Zachwyca czy nie zachwyca geniusz Mickiewicza? O budowaniu (czułej) relacji z autorem i tekstem

The article presents reflections on how to interest students in the works of Adam Mickiewicz (titles included in the core curriculum for grades 7–8) and the poet himself. It is emphasised that familiarizing young people with nineteenth‑century works, which are often unattractive in the first place, may be effective due to a (sensitive) relationship of students with the author and, through him, with the text. The article opposes the uncritical creation of myths. Two books for young readers are recommended, which present Mickiewicz in an engaging way, discuss the emerging difficulties and the choices that had to be made, explore his life passions and what mattered most to him. The books provide an opportunity to get to know the person with his advantages and disadvantages. Attention is also drawn to a different (than two centuries earlier) dimension of the values promoted in the works under analysis, such as resistance and patriotism, considering the need to reformulate the purposes, the narrative method, and the selection of tools for discussions of texts during Polish language lessons.