Rhetorical analysis of Jan Paweł Woronicz’s "Świątynia Sybilli"

This article is dedicated to the issue of rhetoric in Jan Paweł Woronicz’s Świątynia Sybilli (The Temple of Sybil). In his historiosophic poem Woronicz insistently aims at consolating (conso- latio) and persuading (persuasio) the reader that the fate of the Polish nation lies in the hands of God. The author of Świątynia Sybilli concentrates not only on teaching (docere) and moving the audience (movere), but he also emphasizes the third function of speech which is pleasing the audience (delectare). This function of speech is distinctly represented by several figures of speech and tropes on the level of elocutio. In Woronicz’s poem one can clearly notice compénétration between mythology and Christianity. Examples (exempla) from the Bible and from the Polish history are used, e.g. to illustrate the fate of the Polish nation which is determined by Divine Justice. On the other hand, using the mythological staffage of antiquity reflects the poet s erudition and acts as a "tool" (applicatio, accomodatio) to adapt pagan tradition to Christian aims