Świat – grób. Gnostyckie lęki i chrześcijańskie nadzieje słowackiego wieszcza Janka Kráľa

One of the most signifi cant Slovak romantic poets, Janko Kráľ (1822-1876), was buried in an unknown place, however today he has a symbolic grave in the Slovak National Cemetery in Martin. In this case we may speak of a peculiar irony of fate, because the vision of the world as a grave is central in his work, especially in the poetic cycle known as Dráma sveta (Drama of the World). More intensive analysis of this theme reveals author’s deep involvement in gnosticism on the one hand, and a Christian worldview on the other. Kráľ uses the grave in its extremely negative aspects to illustrate the condition of the modern man, which in his historiosophy project is determined by a temporary victory of evil. The article describes the way of escape from negativity based on the Christian faith in the Resurrection, which is contaminated by the pagan vision of nature and the 19th century myth of Slavic revival. The grave in the author’s interpretation is the metaphor of the modern world. Therefore, special attention is given to the theme of grave as a specifi c variant of the labyrinth. There is the seed of the tree of life hidden in the centre of the labyrinth-grave. In Kráľ’s vision the seed is the Slovak language/ Slovakia. Following that implication, the grave conceals the Garden of Eden.