Polish Literature.

Handouts
Andrzej Zawadzki. Polish Literature I. Semester I 2009/2010
1. Polish literature in the Middle Ages. Historical, cultural and religious background.
Education: trivium and quadrivium. Urban culture. Churches and monasteries.
Romanesque and Gothic art and architecture in Poland. Literature in Latin and Polish.
Medieval chronicles: Gallus Anonymous and Wincenty Kadubek. Lives of the saints:
The Life of Saint Adalbert, Life of Five Brothers, The Life and Miracles of Saint
Kinga. Sermons and apocryphal stories. Religious and secular poetry and prose.
Lamentations: Listen Dear Brothers. Medieval vision of the Death: Lament of a
Dying Man and Conversation of a Master with Death. Bogurodzica-the first
poem in Polish. First translations of the Bible.
2. Early Renaissance in Poland. Art and architecture. Renaissance cities and residences.
Royal Court in Wawel. Zamo, Tarnow. Cracow as a center of culture. Portraits and
miniatures. Italian influences. Music: Mikoaj Gomka-Melodies for a Polish
Psalter, Wacaw of Szamotuy-Missa paschalis and Jan of Lublin-Tabulature.
Printing houses. Literature in Latin: Janiciusz and Krzycki. The Father of Polish
Literature: Mikoaj Rej. Renaissance Prose: ukasz Grnicki: The Polish Courtier
as an adaptation of B. Castigliones Il Cortegiano. Wawrzyniec Golicki De optimo
senatore.
3. Political and theological treatises and writings. Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski, Stanisaw
Orzechowski and Piotr Skarga. Protestantism and protestant literature in Poland.
Unitarianism: Polish Brothers and their theological, moral and philosophical ideas.
Catholic and Calvinist translations of the Bible.
4. Poetry of Jan Kochanowski: the highest point of Polish Renaissance literature. The
Bible and the ancient traditions in his poetry. Philosophical influences in Songs and
Hymn to God: the world as a cosmos, God as an artist. Renaissance anthropology and
poetics. The idea of beauty and imitation. Kochanowski s Laments-the crisis of the
Renaissance optimism.
5. The borderline between the late Renaissance and the Baroque. New spirituality and
aesthetics. Concordia discors, discoria concors. Counter Reformation and the Jesuits
in Poland. Mannerism in art and literature. Pastoral literature: Szymonowics Idylls
and Zimorowics Roxolans. Allegorical literature: Klonowic.
6. Baroque art and architecture in Poland. Music-Marcin Mielczewski, Marcin Jzef
ebrowski. Religious and metaphysical poety: Mikoaj Sp Szarzyski and Sebastian
Grabowiecki. A motive of vanitas (vanity) in art and literature. The mature Baroque:
Andrzej Morsztyn, Daniel Nabrowski. Poesia culta. Variety of genres and styles.
Court and love poetry. Theory of conceit. Italian and Spanish influences: Marino and
Gongora.
7. The native current in Polish literature. Sarmatism as a national myth and ideology.
Sarmatian believes in the unique role of the Polish nation. Sarmatian mentality.
Ziemiaska poetry: Wespazjan Kochowski, Wacaw Potocki, Stanisaw Herakliusz
Lubomirski. Jan Krzysztof Pasek and his Memoirs. A myth of a Polish manor house.
8. Enlightenment in Poland. Historical background: the political an economical crisis in
Poland. Classicism in art and architecture. Educational institutions: the Commission

for National Education. Warsaw as a center of culture. Literary periodicals and

national theatre. Political writings: Stanisaw Staszic and Hugo Kotaj. New literary
trends: classicism: Adam Naruszewicz and Ignacy Krasicki. Libertinism: Kajetan
Wgierski. Sentimentalism: Franciszek Karpiski and Franciszek Knianin. The
center of national culture at the Court of Czartoryski prince in Pulawy.
9. Early Romanticism in Poland. Historical and cultural background. The partition of
Poland and the struggle for independence. Patriotic literature. Romanticism in Polish
national mythology and identity. New aesthetics: the beautiful and the sublime.
Influences of the German idealistic philosophy. Adam Mickiewicz-the biggest Polish
romantic poet: Ackerman Steppe and a new vision of nature and man.
10. Romantic drama: Mickiewiczs The Forefathers. Regionalism and folklore. Sacred
time and space. Empirical and spiritual world and experience in The Forefathers.
Imagination and vision in romantic poetry. Sowackis Kordian: a romantic hero and
his struggle for self-creation. Apocalyptic vision of history in Krasiskis A nondivine comedy. Mickiewiczs Master Tadeusz as a national epic poem.
11. Romantic lyric poetry. Expression of subjectivity: loneliness, alienation, nostalgia and
exile in Juliusz Sowackis poetry. A romantic traveler. Meditation on culture, history
and art in Cyprian Norwids poetry. Romantic irony. Visions of the lost motherland in
Polish romantic poetry. Romantic music: Chopin. Romantic painting: Piotr
Michaowski and Artur Grottger.
12. Post romantic literature in Poland. Historical background: the January insurrection
(1863) and the end of the romantic independence ideology. Decline of aristocracy and
the ancient regime. Beginnings of democracy. Positivism and its ideology. Realism
in Polish literature: Bolesaw Prus The Doll: a picture of the new Polish society.
Romanticism and positivism, aristocracy and bourgeoisie in The Doll.
13. Naturalism in Polish literature: Wadysaw Reymont. Peasants (Chopi): a mythical
picture of the peasant life. A cyclical vision of time. The Promised land: a capitalistic
city (Lodz) as a paradise and monster. A new social structure in the capitalistic society.
Naturalism, realism and symbolism in The Promised Land.

Polish Literature II. Semester II 2009/2010

1.Modernism and avant-garde. Modernist idea of beauty. Baudelaire, Apolinaire.
2.Stanisaw Wyspiaski: The Weddings (Wesele) and the Young Poland movement (Moda
Polska). Modernist art and music.
3. Stanisaw Ignacy Witkiewicz: Shoemakers (Szewcy): a catastrophic vision of society.
The grotesque. Witkiewiczs philosophy and aethetics. A theory of the Pure Form.
4. Bronisaw Malinowski and modernist anthropology. Malinowskis field monographies and
A Diary. Multilingualism and multiculturalism: Polish-British ethnographer and PolishBritish writer: Malinowski and Conrad.

5. Bruno Schulz: Sanatorium under the Hour -glass. Mythologisation of reality.

Surrealism. Polish-Jewish literature.
6. Witold Gombrowicz: Ferdydurke; a parody of Polish national mythology. A world of
interactions. Cosmos-a metaphysical insight. Gombrowicz as philosopher: fragments from
Diary. Existentialism, alienation, self-creation in Gombrowiczs writings.
7. Polish reportage: Ryszard Kapuciski.
8. Science fiction literature: Stanisaw Lem: Solaris.
9. Czesaw Miosz: poetry and autobiography: Native realm (Rodzinna Europa).
10. Zbigniew Herbert: poetry and essay: Barbarian in the Garden (Barbarzyca w
ogrodzie). Poetry of culture.
11. Sawomir Mroek : The Tango. The Grotesque and anti-utopia. A crisis of culture.
12. Contemporary Polish literature: after 1989. Andrzej Stasiuk, Olga Tokaczuk, Dorota
Masowska.
Medieval art & literature in Poland
Christianity in Poland 966
Literature in Latin and Polish
Medieval art in Poland
Architecture: The Church of the Holy Trinity in Strzelno
The church in Ostrw Lednicki
Wawel Cathedral XI century
The crypt of Saint Leonard (Wawel)
Sculpture: Wit Stwosz (Veit Stoss) altar in the Saint Mary Church (Cracow)
Medieval literature in Poland
Chronicles: Gallus Anonymous, Polish Chronicle (1112-1116); Wincenty Kadubek, Polish
Chronicle (XII/XIII century); Jan Dugosz, Chronicles (1455-1480)
Lives of the saints : The Life of Saint Adalbert (1004); The Life of Five Brothers ; The Life of
Saint Stanisaw ((XIII century).
Sermons: The Holy Cross Sermons (XIV century)
Apocryphal stories: meditations on the Life of Jesus (XIV century)
Poetry: Mother of God (XIII or XIV century); Lament of a Dying Man (XIV); Conversation
of a Master with Death (XIV)
Translations of the Bible: The Florian Psalter (XIV century); Queens Sophia Bible (1455)
Early Renaissance in Poland
I. Chronicles: Marcin Kromer (1512-1589) Polonia (1575)
II. Political treatises:
- Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski (1503-1572) On the Reform of Commonwealth (15511554). Role of good habits. Rational ethics. Intellect and passions. Optimistic vision of
human nature.

- Wawrzyniec Golicki (1530-1607) The accomplished senator (1568). The perfect

statesman. Senate as a body mediating between the king and the citizens.
-Unitarianism. Polish Brathers. Fausto Sozzini (1539-1604), Jan Ludwig von
Wolzogen (1599-1661), Jan Crell (1590-1633), Andrzej Wiszowaty. Rational religion.
Rejection of dogmas. Deism. Religious tolerance.
III. Artistic prose: ukasz Grnicki (1521-1602) The Polish Courtier (1566). Adaptation of
Castigliones Il libro del cortegiano. The idea of a graceful man (sprezzatura).
IV. Poetry:
-Klemens Janicjusz (1516-1543) Elegy. Autobiographical poems
-Mikoaj Rej (1505-1569) The Short Conversation Between Three Persons (1543); The
Mirror (1568). Didactic and moral literature.
V. Translations of the Bible
catholic translation: 1455 the Bible of the Queen Sophia; 1599 Biblia Wujka; Calvinist
translation: 1563 the Brzeska Bible; Unitarian translation: 1570 Nieswieska Bible;
Lutheran translation: 1632 the Gdaska Bible
Renaissance art in Poland
Architecture
-The gothic Wawel castle burnt in 1499 rebuilt between 1502 and 1536 (a new renaissance
castle was erected by Italian architects Francis the Italian and then Bartolomeo Berrecci)
-Zygmuntowska chapel (Berrecci) 1551 mausoleum for Zygmunt the Old and his son
Zygmunt August
-renaissance castles in: Pieskowa Skaa 1542-1544; Baranw; Niepoomice
-renaissance city: Zamo (designer by Bernardo Morando): the market square, the city hall,
the library and the arsenal
Sculpture
The tombstone of the king Jan Olbracht (1505) in the Wawel cathedral is the first renaissance
piece of sculpture in Poland.
Painting
Miniatures: Behems Codex (1505)
Stanisaw Samostrzelnik
Music
Mikoaj Gomka 1535-1591 Melodies for Polish Psalter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAPXSc5UN6Y

Jan Kochanowski (1530-1584)

Life

Kochanowski was born in a family of an average nobleman near Radom

In 1544 Kochanowski entered the Cracow Academy
1551 visited Konigsberg and studied there. The Prussian Prince Albrecht helped him
financially
1552 went to Italy and studied in Padua under Robortello
1559 visited Paris and probably met the famous poet Ronsard (Ronsardum vidi)
1564 became a secretary and courtier to King Zygmunt August in Cracow, met ukasz
Grnicki and participated in major political and intellectual debates of that time.
1575 married Dorota Podlodowska and settled in his country estate in Czarnolas
1579 Kochanowskis beloved daughter Ursula died.
Major works
Latin elegies and epigrams (fraszki) published posthumously in 1584
Translation of Davids psalter 1578
A political drama The Dismissal of the Greek Envoys 1578
Laments 1580
Songs published posthumously in 1586

Polish Baroque Poetry. Chronology

I. Late Renaissance: Szymon Szymonowic (1558-1629) Idylss; sielanka sioo =village
Szymon Zimorowic (1608-1629) Roxolans (Ruthenian Maidens)
II. Early Baroque starts in the end (80) of the XVI and lasts till the second decade of XVII
century (late Kochanowski); Mikoaj Sp Szarzynski Rhythms or Polish Poems (1550-1581),
Grabowiecki (1543-1609) Spiritual Rhymes, Kasper Miaskowski (1550-1620) Collection of
Rhthms; metaphysical and religious poetry.
III. Mature Baroque: from 1620 till 1670-1675 (seventies): Mikoaj Sarbiewski (1595-1640)
Lyricorum libri, De acuto et arguto; Daniel Naborowski (1573-1640), Jan Andrzej Morsztyn
Lute (1621-1693) Zbigniew Morsztyn Emblems. Court poetry. Conceit (concetto). Rhetoric
poems. Giambatista Marino Luis Gongora y Argote
IV. Late Baroque: 1675-1730. Sarmatism. Wacaw Potocki (1621-1696) A Garden of Trifles;
Wespazjan Kochowski (1633-1700) A Polish Psalmody; Stanisaw Herakliusz Lubomirski
(1642-1702) The poems of Lent; Ecclesiastes; De vanitate consiliorum
Prose:
Piotr Skarga (1536-1612) Sermons to the Diet
Jan Chrysostom Pasek (1636-1701) Memoirs . gawda.
ART
Architecture:
residences in Wilanw (1677-1696), acut (1629-1641), Biaystok, Winicz (1615-1621).
Tylman of Gameren.
Churches: Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church; Saints Ann Church in Cracow;

Painting: coffin portraits

Music: Marcin Mielczewski (1600-1651); Gerwazy Gorczycki (1665-1734)
Enlightenment in Poland
I.Historical Background:
The Saxon era: August II (1697-1733) and August III (1733-1763)
The Northen War (1700-1721). Stanisaw Leszczyski as the King of Poland (1704-1709)
Stanisaw August Poniatowski (1763-1795)
1768 the Bar Confederacy. Kazimierz Puaski
1772 the First Partition of Poland
The Four-Year Sejm 1788-1792
The Constitution of May 3, 1791
The Confederacy of Targowica and the Second Partition of Poland 1792
Kociuszko Uprising 1794
The Third Partition 1795
II.Cultural Background
Education:
Stanisaw Konarski: Collegium Nobilium 1740
Zauski Library 1747
Commision for National Education 1773
Warsaw Society of the Friends of Learning 1800-1832
Art and architecture: classicism and roccoco
Warsaw: azienki Palace, Royal Palace; magnates residences in Kozwka, Nieborw,
Rogalin, Puawy.
Painting: B. Belotto Canaletto; M. Baciarelli, Aleksander Orowski, Zygmunt Vogel, Jan
Norblin
III.Literature
Baroque: The bizarre, concordia discors, discordia concors -disharmony in harmony,
harmony in disharmony; pulchritude multiplex multiple beauty
Neoclassicism: lucidy of style, harmony, proportion, balance, unity of form
Theatre: National Theatre 1765. Comedies: St. Zabocki Sarmatism, The Fop Suitor; J.
Niemcewicz The Return of the Deputy ; opera: W. Bogusawski A Supposed Miracle or
Cracovians and Moutaneers 1794
Press and Periodicals: Monitor, Pleasant and Useful Amusements; Warsaw Gazette
Political writers: Leszczynski A free voice insuring Freedom (1749); St. Konarski On the
effective method of deliberating (1760). Hugo Kotaj (175o-1812) Several Letters by the
Anonym, St. Staszic (1755-1826) Remarks on the Life of Jan Zamoyski
Classicism in poetry: Ignacy Krasicki (1735-1801) Satires (1778), Fables (1779), mockheroic poem Monachomachia (1778); novel: The Adventures of Nicolas Dowiadczyski
(1776). Adam Naruszewicz (1733-1796) Baloon; St. Trembecki (1739-1812)
Sentimentalism: Pulawy. Franciszek Karpiski, Franiszek Knianin (1750-1807)
1795-1822-late classicism or neoclassicism, theatre-Ludwik Osiski, Fr. Wzyk, Feliski
(Barbara Radziwiwna) national tragedy

Mickiewicz: a biography
1798 Mickiewicz was born in Nowogrdek (Bielorussia)
1819-1823 M. studied at the Wilna University and was engaged in a secret Towarzystwo
Filomatw
1823-he was sent to Russia
1824 Mickiewicz visited Crimeea
1829 he left Russia and moved do Dresden (Germany)
1823 Mickiewicz in Paris
1849-Mickiewicz became professor in College de France
1848 M. started to form Legion Polski
1855 Mickiewicz in Turkey
Ballady i romanse (Ballads and romances 1822)-beginning of romanticism in Poland.
Intellect v. sensibility and imagination; folklore;
Sonety krymskie (Crimean sonnets 1826): orientalism and exoticism; new vision of
nature; romantic subjectivity: lonely traveler; the sublime
http://www.sonnets.org/mickiewicz.htm#001
Dziady (Forefathers)
part II (1823): folklore; sacred time and space; the world of the dead and the world of the
living; Forefathers as a drama of existence
http://sylwiaofwarsaw.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/forefathers-eve-part-ii-by-adammickiewicz/
part III: messianism; Polish patriotic romanticism; romantic subjectivity: genius poet and
God
Pan Tadeusz (Master Thaddeus) 1837: epic poem.

Positivism in Poland (1863-1890)

1.Social and political program:
Military resistance was replaced by political realism, rational activity and thinking, social and
economical development, science, education, attempts to improve the situation of the poorest
and marginal social classe-peasants and workers, assimilation of the Jewish community.
Organic work basic works propagation of science, education, medical help.
2. New social classes: bourgeoisie, working class, intelligentsia.
3.New aesthetics: critical and social realism, representation of reality, vraisemblance. Novel
as a major literary genre. Novel of purpose (roman- - these, Tendenzroman). Omnipresent
and omniscient narrator.
4. Realism in Poland. Bolesaw Prus (Aleksander Gowacki 1847-1912) and The Doll. The
first fragment appeared in 1887 in Kurier Codzienny, till 1889. Published as a book in 1890.
Panoramic composition. Warsaw as a hero of the novel. Two narrative streams. Psychology.
Jzyk ezopowy (Aesopic language, langue sopic, Aesopische sprache).

5. Realism and naturalism. Telling and showing. Collective hero. Biology, sexuality,
instincts. Themes: poverty, crime, social margin.
6. Polish naturalism: Stanisaw Reymont-(1867-1925). Nobel price in literature 1924. The
peasants 1904-1909 . in press-from 1902. Mythical time and space. Social hierarchy. Nature.