UNWANTED HUMOR. MICKIEWICZS EARLY WRITINGS AS SEEN BY HIS PAST RESEARCHERS (Humor niechciany. Wczesna twórczosc Mickiewicza w ujeciu dawnych badaczy)

Mickiewicz's satirical and humorous inclinations were observed from his childhood, and the poet could develop them superbly among the Philomates. The poet's juvenilia failed to meet a favorable reception by the literary historians. The richness of Philomates Archive disclosed at the beginning of 20th century, and primarily translation of Voltaire, questioned many theses present in the poet's 19th century monographs and biographies. The researchers were astonished and disappointed at the triviality of Mickiewicz's first literary pieces. 'Serious' productions rather than 'iambs' and texts 'a la Voltaire' whose young author was to reveal the makings of the inspired poet were expected; thus the role of laughter in those poetic exercises was often disregarded and shamefully passed over with silence. Inappropriateness of Mickiewicz's unseriousness in the eyes of many critics is also supported by long-lasting struggles with the interpretation of 'Zima Miejska' (Winter in the City).