History Literature / SienkiewiczTrilogy

* KickTheSonOfABitch: [[spoiler:Azja Tuhaj-Bejowicz's]] execution is extremely brutal and written in the most graphic detail, but whatever sympathy the reader had for him is long gone by the time it happens.

Several adaptations have been made, most notably the 1969 ''Pan Wołodyjowski'' (along with a TV series), the 1974 film ''Film/TheDeluge'' and the 1998 ''With Fire and Sword'' (starring Creator/IzabellaScorupco as Helena Kurcewiczówna among others), all three being directed by Jerzy Hoffman. Both ''Film/TheDeluge'' and ''With Fire and Sword'' are among the most expensive Polish films ever made.

* NotEvilJustMisunderstood: [[SingleTargetSexuality Bohun]] is actually a rather [[IJustWantToBeLoved sad character]].

* LastNameBasis: Bohun's first name is used ''once''. [[spoiler: It's Jerzy.]] "What is Bohun's first name?" has been used as a question in "how well you know the Trilogy" contests.

* ActionGirl: Basia from ''Pan Wołodyjowski'' is as much of an action girl as a 17th century woman in a 19th century book can get. Not only has she a passion for fencing, is a good shot and accomplished rider, [[spoiler: but knocks her almost kidnapper out with the butt of his own gun and goes back home through the wilderness on foot. By herself. In the middle of winter.]]

* LoveAtFirstSight: Jan Skrzetuski and Helena Kurcewiczówna, Andrzej Kmicic and Aleksandra Billewiczówna. Subverted in the third book with Wołodyjowski and Basia.

* PintSizedPowerhouse: Michał Wołodyjowski. His in-universe nickname is "[[TheRedBaron The Small Knight]]".

* DarkChick: Horpyna is a witch, so it's more or less [[FaintingSeer her]] [[TheMedic job]]. She also gives Helena relationship advice, of sorts.

* DownerEnding: The third book ends with [[spoiler: Wołodyjowski dead and the political situation crumbling]].

Several adaptations have been made, most notably the 1969 ''Pan Wołodyjowski'' (along with a TV series), the 1974 film ''Film/TheDeluge'' and the 1998 ''With Fire and Sword'' (starring Creator/IzabellaScorupco as Helena Kurcewiczówna among others), all three being directed by Jerzy Hoffman. Both ''Film/TheDeluge'' and ''With Fire and Sword'' are some of the most expensive Polish films ever made.

!! This saga gives examples of:

* PintSizedPowerhouse: Michał Wołodyjowski.

* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: of all the characters Zagłoba has the most impressive one in ''With Fire and Sword'' when [[spoiler: Podbipięta is killed trying to sneak past the enemy lines during the siege of Zbaraż]]. The cheerful braggart usually preoccupied chiefly with keeping his hide intact completely [[UnstoppableRage flips out]] and charges into the enemy ranks without so much as a backwards glance. Granted, the whole section of the wall promptly follows but from the description it's not hard to assume he could've taken the siege tower [[spoiler: on which his friend's body was dsplayed]] singlehandedly.

** He jokingly supports a romance between Wołodyjowski and Anusia in ''The Deluge'' also based on height: Anusia and Michał are both short.

** In 1999 With Fire and Sword movie, Bohun is shown to use a deadly feign, where mid-slash he tosses his sword into the other hand, then slices the unsuspecting opponent open. He demonstrates it early in the movie [[spoiler:when he's slaughtering the Kurcewicz Clan]]. Later he uses the same move during his duel against Wołodyjowski[[spoiler:, which fails catastrophically when the latter counters it.]]

* SillyRabbitCynicismIsForLosers: Stefan Czarniecki gives Skrzetuski a speech like this when they're both in captivity - the first mention in the book of the idea of erasing yourself for the service of the country. (Although it's worth noting that Skrzetuski's far more ''despairing'' than cynical.)

* SingleTargetSexuality: Bohun for Helena.

* SuicideMission: Longinus (and then, Skrzetuski) volunteer to go through enemy lines to BringHelpBack during [[TheSiege the siege of Zbaraż]]. Everyone knows the chances of survival are basically nonexistent [[spoiler: especially after Longinus is killed trying]].

* TallDarkAndHandsome: Jan Skrzetuski is tall, dark and handsome enough to pass for an Armenian merchant.

--> '''Skrzetuski:''' Your Highness...
--> '''Wiśniowiecki:''' Such is my will and that is my order.

* UnwillingSuspension: Kuklinowski orders Kmicic [[ShamefulStrip stripped]] and hung from a beam.

* WrongSideAllAlong: It takes Kmicic considerable time and distance from [[ManipulativeBastard Janusz Radziwiłł]] to realise this.

* VowOfCelibacy: Longinus Podbipięta has sworn one, at least until he replicates his ancestor's feat of cutting off three heads with one blow.
* YouFightLikeACow: During Wołodyjowski's duel with Kmicic, [[MasterSwordsman the former]] calls out the latter on all of his shabby fencing techniques. A less trashy example than usual, but there are a few comments along the lines of: "Alright, that one? Good for chasing off stray dogs.". And there is of course a highly famous and just as highly insulting "You sir swing that like a flail". Wołodyjowski essentially called Kmicic to be equal with a peasant, the worst kind of insult a Polish noble could receive.
* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: Chmielnicki for Jan Skrzetuski when they meet again in Pereyeslav, where, [[TheAlcoholic after a few]] [[ManipulativeBastard "I like you" comments]], Chmielnicki proceeds to list [[NiceJobBreakingItHero every time Skrzetuski inadvertently helped him out]]. Whether it's intentional or not, Skrzetuski's left feeling guilty and completely disoriented. Especially considering he was [[BaitAndSwitchComment expecting]] punishment for having walked out on a ceremony honoring Chmielnicki just a few days earlier.

* YouWouldntShootMe: At different points in ''With Fire and Sword'', Skrzetuski flat-out dares opponents - Helena's entire family, and later Chmielnicki himself - to cut his throat when they draw on him. In both cases, he doesn't even have a weapon in his hand.

** Subverted with a foil to both characters, Jeremi Wiśniowiecki, who's a badass leader with a HundredPercentAdorationRating from his soldiers, but described as slight in build and "delicate".

* HundredPercentAdorationRating: Jeremi Wiśniowiecki, from his soldiers anyway. (Other magnates and political rivals tend to have a more negative - or realistic - view of the man.)

Several adaptations have been made, most notably the 1969 ''Pan Wołodyjowski'' (along with a TV series), the 1974 film ''Film/TheDeluge'' and the 1998 ''With Fire and Sword'' (starring Creator/IzabellaScorupco among others), all three being directed by Jerzy Hoffman. Both ''Film/TheDeluge'' and ''With Fire and Sword'' are some of the most expensive Polish films ever made.

Several adaptations have been made, most notably the 1969 ''Pan Wołodyjowski'' (along with a TV series), the 1974 film ''Film/TheDeluge'' and the 1998 ''With Fire and Sword'', all three being directed by Jerzy Hoffman. Both ''Film/TheDeluge'' and ''With Fire and Sword'' are some of the most expensive Polish films ever made.

* SugarAndIcePersonality: Oleńka is warm, trusting, and open, and lets herself be emotional, around people she likes and, more importantly, trusts. But when it comes to [[BlackAndWhiteMorality those she judges to be morally wrong]] or those who have lied to her, [[IceQueen she acts cold, aloof, and emotionless.]] Part of it's to show her contempt, or because she feels it's what she's obligated to do by her strict code of morals, but it's also a defense mechanism. Since she's also always borne a great deal of responsibility, her strict control of how she expresses her emotions doubles as TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask.

* AdaptationPersonalityChange: Jeremi Wiśniowiecki, for one. In the film, his character changes from an [[FatherToHisMen involved]] {{Badass In Charge}} to more of an aloof but ruthless authority figure who doesn't get a [[CompressedAdaptation single scene]] of actually directing a battle.

* BadassInCharge: Prince Jeremi Wiśniowiecki is not only marvelous strategist, able to defeat fifty thousand opponents with only four thousand (historical fact), but also leads a charge personally in the battle of Beresteczko.

** Played with in the Rozłogi scene: Skrzetuski [[TryingNotToCry attempts to control]] his violent sobs, and Wiśniowiecki tells him to forget his personal suffering because he must dedicate himself entirely to his country. Then again, later, even characters like [[BadassInCharge Jeremi himself]] shed tears for the Commonwealth's misfortune - apparently [[RealMenWearPink Real Men Cry,]] but only when it's to do with something greater than "their own loss".

* [[QuantityvsQuality Quantity vs. Quality]]: Chmielnicki's army of UsefulNotes/{{Cossacks}}, [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized the masses of peasants]], and [[HordesFromTheEast his Tatar allies]] simply cannot beat [[BadassInCharge Jeremi Wiśniowiecki's]] (hopelessly outnumbered) {{Elite Army}} in the siege of Zbarazh. Or in the battle with Krzywonos. Or...

* FiveManBand: In ''With Fire And Sword'', the characters form one:
** TheHero: Skrzetuski
** TheLancer: Zagłoba
** TheBigGuy: Podbipięta
** TheSmartGuy: Wołodyjowski
** TheChick: Helena
*** There is an argument of swapping Zagłoba with Podbipięta, but the explanation is looong.
*** Or maybe Wołodyjowski, Skrzetuski's best friend as TheLancer and Zagłoba, GuileHero as TheSmartGuy? Especially that Wołodyjowski doesn't start out all that smart, really. He's itching for a fight in this particular book, all the time.
** In ''Potop'' Kmicic becomes TheSixthRanger, Roch Kowalski as DumbMuscle becomes the new BigGuy.

* CrazyJealousGuy: When it turns out [[spoiler: Krzysia and Ketling]] have [[TriangRelations fallen in love]] (quite [[LoveAtFirstSight innocently]]), Wołodyjowski [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge suddenly]] [[DuelToTheDeath becomes]] [[MurderTheHypotenuse one]]. [[spoiler: Then he decides Ketling wasn't really at fault for falling in love, but it's Wołodyjowski's own rotten luck, and forgives him]].

** Admittedly the whole Skrzetuski-in-Sitch arc happened ''before'' the impaling. It's more that [[WhatAnIdiot messing with representatives of a proud, ruthless, and powerful magnate]] is a REALLY bad idea.

Several adaptations have been made, most notably the 1969 ''Pan Wołodyjowski'' (along with a TV series), the 1974 ''Film/TheDeluge'' and the 1998 ''With Fire and Sword'', all three being directed by Jerzy Hoffman. Both ''Film/TheDeluge'' and ''With Fire and Sword'' are some of the most expensive Polish films ever made.

Several adaptations have been made, most notably the 1974 film ''Film/TheDeluge'' directed by Jerzy Hoffman and adapting the second book, and the 1999 film ''With Fire and Sword'' adapting the first book and also directed by Jerzy Hoffman, and starring Michał Żebrowski as Jan, Creator/IzabellaScorupco as Helena and Aleksandr Domogarov as Bohun. ''With Fire and Sword'' is one of the most expensive Polish films ever made.

Several adaptations have been made, most notably the 1999 film ''With Fire and Sword'' directed by Jerzy Hoffman and starring Michał Żebrowski as Jan, Creator/IzabellaScorupco as Helena and Aleksandr Domogarov as Bohun. It is one of the most expensive Polish films ever made.

* CruelMercy: Kmicić decides to leave [[spoiler: Kuklinowski, a man who just tortured him, alive, but not after paying him back in kind with the exact same torture method. It actually ''fails'' - when Kuklinowski is found by his co-conspirators, he's dead from the extensive burn damage]].

* ConvenientlyPlacedSharpThing: How Zagłoba escapes hiscaptivity by Bohun's men.