Piorunochrony Benjamina Franklina w pismach Adama Mickiewicza i Juliusza Słowackiego

Abstract

The article describes the manner of depicting a lightning rod in the works of two prominent polish poets of the romantic era – Adam Mickiewicz and Juliusz Słowacki. The invention, contributed to Benjamin Franklin and dated 1752, allowed to perceive American philosopher as a Promethean figure. Lightning rod’s popularity was rising in Europe, also on Polish lands, since the 8ᵗʰ decade of 18ᵗʰ century. Mickiewicz was humorously describing some of its features in his Russian correspondence, as well as in the description of the circumstances of Doktor’s death in Dziadów cz. III drama. He also recalled twice a characteristic shape of the so-called “conductor” in Pan Tadeusz poem. On the other hand Słowacki, the one who was frequently using a lighting motif in his poetic work, left an intriguing remark concerning Franklin in the last year of his life. In one of his notebooks he compared famous kite experiment with the Abraham’s sacri.