Siła sprawcza afektu. O balladzie „Czaty” Adama Mickiewicza

The article analyzes the ballad Czaty by Adam Mickiewicz, which has so far received little critical attention. If it was discussed, though, the reason was merely its experimental verse form of the anapaest and the work’s stylistic merit. Aiming to re-interpret Mickiewicz’s poem, the author of the article concentrates on the narratorial voice and the connections between the literary characters (the voivode, his young wife, the lover, and the voivode’s Cossack servant-Nauman). She also underscores the driving force behind the unfolding events. The reading reveals that the characters act upon sudden affective reactions which they can hardly control.