The affectivity of Reymont’s short stories

Abstract

The article examines the representation of affective states in the short stories of Władysław Reymont, focusing on their elusiveness. The author emphasizes that, in emotionally charged moments, Reymont is not concerned with clearly defined emotions, but rather with their intensity, suddenness, and the impossibility of full cognitive awareness, conveyed through the use of the ambiguous term “something”. The narrative frequently yields to descriptions of somatic responses, silence, or nocturnal symbolism, highlighting the inaccessibility of experience. The article demonstrates that Reymont draws upon atavistic fears, taboos, and a rich spatial metaphorics to depict affective tensions. In the analyzed scenes, a crucial role is played by the contrast between raw experience and its cultural framing – often shown as inadequate or insufficient. The author argues that affect in Reymont’s prose is not merely a thematic concern but a disruptive force that imposes the limits of language, leads to silence, and signals the boundaries of literary cognition. The writer thus reveals moments in which overwhelming affective intensity resists articulation.