Podcast

Learn Polish from Pan Tadeusz | W drugiej księdze Pana Tadeusza Tadeusz budzi się po niespokojnej nocy. Młodzież przygotowuje się do polowania, a asesor i rejent kłócą się o swoje psy. Hrabia przyjeżdża do zamku Horeszków, zachwyca się ruinami i spotyka Gerwazego, który opowiada mu o tragicznej historii rodu Sopliców. Okazuje się, że Jacek Soplica zabił Stolnika Horeszkę, co wywołało waśń między rodzinami. Hrabia, poruszony, postanawia walczyć o honor Horeszków. W ogrodzie hrabia dostrzega tajemniczą dziewczynę, ale ksiądz Robak przerywa mu tę chwilę.

Learn Polish from Pan Tadeusz | In this part of Pan Tadeusz, Tadeusz sits at a dinner in the Horeszko castle, where he becomes intrigued by a woman, Telimena, who sits next to him. They talk about books and art, but Tadeusz is embarrassed when he realizes he’s been flirting with his aunt. A heated argument breaks out over hunting, and Tadeusz becomes further confused. Meanwhile, the political backdrop of Napoleon’s wars is introduced through secretive conversations, particularly involving Father Robak, a key figure in Poland’s underground resistance. The first book ends with a mix of personal tensions and political unrest.

Learn Polish from Pan Tadeusz | In Pan Tadeusz, we follow a noble family’s life in 1811-1812 during the end of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The story starts with Tadeusz Soplica returning to his family estate, Soplicowo, where he is greeted by his uncle, Judge Soplica. The novel opens with a heartfelt invocation to Lithuania, reflecting the poet’s nostalgic yearning for the past. As Tadeusz settles in, he is struck by the presence of a young woman, and their first encounter is filled with surprise and tension. The backdrop of political conflict, a border dispute, and the decaying Horeszko castle symbolize the changing times in a society on the brink of collapse.

This time, I invite you to listen as I tell you the story of Pan Tadeusz by Adam Mickiewicz. Poland’s national epic is not easy to read, so I decided to tell you the story instead. I think this will be an interesting way to improve your Polish, and at the same time, you’ll learn about an important part of Polish culture.

There is also a transcript available, so you can listen and read along at the same time.