Who was Nicolaus Copernicus? The Copernican narrative in contemporary Polish-language children’s literature

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the portrayal of Nicolaus Copernicus in Polish-language children’s literature and to identify the elements of the literary narrative that shape young readers’ memory about Copernicus. Twelve children’s books about Copernicus, published after the political transformation of 1989, were analyzed. Five elements that contribute to Copernicus’ portrayal as a site of memory were identified: nationality, accomplishments, life in an era of discovery, imagined childhood, and characteristics of a superhero. The results of the analysis suggest that the national discourse which dominated the Copernican narrative in the 19th and 20th centuries is being replaced by a discussion about the astronomer’s real achievements and personality traits as values that should be embraced by young people. As a result, the centuries-old portrayal of Copernicus as a Polish and German site of memory is being transformed into an “open”, pan-European site of memory.