Grażyna (poem)

Grażyna is an 1823 narrative poem by Adam Mickiewicz, written in the summer of 1822 during a year-long sabbatical in Vilnius, while away from his teaching duties in Kaunas.[1] Probably his first notable work.

Grażyna
Grażyna marble statue based on poem by Adam Mickiewicz, Planty Park, Kraków
AuthorAdam Mickiewicz
Original titleGrażyna. Powieść litewska
LanguagePolish
GenreNarrative epic poetry

The poem describes the exploits of a mythical Lithuanian chieftainess Grażyna (Lithuanian: Gražina) against the forces of the medieval Order of the Teutonic Knights. The woman character is believed to have been based on Mickiewicz's own sweetheart from Kaunas, Karolina Kowalska. The name was originally conceived by Mickiewicz himself, having used the root of the Lithuanian adjective graži, meaning "beautiful".[2]

It was said by Polish writer Christien Ostrowski to have inspired Emilia Plater, a military heroine of the November 1830 Uprising.

References
  1. Roman Robert Koropeckyj, Adam Mickiewicz: the life of a romantic. Cornell University Press, 2008. Page 35. ISBN 0-8014-4471-3.
  2. April 1, a name-day for Grażyna, #53 in Poland among the most popular names (in Polish)


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