The Seasons

work by Donelaitis

Also known as: “Metai”

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

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Kristijonas Donelaitis's The Seasons (Metai) is a significant work of Lithuanian literature, written in the 18th century. This epic poem, comprising nearly 3,000 lines in hexameter, offers a realistic portrayal of the lives of serfs and the Lithuanian countryside throughout the year. Donelaitis, a Lutheran pastor, was one of the first Lithuanian poets to gain international recognition. His work is notable for its use of the vernacular and its depiction of daily life, making it a foundational text in Lithuanian literary history.12

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Kristijonas Donelaitis
His main work, Metai (1818; The Seasons), 2,997 lines in length, was written in hexameters, which were never before used in Lithuanian verse. It depicts realistically and in their own dialect the life of the serfs and the countryside of 18th-century Prussian Lithuania. The poem was first published in an…
Read More
His main work, Metai (1818; The Seasons), 2,997 lines in length, was written in hexameters, which were never before used in Lithuanian verse. It depicts realistically and in their own dialect the life of the serfs and the countryside of 18th-century Prussian Lithuania. The poem was first published in an…
Read More

Lithuanian literature
…poem of Kristijonas Donelaitis called Metai (1818; “The Four Seasons”); it is written in hexameters, shows German influence, and depicts village life throughout the year.
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…poem of Kristijonas Donelaitis called Metai (1818; “The Four Seasons”); it is written in hexameters, shows German influence, and depicts village life throughout the year.
Read More