The article presents the meaning of professional work as experienced by teachers in the midlife transition period (the concept by P. Oleś). Qualitative research conducted with the use of an autobiographical method (a reference to the journal writing tradition of F. Znaniecki and his followers, including pedeutology experts) has been placed within the framework of everyday life sociology as presented by A. Schütz, P. Berger and T. Luckmann, and P. Sztompka. The purpose of the presented study is to focus on how the stage of one’s development influences the quality of work and determines the meaning and importance of professional experiences. In order to describe it, a reference has been made to the research conducted among 6 female teachers in the midlife transition period.

The halved heroism: some reflections on autobiographism in Mario Rigoni Stern’s Il sergente nella neve

this article aims to analyse the image that the writer Mario Rigoni Stern wants to give of himself as a soldier abandoned to his fate during the disastrous Russian campaign of 1942-1943. Hence, this paper begins by mentioning the importance of autobiographism in neorealist literature after World War II. In the first part of the article, works by Paul Ricœur, Philippe Lejeune, Ivan tassi, and Maria Anna Mariani will be considered in order to emphasise that, in autobiographical books, the writer “builds”, “transforms”, his or her own image according to a specific ideology. Following this premise, the analysis of Il sergente nella neve, according to the contemporary theories of autobiography, aims to highlight the image that the writer wants to give of himself as a soldier, an image simultaneously humanised and heroised. In fact, in his own humanity, Rigoni Stern’s hero tragically takes on an epic dimension. thus, it can be concluded that the inhuman effort of a man who is leftalone in front of a hostile nature and a powerful enemy creates a new example of the epic hero. Furthermore, the self-image modelled in this text is presented as an individual who is fighting not only for his own survival, but also for the survival of his companions. He is a leader to follow and a reference point, a soldier who does not fight for a political cause, but for greater values, like friendship, love, or honour.

An alternative or a variant of an existing standard? “Women’s World” in Mystical Autobiography by Marianna Marchocka, servant of God, Teresa of Jesus

The article analyses the Mystical Autobiography by Marianna Marchocka, showing the significance of her work for the research into the history of the female mentality in the Old Polish era. The main issue was to relate monastic life to the basic ideal of a woman as a wife and mother.

The aim of this article is to present women’s alternative autobiographical practices on the example of Audre Lorde’s “Zami. A New Spelling of My Name”. The book, published in 1982, is one of the first non-canonical autobiographical writings by women. The author intentionally gives her autobiographical story a form that goes beyond the autobiography (rooted e.g. in Jean-Jacques Rousseau “Confessions”), both in terms of form and content. The alternative dimension of “Zami” is reflected mostly in Lorde’s attempt to break with a linear timeline of her story. She interweaved different threads of her life to focus on her process of emancipation and self-development as a Black woman, poet and feminist, growing up during the time of racial segregation in the United States (1950s and 1960s). “Zami” emerged from combining biography and myth, historical facts with her poems and dreams. This way of Lorde’s autobiographical writing was categorized as „biomythography”.

Narration in Pedagogy – Meaning, Research, Interpretations

The author addresses the position of narratives in the field of educational studies, the meaning of narratives, methodological conditions for research into narratives as well as the possibilities and limits of interpretation related to narrative research. The author argues for the importance of narratives for educational studies, because as a field of knowledge and academic discipline it relies on access to particular forms of individual experience. Educational studies need access to experience related to the subjectivities of those involved in educational processes – educators and pupils. Narratives as a departure point for learning about and understanding another person, her relations with others, intentions and course of her educational actions – as an educator or a pupil – is an important area for educational studies, which promises to open new perspectives of knowledge.

Raphael Lemkin (1900–1959), a Polish-born jurist and Holocaust survior lead an extraordinary life of struggle – to educate the world about genocide and create mechanisms to punish perpetrators .Because of that his „Totally Unofficial. The Autobiography of Raphael Lemkin” draws attention. While writing about the book Bogdan Grzeloński gives a spotlight to these issues and events that Lemkins is silent about. Based on the newest resarch and publications he presents in detail the beginnings of Lemkins University education. He explains why Lemkn resigned from the prosecutors office and became lawyer. He describes how Lemkin was consistently building his position among the lawyers in Europe. He presents new fact about how Lemkins managed to save himself from Holocaust and flee from two aggressors, German and Soviet, that invaded Poland. And how, thanks to his acqauitance with the prominent Swedish laywer Karl Schlyter Lemkin first go to Stockholm and later emigrated to the United States. Finally Bogdan Grzeloński gives an account of Lemkins involment in the establishment of the Nuerenberg Tribunal. He is of the opinion, that even if many facts were omitted from this work, it dosent diminish its signifance. Raphael Lemkin autobiography is still an extraordinary book.