EUROPEAN BAROQUE LITERATURE THROUGH PRISM OF TRANSLATION

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the prominent works of the representatives of European Baroque literature and highlight the significant impact and rich contributions of translated Baroque literature to the literary heritage. European Baroque literature is notable for its focus on detail and ornate, imaginative language, delving into philosophical ideas, religious and mystical subjects, which were also pivotal in this period. Baroque poets explored political and satirical themes, challenging dominant ideologies and societal conventions. The study of the plot-thematic and linguistic-stylistic "portrait" of each ethnocultural European Baroque tradition involves the usage of a specific system of analytical methods, which includes literary-historical analysis, interpretative analysis, literary-biographical analysis, and translation analysis. The research material focuses on five European Baroque linguistic and cultural traditions: French, German, Polish, British, and Ukrainian. These linguistic cultures were chosen because Ukrainian Baroque was established and evolved to some extent under the influence of both direct and indirect translations of works predominantly from these European literary traditions. Ukrainian baroque literature covered topics related to Ukrainian national identity, history, and cultural heritage, in part, by celebrating the resilience and spirit of the Ukrainian people. In general, the Baroque period in Ukraine marks an era of prosperity for religious and philosophical writings, with authors like I. Velychkovsky and H. Skovoroda delving into questions of faith, morality, and human existence. Many Baroque writers contributed to the neo-baroque revival by reintroducing and reinterpreting English metaphysical poets. Contemporary artistic trends reinforce complexity, dispersion, indeterminacy, and approximation. This connection explains why neobaroque is often associated with postmodernism. At the same time, it clarifies the distinction between a true neo-baroque aesthetic, which integrates the principles of Baroque art, and mere Baroque revivalism, which imitates its visual style without adopting its deeper artistic philosophy. Ultimately, the transhistorical and transcultural continuity of Baroque and neo-baroque raises the challenge of theorizing their emergence and the process of re-origination in all humanitarian spheres of human activity, including literature. The translation of European Baroque literature represents a vital aspect of spirit and form, characterized by excess, complexity, fragmentation, and aesthetic experimentation, gaining renewed significance in contemporary postmodern culture. From a historically cultural perspective, translating Baroque literature ensures the preservation and continuity of cultural and literary heritage across generations. It allows future audiences to access and appreciate significant works of the past, fostering a sense of cultural continuity and identity. Rather than being a relic of the past, Baroque literature serves as a lens through which postmodern society understands complexity, instability, and the spectacle of the present world.