motivating force in the presentation of the richness of depicted reality, in which the Saga... resembles an epic. The fantastic vein in the novel excludes references to real historic facts; almost all events, languages, literary and scientific works (including historic ones) alluded to in the text belong to the created world and their status is pseudo- authentic. Magic present in the Saga... is set in the fantasy context, which contributes to the parabolic readings of Sapkowski’s book. Stories of a wizard are related to fairy tales, however they violate ethical determinism of the latter. Fairy tales aim at an axiological target in the plot whereas Sapkowski”s novel can be classified, according to Stanisław Lem’s typology, a game with a non-zero total. A characteristic feature of the Saga is an excessive and ostentatious use of literature by other authors and of different epochs. Sapkowski uses ready prefabricated products delivered equally by high and mast- culture. The compilative nature of the novel and unusual multi-level, meandering narrative determine epistemological incapability, cognitive chaos and ironic tones in Sapkowski’s book.