Heinrich von Kleist, Der zerbrochne Krug. Ein Lustspiel [The Broken Jug. A Comedy]

William C. Reeve (Queen's University at Kingston Ontario)

Ed. by Gerhard P. Knapp, University of Utah
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.4.2: German-language Writing and Culture: Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, 800-present.
Vol. editors: Gerhard P. Knapp (University of Utah), Jennifer Marston William (Purdue University), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jill E. Twark (East Carolina University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1806 - 1811

Places

Germany, Brandenburg (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Comedy
Play

Resources

Der zerbrochne Krug [The Broken Jug] reveals its classical roots in its main theme inspired by Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, in the preservation of the three dramatic unities which complement the action, in the general structure of exposition, trial, and dénouement, and in its analytical technique whereby all significant events have occurred before the drama begins. The main interest thus lies in the unravelling of previous actions. Goethe first produced the play for the Weimar stage on 2 March 1808, but withdrew it after one disastrous performance. This failure was due in part to its refusal to fit into the conventional comedic mold of the period. Goethe admired its qualities, but felt it was written for “an …

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3021 words

Citation: Reeve, William C.. "Der zerbrochne Krug. Ein Lustspiel". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 02 April 2004 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=13111, accessed 18 April 2024.]

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