The article presents two different methodologies of eminent USB professors and lecturers: Stanisław Pigoń (1921-1931) and Manfred Kridl (1931-1939). Stanisław Pigoń, taking over the Department of Polish studies in Vilnius University, after Józef Kallenbach, continued traditional philological research on romantic literature, with particular emphasis on Mickiewicz and his Vilnius years. Pigoń’s interest included: the Philomatic environment, the issues of the Kaunas-Vilnius “Dziady” and research on location of the so-called Konrad’s cell. In turn prof. Kridl introduced the modern “integral method” to Vilnius Polish studies, derived from Roman Ingarden’s theory of literary work, research on the issues of the style and structure of the poem and Russian formalism. Both educated a group of eminent scholars (Czesław Zgorzelski, Maria Renata Mayenowa, Irena Sławińska, Maria Rzewuska and others).