Literatura oświecenia dla dzieci i młodzieży wydawana w XVIII wieku na ziemiach polskich – problemy, zjawiska, podziały, tematy

This paper is synthetic in nature and is devoted to Enlightenment literature for children and youth published in the 18th century in Poland. It concerns both literary studies, editing, and book history. The starting point is to look at the existing classifications and divisions of this type of literature and to verify them by rejecting the application of the modern measure to 18th-century books for young readers. Subsequently, separate determinants of the then literary works for children and youth, as well as the accompanying problems and phenomena, are presented. Typical features and functions of the content and graphic design of the items under discussion are described. Characteristics and descriptions help to define several groups which have been distinguished from the 18th-century literature for non-adult readers, in which the following sample works are discussed: 1) Collections, extracts, anthologies; 2) Teachings and models; 3) Advice from governesses; 4) French and German friends of children; 5) Role models for peasant boys; 6) Mr Campe’s instructive books; 7) Parental advice and instructions. This study draws attention to issues and titles not mentioned in previous research on this literature and verifies the current state of knowledge, providing a basis for further consideration and analyses.