Sir Thaddeus facts for kids
Sir Thaddeus, or the Last Lithuanian Foray (in Polish Pan Tadeusz) is a very famous long poem. It was written by the Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz. Many people think of it as Poland's national epic story. It was first printed in Paris, France, in 1834. At that time, Mickiewicz was living away from his home country.
Sir Thaddeus tells about a big argument between two noble families. They are the Soplicas and the Horeszkos. The story takes place in 1811 and 1812. This was just before Napoleon's army marched into Russia. When Russian soldiers attacked, both families joined together. They fought bravely against the enemy. The argument between the families finally ended. This happened when Thaddeus Soplica and Sophia Horeszko got married.
Adam Mickiewicz was born in the eastern part of what used to be the Polish-Lithuanian state. Because of this, he often called Lithuania his mother-country.
Litwo! Ojczyzno moja! ty jesteś jak zdrowie.
Ile cię trzeba cenić, ten tylko się dowie,
Kto cię stracił. Dziś piękność twą w całej ozdobie
Widzę i opisuję, bo tęsknię po tobie.
This means: "Lithuania, my country, you are like health. Only someone who has lost you knows how much you should be valued. Today I see and describe your beauty in all its glory, because I miss you." (This is a translation by George Rapall Noyes).
The poem is written in a special style. Each line has 13 syllables. This was a very common way to write poems in Polish literature.
Images for kids
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The manuscript of Pan Tadeusz held at Ossolineum in Wrocław. Adam Mickiewicz's signature is visible.
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Illustration to Book III of Pan Tadeusz by Adam Mickiewicz. Picking Mushrooms, painting by Franciszek Kostrzewski, ca. 1860.
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Illustration to Book VII of Pan Tadeusz. Gerwazy showing off his sword called Scyzoryk (Pocketknife), by Michał Andriolli
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The Hunt, illustration to Book IV
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Jankiel's Concert, oil on canvas by Maurycy Trębacz (1861-1941)
See also
In Spanish: Pan Tadeusz para niños
