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How is Sienkiewicz's Trilogy perceived in today's Poland? [12]
Is the Trilogy required reading in Polish public schools?
Yes it is. In primary school "With fire and sword", High School - "Deluge". The last part isn't required("Mr Wolodyjowski?").
It seems fairly obvious that Sienkiewicz used Homer's Iliad as a model for the Trilogy, are the two epics ever taught in conjunction in Polish schools?
To be honest I don't see much connection to Homers Iliad. Of course Iliad and Odysey is taught in Polish school, but not as a whole, but as parts.
How is Sienkiewicz's satire of the Szlachta's Sarmatian pretensions by having Pan Zagloba claim descent from the Massagetai seen in todays Poland (if it's noticed at all)?
Trilogy tells about Szlachta/nobility so we have many different people there. Zagłoba is one of them, and he is the most "brightest" one. In my opinion Zagłoba is one of the funniest part ot this book. He was drunk "warchoł" and coward, but he was also great patriot, he has never betrayed Poland and friends.
How are Sienkiewicz's depictions of Ruthenian women as witches that love to flash their white teeth seen in today's Poland?
Not existance? I don't even remember what you are talking about.
Is the legend Sienkiewicz relates about vampires appearing as toddlers with green glowing eyes by the side of lonely roads from actual Polish folklore or is it Sienkiewicz's own invention?
I ahve no idea what you are talking about. I need to see it in Trylogia...
What do Poles today make of Sienkiewicz's blaming Armenian merchants for the surrender of the city in the last book?
Nothing. It's just part of plot not related to present day. Armenians wasn't Poles, so it's hard to consider as treason.
Is Pan Wolodyjowski seen as a role model for the Poles of today as Achilles had been for the Hellenic Greeks?
In present day Poland Trygoly doesn't affect so much as it used to affect 100 years ago. It's just a book. It was much more important during partitions. When Sienkiewicz finished Trylogy, and when Wołodyjowski died, some lady pay for mass for his soul.
I will say that the thing that was noticeable was his use of long Polish names in most of his characters. That must have been intentional.
This long Polish names was normal in described times. For example, imć Skrzetuski was real man, who escaped from Zbaraż and informed King about situation. Sienkiewicz gave Skrzetuski other name than it was in reality because he had wrong sources. However that is the fact. Most of characters in Trylogy was real humans, mostly aristocrats. Only the most important characters are invented by Sienkiewicz.
It is in the part of the first book where the heroes have gone to rescue Pan Michael's fiancée from the hideout Bohun had placed her in and they talk about these bizarre infantile vampires as well as monsters that are human heads with spider's legs.
So you are talking about this. Hmm it was beetwen Rzędzian, Zagłoba and Wołodyjowski?
Maybe it was in times of Sienkiewicz, or maybe he had some sources about how it was seen in times of Trylogy, but now there's no such a folklore... or I have never heard about it.
