No More Learning

An outline of the history of Polish literature,
Holewin? ski, Jan, 1871-
London, Pub. for the Polish information committee by G. Allen & Unwin ltd. [1916]
http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043
Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
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? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? A 874,416
H73 OUTLINE OF THE
HISTORY OF POLISH
LITERATURE
BY
JAN de KOLEWINSKI
WITH A PREFACE
BY
a P. GOOCH
I'
PUBLISHED FOR THE POLISH INFORMATION COMMITTED
BY
GEORGE ALLEN & UN WIN LTD. LONDON
RUSKIN HOUSE 40 MUSEUM STREET, W. C.
Book Imp Co. ,
nion So. , NEW YORK. NY
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? v,
AN OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY
OF POLISH LITERATURE
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? AN OUTLINE OF THE
HISTORY OF POLISH
LITERATURE
BY
JAN de. HOLEWINSKI
WITH A PREFACE BY
G. P. GOOCH
PUBLISHED FOR THE POLISH INFORMATION COMMITTEE
BY
GEORGE ALLEN & UNWIN LTD. LONDON
RUSKIN HOUSE 40 MUSEUM STREET W. C.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? First published in igi6
(All rights)estrved)
HV3
The Polish Information Committee leaves full freedom to
the authors of the Studies published by it, and thus its
members do not necessarily endorse the individual views
of the authors.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? PREFACE
It is better for a nation to lose its body than its
soul. If the soul dies, it cannot be restored; but if
it endures, a new body will be created for it in the
fullness of time. The Polish State ceased to exist
over a century ago. Yet her bitterest enemy would
not dare to contend that Poland is dead. Her sons
are compelled by a cruel fate to slay each other in
the armies of Germany, Austria, and Russia; but
they never fdtget that they are brotliers. They cling
tenaciously to the hope that the colossal crime of
Partition will be undone, and they are resolved that
their nation, which played an honourable part in
building up the civilization of Christendom, shall
once again raise its head and be numbered among
the States of Europe. They know that even after
a total eclipse the sun shines forth again as brightly
as ever.
Since 1795 the soul of Poland has been Jcept alive
and nourished by its literature, its language, and its
religion. This little booh explains with admirable
clearness and brevity the part which literature has
played in the life of the race. For many centuries
Poland was one of the largest countries in Europe,
and she has never cut herself off from the movements
which make up its intellectual history. Cracow
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? 6 PREFACE
University was founded in 1400, and the fifteenth
century brought with it the invigorating influence
of humanism. The first blossoming period of Polish
letters was the century of the Reformation, when
Kochanowski, the contemporary and friend of Bonsard,
presented his countrymen with their first poetical
masterpieces. The sterility of the seventeenth century
is attributed by our author to the paralysing influences
of Jesuitism; but the closing years of the Polish
State witnessed a marked revival of taste and pro-
duction, due to French classicism and owing much
to the fostering care of Stanislas Poniatowski, the
last King of Poland.
The best evidence of the vitality and virility of
the Polish nation is that its finest literary achieve-
ments are subsequent to the period when its body
was torn asunder. The greatest name in Polish
literature is that of Mickiewicz, the leader of the
romantic movement, who found a welcome and a
chair in Paris when he was exiled from his native
Lithuania. His most famous work, " Pan Tadeusz,"
has appeared in English dress, and his national
ballads are sung by Poles throughout the Old World
and the New. Long after his death his remains
were brought to the Cathedral of Cracow, the resting-
place of Kosciuszko and many another hero.
Next to 1795 the year 1863 is the saddest date in
Polish history; for in that year the few privileges
which Russian Poland had retained were swept away.
Our author tells us that it closed the romantic age
of literature and ushered in a period of positivism
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? PREFACE 7
and utilitarianism. But as the luminous star of
Mickiewicz rose in the generation that followed the
Partition, so the robust personality of Sienkiewicz
brought comfort and stimulus in the dark years
which followed the great revolt. "Quo Vadis," that
picture of the glory and shame of Imperial Borne,
is known all over the world, for it has been translated
into more than thirty languages; but for Poles the
significance of their great compatriot lies above all
in his Polish historical novels, "Fire and Sword" and
its successors, the famous trilogy which makes the
seventeenth century, with its fierce passions and
desperate struggles, live again.
England has always felt a sympathetic interest
in the Polish race, though she has never been able
to render it much assistance. But to-day our fortunes
are more closely united. From the welter of blood
and tears we look for the emergence of a new Polish
State, purified and strengthened in the fires of
adversity. If our dream is realized, a new chapter
will speedily be added to the History of Polish
Literature.
G. P. GOOCH,
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? CONTENTS
rAQB
PREFACE . . . . . . . 5
I. THE DAWN OP POLISH LITERATURE . . 11
Gall (Gallus)--Magister Vincent Kadlubek. Humanism in
Poland. Inauguration of Cracow University. Celtes
--Oiolek, called Vittelus or Vitelinus--Gregory of Sanok
--Jak6b Parkosz of Z6rawica (Yakoob Parkosh of Jooravitsa)
-- Jan Dlugosz (Yan Dloogosh) -- Kallimach -- Mikolaj
Kopernik (Nicolaus Copernicus).
II. THE RENAISSANCE IN POLISH LITERATURE . 15
Influence of Protestantism. Mikolaj Rej (Mikolai Ray
of Naglovitse)--Jan Kochanowski (Yan Kohanovski)--
Marcin Bielski (Martsin Bielski). Catholic Reaction.
Orzechowski (Ojehovski)--Peter Skarga--Jan Chryzostom
Pasek.
III. ENGRAFTMENT OF FRENCH CLASSICISM . . 19
Period of King Stanislaw Poniatowski. Naruszewioz
(Narooshayvitcb) -- Karpinski -- Kniaznin -- Konarski --
Albertrandi--Bohomoleo (Bohomolets)--Staszyo (Stashits)
Kollataj (Kollontai)--I. Krasicki (Krasitski). Echoes of
the French Revolution in Poland. Trembecki (Trem-
betski)--Kajetan Wegierski (KyetanVengierski). Inception
of the Polish Theatre. W. Boguslawski (Boguslavski)
--Ludwik Osinski--Zablocki (Zablotaki). After-Partition
Period of Classicism in Poland. Juljan Ursyn Niemce-
wicz (Yulian Oorsyn Niemtsevitch)-- Wezyk (Venjick).
Poetry of Legions. Cypryan GodebBki--Wybicki (Vybit-
ski). Polish National Anthem (Yeshtche Polska hie
Zginela). Dawning of Romantic Era.
First published in igi6
(All rights)estrved)
HV3
The Polish Information Committee leaves full freedom to
the authors of the Studies published by it, and thus its
members do not necessarily endorse the individual views
of the authors.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? PREFACE
It is better for a nation to lose its body than its
soul. If the soul dies, it cannot be restored; but if
it endures, a new body will be created for it in the
fullness of time. The Polish State ceased to exist
over a century ago. Yet her bitterest enemy would
not dare to contend that Poland is dead. Her sons
are compelled by a cruel fate to slay each other in
the armies of Germany, Austria, and Russia; but
they never fdtget that they are brotliers. They cling
tenaciously to the hope that the colossal crime of
Partition will be undone, and they are resolved that
their nation, which played an honourable part in
building up the civilization of Christendom, shall
once again raise its head and be numbered among
the States of Europe. They know that even after
a total eclipse the sun shines forth again as brightly
as ever.
Since 1795 the soul of Poland has been Jcept alive
and nourished by its literature, its language, and its
religion. This little booh explains with admirable
clearness and brevity the part which literature has
played in the life of the race. For many centuries
Poland was one of the largest countries in Europe,
and she has never cut herself off from the movements
which make up its intellectual history. Cracow
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? 6 PREFACE
University was founded in 1400, and the fifteenth
century brought with it the invigorating influence
of humanism. The first blossoming period of Polish
letters was the century of the Reformation, when
Kochanowski, the contemporary and friend of Bonsard,
presented his countrymen with their first poetical
masterpieces. The sterility of the seventeenth century
is attributed by our author to the paralysing influences
of Jesuitism; but the closing years of the Polish
State witnessed a marked revival of taste and pro-
duction, due to French classicism and owing much
to the fostering care of Stanislas Poniatowski, the
last King of Poland.
The best evidence of the vitality and virility of
the Polish nation is that its finest literary achieve-
ments are subsequent to the period when its body
was torn asunder. The greatest name in Polish
literature is that of Mickiewicz, the leader of the
romantic movement, who found a welcome and a
chair in Paris when he was exiled from his native
Lithuania. His most famous work, " Pan Tadeusz,"
has appeared in English dress, and his national
ballads are sung by Poles throughout the Old World
and the New. Long after his death his remains
were brought to the Cathedral of Cracow, the resting-
place of Kosciuszko and many another hero.
Next to 1795 the year 1863 is the saddest date in
Polish history; for in that year the few privileges
which Russian Poland had retained were swept away.
Our author tells us that it closed the romantic age
of literature and ushered in a period of positivism
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? PREFACE 7
and utilitarianism. But as the luminous star of
Mickiewicz rose in the generation that followed the
Partition, so the robust personality of Sienkiewicz
brought comfort and stimulus in the dark years
which followed the great revolt. "Quo Vadis," that
picture of the glory and shame of Imperial Borne,
is known all over the world, for it has been translated
into more than thirty languages; but for Poles the
significance of their great compatriot lies above all
in his Polish historical novels, "Fire and Sword" and
its successors, the famous trilogy which makes the
seventeenth century, with its fierce passions and
desperate struggles, live again.
England has always felt a sympathetic interest
in the Polish race, though she has never been able
to render it much assistance. But to-day our fortunes
are more closely united. From the welter of blood
and tears we look for the emergence of a new Polish
State, purified and strengthened in the fires of
adversity. If our dream is realized, a new chapter
will speedily be added to the History of Polish
Literature.
G. P. GOOCH,
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? CONTENTS
rAQB
PREFACE . . . . . . . 5
I. THE DAWN OP POLISH LITERATURE . . 11
Gall (Gallus)--Magister Vincent Kadlubek. Humanism in
Poland. Inauguration of Cracow University. Celtes
--Oiolek, called Vittelus or Vitelinus--Gregory of Sanok
--Jak6b Parkosz of Z6rawica (Yakoob Parkosh of Jooravitsa)
-- Jan Dlugosz (Yan Dloogosh) -- Kallimach -- Mikolaj
Kopernik (Nicolaus Copernicus).
II. THE RENAISSANCE IN POLISH LITERATURE . 15
Influence of Protestantism. Mikolaj Rej (Mikolai Ray
of Naglovitse)--Jan Kochanowski (Yan Kohanovski)--
Marcin Bielski (Martsin Bielski). Catholic Reaction.
Orzechowski (Ojehovski)--Peter Skarga--Jan Chryzostom
Pasek.
III. ENGRAFTMENT OF FRENCH CLASSICISM . . 19
Period of King Stanislaw Poniatowski. Naruszewioz
(Narooshayvitcb) -- Karpinski -- Kniaznin -- Konarski --
Albertrandi--Bohomoleo (Bohomolets)--Staszyo (Stashits)
Kollataj (Kollontai)--I. Krasicki (Krasitski). Echoes of
the French Revolution in Poland. Trembecki (Trem-
betski)--Kajetan Wegierski (KyetanVengierski). Inception
of the Polish Theatre. W. Boguslawski (Boguslavski)
--Ludwik Osinski--Zablocki (Zablotaki). After-Partition
Period of Classicism in Poland. Juljan Ursyn Niemce-
wicz (Yulian Oorsyn Niemtsevitch)-- Wezyk (Venjick).
Poetry of Legions. Cypryan GodebBki--Wybicki (Vybit-
ski). Polish National Anthem (Yeshtche Polska hie
Zginela). Dawning of Romantic Era. Wincenty Rek-
lewski (Reklevski)--Tymon Zaborowski (Zaborovski)--A.
Brodzinski.
IV. ADVENT OF ROMANTICISM . . . . 26
Inception of Romanticism in Germany. Inception of
Romanticism in France. Inception of Romanticism in
England. Initial Stage of Romanticism in Poland.
A. Malczewski (Maltchevski)--B. Zaleski--S. Goszczynski
(Goshtchynski). Polish Romanticism at its Height.
Adam Mickiewicz (Meetskayvitch) -- Juljusz Slowacki
(Yuliush Slovatski)--Zygmont Krasinski--Stefan Garczyn-
*o
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 17:11 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/mdp. 39015030574043 Public Domain in the United States, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-us-google
? 10 CONTENTS
PASS
ski (Gartohinski). Decline of Romanticism. A. E.
Odynieo (Odyniets)--A. Chodzko (Hodsko)--J. Korsak--
K. Gaszynski (Gashinski)--W. Pol. Carries of the
Romantic Epoch. M. Moohnacki (Mohnatski)? P. S.
Dmochowski (Dmohovski) -- P. Morawski (Moravski).
Philosophy in the Nineteenth Century in Poland.
J. Kremer--P. B. Trentowski (Trentovski)--K. Libelt--A.
Cieszkowski (Tsieshkovski)--J. Hoene-Wronski. Novelists
and Playwrights of the Romantic Epoch. P. Bernato-
wioz (Bernatovitch)--P. Skarbek--J. Korzeniowski (Ko-
jeniovski).
V. POLISH LITERATURE PROM THE 1863 REVOLU-
TION TO THE PRESENT DAY . . . 45
The Coming of Positivism. A. Swietochowski (Sviento-
hovski)--J. I. Kraszewski (Krashevski)--Eliza Orzeazkowa
(Ojeshkova)--J. Zacharjasiewicz (Zahariasievitch)--T. T.
Jez (Yej)--M. Baluoki (Balutski) --Jan Lam--Adam Asnyk
--Marja Konopnicka (Maria Konopnitska)--W. Gomulioki
(Gomoolitski)--Cz. Jankowski (Yankovski)--A. Urbanski
(Oorbanski)--K Brzozowski (Bshozovski)--W. Stebelski--
J. Szujski (Shooiski). Retdrn to Nationalist Ideas.
Henryk Bienkiewioz (Sienkievitoh)--J. Kasprowioz (Kaspro-
vitch)--Napierski -- A. Niemojewski (Niemoievski)-- A.
Szymanski (Shimanski)--Boleslaw Prus-Aleksander Glo-
wacki (BoleslavProos-Alexander Glovatski). First Appear-
ance of Naturalism in Poland. St. Witkiewicz (Veetkay-
vitch)-- A. Dygasinski -- G. Zapolska--A. Sygietynski--
Ostoja (Ostoia)--Z. Niedzwiedzki--T. Jeske-Choinski (Ye-
skay-Hoinski)--A. Krechowieoki (Krehovietski)--M. Rodzie-
wicz (Rodzievitoh)--C. Walewska (Valevska)--W. Kosiakie-
wioz (Eossiakievitcb). Subjectivism and Impressionism
as an Evolution of Naturalism. Sewer (Sever)--W. S.
Reymont--S. Zeromski (Jeromski)--W. Sieroszewski (Siero-
shevski)--S. Rossowski (Rossovski)--Or-ot (A. Oppman)--
S.