Polish Literature in Olena Pchilka’s Artistic and Critical Perception

Abstract

The reception of world literature and the translation activity of Ukrainian writers at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries shaped the key trends and perspectives in the development of national culture. Among foreign literatures, Polish literature was regarded as the closest to Ukrainian in terms of historical context, shared themes, and common concerns. However, engaging with non-national literary material also raised several challenges. Among the most pressing were the development of the Ukrainian literary language, the selection of appropriate authors and texts for translation, and the establishment of a professional school of translation. Olena Pchilka (O.P. Kosach, 1849–1930) was an active participant in this cultural and literary exchange. Her interest in Polish literature is evidenced by her translations of works by V. Syrokomla and Juliusz Słowacki, as well as her literary-critical essays on Słowacki and Eliza Orzeszkowa, in which she articulated her distinct approach to the form of translation. At the core of her method was the search for an ideal means of rendering the original text on lexical, thematic, and emotional levels. This type of work demands considerable effort, time, and expertise; not all translators can avoid interference from their native language or adequately preserve the integrity of the foreign text. Olena Pchilka’s translation strategy, which prioritized fidelity to the original, should therefore be considered a significant literary accomplishment.