The article is an attempt to describe the first years of Stefan Żółkiewski’s scientific activity. The author begins by analysing the student duties of a future researcher, looking for his first masters. He also considers the theses contained in Żółkiewski’s thesis and concludes with a description of his activity in the students’ scientific circle known as “Warszawskie Koło Polonistów”. The author of the article tries to point out the genesis of Żółkiewski’s qualities, which characterize his later attitude: a leftist worldview, organizational skills, sociological thinking about literature and concern for the general condition of the humanities.