Ivan Franko: Poet, Thinker, Symbol of Ukraine
Ivan Franko is one of the most famous Ukrainian poets. He was a writer, translator, journalist, and political thinker. Today, his name is linked with many things — poems, universities, portraits, and even history books. But who was he, really? This article tells the story of Franko Ivan in simple words — from his life and work to his hobbies and health.
Early Life and Background
Ivan Franko was born in 1856 in a small village called Nahuievychi, in western Ukraine. His father was a blacksmith. Sadly, Ivan lost both parents at a young age. Despite the hardships, he loved books and wanted to study.
He went to school in the nearby town of Drohobych, then entered university in Lviv. Later, he also studied in Vienna and earned a doctorate. From a poor boy, he became a smart and respected man.
Portrait of Ivan Franko (colour photograph). Photo by СЕРП75ДНІПРО, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ivan Franko and Lviv University
Today, the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv is named after him. It is one of the oldest and most respected universities in Ukraine. Franko studied and worked in Lviv. He wrote for local newspapers and magazines, shared his ideas, and helped shape Ukrainian culture.
Ivan Franko's Poems and Books
Franko was an incredibly productive writer who created more than a thousand works during his lifetime, including poems, short stories, plays, translations, and essays. His poetry remains deeply respected in Ukrainian literature. One of his most powerful poems is "Каменярі" (The Stonecutters), which tells of workers breaking rocks to build a new road — a symbol of freedom, hard work, and the creation of a better future.
“Каменярі” (Ukrainian Original – Excerpt)
Іван Франко
Я бачив дивний сон. Немов передо мною
Безмiрна, та пуста, i дика площина
I я, прикований ланцем залiзним, стою
Пiд височенною гранiтною скалою,
А далi тисячi таких самих, як я.
У кожного чоло життя i жаль порили,
I в оцi кожного горить любовi жар,
I руки в кожного ланцi, мов гадь, обвили,
I плечi кожного додолу ся схилили,
Бо давить всiх один страшний якийсь тягар.
У кожного в руках тяжкий залiзний молот,
I голос сильний нам згори, як грiм, гримить:
"Лупайте сю скалу! Нехай нi жар, нi холод
Не спинить вас!
Зносiть i труд, i спрагу, й голод,
Бо вам призначено скалу сесю розбить".
"The Stonecutters" (English Translation – Excerpt)
Ivan Franko
I saw a wondrous dream. It seemed as if before me
A wild and empty plain all boundlessly did lie,
And I, with a great chain of iron fettered sorely,
Stood ’neath a lofty crag of granite, towering o’er me,
And there were others, many thousand-fold, as I.
Life and its griefs had furrowed deep on every visage,
But in the eyes of each a fire of love yet glowed,
And round the arms of each were chains like serpents twisted,
The shoulders of each man were drooping, bowed and listless,
For each and all were weighted down by a dead load.
A heavy iron hammer each of us was holding,
A voice on high, like thunder, thundered mightily;
“Smite at the rock! Deterred neither by heat nor coldness!
Endure your labours, bear your thirst and hunger boldly,
To smash these cliffs to fragments is your destiny!”
This poem shows Franko’s passion for justice, progress, and national awakening. He believed that work and effort were sacred, and that people had the power to shape their own future.
He also translated world literature into Ukrainian — from Shakespeare to Goethe — bringing new ideas to Ukrainian readers.
How We Remember Ivan Franko Today
You can see Ivan Franko’s portrait on the Ukrainian 20-hryvnia banknote. Many schools and streets are named after him. His statues can be found in Lviv, Kyiv, and other cities.
Franko’s image shows a serious man with a mustache, often wearing traditional clothing. His face has become a lasting symbol of Ukrainian culture.
Monument to Ivan Franko in Kyiv, Ukraine. Photo by Bibikoff — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Ivan Franko and Other Ukrainian Poets
Franko is part of a legendary trio of famous Ukrainian poets, along with Taras Shevchenko and Lesya Ukrainka. These writers helped shape modern Ukrainian literature and inspired people to value their language and freedom.
Franko’s work went beyond poetry. He wrote essays, plays, and political texts. He believed that literature could help change the world.
Interesting Facts: Hobbies and Health
Few people know that Ivan Franko had a hobby: collecting proverbs, folk stories, and cultural sayings. He loved to learn from people in villages, including Jewish communities. This made his writing deep, authentic, and human.
Later in life, Franko suffered from serious health problems. It’s believed that he had arthritis in his hands and other illnesses. He couldn’t always write by hand and often needed help from his sons.
Challenges and Criticism
Because of his political views, Franko was arrested several times. Early in life, he supported socialist ideas, but later he focused more on national and cultural issues. Some people supported him; others disagreed.
Still, he stayed true to his beliefs and kept writing until his final days in 1916.
Conclusion
Ivan Franko was more than a poet — he was a voice for Ukraine. His life was full of struggle, but his words were strong and lasting. His poems, his portrait, and his university continue to inspire new generations. Franko showed the world that books and ideas can be tools of freedom, pride, and progress.
Read Also:
Taras Shevchenko: Ukraine’s Literary Icon Who Defied Russian Colonialism for Centuries