Funkcje barw w listach Henryka Sienkiewicza do członków rodziny

The text contains an analysis of terms of colour and light impressions included in Henryk Sienkiewicz’s private letters. The examination takes into consideration a comprehensive collection – counting over 1400 letters and taking up nearly 3000 printed pages, from which 196 formally and semantically different terms of colour and light have been extracted. The lexis from the examined theme range is a relevant element of the language material of Henryk Sienkiewicz’s private letters. Apart from the stricte information function, which distinguishes and identifi es colourfully described landscapes, natural phenomena, weather, objects or people, the names of colours and chiaroscuro, it emphasizes their exotic, singularity and beauty, cocreates the mood and scenery of the described realities as well as it increases the vividness and suggestiveness of the writer’s story.