Poetry for children after the turn of ‘56

Abstract

In the 1950s the poetry for children involves the elements of language poetry (movement in Polish literature characterized by the domination of linguistic forms over fiction), draws on absurdity, and combines the Interbellum period traditions with the tendencies in literature which began after the events of October 1956. These features are manifested in the works of poets who debuted in the second part of the 1950s, as well as in the poems of prior writers, molded by the pre-war culture and the avant-garde tradition. Books with poetry for children in the late 1950s stimulate imagination and respond to children’s needs to experiment with language, test its flexibility and potential. Also, thanks to the enclosed unique illustrations, the books develop aesthetic sensitivity. Despite the ongoing changes in the outside world, the books haven’t lost their relevance and can successfully be used in teaching.