Wkrótce ukaże się jesienny numer naszej szkolnej gazetki w języku angielskim AimHigh Magazine. Czeka na Was mnóstwo ciekawych i inspirujących tekstów, których autorami są nasi uczniowie – młodzi ludzie świetnie władający językiem angielskim!
Dzisiaj pierwsza „zajawka” – artykuł Józka Grzesiakowskiego, naszego absolwenta, który wprowadza nas w świat Wiedźmina, bohatera powieści Andrzeja Sapkowskiego.
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Later, it was said the man came from the north, from Ropers Gate….
Nearly everybody in Poland has heard the name of Witcher, which nowadays is associated with the game by CD Projekt Red and with the series by Netflix, but unfortunately, fewer people know the origins of both the name and character – the book.
The Witcher appeared for the first time in short stories by Polish economist and fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski, which were published in newspapers. The first of those stories, „Witcher,” was published in 1986.
The stories were inspired by or were modified versions of legends and fairy tales, were placed in the same fictional world, and had the same main character – the title Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, a white-haired mutant and professional monster hunter.
The stories gained popularity and, after a time, were gathered and republished in books; nowadays, from among those compendia, the easiest to find are „The Last Wish” and „Sword of Destiny.”
Sapkowski continued the tale of Geralt in the so-called The Witcher Saga, which contained five novels: „Blood of Elves” (published in 1994), „Time of Contempt,” „Baptism of Fire,” „The Tower of Swallow,” and „The Lady of the Lake” (published in 1999).
Apart from Geralt, the main character of the saga was Ciri, the Witcher’s stepdaughter, known from his previous adventures.
The stories were inspired by or were modified versions of legends and fairy tales, were placed in the same fictional world, and had the same main character – the title Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, a white-haired mutant and professional monster hunter.
The stories gained popularity and, after a time, were gathered and republished in books; nowadays, from among those compendia, the easiest to find are „The Last Wish” and „Sword of Destiny.”
Sapkowski continued the tale of Geralt in the so-called The Witcher Saga, which contained five novels: „Blood of Elves” (published in 1994), „Time of Contempt,” „Baptism of Fire,” „The Tower of Swallow,” and „The Lady of the Lake” (published in 1999).
Apart from Geralt, the main character of the saga was Ciri, the Witcher’s stepdaughter, known from his previous adventures.
The Witcher returned in 2013 in the prequel „Season of Storms.” The plot of the novel was set between the short stories.
The next and latest novel, „Crossroad of Ravens,” was released in 2024 and was a prequel describing Geralt’s earliest adventures.
The next and latest novel, „Crossroad of Ravens,” was released in 2024 and was a prequel describing Geralt’s earliest adventures.
The tale of Witcher is placed in a grim world, filled with violence and racism, and in times of saga, additionally engulfed by war, which, unlike wars from The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, or Star Wars, is not a glorious clash between good and evil. The war shown by Sapkowski brings fire, death, and depravity and leaves only ashes, poverty, and pain; the sides of the conflict are neither good nor completely evil.
But Witcher is not a distopian book written to prove that there is no difference between human and beast, or that good and evil do not exist.
Every piece of good, which in other books would be missed or forgotten by the reader, there, thanks to the strong contrast of such a dark world, is shining, like stars shining brightly in the black, night sky.
The protagonists from the Witcher are far from perfection, but their right deeds, noble features of character, and acts of honor give a clear example to follow.
Every piece of good, which in other books would be missed or forgotten by the reader, there, thanks to the strong contrast of such a dark world, is shining, like stars shining brightly in the black, night sky.
The protagonists from the Witcher are far from perfection, but their right deeds, noble features of character, and acts of honor give a clear example to follow.
Unfortunately, the creation of Sapkowski may not be for everyone. Firstly, many readers would be discouraged by its grim atmosphere; secondly, the Witcher is great, but not perfect; the vocabulary is often vulgar, and there are a few moments inappropriate for younger readers. Beyond those several imperfections, The Witcher is a brilliant work.
Though the Witcher appeared nearly everywhere: in comics, TV series, computer, board, and cardgames, and films, the book remains to be both the most valueabe source of tales about the Geralt of Rivia and an excellent book itself.
Józek Grzesiakowski (a graduate)
