Problems with Norwid’s utterances (not only) in Vade-mecum. Interpretative and methodological remarks

This article indicates key problems related to the interpretation of selected utterances in Vade-mecum, and develops a new formula for describing Norwid’s syntactic strategies. The assumption that the subject of analysis is not abstract syntactic structures but empirical, used and actualized utterances entails the necessity to acknowledge their multilayered character and the import of other levels than that of syntax, especially thematic-rhematic structure and metatext. As presented analyses show, taking these aspects into account helps to successfully settle certain interpretative dilemmas. The proposed expansion of perspective also allows one to grasp certain features that contribute to the specificity of Norwid’s “syntax”, which mobilizes and utilizes various levels of utterance.