Compare the poems by Szymborska and Milosz read over the course of this unit. All are important twentieth century writers addressing a similar theme: death. Which poet addresses it in terms of the times he lived in (and its threat of fascism), and which addresses it in a more personal way?

Answer 1

Both Wislawa Szymborska and Czeslaw Milosz, important twentieth-century Polish poets, address the theme of death, but they do so from different perspectives. Szymborska's poetry often focuses on personal experiences and the mundane aspects of life, while Milosz's work is more politically and socially engaged, reflecting the times he lived in and the threat of fascism.

In terms of addressing death in the context of the times he lived in, Czeslaw Milosz stands out. He spent a significant part of his life witnessing and experiencing the horrors of World War II, the Nazi occupation of Poland, and the rise of totalitarian regimes. Milosz's poetry frequently examines the political and historical circumstances that led to such devastating events. In his poem "A Poor Christian Looks at the Ghetto," Milosz explores the Holocaust and the moral implications of human suffering under fascist rule. He examines death as a consequence of the brutality and dehumanization prevalent in the society at that time. By addressing the theme of death through the lens of the times he lived in, Milosz highlights the universal impact of political and social upheaval.

On the other hand, Wislawa Szymborska tends to approach death in a more personal and existential way. Her poetry often ponders the philosophical questions surrounding mortality and the transience of life. Szymborska's poem "On Death, without Exaggeration" confronts the inevitability of death and its effect on human existence. She contemplates the common experience of death and the fact that it ultimately renders all human concerns insignificant. Szymborska's reflections on death are more introspective, exploring the existential implications of mortality for individuals rather than examining it in the context of political or historical events.

Thus, while both poets address death in their work, Milosz does so in terms of the times he lived in and the threat of fascism, while Szymborska approaches death in a more personal and philosophical manner.