Cyprian Norwid: a poet of a big serio and a little buffo

Abstract

Nowadays, Cyprian Norwid is regarded as one of the most outstanding Polish authors. At the same time, the poet, prose writer, playwright, and creator of fi ne arts is perceived primarily as a serious and deep thinker, who discusses the essential issues of the human being and the humanity. This image of C. Norwid is true, yet one-sided and hence simplifi ed. The poet was sensitive to detail, to trifl e, to what seems unimportant, secondary. Simultaneously, when bringing such elements from the shadow, he at times described them with an uncommon sense of humour. He can undoubtedly be called a poet of “a big serio” and “a little buffo”